If you’re someone who always finds themselves entertaining the kids at family gatherings (and secretly enjoys it too), chances are you’re going to be a ripper of a teacher. Teaching is all about passing knowledge and skills on to others. While the industry encompasses adult education, it’s more commonly about engaging with children and young people. As far as professions go, teaching is one of the noblest, and one of the most important for our future. So if you’re someone who wants to potentially teach the next Prime Minister or entrepreneur that may change the world, keep having a ponder.

WILL IT SUIT ME?

If you’re friendly, good at listening and excellent at communicating, then you’re a shoe in. Generally, teachers are the sorts of people who can comfortably interact with people of all ages, build healthy and respectful relationships with kids, foster an environment of creativity and learning and actually give a damn about education. That means dedicating  (even sacrificing) some of your time to create lesson plans and provide detailed feedback on assignments and tests. While you may spend some more time than regular 9-5ers, the accomplishment you’ll feel for seeing your students grow will be worth it. 

HOW CAN I GET THERE? 

To become a primary school or high school teacher, you need to earn a Bachelor of Education from a university. Another option (if you have a degree in arts, science or law) is to undertake a Masters of Education, which takes an extra two-years. Although if you’re keen on becoming an early-childhood teacher, you can choose to do a certificate at TAFE. There’s a ship load of courses available.

WHAT SKILLS WILL I LEARN?

While your patience will get a fair work out, you’ll pick up on other skills like:

• Adaptability.
• Communication skills.
• Ability to mentor.
• Administrative and leadership skills.
• Ability to multitask.
• Critical thinking in creating solutions.
• Confidence.
• Organisation.

The field of teaching and education is an industry on the continuous rise. There will always be young people who need to get educated and teachers often stay in the same career for the entirety of their working lives. Though the hours aren’t flexible at all, teaching provides a decent pay, far more holidays than most jobs out there and is one of the most rewarding professions around as you get to teach kids that were just like you when you were a youngin’. So be the teacher that you wished you had.