July 30, 2020 | Joanna York
The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and has resulted in an economic recession that experts predict will last through 2021 in the US and beyond.
Unsurprisingly,most employers and employeesare concerned about job security, and job seekers are worried about their chances of success in the current climate.
One answer is to try and seek out arecession-proof job.
Luckily, some sectors like education weren’t affected (or have even been boosted) by the pandemic. Based on market data education is likely to remain stable through whatever the future may bring.
Careers in education have proven to be quite stable. Manyclassrooms across the nation have already reopened.
You may be wondering:
Is teaching recession-proof? Or is teaching a good career choice?
Yes! Teaching is a stable job with a job market that hasn’t slowed down!
And it’s easier to get into than you might think, even if you are a new grad or someone who wants tochange careers into teaching.
There’s no question that teaching is a good career choice, whatever your future work goals are.
Let’s explore why teaching may be the stable career you’re looking for and how you can get into it by looking at the following questions:
- Is teaching really recession-proof?
- Is teaching a good career choice?
- Will I enjoy teaching?
- Will I be able to get a teaching job during the pandemic?
- What training do I need to be a teacher?
Is teaching really recession-proof?
Teaching is recession-proof and provides a sense of job security. It's also a great career choice for anyone who loves working with people.
Yup! As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while other sectors have been experiencing serious instability,teachers have not stopped working.
All that’s changed is how teachers do their job – using more tech to provide online lessons and learning resources.
It’s believed that this will continue.
Kids need to go to school, whatever the economic climate. This makes roles in primary, secondary, higher, special education, and even adult education, some of the mostrecession-proof jobsavailable.
On top of the consistent demand for educators, teachers in the public school system often have strong unions, making layoffs even more unlikely.
Is teaching a good career choice?
Again – yes! Whether you get into teaching for a few years or a lifelong career, it’s a respected profession that is sure to enhance your professional skills in many ways.
Firstly, you’ll build skills such as organization, motivating others, coaching, creativity and public speaking. These will be invaluable to you as a teacher, and useful in many other professions too.
Secondly, if teaching is something you only do short-term, future employers will be impressed by your teaching experience.
Working as a teacher proves you have all the professional skills listed above (and more!). It also marks you out as someone committed to your community, hard-working, interested in supporting others.
Whatever path you have planned for the future, teaching is an excellent way to pandemic-proof your career.
Whether you get into teaching for a few years or a lifelong career, it’s a respected profession that is sure to enhance your professional skills in many ways.
Will I enjoy teaching?
Like any job, whether you enjoy teaching or not will depend on your personality, where you work and who you work with.
You’ll need to enjoy working with people to make a good teacher.
And, it has to be said, most teachers find that the job comes with an equal amount of challenges and rewards. In your first year working as a teacher, especially, there will probably be a steep learning curve!
But you’ll come out of it with skills that will last you a lifetime and with a real sense of personal growth.
Working as a teacher provides a unique environment that can be rewarding, inspiring and fun. Working with kids and teens gives plenty of opportunity for creativity, silliness and seeing the world from a different perspective.
And as a school teacher, you’ll have a unique opportunity to shape the future – something few other jobs can provide.
Will I be able to get a teaching job during the pandemic?
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,most companies(65.1%) have cut job listings.
And this is not surprising. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that in the US,3 million jobs have already been lostdue to the pandemic.
On a positive note, education is one of the few sectors that is still hiring and even breaking down traditional barriers to entry for applicants.
There has been an ongoing teacher shortage in the US for several years, and the need for teachers is growing, year by year.
A 2016 study by theLearning Policy Institutefound that the US would be short 110,000 teachers in the 2017-18 school year.
By 2020 they predicted this figure would be at 300,000 teachers.
And more recent studies have found the shortage might be even higherthan previously thought.
While this is not positive news in general, it does mean that there are plenty of available teaching rolesin states throughout the US.
Your chances of getting a job as a teacher are high. The education sector is likely to be hiring consistently in years to come.
What training do I need to be a teacher?
The traditional route to becoming a teacher in the public school system means studying for a bachelor’s in Education, then undertaking the relevant training to become a licensed teacher.
A new system calledalternative teacher certificationwas introduced to help solve teacher shortages and get teachers certified quicker.
Alternative teacher certification is open to anyone who has a bachelor’s degree and the right to work in the US.
You can complete a coursedirectly after college, or after you have already been in the workforce for a few years. The great news is that you don’t need a bachelor’s in education, anything is fine!
It’s a route toquickly becoming a teacher in the US, rather than having to get a second bachelor’s in education.
Alternative teachercertification programsare normally completed online (with some IRL work placements). They take around nine months to complete, although deadlines are flexible, meaning you can easily fit study in around your existing commitments.
Recession-proof your career by becoming a teacher!
Although now is a strange time to be job hunting, we’re here to tell you that there are opportunities out there. It is still possible to start building a career now.
Becoming a teacher after collegeor even when you have a few year’s work experience under your belt is a sure-fire way to do this.
Teaching jobs are guaranteed, despite the recession.
And remember one thing:
It’s never too late to become a teacher
You’ll learn skills that will see you through your career, wherever it might lead.
It’s easier than ever tobecome a certified teacher online, studying at your own pace.
So, what are you waiting for? Make 2023 the year your career starts in the classroom.
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I totally agree that teaching is a good career choice and a secured job. Liked your content. Keep sharing.
I'm an education expert with extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in the field. Over the years, I've closely monitored trends and developments in education, particularly in the context of economic recessions and the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Recession-Proof Nature of Teaching:
- Teaching is presented as a recession-proof job, backed by evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic, where teachers continued working despite disruptions.
- The adaptation to technology for online teaching during the pandemic is highlighted as a testament to the flexibility and resilience of the teaching profession.
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Job Security in Education:
- The article emphasizes the stability of careers in education, asserting that classrooms have already reopened and that there is a consistent demand for educators in various sectors, including primary, secondary, higher, special education, and adult education.
- Union strength in the public school system is mentioned as an additional factor contributing to job security for teachers.
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Benefits and Skills Development in Teaching:
- Teaching is portrayed as a good career choice with benefits extending beyond job security. Professional skills such as organization, motivation, coaching, creativity, and public speaking are highlighted as valuable assets gained through teaching.
- The article suggests that even short-term teaching experience enhances one's profile, impressing future employers and signaling commitment to the community.
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Enjoyment and Personal Growth in Teaching:
- The subjective nature of job satisfaction in teaching is acknowledged, with the article noting that enjoyment depends on factors like personality, workplace environment, and colleagues.
- Despite potential challenges, the article emphasizes the personal growth and lifelong skills that can be acquired through teaching.
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Teaching Opportunities during the Pandemic:
- Amid a general reduction in job listings due to the pandemic, the education sector is highlighted as an exception, with ongoing teacher shortages and a growing need for educators.
- Studies from organizations like the Learning Policy Institute predict a significant shortage of teachers, indicating favorable job prospects for those entering the field.
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Training and Certification for Teaching:
- Traditional and alternative routes to becoming a teacher are discussed. The traditional route involves obtaining a bachelor's degree in education and relevant teacher training, while alternative teacher certification is presented as a quicker path for individuals with a bachelor's degree.
- Alternative teacher certification programs, completed online with some in-person work placements, are highlighted as flexible options that can be pursued directly after college or after gaining work experience.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the teaching profession, addressing concerns related to job security, career benefits, personal satisfaction, and the practicalities of entering the field, especially during challenging economic times.
