I think I would be a good teacher... just because.
June 13, 2011 7:54 PM Subscribe
What is the best way to structure a resume to apply for preschool teaching positions, especially when I have little actual training in this field?
I'm a recent college grad with a good-but-going-nowhere job that I would like to leave in the near future. I'm weighing various options, and Craigslist indicates that there are quite a few preschool teacher/assistant teacher jobs open in my area. I would definitely be interested in trying this work out for a year or two. I love kids and think I might actually make an excellent teacher. However, I have nothing in the way of a teaching certificate, and no solid work history in the field.
My questions are:
1) What should I highlight in my work experience given my lack of related experience (I do have about 6 years of consecutive employment)?
2) Is it reasonable to apply to these jobs given my lack of experience?
Thanks for your input!
I'm a recent college grad with a good-but-going-nowhere job that I would like to leave in the near future. I'm weighing various options, and Craigslist indicates that there are quite a few preschool teacher/assistant teacher jobs open in my area. I would definitely be interested in trying this work out for a year or two. I love kids and think I might actually make an excellent teacher. However, I have nothing in the way of a teaching certificate, and no solid work history in the field.
My questions are:
1) What should I highlight in my work experience given my lack of related experience (I do have about 6 years of consecutive employment)?
2) Is it reasonable to apply to these jobs given my lack of experience?
Thanks for your input!
Get first aid and CPR certification. Look into geting some Early Childhood Education (ECE) units.
Spin your descriptions of previous employment to focus on training, collaboration and organisation. In your objective mention a life long interest in children. Get a reference from someone who has seen you interact with kids.
Good luck!
posted by guster4lovers at 10:11 PM on June 13, 2011
Spin your descriptions of previous employment to focus on training, collaboration and organisation. In your objective mention a life long interest in children. Get a reference from someone who has seen you interact with kids.
Good luck!
posted by guster4lovers at 10:11 PM on June 13, 2011
Definitely highlight any safety certification, and get some if you don't have any. Courses are fairly inexpensive, often take only an afternoon or weekend, and are well worth the investment. Look into lesson planning/day planning for preschool classes and come up with some samples that you can submit with your application. I would also recommend getting a current criminal record check (and child welfare check, if needed), to submit with your application. Any reputable employer would need these anyway, and it will make your application look serious and professional if you include them.
posted by Nightman at 11:30 PM on June 13, 2011
posted by Nightman at 11:30 PM on June 13, 2011
Have you done any baby-sitting or taught Sunday school or something similar? List that if you have. I should warn you that taking care of a couple of kids in their home is very different from coordinating a day-long program for a dozen or more. It's grueling work and the pay sucks. It's also super-important work that can be intrisically rewarding. (I could go on a lengthy rant here about the way we treat those who do this critical job...)
Go on Amazon and buy a used copy of an Early Childhood Education textbook that's a few years old, you should be able to get one cheaply. Or find one in your college library. Or take a class at your local community college. Find your nearest child care center and ask if you can spend a day observing. They will probably want to see some police clearance thing, call your local police department and see what your state requires. (I've done this in MA and Florida, both totally different processes.)
posted by mareli at 4:34 AM on June 14, 2011
Go on Amazon and buy a used copy of an Early Childhood Education textbook that's a few years old, you should be able to get one cheaply. Or find one in your college library. Or take a class at your local community college. Find your nearest child care center and ask if you can spend a day observing. They will probably want to see some police clearance thing, call your local police department and see what your state requires. (I've done this in MA and Florida, both totally different processes.)
posted by mareli at 4:34 AM on June 14, 2011
You generally don't even need a college degree for an assistant teacher position. Highlight any experience you have with kids. Teacher turnover in daycare is ridiculous, you shouldn't have much trouble getting into an assistant slot.
But what is it about pre-school that interests you? Pre-school is a job you do because you love it. You'll be trading a good but going nowhere job for a low paying and going nowhere job. Assistant teachers make the same money that the kids at McDonald's do. Lead teachers get paid $9 -$10 a hour in the DC area - I can't imagine it is much different in Seattle. The shift manager at Starbucks is making more than the young woman that parents pay to teach their 3 year old. And there is no career path at all for a pre-school teacher. You can get promoted to Assistant Director, in which case you get a raise to $11 or $12 an hour, usually go on salary, and work 50 hours a week. Of if you make to Director you'll top out at about $35 - $40K a year, and will be working 60 hours a week for it. Also, it's rare for preschool teachers to get health, or any other benefits.
My wife is a pre-school teacher. The only people I've ever seen really enjoy that field are people that absolutely love spending 8 hours a day with kids. Are you one of those people?
PS. When I say going nowhere, I mean it. When my wife quit teaching to raise our kids in 1996, she was making $9.75 an hour as a lead teacher in relatively low cost of living Georgia. Today she makes $10 an hour as lead teacher with a degree in early childhood education and all kinds of experience leading youth organizations, in the much higher cost of living DC area.
posted by COD at 5:12 AM on June 14, 2011
But what is it about pre-school that interests you? Pre-school is a job you do because you love it. You'll be trading a good but going nowhere job for a low paying and going nowhere job. Assistant teachers make the same money that the kids at McDonald's do. Lead teachers get paid $9 -$10 a hour in the DC area - I can't imagine it is much different in Seattle. The shift manager at Starbucks is making more than the young woman that parents pay to teach their 3 year old. And there is no career path at all for a pre-school teacher. You can get promoted to Assistant Director, in which case you get a raise to $11 or $12 an hour, usually go on salary, and work 50 hours a week. Of if you make to Director you'll top out at about $35 - $40K a year, and will be working 60 hours a week for it. Also, it's rare for preschool teachers to get health, or any other benefits.
My wife is a pre-school teacher. The only people I've ever seen really enjoy that field are people that absolutely love spending 8 hours a day with kids. Are you one of those people?
PS. When I say going nowhere, I mean it. When my wife quit teaching to raise our kids in 1996, she was making $9.75 an hour as a lead teacher in relatively low cost of living Georgia. Today she makes $10 an hour as lead teacher with a degree in early childhood education and all kinds of experience leading youth organizations, in the much higher cost of living DC area.
posted by COD at 5:12 AM on June 14, 2011
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posted by pyro979 at 8:10 PM on June 13, 2011