What your first year in a teaching job is really like

So, you’re looking for a job in teaching? Help shape the minds of tomorrow with an education course that prepares you for a career at the front of the classroom.

In Victoria alone, the state government has invested more than $1.6 billion to support and grow the school workforce since 2019¹. According to SEEK, jobs in teaching will continue to grow by around 10% over the next 5 years².

As you can see, now is the best time to consider how a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Health, Physical Education and Sport (Secondary), Master of Teaching Practice (Primary Education) or Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education) at RMIT could set you on the path to a fulfilling career.

We asked Dr Richard Johnson, Senior Lecturer in our School of Education to help us bust some of the myths about teaching, give insights into what your first year of a teaching job will be like and how RMIT’s education courses prepare you for your future career.

At RMIT, you’ll do the job before you get the job

At RMIT student’s learn to apply their skills in a range of settings. Through extensive placements, you’ll gain confidence and get hands-on time in the classroom long before you land a job in teaching. 

Our education courses are led by academics and guest lecturers with current professional experience. In your studies you’ll learn about the theory behind education. With up to 80 days of classroom experience being an important part of many of RMIT’s education courses, you’ll get supervised experience in the classroom to build your confidence and the opportunity to apply what you’re learning. 

After placements, academic staff will give you feedback on your lessons and how you taught concepts to students. It’s this extensive practical experience that will prepare you for your first year as a teacher.

You’ll build a network of passionate people

At RMIT students learn to apply their skills in a range of settings. Through extensive placements, you’ll gain confidence and get hands-on time in the classroom long before you land a job in teaching. 

Our education courses are led by academics and guest lecturers with current professional experience. In your studies, you’ll learn about the theory behind education. With up to 80 days of classroom experience being an important part of many of RMIT’s education courses, you’ll get supervised experience in the classroom to build your confidence and the opportunity to apply what you’re learning. 

Two RMIT education students sitting at a table helping a primary school student

You’ll gain valuable soft skills

The traditional concept of a classroom where the teacher stands in front of a room full of students who listen and respond to direction is becoming a thing of the past. 

How you operate and the energy you bring to a classroom is what employers are really looking for. They’re also interested in the skills that you possess that will enhance your ability to teach the next generation. Not only does this include soft skills, such as communication, creativity and leadership and savviness with emerging technologies like augmented reality.

RMIT’s future-focused learning and next-gen facilities means you won’t be caught unaware when you land an education job and begin teaching the next generation using the tech of tomorrow.

You’ll never stop learning

You don’t stop learning once you graduate from university, and the path of a teacher is one of continual improvement. Once you arrive in the classroom, you can start putting the skills and knowledge you’ve gained into practice. 

You can take your time, try new things, and reflect on what works. The experiences often build on one another as you learn on the job. As you inspire and educate your students, you’ll find your confidence and expertise growing alongside them.

Enter the teaching profession with a passion for making a difference and a willingness to keep learning, and you’ll find you have a healthy balance of professional and personal commitments. 

Story: Hilary Jones and Jacob Johnston

References:

¹Victorian Government. “Scholarships for secondary teaching degrees”. Accessed 19 March 2024. https://www.vic.gov.au/scholarships-secondary-teaching-degrees.

² SEEK. “Teacher career advice insights.” Accessed 19 March 2024. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/teacher.

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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What your first year in a teaching job is really like