Career Options: Teaching
by Kishore

Teaching is one of the most interesting and challenging careers in my opinion. Variations exist in this career, which range from University Professors to Elementary School teachers. Posted in Government Schools in remote places to highly recognized universities across the country, this career has its own requirements at various levels and challenges.

Motivations for this Career:

  • Interest in Academics
  • Interest in Research
  • Interest in Teaching
  • Motivated to educate people
  • Inspiration from Teachers
  • Extra Earning for the family

Most of the times pursuing Research program leads to a career in Academics. This career gives the opportunity to continue the research and attain intellectual satisfaction. In my opinion Inspiration from teachers during education might play a crucial role in pursuing a career in Teaching.

Unlike other careers this career may not be always a very high paying career. Working in highly recognized Universities and Colleges may have some attractive options and salaries but others in various colleges and schools may adjust with lower perks.

Lot of Women get into this career to meet multiple objectives of earning for the family and also keep themselves busy with a job.

Advantages of this career:

  • An opportunity to mold careers of people
  • Pursue one’s academic interests and research objectives
  • An opportunity to inspire people

Teachers set an example for students. A self-motivated and enthusiastic teacher can play a significant role in a student’s career. Next to parents, a teacher plays a highly influential role in a child’s life. An Ideal teacher is one who can inspire the students to be a sincere, responsible citizen of the nation. He would inculcate in the student an eagerness to learn, confidence to face the world and become successful despite all the challenges. It is not just the subject that a teacher teaches but the role he plays in molding character of an individual that makes the job interesting.

Challenges of this career:

  • Salaries are not great compared to various other career options
  • A self-motivated individual can play effective role.
  • It takes a long time to establish oneself in a college/institute and gain a good reputation
  • One needs to be adequately trained in handling people with different mentalities. A typical classroom with have a combination of bright students and also who are not so good in education. To manage a mix of students and motivate everyone to perform well is a tough task
  • One needs to be very authoritative in manner to be able gain respect and advance this career. Oratory skills would be an added advantage in this career.

Education

One needs to be decide on this career in advance so that relevant education can be pursued. A Master’s degree in respective discipline usually suffices to be able to get into teaching career. A Ph.D would be an added advantage.

While Professional Colleges would look for relevant Master’s degree for appointing one, various educational institutes would like a B.Ed degree or relevant experience to place people in their organizations.

Besides Master’s degree in discipline or B.Ed, I definitely feel reading psychology and an avid interest to understand personalities and manage them would be enable one to play very effective role in this career.

You can also read my views on this noble profession by clicking here.

Your views on this article and Questions to be featured in this section can be sent to cskishore@yahoo.com

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