The Back Door to College Teaching
Hello there!
It's been a while, I know. However, I have a good reason for that. For the last three months I have been job hunting. In the end, I landed a position, but I have learned so much that I thought I would share some important lessons that I wish others had shared with me BEFORE the job hunt. The most important thing to note is that it is possible to get a version of your dream job in a recession AND on a budget.
I titled this section the backdoor, because I want to help those of you who interested in teaching at any level, but lack access to knowing how to go about getting a teaching position in a down economy.
I love taking my courses online; however, one of the downsides to online education is that you don't have the comeradory that you normally do when taking classes with the people who will share your field. This means you might not have the "in" to unofficial job searches, and you may not know people in your area that make decisions. That's o.k. I've listed five things that you can do when considering a teaching job.
1. Network. Yes, you've heard the word before, but it's at the top of my list. Go to conferences. Give out your business cards (make up your own if you have to). Find a niche in your area and talk about it. Invite people in your field to lunch (ok, it's a recession, make it coffee!). Have an informal gathering at your home of all of the people that you know in your field (and out) and have them bring friends. You never know who you might meet! Talk to everyone you can about your job search. Everyone! People know people who know people . .. you get the idea.
For introverts only - networking is a traditionally extroverted activity. Let's face it, walking up and talking to strangers is not an innate introvert skill, but it can be learned! Some of the things you can talk about to strangers, soon to be coworkers are solutions and/or thoughts about a current problems that instructors in your field are facing In foreign languages our departments are being cut, what do you think about that? What are some ways to solve this problem? People love to talk, even more they love to talk about themselves. Give someone an opportunity to show off what they are doing, and then ask questions. This is a great way to "network" with strangers.
2. Subscribe to magazines in your field. Yes, I know. It's a recession. A magazine is a luxury, a want, not a need in the budget. However, a recession also means companies are practically giving away subscriptions. Think , a year subscription for $10.00. Yes, it does happen. The reason I recommend subscribing to a magazine in your field, is that many of the people featured are the "people that make decisions" in your area. You may work for them someday! You could always contact a person that works where you'd like to and tell them that you read their article and you were intrigued, etc., and you'd like to know more about (fill in the blank). This is kind of reminiscent of #1, huh?
3. Don't worry so much about where went to school. Sure, if you are thinking about teaching at the college level, you've probably heard that they pay more attention to where you went to school than what you studied. This is true and false. If you are looking for a position in an area that is fully saturated and in the humanities field, like English, this type of analysis can be true. Administrators can afford to be more picky because there are so many available people. However, if you teach a foreign language, especially a less commonly taught foreign language, please skip to number 4. Spanish is a highly taught language right now, so most colleges are scrambling for instructors. However, it's all about location. There is more competition in the larger cities than the smaller ones.
4. Be persistent. I've always said that talent is not the only ingredient for success. You've got to want it. Follow up on leads for positions. Make friends with people in your area who do what you'd like to do someday. Cold call department heads and politely request information about the field and the department. Ask for advice. Publish something. My goodness, this sounds like number #1 again.
5. Did I mention networking?
It's been a while, I know. However, I have a good reason for that. For the last three months I have been job hunting. In the end, I landed a position, but I have learned so much that I thought I would share some important lessons that I wish others had shared with me BEFORE the job hunt. The most important thing to note is that it is possible to get a version of your dream job in a recession AND on a budget.
I titled this section the backdoor, because I want to help those of you who interested in teaching at any level, but lack access to knowing how to go about getting a teaching position in a down economy.
I love taking my courses online; however, one of the downsides to online education is that you don't have the comeradory that you normally do when taking classes with the people who will share your field. This means you might not have the "in" to unofficial job searches, and you may not know people in your area that make decisions. That's o.k. I've listed five things that you can do when considering a teaching job.
1. Network. Yes, you've heard the word before, but it's at the top of my list. Go to conferences. Give out your business cards (make up your own if you have to). Find a niche in your area and talk about it. Invite people in your field to lunch (ok, it's a recession, make it coffee!). Have an informal gathering at your home of all of the people that you know in your field (and out) and have them bring friends. You never know who you might meet! Talk to everyone you can about your job search. Everyone! People know people who know people . .. you get the idea.
For introverts only - networking is a traditionally extroverted activity. Let's face it, walking up and talking to strangers is not an innate introvert skill, but it can be learned! Some of the things you can talk about to strangers, soon to be coworkers are solutions and/or thoughts about a current problems that instructors in your field are facing In foreign languages our departments are being cut, what do you think about that? What are some ways to solve this problem? People love to talk, even more they love to talk about themselves. Give someone an opportunity to show off what they are doing, and then ask questions. This is a great way to "network" with strangers.
2. Subscribe to magazines in your field. Yes, I know. It's a recession. A magazine is a luxury, a want, not a need in the budget. However, a recession also means companies are practically giving away subscriptions. Think , a year subscription for $10.00. Yes, it does happen. The reason I recommend subscribing to a magazine in your field, is that many of the people featured are the "people that make decisions" in your area. You may work for them someday! You could always contact a person that works where you'd like to and tell them that you read their article and you were intrigued, etc., and you'd like to know more about (fill in the blank). This is kind of reminiscent of #1, huh?
3. Don't worry so much about where went to school. Sure, if you are thinking about teaching at the college level, you've probably heard that they pay more attention to where you went to school than what you studied. This is true and false. If you are looking for a position in an area that is fully saturated and in the humanities field, like English, this type of analysis can be true. Administrators can afford to be more picky because there are so many available people. However, if you teach a foreign language, especially a less commonly taught foreign language, please skip to number 4. Spanish is a highly taught language right now, so most colleges are scrambling for instructors. However, it's all about location. There is more competition in the larger cities than the smaller ones.
4. Be persistent. I've always said that talent is not the only ingredient for success. You've got to want it. Follow up on leads for positions. Make friends with people in your area who do what you'd like to do someday. Cold call department heads and politely request information about the field and the department. Ask for advice. Publish something. My goodness, this sounds like number #1 again.
5. Did I mention networking?
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