WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS???

morah ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 3:33 pm

Well, that was actually a rhetorical question, but now that I've got your attention...

I did my part. I went to college, got my degree, and my secondary ed certification is pending. I am also qualified to teach Limmudei Kodesh. I did my student teaching in one of NYC's worst high schools. So here I am, with my fancy and EXPENSIVE degree, and so far, it appears to be worth slightly less than the paper it's printed on...

I'm 22 and UNEMPLOYED- although I won't count for unemployment statistics because I'm just a recent college grad. I'm not even getting interviews, and the few people who have given me more than 30 seconds of their time are looking for experience- not quite sure how I'm supposed to get that if no one is willing to give me a chance...

It's frustrating, doing everything they tell you to do and getting zilch for it. My college's career center has been less than useless. I have tefilla- but confident as I am that HKBH will make it work for me, I am feeling trapped and stuck.

I mostly need chizzuk. But leads would be nice too (PM me about those- I am in NYC, and no, leaving is not an option at this time).

Thanks in advance.

GreenEyes26

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 5:54 pm

Welcome to the current job market! NYC is one of the worst. I B"H just got a job last week after almost 9 months of searching. It took a bit of time before I even started getting interviews (about six months ago!) and for awhile there, there weren't even jobs to apply FOR. Good luck, it might take you awhile - though I hope not! Network and keep you ears open. I know, I've been there. It's a tough road, but iy"H you'll find something soon!

nicole81 ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:01 pm

what area is your certification in? are you willing to teach in public school? are you willing to teach *anywhere* in the city?

I am definitely aware of job openings in city schools, but I don't know if you would be interested, or if they're even in your area of certification...

Last edited by nicole81 on Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:03 pm; edited 1 time in total

seeker ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:02 pm

Student teaching is an experience, as well as any other pre-professional experiences you've had. Most people going into education take an assistant teaching job or the like while working on their degree, that's experience.

I have been seeing classifieds in the Jewish papers looking for teachers, some specifying that they want college degrees and/or certification, so presumably they are willing to pay accordingly - and if they're not willing to pay what you're worth, it would still be experience for the next round of hunting.

You can also get some experience and pocket change tutoring. Once you get your certification you can make nice money doing government subsidized tutoring for the IEP kids. Especially in secondary ed, it's often left up to the parents to find providers and they often don't know where to start so maybe it's easier to get a foot in the door there than going straight to busy principals who have 30 people competing for each job. Put out the word through schools, here, on luach.com, in classifieds, through word of mouth, that you're available and certified.

↑ morah ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:14 pm

Greeneyes- It's been a while for me already. I started looking early last semester...

Nicole81- I did my student teaching in a public school. I don't know where you see openings, but last I checked, which was about a week ago, there is nothing. Teachers are being laid off and there's a hiring freeze. The whole student teaching process was pretty depressing. Every day in the teachers lounge, I was told: good luck finding a job, there's nothing, go to law school or business school, etc. BTW, I'm getting certified in English, so that makes the picture all the bleaker...

Seeker- Which publications are you talking about? I've checked the classifieds online at Jewish Press and 5TJT- are there more classifieds in the printed editions? Any publications I'm missing.

In general, at this point, I'm not looking for a humane salary, I just want to get experience, so I am also willing to teach in a more RW school. So far, the ads for Jewish schools I've seen have been for the more MO schools. Are there any Bais Yaakovs with any openings, and how might I find them? They're not online and don't seem to be advertising anywhere.

↑ nicole81 ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:26 pm

as a DOE member, I can see jobs in places you can't. I'm also friends with a number of DOE administrators and network leaders, and most job openings are not widely publicized. in fact there's even an english opening in my school but I'm the only person that recruits for the position.

there are hundreds of schools in the city that opened within the last three years. each one of these schools has an opening for an english teacher, I promise you. although it's a bit late in the year, it might be worth emailing your resume to every principal in a new school tonight.

even with the hiring freeze, new teachers can be hired. it's a complicated process, but most schools would rather hire someone new than an ATR teacher, so they are willing to jump through the hoops if you are good.

↑ nicole81 ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:27 pm

amother wrote:

nicole81 where are the jobs?
do you have to have a lic or is a masters alone good enough?

to get a teaching job in NYC, you must hold NYS certification. the jobs are mostly in new schools, and in east new york, bushwick, south bronx, harlem, etc. but some new schools are in better areas, too.

↑ seeker ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:29 pm

I see ads in Yated and Hamodia. I don't know if it's what you're looking for specifically because I'm not really looking for those jobs at the moment, but I skim through them just out of curiosity from time to time.

Definitely NYC public schools are just going to be frustrating, I wouldn't even bother looking there, as you said, with the hiring freezes, layoffs, etc. Stick with the private school circuit. Speaking of which, would you consider teaching in a non-Jewish private school? There are some really nice Catholic schools in NY, not that I know of any specific openings or if they are easier to get into but they don't have a citywide hiring freeze.

↑ seeker ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:32 pm

Oh and some charter schools might not be under the freeze. Worth looking into. They will want the state certification but you did say yours is pending, if you can show that you've met all the requirements and will have it by the time the school year starts they may take you anyway (though with the competition out there, that won't help. Worth a try anyway, if you say it is pending now then it should be cleared in August, no?)

↑ morah

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:42 pm

Seeker- A Catholic school would feel a little funny, but I'd have no problem with a non-denominational private school. I have been looking into charter schools. While you are correct in that they are not bound by the hiring freeze, they don't seem to want anyone with less than 3 yrs experience. Yes, by pending, I mean I will be cleared by August. But thank you for mentioning Hamodia and Yated I will definitely look there.

Nicole81- Thanks, I will try sending out to the new places. Just so you know, only one person from my certification program has found a job, and it's in the private high school that he went to, so I'm not the only one in this predicament.

I also want to make this clear to anyone just joining the conversation: I have been actively searching for over SIX MONTHS, I did NOT smack my forehead this evening and say "Gee, it's June, I need to get the ball rolling!" I am feeling the mounting sense of panic at this point because there's been nothing for six months, and I have a little over two to get something squared away for next year...

↑ seeker ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:48 pm

Good luck. Also consider what I said about tutoring, I have found it easier to get jobs, adds to experience (even though what they really want is classroom experience, it doesn't hurt to show you've helped kids improve somehow) and provides some income while looking for the real jobs.

chocolate moose

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:49 pm

If you want a public school job but take a job in the private sector, you may never get the public school job you want.

Aren't there a lot of openings for math and science teachers? there always seemed to be a lot of signs advertising those jobs.

↑ seeker

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 6:53 pm

OP is an English teacher, not math/sci. And no, I don't think there are a lot of openings for anything, and what openings there are each have 300 applicants. The only areas that aren't glutted are severe/multiple disabilities and bilingual/certain languages, as far as I know. Even regular special ed is no longer considered a shortage field.

↑ nicole81 ↓

Sun, Jun 13 2010, 7:09 pm

I just know in my building alone there are 3 schools hiring for ELA teachers.

we only had one person interview and he has never taught before, and if no one else interviews, he will be hired by default.

if you're picky where you want to work, then there will be no jobs at all. but if you're willing to work in some rough neighborhoods, there are definitely openings.

aside from emailing new schools, better yet you should hand deliver your resume if you have the time. this way you know someone will look at it.

also, consider registering as a sub for the DOE. when you hand in your resume, mention you are available for subbing. you might be able to find a school to nominate you as their sub which is steady work, and eventually might lead to a job in that school. at the very least, it's a paycheck and invaluable experience on your resume.

NativeMom

Mon, Jun 14 2010, 8:51 am

I'll be graduating soon with a BSN and I'm already starting to get nervous about job hunting. My nursing school is not in NYC and most people out of my school get job offers where they have clinicals, internships or their preceptorships. NYC has a ton of new RNs looking for jobs and a lot of hospitals look for RNs with 1-2 years experience. It's flooded and I'm worried I'll be at a disadvantage because I didn't go to school there.

Its too bad, there's a shortage but still no jobs.

↑ nicole81

Mon, Jun 14 2010, 9:45 am

If you want to share what borough you are in, either here or via PM, maybe I can help you.

I have a list of over 20 ELA vacancies in Brooklyn alone, including my own school. I have similar lists for other boroughs as well.