Take control of your career strategy as an Early Career Teacher

Katie Jump on advancing your teaching career

Katie Jump is a module lead on NITE’s MA in Education. After a successful career in Primary Education, Katie moved into Higher Education and Initial Teacher Training in 2015. Since then, she has taught undergraduates and postgraduates and currently teaches on the Expert Teaching pathway. Katie also writes articles on issues in Primary Education for the Chartered College of Teachers.

Your career strategy

If you are seeking to advance your career in the direction of your own choosing, then having a career strategy is essential. We are all offered CPD opportunities in school, such as INSET or after school training. Although useful, these are often more focused on the needs of the school rather your own. Envisaging how you would want you your career to develop will enable you to focus on what is pertinent from school-provided training, but also identify the other opportunities out there to enhance your CV.

Ten steps to planning your career

The strategies below will assist you in developing a career strategy for yourself.

1. Set goals. Having a clear end goal, as well as potential ‘way points’ will help you to focus your actions.
2. Define clear actions that will be useful in achieving your goal. They may be specific qualifications, knowledge or experiences for example.
3. Keep informed about opportunities in your current setting and consider how contributing to working parties etc. will add to your experience.
4. Broaden your experience. Seek opportunities to gain a breadth of experience in in your early years of teaching, move Key Stage, shadow a department lead or take on intervention or revision classes. Consider moving schools to experience a different school culture and area.
5. Learn from others. Professional development doesn’t have to be formal; seek out those in the positions you aspire to and learn from their experience and advice.
6. Stay current with educational advancements by keeping informed initiatives in the sector, following the education press and social media, taking training and attending workshops.
7. Reflect and seek feedback. This doesn’t have to just be on the lessons you teach; marking, planning, interacting with others could all benefit from the feedback of others and give insight as to how to become a better practitioner. Ask for constructive feedback from peers, mentors, and students if appropriate.
8. Balance career and personal well-being. It is important not to become consumed by the job, although having a healthy desire to improve is an important factor in developing a career strategy.
9. Take ownership of your Professional Development. Rather than just learning at INSET training and after school meetings, actively seek out the PD that will help you achieve your goals.
10. Consider further qualifications. Courses such as our MA in Education will expand your knowledge and skills. As part of the course, you can specialise as a Mentor, SEND expert or as an Expert in Teaching. If you have an excellent understanding of these roles before you apply for one of them, it will set you apart from other candidates.