Higher Education Jobs for Future Educators

Higher Education Jobs for Future Educators

High school graduation is just the starting line. Here’s how you can prepare for your future higher education job. 

You love teaching. But you know you don't love teaching K-12, and tutoring isn't for you. 

You want something more. More structured. More diverse. Completely new territory. 

You want higher education jobs that make a difference. 

And we want to help you land one. 

Community jobs in higher education (like your local community college or university) allow you to impact, educate, and change lives without the stress of the K-12 environment. 

The difference between work environments is tangible. Your students chose to be there. They have dreams and goals. And they want you to be the bridge to take them to the next stage of their lives. 

Are you ready? 

Read on to learn more about higher education jobs to consider for your career path, entry-level options for those just starting out, and transferable skills to refine. We'll also be showing you the tool that has helped passionate career people like you move the needle, putting them above and beyond the hundreds of other competing resumes. 

Read on to learn more. 

The Higher Education Jobs Landscape: More Than Just Professors 

Higher education jobs are so diverse. There's truly something for everyone. 

Professors are typically the most well-known, and they can teach through every area of subject matter a university has to offer (so long as they're qualified for that specific topic). There are different levels of positions (like adjunct professors vs. full-time professors) that are available for applicants across a range of experience, interest, and time commitment preferences. 

If teaching isn't your thing, consider pursuing "background" roles, like those in the student services and administrative departments. These specialists (think admin, registrar, and financial aid team members) make the higher education dream possible for thousands of students.

If you'd like to stay in your area of expertise, but prefer to support students and the future generation outside of the classroom, consider research or digital learning roles. While these are considered other "background" roles, they do require specialty skill sets for success, and you'll make just as big of an impact on the students. 

Entry-Level Paths Into Higher Education

One of the biggest misconceptions about higher education jobs is that you need higher education to chase them.

Not true!

There are plenty of entry-level community jobs and other roles in the higher education space that are looking for fresh talent, no experience required.

Here are a few examples of common entry-level roles that are hiring today, near you:

• Academic advising and student success coaching
• Admissions and recruitment officers
• Residence life and student activities leaders
• Tutoring and learning support center team members
• Program coordination officers and directors
• Workforce development program team members
• Adult education and literacy program managers
• Community outreach specialists

Now, you're probably wondering: What do employers ACTUALLY want when they put the call out for these jobs? How can I get in front of the hiring committee?

We'll tell you! 

Employers want someone who genuinely cares about student success, who has solid communication skills, and who is willing to adapt and learn as they go. 

They also want someone who is empathetic to the current state and struggles of the student body, and who can be a part of a team.

A video resume is one of the best ways to showcase all of these skills, allowing you to tell your story how it deserves to be told. 

Where To Find Your First Higher Education Role (+ Your Next Right Step)

Before you shoot your video resume, you have to figure out where you're going to look for higher education jobs. They typically have their own ecosystem, and can be found in places like:

‍

• HigherEdJobs.com and ChronicleJobs
• Individual college and university career pages
• Community college networks
• Professional associations like NASPA, ACPA, and NACADA

Once you've found a few you want to apply to, it's time to shoot your video resume. It's best to consider it like your "elevator pitch," summarizing your experience, approach, and passion into a crisp 30-second to 1-minute video application. Try to speak naturally, letting your personality shine through. Few applicants actually take the time to shoot an application-specific video, so this step already puts you ahead of the crowd. 

Takeaway

You've already got the passion, the perspective, and the skills that colleges and universities near you are looking for. You just have to find the right opportunities.

Don't let imposter syndrome convince you that you're not ready. Make a list of dream roles you find on your search, and work through it, one by one. Then, when you're ready to submit, stand out from the pile of paper resumes with a free video resume from Real Hire.

RealHire's video resume tool lets you preview your true personality and qualifications in just 30-60 seconds, showing hiring committees exactly why you're the bridge students need to reach their goals.

A traditional resume can't do that.

Start building your video resume for FREE today at RealHire.com.