Teaching & education
Want to work in education? Yes Miss!
A career in the education sector can be both extremely challenging and incredibly rewarding.
The majority of the work in this industry is in teaching, which can be in a school setting, further education college or university. There are also opportunities for teaching roles in hospitals, prisons, abroad and private tutoring. But there are other important roles in research, policy making, administration and technical support.
What kind of teaching work can I do?
Teaching Roles
A vast amount of teachers site job satisfaction as a top perk of the job - with many educators gaining great satisfaction from helping their students learn and develop, whilst exploring a subject area they are passionate about.
Teaching is not an easy ride though - and there will always be difficult students, and class control may be challenging.
As a teacher you will be expected to deliver structured lessons, lectures and seminars as well as aiding students with private tuition, assignment marking and extra curricular activities.
Teachers are entitled to 13 weeks holiday a year and Further Education and Higher Education lecturers usually have at least 35 days annual leave. Although Higher Education lecturers will be expected to undertake research in these vacations.
The teaching profession has great scope for career progression with employees being promoted to head teachers, heads of departments and deputy heads. Retired teachers can often become school and college inspectors.
Non-Teaching Roles
There are many non-teaching posts available in the education sector for graduates. These include roles in:
- Management;
- Finance;
- Administration;
- Libraries;
- Careers and welfare advice;
- Educational psychology;
- IT and technical support;
- Catering and accommodation;
- Maintenance and security.
What are teaching employers looking for?
For the majority of roles in the education sector you will need to be educated to degree level (although for administration and catering roles a degree is not normally required).
To work as a teacher you will need to of done a PGCE which is usually a year long course. Most universities like their lecturers to be educacted to masters if not doctorate level. Although in vocational subjects some universities favour industry experience over academic qualifications.
For all jobs that involving working with minors employees with need to be CRB checked- so a clean criminal record is essential.
Is teaching the right career for you?
Careers in the education sector involve variety, people skills, leadership, patience and hard work. A lot of the work is found in schools so it is vital that you like working with young people and can engage well with others and orchestrate authority.
Key articles for teaching graduates: