I graduated in May with my MA in Secondary Science
Education. In addition, I also have a BS in Physics. After teaching for two years I am beginning to realize that I do not want to teach. How do I emphasize my teaching experiecne as a benefit to employers in other
areas? I feel that because I have focused on teaching for almost nine years, I will not be taken seriously in other areas.
Your assitance is greatly appreciated.
From: Brian Charles, Recent Graduate, Columbia University
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Hi Charles -
You face the same difficulty that many teachers face when the reality does not meet with their expectations.
And you're right, you will have a tough time being taken seriously in the job market.
The key is to leverage your skills into a related field. While many teachers end up going into non-related fields (such as
insurance sales), you are best to pursue a field that combines your vocational interests and your teaching skills. The best answer to this question is to consider going into corporate training. There are positions
available in corporate training which would value your previous experience and allow you to continue in a related field. However, if you are totally against any and all kind of teaching (training is still teaching, just
bigger students), you may want to seek a non-related position in a similar industry (such as working in biotech if you were a bilogy/chemistry teacher). But you will likely have to work your way up from the bottom or
near the bottom in job selection.
I wish you well. It is not an easy path, yet it is one which has been successfully traversed by many thousands (possibly millions?) before you. Do what makes you happy.
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All job search information at this site is provided by Brian Krueger, author of the book College Grad Job Hunter, the definitive guide for college grad job search.
Used by permission from the author.
