Thanks for the Hospitality Secure Yourself: The Three Most Stable Careers Why School Psychologists Get Up in the Morning 38.4 Billion Reasons to Work in the Pet Industry The Truth about Teaching

Inspire, Encourage, and Educate

By Sarah Clark
Learning & Life Columnist

Teaching careers are one of the most popular--in 2004, nearly 4 million Americans were employed as teachers. That number is likely to grow according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts strong job growth in education in the coming years.

Talk to Teachers

So how do you know if a teaching career is right for you? You can begin by talking to people who work in the field. Maybe you had a favorite teacher growing up or have a family friend who is a teacher; invite them to coffee and ask them about their jobs.

Get Career Counseling

It may also be helpful to talk to a career counselor or career coach. The difference between a career counselor and a career is coach is that the former usually works for a college or high school, counseling students, while the latter often works with adults who are seeking to make a career change. Career counselors and coaches can also offer resources to help you learn more about yourself, such as the Myers Briggs personality test. The more you learn about yourself--your strengths, your likes and dislikes--the easier it will be to find the right career.

Work as a Substitute Teacher

Substitute teaching can also be a good way to learn about teaching careers. This requires a more serious commitment, so make sure you are fairly serious about a teaching career before you take this step. Substitute teachers usually don't need a teaching credential to fill in for a full time teacher. You might need to have a bachelor's degree or be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program. Contact your local school board to find out what their requirements are for substitute teachers.

Volunteer as a Teacher's Aid

In place of substitute teaching, you can also volunteer as a teacher's aid. This might give you a more realistic impression of what it's like to be a teacher. Schools are always looking for committed teacher's aids, so this can be an effective and relatively easy way to learn more about teaching careers.

Enroll in Teaching Courses

Finally, take a couple of college courses in teaching. Do you enjoy the coursework? If you do, and also find that the other steps strengthened your interest in teaching, congratulations! You may have found the perfect career for you.

Sources

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Learn More About Teaching Degrees

About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer specializing in career development and postsecondary education.

More Career Tips Articles

Add to My Favorites

	Location: --- All Locations --- Online ------------------------ Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico ------------------------ Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory London Degree: --- All Degrees --- Associate Bachelor Master Doctoral Diploma Certificate Coursework Subject: --- All Subjects --- Architecture Arts and Design Beauty and Cosmetology Business Communication and Media Computer Culinary Education Engineering Health and Clinical Legal and Law Enforcement Liberal Arts and Humanities Other Science Social Services Travel and Hospitality Vocational/Technician Program: --- Select a Subject ---

	A.A. in Accounting A.A. in Communications More Programs Associate's (AABA) - Criminal Justice Administration Associate's (AABA) - Information Systems More Programs Game Art & Design Graphic Design More Programs

	Get the training you need to succeed. Find a school in your region that can help you advance your career.