I was recently speaking with a young lady who was working as a sales person at our local CarMax. In speaking with her, she told me she had graduated last December as an education major and had her elementary teaching certificate. She had been applying to schools throughout the winter and spring but still had not found a suitable teaching position for the fall. As she explained it, her current position was just a "placeholder" until she could get a tenure track teaching position. As one might expect, however, it's moving toward July and she is concerned that perhaps she has missed the prime hiring season; a legitimate concern and one that faces so many prospective teachers this time of year. Today's article is going to address these "placeholder" jobs, their value and their danger.
I fully understand the need to pay the bills! To do that, we have to work. That is just reality. So, if we do not have a teaching position, then we need something else while we look, right?... perhaps a "placeholder" position? Such jobs at least accomplish the minimal goal of getting your car insurance, cell phone, and food bills addressed... but often not much beyond that. It certainly isn't what you spent upwards of $100,000 and 4+ years of your life in college to attain. But, the plus is that at least those bills are paid and we can continue to look. I mean, what else can we do?
On the other hand, there are some potential pitfalls to the Placeholder Job and we should examine those one at a time.
Complacency. All too often a person eventually becomes accustomed to their position and income; it becomes their life. They're "making it" and they begin to feel like, "well, it's OK; I'm getting by." As a result their passion to pursue the hunt diminishes. Suddenly their not looking for a teaching position so diligently. They are not interviewing so passionately. Their competitive edge suffers. This scenario has played itself out over and over, and you need to be watchful this does not happen to you!
Pickiness. Consider Tracie's story. Tracie was working at a national car rental company in Knoxville's Tyson McGee Airport. She had been there 18 months and already had one promotion. She had been offered a job in a local private school late last year, but turned it down. As she explained it, the job barely paid more than the one she had, plus the grade level being offered was not the exact one to which she aspired. Result; she is still not a teacher and still waiting for that "perfect" position to come along. Bad news. That perfect position just might not come along if she continues to attend interviews with the, "What can you do for me better than what I have attitude." Keep in mind; teaching is your passion and what you want to do! The Placeholder Job is not what you had intended when you went through all those hoops to get your certificate. Look for every way possible to get your foot in the door!
Resume issues. If, like Tracie, you wind up in a variety of Placeholder Jobs over a two-three year period, this does not help your resume. Principals and other hiring authorities begin to wonder if perhaps there is some question regarding your real enthusiasm to teach. IF, you get to the interview, you can often address this and put that question behind... but the danger is your application might easily go into the "non-interview" pile.
Availability. Because you are working full time or possibly even 50 hour weeks, your available time to look for a teaching position or attend interviews becomes extremely limited. All too often you find yourself in a position where you have to ask for a different interview time because you are working when the offered time is announced. Keep in mind how these limitations can significantly undermine your job search and attractiveness as a candidate.
This brings us back to the earlier question; what else can we do? First and foremost; if you have a true passion to teach, then make your job search the very top priority and go after it with a vengeance. Even if you have had a few failures, do not spend your time in despair and woe-is-me scenarios; those are dead-end streets. Instead, redouble your efforts, prepare harder, spend time every day on your mission. You will be amazed how, at some point when least expected, a great opportunity can present itself. The opportunities come to those who look hardest.
Keep in the game. If you want a Placeholder Job that has some potential to serve your larger goal of a full time teaching post, look at substitute teaching instead of Walmart. Yes, I know. The pay is paltry and you can barely get by on only a substitute income. OK, take something in addition with low demand if things are that tight. But, these substitute positions often lead to great things. More importantly, the experiences, networking connections, and added skill sets will keep your mind and enthusiasm sharp.
Know this... you can succeed in this endeavor! You have everything it takes, and you only need a few breakthrough opportunities. Study, prepare, and stay active. You never know when you just might receive that call from a school district looking for someone just like you! Best wishes for that success!
I fully understand the need to pay the bills! To do that, we have to work. That is just reality. So, if we do not have a teaching position, then we need something else while we look, right?... perhaps a "placeholder" position? Such jobs at least accomplish the minimal goal of getting your car insurance, cell phone, and food bills addressed... but often not much beyond that. It certainly isn't what you spent upwards of $100,000 and 4+ years of your life in college to attain. But, the plus is that at least those bills are paid and we can continue to look. I mean, what else can we do?
On the other hand, there are some potential pitfalls to the Placeholder Job and we should examine those one at a time.
Complacency. All too often a person eventually becomes accustomed to their position and income; it becomes their life. They're "making it" and they begin to feel like, "well, it's OK; I'm getting by." As a result their passion to pursue the hunt diminishes. Suddenly their not looking for a teaching position so diligently. They are not interviewing so passionately. Their competitive edge suffers. This scenario has played itself out over and over, and you need to be watchful this does not happen to you!
Pickiness. Consider Tracie's story. Tracie was working at a national car rental company in Knoxville's Tyson McGee Airport. She had been there 18 months and already had one promotion. She had been offered a job in a local private school late last year, but turned it down. As she explained it, the job barely paid more than the one she had, plus the grade level being offered was not the exact one to which she aspired. Result; she is still not a teacher and still waiting for that "perfect" position to come along. Bad news. That perfect position just might not come along if she continues to attend interviews with the, "What can you do for me better than what I have attitude." Keep in mind; teaching is your passion and what you want to do! The Placeholder Job is not what you had intended when you went through all those hoops to get your certificate. Look for every way possible to get your foot in the door!
Resume issues. If, like Tracie, you wind up in a variety of Placeholder Jobs over a two-three year period, this does not help your resume. Principals and other hiring authorities begin to wonder if perhaps there is some question regarding your real enthusiasm to teach. IF, you get to the interview, you can often address this and put that question behind... but the danger is your application might easily go into the "non-interview" pile.
Availability. Because you are working full time or possibly even 50 hour weeks, your available time to look for a teaching position or attend interviews becomes extremely limited. All too often you find yourself in a position where you have to ask for a different interview time because you are working when the offered time is announced. Keep in mind how these limitations can significantly undermine your job search and attractiveness as a candidate.
This brings us back to the earlier question; what else can we do? First and foremost; if you have a true passion to teach, then make your job search the very top priority and go after it with a vengeance. Even if you have had a few failures, do not spend your time in despair and woe-is-me scenarios; those are dead-end streets. Instead, redouble your efforts, prepare harder, spend time every day on your mission. You will be amazed how, at some point when least expected, a great opportunity can present itself. The opportunities come to those who look hardest.
Keep in the game. If you want a Placeholder Job that has some potential to serve your larger goal of a full time teaching post, look at substitute teaching instead of Walmart. Yes, I know. The pay is paltry and you can barely get by on only a substitute income. OK, take something in addition with low demand if things are that tight. But, these substitute positions often lead to great things. More importantly, the experiences, networking connections, and added skill sets will keep your mind and enthusiasm sharp.
Know this... you can succeed in this endeavor! You have everything it takes, and you only need a few breakthrough opportunities. Study, prepare, and stay active. You never know when you just might receive that call from a school district looking for someone just like you! Best wishes for that success!
My name is Robert W. Pollock. I am an educator, with over 34 years experience, a speaker, a consultant, and the author of 'Teacher Interviews. How to Get Them & How to Get Hired!. I have spoken to 1,000's of prospective teachers on how to interview and get the job. I have consulted with numerous schools around the country. Currently I am a professor of Education at Tusculum College, Knoxville, TN, where I also serve as the president of their alumni board.
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