What to do next?

May 18, 2015 11:20 AM

What are some alternative career paths for a person with experience in early childhood education?

I might have the opportunity to gain some experience in bilingual early childhood education later this year. Since I'm not sure whether it's a career path that I would like to pursue long-term (I could definitely see myself doing it for at least a few years), I'd love to hear any ideas for what kind of work could follow.

Some people seem to find connections between different career paths so easily, whereas I am so burnt out from not knowing how to start a career that I don't see anything past, I don't know, what I'm going to eat for breakfast tomorrow.

Extra detail that might be important: if things go to plan, I'll also have a Masters degree in German Studies (potentially "German as a Foreign Language") not long after finishing my internship/traineeship.

posted by kinddieserzeit to Work & Money (8 answers total)

That was my wife's field - minus the bi-lingual part. Started as a pre-school teacher, then moved up into management and eventually was Director of a daycare. Then she transitioned into adult language education, and now she is moving back towards early childhood education, sort of. She has joined a software company selling to pre-schools.

There really are no standard routes or maps through a career anymore. Your career could conceivably go just about anywhere in a few years. It's best to look at your career as a series of projects, some short term, some long-term, that may or may not be well connected to each other. If you want to try the field go for it. But don't make the decision based on where it might lead in 5 years, because things change too quickly these days. The only decision point might be the opportunity cost of there is another opportunity you are looking at.
posted by COD at 12:15 PM on May 18, 2015 [1 favorite]

Teaching English overseas, and then ESL domestically? Translating? What about being an Adventure Nanny?
posted by jrobin276 at 2:52 PM on May 18, 2015

Museum education.There's lots of need for people who can design and implement toddler-preschool content-based children's programs.
posted by Miko at 4:26 PM on May 18, 2015

I don't know if you would consider this an alternative career path, but you could possibly work for the government? My mother works for our local county inspecting and assisting family-run daycares; she has decades of teaching experience at both the elementary and middle school levels. Because she's technically a consultant, she's sets her own hours and is paid depending on how much she works. Maybe that could work for you? Since you do plan on going back to school, you can set your own schedule around your internship/trainee-ship.
posted by manyshaped at 5:38 PM on May 18, 2015

Maybe there won't be a connection between careers. That's ok. Many ppl make a full stop and start something else. Just know the experience you are gaining now is relevant in any area.
posted by Lil Bit of Pepper at 5:47 PM on May 18, 2015

I have a friend who used to teach but now works for a web development company, making learning apps for young children.
posted by Jubey at 8:28 PM on May 18, 2015

Publishing might be interesting -- it's always a big thing, especially with people who are learning languages.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:45 AM on May 19, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks for the input everyone. Definitely interested in more ideas if anyone thinks of anything else.

I can now see a clearer connection to other career paths (eg. publishing, software, government), but also the argument for not getting too caught up worrying about the future. I'm definitely going to pursue this opportunity, if the company I'm in contact with will have me.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:09 PM on May 19, 2015