Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

For me this was a change of career. I got my Masters at CW Post '01-'04 and I feel like I was never made aware of how hard it was to get a job

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I was also a change of career, and my college told me I'd have a job no problem--now I'm in a pretty desired subject. My friend is in elementary / special ed and they told him he'd have NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took him a year and a half of subbing / leave replacements and he got VERY lucky. The colleges don't want to tell the truth, they want your tuition!

I thought it was very irresponsible of them to lie (or stretch the truth) to him like that.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I had no problem (not many teachers in my area), but I have a friend going to Dowling now that was pushed towards elementary ed/special ed. I explained to her that there were no jobs, but she didn't believe me. We will see what happens with her when she finishes next year...

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I wasn't told until my last semseter of college, after they had all my money.

To be honest, if I had known, I wouldn't have done it.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I knew it was in NY... which was one of the reasons I chose to stay in VA.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I was told when I said that I wanted to go for el. ed, that in all honesty, it was a difficult area b/c everyone wanted el. ed. So I got dual certification for sp. ed and el. ed. It was about 9 more credits, but I felt that it would save me. When I got my job, it was originally sp. ed. Through some circumstances, I then started teaching el. ed.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

Career changer here too!! I really wanted to get certified in Business, but the advisor at Dowling told me it wouldn't be worth the paper it was written on and to go for Math. She said elementary, social studies and english were the areas impossible to get jobs in without another certification. I was actually very surprised at how honest she was.

Message edited 7/6/2007 7:02:03 PM.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

When I was at Hofstra for my master's, we were made aware of how competitive it was (1995-96). But our instructors were confident because there were lots of retirements. A good number of people I went with did get jobs, many of them on LI. At the time, if you had a pulse you could get a job in the city, but I can't believe how much more competitive it's become there.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

i also originally wanted to be certified in business but was told the same thing by dowling. i got certified in math and would be told no problem. i wasn't as lucky as karen. the school i student taught in did not hire that year, and i know most people get a job that way.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I knew it was competetive, however my advisor made it seem that I would have an edge since I had so many years experience in Fitness and that is the direction PE is heading.

NOT SO TRUE in helping me get a job!!!!

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I knew it would be hard, but I thought at most I would have to "settle" by commuting a little further or settling for a district that wasn't high on my list.

I never expected it to be quite like this.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I wasnt made aware at all. Towards the end, one counselor I was buddies with told me to really try to utilize my languages to help market myself.

With having had my children in the past few years Ive really just been taking it easy as far as deciding whether to join the rat race or just sit back and do other things "while I wait"...

Tutor, teach toddlers Italian, and my last thought has been to work in a preschool and have them in the building with me. (my oldest is starting K in the fall)..
Im more attached to them than I thought and less willing to leave them than I thought

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I knew from the time I was a little kid that I wanted to be a teacher. I didn't know what though. It is much harder than I thought but much more rewarding then I ever imagined at the same time! I have had the highest highs and lowest lows in teaching, but I would never change or trade any of it. I love my job even though at times I question my decision because it can be so consuming I would never want to do anything else.

I am in a high demand area so it was not a problem for me. I also came in, in 96 which was year 2 of a many year hiring blitz in my district- 86 teachers started with me. Last year they only hired around 20 teachers, and only 3 or 4 of those were eled teachers. I think it will be a long time before we see that kind of blitz again. Right now about 2/3 of my district is under 40.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

That's why I went into ESL.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I knew it was competive, especially for English because there are so many English teachers out there!

But I also knew the only thing I would be happy doing was teaching, so I went with it, and I was incredibly lucky that I didn't have a difficult time finding a job!

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I also knew it was competitive, especially for social studies teachers. I still went ahead with it, though. eta-I ended up getting a job, but it was a nerve wracking summer not knowing if I'd have a job in September.

Message edited 7/7/2007 8:46:13 AM.

Re: Teachers....When you you decided to become a teacher...Were you aware of how hard it was to get a job?

I got my MA at Post and was a career change too. They actually were pretty honest that my field would be tough. I have 2 parents and 2 siblings in the field so I was pretty aware of the job market. I'm fortunate that I have found jobs. It's tough out there.