Gradlife

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As you may or may not know, I am nearing the end of a graduate program that will qualify me as a teacher. As you also may or may not know, at this point in time there’s a few challenges in the job market for teachers (ie: labour disruptions and not exactly a plethora of jobs). Unfortunately the latter challenge isn’t just limited to us teacher types – jobs aren’t really handing themselves to anyone these days.

While recently procrastinating from the overwhelming (and sometimes hopeless) job search process, I found myself back at the U of T Career Centre website. Quizzes I saw, and always one for tests (why else would we still be in school?), I was intrigued. If you aren’t in school for the tests, perhaps sharing what I learned may be of help:

• Only 20% of job positions are ever advertised. What’s left? The 80% of job openings that make up the “hidden job market”.
• How do you tap-in the hidden job market? Networking is the most successful work-search strategy.
• When employers first scan resumes they spend only 10-20 seconds screening for unqualified, or error-filled resumes. So, get that thing proof-read, will ya?
• I learned I know nothing about celebrities. Interesting fact for educators and/or Bill Cosby fans and/or trivia buffs: Bill Cosby has a doctorate in education.
• The Career Resource Library has publications such as “Careers for Environmental Types & Others who Respect the Earth” or “Number Crunchers and other Quantitative Types” (I am definitely more type A than B when these are the options).

And once you land that dream job:

• Much of your early career success will depend on the impressions you make on the people you will be working with and the impressions they develop of you in the early weeks and months in your new job. So be your best self (even under pressure!)

Don’t fear. Things change and the opportunities are out there (at least that’s been my mantra these days). And if all else fails, have you considered another degree?