Career Advisor Krystle Dorsey's professional headshot [View Image]
An educator’s ability to influence the future is endless. With nearly 25% of the U.S. population enrolled in school at any one time, educators have a huge responsibility to ensure their pupils are properly prepared to contribute to society. The people who choose education as a career path usually have a strong desire to make a difference and willingness to find creative solutions to problems both in and out of the classroom.
Job opportunities for educations are found in all 50 states in public, private and parochial schools. Some teachers may specialize in a single subject, while others will teach multiple subjects. Regardless of the subject, class size, location or type of school, the mission of educators remains the same; to ensure that every student is successful and meets set milestones for progress. Counselors, principals, librarians, media specialists and teacher’s aides who provide specialized assistance in key areas, often support teachers.
The Vault Guides offer a sample of careers in Education. Each guide gives, among other valuable information, an overview of the job and entry-level requirements.
Resumes
Just about every teaching opportunity will require applicants to submit a resume. Most hiring managers will use your resume to verify whether your credentials qualify you for a particular position and will to determine three things:
Perhaps the most important tip for making your documents stand out is to use industry lingo. Review the position description, highlight key words or phrases, and reflect that same terminology in your resume or cover letter. This shows you have done your research and are familiar with the culture of the industry.
Certifications
Student teaching, internship and practicum experience
Educational and/or childcare experience
Professional Memberships
Community Engagement
Relevant Skills
Cover letters
Cover letters play two important roles in the application process.
Teaching is a career that requires strong dedication to the students and the craft. Applicants need to demonstrate enthusiasm for education and show that the can effectively communicate via the written word. Many cover letters for teaching follow the same guidelines as cover letters for other industries. The cover letter must be no more than one page in length and in a business format.
Address some of these topics in your cover letter:
Interviewing
An interview is simply a conversation between the candidate and a hiring manager. An interview provides you the opportunity to highlight your skills, express your personality and demonstrate your knowledge about the school.
For those interviewing for teaching positions with the K-12 public school system, you will likely be required to complete a screening interview with the county or school division human resources office prior to interviewing for an actual position for a particular school. If you are a right fit for that school division, the human resources representative will refer you to the principal for a school-based interview.
If you’ve never interviewed before, explore our interviewing tips to learn the basics of a successful interview.
Typical screening interview questions
Practice
You’ll feel more comfortable during your interview with a little practice first. InterviewStream is web-based video interface that allows you to respond to a series pre-recorded interview questions from your computer. Afterward, you will be able to review your recording to see how you did.
Got an interview coming up? Practice with one of our career advisors. Schedule a one-hour mock interview - we will help you prepare to answer interview questions and offer tips to help you make an excellent impression. Please email a copy of your resume and the job description to the advisor you are meeting with at least 24 hours prior to your mock interview.
The majority of schools require a Master’s Degree in Education as well as licensure in order to teach. VCU’s 5-year program allows students to earn both bachelor and master degrees. As a part of the program, prospective teachers are usually required to complete observation and student teaching hours. Student teachers usually begin by observing the class and then take on greater amounts of teaching, grading, and lesson planning activities during the student teaching semester. In the public school system, teachers must also pass a state certification exam in order to teach, and participate in continuing education to maintain licensure.
While degree and licensure, provides the foundational requirements to become an educator, most successful teachers have realized the need to develop additional skills areas such as, time management, public speaking, conflict resolution and integrating technology into their lessons.
Teachers who possess practical skills have a much easier time positioning themselves as highly sought after candidates. VCU has a partnership with LinkedIn Learning, formally Lynda.vcu.edu, to provide free skills training. Consider taking some of these recommended courses as a part of your training.
Common career paths
A portfolio is a compilation of select materials that highlight your professional competencies. It not only documents your knowledge as it pertains to pedagogy, but also provides a visual representation of your style and ability to engage with students.
The process of selecting what materials to include in a portfolio requires aspiring teachers to assess their performance in the classroom as well as the subject matter they have covered. A portfolio is not a scrapbook of every lesson plan, unit, or activity an educator has ever engaged in; it is a small sample of work that best represents your teaching skills, subject knowledge, creative presentation, and resourcefulness.
Printed vs electronic
Portfolios can be in electronic or paper form. Both formats have benefits. A print portfolio can be very useful during an in-person interview because it provides visual examples of your work and creativity to a prospective employer. Electronic portfolios can allow your interviewer to preview the portfolio prior to an interview allowing them a chance to prepare and personalize their interview questions, as well as to review the portfolio after an interview to help them remember who you were among the group of candidates.
Most people create a digital portfolio because it’s easier to share. If web development isn’t your strong suit, try one of these websites as a coding-free alternative to digital portfolio creation.
What to include in your portfolio
Proofreading
Whether your portfolio is a hard copy or digital, be sure to proofread before sending it out. It is a good idea to have others review it as well. A trusted professor or mentor is an excellent person to critique your portfolio. You may also schedule an appointment with a career advisor to review your portfolio.
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