Education & Training

A career in teaching is always a popular choice among graduates, and the industry as a whole has many more career options for graduates than just Primary/Secondary teaching or lecturing at a third level institution. The education industry also encompasses the teaching and training of pre-school children as well as adults of any age.

Graduates considering a career in teaching should possess most if not all of the following skills:

• A passion to teach - Showing your students that you care about a subject is essential to their willingness to learn more.
• Patience - Dealing with students for an extended period of time can be quite frustrating.
• Good communication skills - You can be as clever as Einstein but may be dull and uninteresting with a monotone voice. This won't inspire anybody. How well you engage your students in the lessons will determine how much they learn from, your classes.
• Good problem solving skills - Unique problems will undoubtedly arise in the classroom. Having the ability to react effectively will determine how good a teacher you become.
• Be supportive - Your students need to feel comfortable in your presence and know that they can approach you with concerns or queries at any time.
• To be able to interact with all ages - Dealing with the parents of your students can be as important as your teaching of the student themselves.
• Be a good leader - As a teacher you are a role model for your students. They spend a great deal of time in your presence and ultimately are without thinking studying your behaviour. It is very important to be aware of the implications of offering certain opinions or acting in a certain way.

Some of the potential careers available to graduates in the industry are:

• Primary school teacher
• Secondary school teacher
• Special needs co-ordinator
• Lecturer in a university or other third level institution
• School librarian
• Adult education provider, teaching basic skills to adults in the evenings
• Teacher in a prison or hospital
• Educational psychologist working with children in schools
• TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
• Career guidance counsellor

Entry requirements differ according to the area of education you wish to work in, but almost all roles require specialist training. Undergraduate or Postgraduate teaching qualifications are required for the majority of teaching roles.