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Education (K-12/Higher Education/Teaching Abroad)

Teaching & Educational Institutions K-12

Careers in education attract individuals who wish to make significant impact on the development of others, in many cases, children. These individuals have a passion for imparting knowledge to others and influencing learning. They also have a passion for hard work, leveraging creative ideas, and seeing the results of their work. Teaching is one of the well-known career paths in Education, but there are non-teaching options for people looking to leverage other skills and interests within the industry.

Teaching (K-12 Education)

Teaching certifications vary state-by-state, although some states offer reciprocity certification with neighboring states. Most states offer multiple paths to becoming a teacher. Many individuals will participate in teacher education programs at accredited colleges and become certified teachers in a public school. Others may choose to teach in a private school, which does not necessarily require teaching certification. There are also “alternative certification” programs that prepare individuals for their state certification with just a bachelor’s degree. An additional pathway to gaining education experience inside a classroom is teaching English abroad in another country.

Non-Teaching Careers

There are also administrative careers in K-12 education. Administrators manage operations and staff within schools or school districts. They may develop curriculum, choose the technology used in the classroom, and hire personnel. Examples of administrative careers include school principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, interventionist, librarian, and curriculum developer.

There are opportunities to work in the education field outside of schools such as education technology (EdTech), instructional design, museum/arts education, education policy, and corporate training.

Higher Education

Positions within higher education include research and teaching. Administrative positions also exist within higher education, such as academic program development, admissions, financial aid, and institutional research. There are also positions in student affairs which typically work directly with students in areas such as academic advising, multicultural student affairs, residential services, and career counseling. Most teaching, research, and leadership positions require a PhD or EdD. Positions in student affairs often require a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.

Skills to develop for success in this field

Teaching Careers

  • Communication skills
  • Patience
  • Adaptability
  • Organization
  • Creativity
  • Subject knowledge
  • Classroom management
  • Technological proficiency
  • Curriculum development

Non-teaching/Administrative Careers

  • Communication & interpersonal skills
  • Leadership abilities
  • Organizational skills
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical skills
  • Program/workshop development skills

Online Resources specific to the industry

K-12
Alternative Certification Programs
Higher Education and education-related jobs
EdTech jobs



Key information or knowledge for this field

K-12
  • The hiring timeline for teaching is generally from March—September, although with the teaching shortage in the US, hiring can happen year-round.
  • Applying for K-12 teaching is usually through direct application to the specific school district. There are also placement services for independent K-12 schools.
  • State-specific teaching certification for K-12 is mandatory for most public schools. Be familiar with teaching certification requirements, particularly if you are planning to relocate to a state that is different from the one that you received your certification from. Some states have reciprocity for teacher certification requirements with neighboring states.
Higher Education
  • Candidates should research the mission, student population, and student profile of each institution where they are interviewing. Demonstrate your understanding of the role, your key accomplishments, enthusiasm to work with students, and field knowledge.
  • Hiring for higher education takes place all year around, but many positions are created when departmental budgets are determined, usually between May and August.


Relevant student groups and professional organizations

Teaching Abroad

For those interested in teaching abroad, agencies, programs, and fellowships exist with different timelines for recruiting participants. Depending on the program, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification may be needed, especially when working with recruiting agencies that specialize in hiring English language teachers.

Teach Abroad Program Examples