How To Land Your Dream Job As Science Teacher

The world of education has changed dramatically. As a teacher, you’ll be expected to adapt and improve your skills, as well as develop new ones. For example, it’s no longer just about being able to teach your subject area. 

You need to be able to inspire children and engage them with the material so they want to learn more. To make sure that happens, you need to stay on top of trends in education and keep an eye out for opportunities that will help you land your dream job as Science Teacher!

Build And Foster The Right Connections

Building and fostering the right connections is key to landing a teaching job. In fact, networking is the key to getting pretty much anything you want in life: a job, a date, new friends, or even just that thing you’ve been coveting for months but have been too lazy to go out and get yourself.

If we’re being honest, networking probably isn’t an “art form” at all it’s more like some kind of science or magic (depending on which one makes you feel less awkward). 

But don’t let that intimidate you at its core it’s about finding people who share similar interests with you and making sure those people know what your skills are so they can help get the word out when opportunities arise.

So how do we do this? Here are five tips for building up your network from scratch:

Market Yourself On A National Level

If you want to be an excellent science teacher, it’s important to market yourself on a national level. A good way to do this is through a CV and cover letter. 

Your CV (curriculum vitae) is your ticket to interviews and job offers. It’s also an opportunity for you to show off all of your skills, knowledge, and experience in one document.

On the other hand, cover letters allow you to explain why you want the job and what makes you stand out from the crowd of applicants. If written correctly, they can help employers see that putting their trust in you will be worth it!

Head Overseas

If you are interested in working overseas, then don’t assume that your current qualifications will be enough to get you the job.

The process for landing a science teaching position can be quite different from what you’re used to. The first step is submitting an application package to the school board in your chosen location (or working through an agency). 

There’s no guarantee that your application will pass muster, so make sure it includes everything they need: references (including former employers), certificates and transcripts, and even a passport photo. 

If English isn’t the official language of their country, consider getting certified by taking an exam like TOEFL or IELTS; this will help prove that your written communication skills meet their requirements. 

Once they have all this information on file, they’ll decide whether or not they want to interview you in person!

As exciting as this may sound at first glance and believe me when I say it’s something every single science teacher dreams about doing at least once during his/her career it does come with some downsides too: 

Namely long hours away from family members both physically and emotionally due to time zone differences; having moving expenses paid for out of pocket (in most cases); 

Less pay than what American teachers receive because salaries tend not only lower but also less stable since many countries rely heavily upon foreign aid money which often comes with strings attached such as tough austerity measures being imposed upon government spending programs including education budgets…

Get Your NQT Year Sorted Early

Get a mentor. This can be someone local, but it doesn’t have to be; you don’t necessarily have to work in the same school as your mentor. 

The best mentors are usually people who have been there and done that (and survived), so try and find one who has an understanding of what you’re going through right now. 

They’ll be able to give good advice on how to approach certain situations, as well as help out with any problems that might come up along the way.

Don’t forget about other students! There’s nothing wrong with learning from others, no matter how long they’ve been teaching or where they teach – everyone has something new to tell you about your career choice!

Do Your Research!

Learn about the local education system, the local culture, and the job market you’re aiming for by reading articles about your chosen destination, talking to people who live there or even visiting them for a short period. 

You can also use websites such as Google Scholar or ResearchGate to find out more about specific topics. You may even want to ask your university if they have any alumni who have worked at or studied in that country before!

Mentorship Is Key

Mentorship is one of the best ways to learn about a new country and culture. As an ex-pat teacher, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet people who can help guide you through your job search process.

You may also be able to find other teachers who are interested in moving abroad themselves, or they might know someone who is looking for an ex-pat teacher. 

There are also online communities where international teachers can connect (LinkedIn has a helpful platform), and there are several Facebook groups that serve this purpose as well.

If possible, try asking someone from your home country if they would consider being your mentor once you arrive in their country this person could provide valuable insight into local customs and how the school system works in general.

Understand The Local Education System

If you’re thinking about moving to a new place, the first thing to do is to learn about that place. You want to know what’s different or special about it so that you can talk about it with people who live there.

In this case, though, it isn’t just a matter of meeting people and chatting them up; you need to find out more from official sources like school districts and state agencies. 

Do some Googling (or Bing-ing) for “teacher requirements” in your state/county/city/township/etc., then look around for websites where they publish their policies and procedures regarding hiring teachers. 

This will give you an idea of how the local education system works and what kind of experience they are looking for in potential candidates.

Embrace The Culture You Will Be Living In

You can’t change the culture of a country, but you can prepare yourself for it. Some of these things are more important than others:

Learn the language. If you don’t know how to speak it, learn how to speak it. If you do know how to speak it, make sure that your accent is not too strong and that you pronounce everything correctly. 

This will help people understand what you are saying and take you seriously as an educated individual; otherwise, they may think that you’re an unsophisticated foreigner who doesn’t belong in their country.

Get to know some local customs: What foods do people eat? How often do they go out? How much time do they spend with friends or family? What kind of music or movies do they like most? 

What kinds of sports do they play? What is considered appropriate behavior within this particular community (or even this particular social group)? 

Are there any taboos around certain topics or behaviors? Are there any local holidays when everyone goes home instead of working all day long like usual (for example, Chinese New Year)?

Always Build Up Your Network

This is a good time to mention that you should always network.

Always.

You will never be too old or too established to start building up your network. It’s important for any profession.

But especially one like teaching where new positions are often posted on your school’s website and/or Facebook page, and hiring committees tend to go with internal candidates when possible. 

You may not think it matters now, but trust me when that day comes when you want something from someone else (whether it be help filling out an application or sharing a great article).

Chances are they won’t remember who you are unless you were already friends before then. Just keep in mind: that people want to help others succeed if given the opportunity!

Conclusion

I hope that this blog has given you an insight into the world of international teaching and how to find your dream job. I am living proof that it is possible. 

I’ve been lucky enough to land my dream job in Malaysia, but there are equally great opportunities in other countries around the world too! 

If you are interested in finding out more about my own experience as an NQT teacher abroad, feel free to drop me a line on my blog or on Twitter @theteacherblog where I post regularly about my experiences and tips for teachers looking for work abroad.