Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
K – 12
- Teaching:
- Pre-school
- Elementary
- Middle
- Secondary
- Administration:
- Principal
- Superintendent
- Special Services:
- Reading
- Title 1
- Guidance Counseling
- School Psychology
- School Social Work
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Audiology and Speech Pathology
- Library/Information Services
- Special Education
- Career/Technical Education
- Self-Enrichment
- English as a Second Language
- Curriculum Supervision
- Subject Area Supervision
- Tutoring Services
- Test Preparation
- Elementary, middle and secondary schools:
- Public, private, Montessori, magnet, charter
- Overseas schools for military dependents
- Day care centers and nursery schools
- Boards of education
- Tutoring and learning centers
- Test preparation companies
- Obtain experience working with target age group through volunteer or part-time positions.
- Demonstrate patience, creativity and the ability to work well with people of various backgrounds.
- Develop strong communications skills to deal effectively with students, staff and parents.
- Complete a college level teacher preparation program to obtain certification for desired subject area or grade level. Requirements vary by state.
- Private schools may not require certification.
- Pursue multiple certifications to increase employability.
- Earn master’s degree for higher pay and for a hiring edge in some districts.
- Join related organizations such as National Education Association, International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, etc. to learn about current issues in the field.
- Research school administration graduate programs and certification requirements for principal positions.
- Graduate study is required for “special service” fields. Obtain master’s degree in area to become a specialist.
Higher Education
- Teaching
- Research
- Information/Library Services
- Administration and Student Support Services:
- Admissions
- Financial Aid
- Advising
- Development
- Alumni Affairs
- International Education and Study Abroad
- Student Affairs, i.e. Residence Life, Student Activities, Orientation, Leadership, Greek Life, Multicultural Affairs, Recreational Sports, Career Services
- Four-year colleges and universities
- Two-year and community colleges
- Technical schools
- Medical and professional schools
- Earn Ph.D. in content area for teaching and research at four-year institutions. A master’s degree may be sufficient for teaching at two-year schools.
- Pursue Ph.D. in higher education for upper level positions in university administration.
- Acquire minimum of a master’s degree in student personnel, student development, counseling or a related field for student affairs positions.
- Seek experience in higher education through student positions such as Resident Assistant, Orientation Leader, Peer Mentor, etc.
- Secure significant experience in related field for technical school positions.
- Obtain a master’s degree in library or information sciences from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
Adult and Continuing Education
- In-service Education
- Staff Development
- Professional Development
- Leisure-oriented Education
- Career/Technical Education
- GED Preparation
- Literacy Development
- English as a Second Language
- Boards of education
- Colleges and universities
- Two-year and technical schools
- Community organizations: YMCA, Red Cross, etc.
- Correctional institutions
- Museums
- Professional associations
- Residential care facilities
- Adult day healthcare centers
- Vocational services
- K-12 school systems
- Language schools: overseas and domestic
- Develop strong communication skills and the desire to help others.
- Seek volunteer or paid experience in area of interest, i.e. English as A Second Language training, GED preparation, literacy development, etc.
- Research certification and accreditation standards for instructional areas of interest.
- Attain master’s or Ph.D. degree in adult education or a graduate degree in a subject or specialized area.
- Earn a reputation of expertise and experience in a subject, profession, art, craft or trade.
- Demonstrate a repertoire of strategies for teaching learners with varied life experiences including age, skills and abilities, educational level, culture and socioeconomic status.
- Research certification options, visa requirements and overseas schools and programs for teaching abroad.
Business and Communication
- Training
- Curriculum Development
- Publishing, Editing and Technical Writing
- Sales
- Customer Service
- Management
- Bookstores
- Publishers: textbook, online textbook, newspaper, magazine, book, educational websites
- Test-preparation companies
- Software companies
- Education-related businesses: toy retailers, educational supply companies
- Public and private corporations
- Stay current with business and industry literature and news.
- Research companies that utilize teaching/education experience or those that are open to hiring students from “any major.”
- Conduct informational interviews to learn about career paths and to build a network of contacts.
- Seek experience through part-time jobs and internships in business; experience in sales may be necessary for some positions.
- Join related student associations and pursue leadership positions.
- Be prepared to start in entry-level positions such as management trainee programs.
- Learn webpage design and software packages relevant to publishing and media. Develop a portfolio.
- Consider earning an advanced degree to specialize in business or communications fields.
Government
- Administration
- Planning
- Evaluation
- Management
- Research and Writing
- Teaching
- Community Affairs
- Federal government agencies:
- Department of Education
- Department of Defense
- Overseas schools for military dependents
- Department of Labor
- Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
- Health and Human Services
- Library of Congress
- National Archives and Records Administration
- National Science Foundation
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Peace Corps
- Americorps
- Social service agencies
- State and local government
- Seek involvement in student government, local political groups, local campaigns, civic organizations, community service projects, etc.
- Acquire experience through volunteering or completing an internship in a government agency.
- Develop strong analytical, verbal, research, writing and leadership skills.
- Build a network of contacts through referrals and informational interviews.
- Become familiar with the government application process. Utilize applicable websites and seek assistance from your college career center.
Nonprofit
- Direct Service
- Programming
- Administration
- Management
- Public Relations
- Fund Raising/Development
- Policy Analysis
- Research
- Grant Writing
- Service organizations: United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, etc.
- Youth organizations and camps: YMCA, YWCA, Young Life, Scouts, etc.
- Community recreation centers
- Immigrant and refugee service providers
- Shelters
- Hospitals and hospices
- Residential treatment facilities
- Adult day healthcare centers
- Correctional institutions
- Nursing homes
- Adoption agencies
- Churches, synagogues and mosques
- Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
- Seek experience as a volunteer, intern or paid employee with social service or non-profit organizations.
- Become familiar with government and community resources available for those in need.
- Develop a wide range of skills such as presenting, grant writing and fund raising, as professionals in nonprofit organizations may fill multiple roles.
- Develop writing, research and public speaking skills and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Supplement coursework in with areas of interest such as business, human services, counseling or psychology.
- Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area, i.e. public health, environment, urban issues.
General Information and Strategies
- Develop excellent communication skills, verbal and written. Become skilled in various teaching strategies and technologies.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and energy for the field, particularly the desire to work with and help others.
- Obtain part-time, summer, internship or volunteer experience with the intended age group in various settings such as pre-schools, day cares, camps,
- community agencies, adult centers, YMCA’s, etc.
- Participate in co-curricular activities and related organizations to broaden skills, interests and networking opportunities.
- Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for certification to teach K-12 in most states. Obtain a master’s degree for advancement and to increase earning potential.
- Advanced degrees are required for specialists, education administration, college teaching and some other professional positions.
- Maintain current knowledge of state and national legislation regarding teacher certification.
- Identify transferable skills learned in teaching applicable to alternative careers:
- Verbal and written communication, teaching and instruction, program planning, organization and record-keeping, working under pressure, meeting deadlines, motivating others, creativity, working autonomously, decision-making, problem solving and research.
