How to Get Experience Working in a Pre-School

Preschool teachers commonly begin their career as assistant teachers who progress to lead teacher. (See References 2)

While few people seek careers working in preschools for the salary, the rewards of working with young children and making an impact on young lives during a critical time of development inspires many people to this profession. The job outlook for preschool careers as a teacher are expected to increase in the future faster than the average. People interested in this career should expect to have a minimum of an associates degree and/or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

Instructions

1. Search the newspaper classifieds section, online job boards and your local department of labor for job openings. Identify jobs at preschools that interest you.

2. Call preschools that you want to work for and ask to speak with human resources or the manager. Ask if they are currently hiring. If they are not hiring, let them know you are interested and ask if you can preemptively fill out an application or drop off a resume for them to keep on file.

3. Apply for an entry-level job at a preschool if you do not have any experience or education. Keep in mind that the majority of preschools will require you to pass a background check, which you may have to pay for yourself.

4. Ask preschools whom you are interested in working for but are not currently hiring if they would consider hiring you as a substitute or on-call employee. You may also be eligible to substitute in a public preschool program if there is one in your community. States vary in their requirements to substitute teach and many states do not require you to be certified. You will just be paid less.

5. Enroll in an early childhood education program or take classes at a community center, community college or university. Preschools often seek employees with a minimum of an associate's degree in early childhood development or education, although a bachelor's degree would make an applicant more competitive.

6. Volunteer at your child's preschool, a local preschool or at your community's Head Start program. This experience provides you with valuable knowledge and skills, strengthens your resume and provides opportunity to network with potential employers.

7. Open your own preschool. While this option requires substantial commitment and resources, if you can afford to do so and feel you have sufficient qualifications, you could be quite successful.

References

• New York State; EarlyChildhood.org
• Collegeboard.com; Career: Preschool Teachers
• Education-Portal.com; Preschool Teacher Requirements and Career Information
• UNC FPG Child Development Institute; Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs in the United States
• SuperScholar; Preschool Teacher