If you are one of thousands of teachers who have been let go because of budget cuts, you are probably looking for another teaching job. Teaching is what you know. Teaching is what you love. After all, you sacrificed greatly to earn your degree. You could have gone into another profession or business and made much more money. But your idealism and sense of service to your nation's future got the better of you. You became a teacher.
Unfortunately, finding a new teaching position can be a very unsettling experience. Nothing is the same as it used to be. Years ago, you became a teacher. You went through a probationary period of several years. Back then, you were granted tenure, generous benefits, and a pension.
No money=no teachers
The economic meltdown of 2009 and the pandemic of 2020 were game-changers. Those events hit hard. In both situations, school districts struggled with budgets slashed deeply because of declining tax revenues. Suddenly, thousands of teaching jobs were eliminated. Maybe your job was one of them.
Downsizing is a phenomenon that has struck just about everywhere. What is even worse is that the available teaching jobs often don't come with the kind of generous benefits and tenure to which we all have grown accustomed. That's a thing of the past in most parts of the country.
The irony is that we as a nation have never needed talented teachers more than we do now. Our students are doing poorly when compared to those around the world. That, in turn, creates labor problems as companies look outside America for well-qualified workers, claiming that none are available here at home.
In any case, we could discuss the education scene for days and still be no further ahead. So, what about you? How do you pick up the pieces and move on to a new situation?
The following video and ones like it can help refine your interviewing techniques. You have to have a competitive edge when interviewing for a teaching job.
Strategies for SuccessIf you have decided to look for employment in the private school sector, you need to be aware of several things you must do to land a teaching job in a private school. The playing field is much more level these days, So considering a private school teaching job probably makes sense. Those jobs come with benefits, though not quite as generous as you were used to. You will have to contribute towards your health care coverage and your retirement plan. You will receive a one-year contract, perhaps a couple of years if you present the credentials and qualifications that a school needs. There will be no tenure.
Maintain your network.
You must work your network if you have not done so already. Your network will alert you to open positions and should be able to give you some information about those positions. Your network might be familiar with the school and the way it operates. That will be helpful.
The importance of the saying “no man is an Island” has been proved to be the reason why many of us need to make a collective effort in the bid to achieve professional success. For many individuals that have succeeded in their career, the causes have largely been contributed to the strong networking channels they have created over time. Source: Forbes
Offer in-demand skills and certifications.
This is one of the most effective strategies for finding a new teaching position. Offer expertise and certifications in STEM subjects, and you will probably get looked at. Offer physical education, but you might find yourself being overlooked.
Sometimes, you must think outside the box, as this short video clip recommends.
Stay involved.
I can never stress this strategy enough: get involved and stay involved.
- Join affinity groups in our profession.
- Participate in discussions.
- Attend regional professional gatherings.
- Keep your name out front and visible.
The strategy here is simple: make colleagues and folks you meet online think, "We need this person on our team!". It really does work.
Connecting with colleagues and others in the profession around the country is important, not just for finding a job. It is essential for keeping your spirits up. That is one of the most challenging parts of being employed: keeping your spirits up and staying positive. So, working your network is a critical part of both finding a job and keeping your spirits up. Attend regional and national private school conferences. They offer an excellent opportunity to meet employers and, hopefully, line up some interviews.
Use your downtime to retrain and add desirable skill sets to your portfolio of credentials. For example, being a Spanish teacher is a great start. However, being a Spanish teacher who is an ESL specialist adds a whole other dimension to your desirability.
Use your downtime to stay involved by substitute teaching and tutoring. It will keep your skills sharp and may just introduce you to a future employer. It is always easier to hire somebody you have seen teach than somebody you don't know much about.
Keep your spirits up
Never stop believing in yourself. You will find that new job. It may take longer than initially thought, but you will find it. Surround yourself with positive influences. Avoid the negative. It is easy to give in to feelings of self-pity. It is expected to feel angry and frustrated at the situation in which you find yourself. However, you must learn to tune out those feelings. Focus on the small achievements you make every day to get yourself closer to your goal. Disregard the negative. If you let negative feelings drive your thinking, the downward spiral will begin. Hopefully, the following video will make you realize that what you are experiencing is something thousands of other people are experiencing as well.
An upbeat, agreeable personality will create a favorable impression. You must develop many favorable impressions wherever and in whatever circles you find yourself. If people think of you as that well-credentialed, agreeable, willing to take on any challenge kind of person, they will remember you. You never know when a headmaster might be dismayed about losing a teacher to somebody who will turn to him and say, "You need to interview Sally. She's just the person you are looking for."
These are challenging times. But as Baron Marcel Bich, the pen manufacturer, once said, "Quand le chemin devient dur, les durs se cheminent!" translated as "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." A good friend of mine always counsels me to color outside the lines. What does she mean? She suggests that I be creative and encourages me to think outside the box. I have often found a solution to my challenges by coloring outside the lines.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook and Instagram. @privateschoolreview
#UnemploymentTips #TeacherJobSearch #StayPositive #NetworkingSkills #CareerTransition #privateschools
