Posted on Monday 24th May 2016 by James Howell
Data released by graduate-jobs.com shows graduates are eager to inspire younger generations through education.
New data from independent job board, graduate-jobs.com, shows Education to be one of the most popular career choices for graduates. Looking at user data from a five year period, graduate-jobs.com discovered over 11% of registered users want to work in Education and Teaching-putting the sector ahead of other popular career choices such as Computing & IT (10%) and Engineering (9%).
Education also shows a rise in popularity of over 2% in the past ten years. Educational worker Jenny Meagher believes careers in Education offers something different to graduates who are keen to use their creative and motivational skills.
"I think more and more young graduates look to teach as it is a rewarding, creative career that gives you the chance to pass on knowledge and work with young people," she says.
"[It's] something that you just don't get within an office-based career."
Jenny studied English at the University of Edinburgh before joining the Teach First graduate programme.
"I chose teaching because it has always been my theory that you should do a job you enjoy," she says.
"English has been a passion of mine throughout school and I went on to study it at university. It seemed like the next logical step to try and get the next generation just as excited and interested in the subject as I was."
"Since September I've been working full time in a secondary school in Middlesbrough as part of the Teach First graduate programme. I teach all ages from 11 to 16 and run a club after school."
There are many options available for graduates in the education sector, and Jenny says it is important to take time to choose the right career. "It is important to find a route into teaching that suits you," she says.
"Teach First appealed to me because it was a way to throw myself into the career and learn on the job. The experience I got from a PGCE is very different but for some the university-based approach suits them a lot more."
"However you do it, there are grants, support and options for anyone of any age to get into teaching."
Working with children can be fulfilling, but offers some unique challenges to graduates just starting out.
"I vividly remember the first time I stood in front of a class and had no control over a bunch of 13 year old boys," Jenny says. "Fast forward three months and the same boys are the ones that hang around at break time and tell me that I'm 'really sound for a teacher.'"
Jenny says graduates also sometimes struggle to find a healthy work-life balance.
"Teaching is an all-consuming job at first. You worry about your students and find yourself working on weekends because you promised a class you'd get things done or there are deadlines to meet."
"Be aware that in your first year of teaching you are expected to do all of this and manage assessments and days in university too!"
Graduates considering education careers should try and gain some experience in schools to give them an idea of what to expect, Jenny says.
"Get some school experience beforehand-not just in your comfort zone. The skills to teach will take you anywhere but the kids across the country and within regions are all different. I'd definitely recommend getting into as many schools as possible beforehand."
From her experience, Jenny says no matter how stressful her workload is, teaching is a really rewarding career.
"I'd be lying if I said it was easy," she says. "[But] the moments where you really reach a student and see them achieve are what make it worthwhile."
"You need to hold on to those moments because when the deadlines build up and the mark schemes change again, they are the parts that get you through!"
"Don't ever be scared-it will get easier."
Image credit: Roman Mager