History alumni careers panel
Photo courtesy of Engin Akyrut/Pexels
Have you ever wondered what you can do with a degree in history? The history department held a small panel of alumni, all of whom had graduated from their department and went on into the education field as teachers of various grade levels. Panelists included McKenna Campbell, Emmy Lundquist, Katlin McNeil, Karilyn Nieves, and Christopher Pitre. Throughout the event, these alumni answered students’ questions and gave advice for future educators.
One student had asked how to prepare for the content exams, to which an alum responded with reassurance that the exam was a little bit of everything, and it would be manageable as long as you pay attention in class. One panelist, NAME, suggested studying by “gossiping” about topics with other students. She gave her own example, saying that she would talk about historical figures with friends like they were other students.
Another concern that was brought up was balancing extracurriculars with teaching. The panelists emphasized the importance of time management. There is a lot of work that goes into teaching, like committees you have to serve on, and managing your time is crucial when adding more to your plate. They mentioned that planning or writing out what you want to do on a day-to-day basis can help, and they also pointed out that finding small things outside of work like cooking, hiking, or other hobbies you enjoy can help you from burning out quickly.
Later in the event, someone asked about the process of seeking interviews. Panelists recommended platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed, and also places like OLAS or Recruit Front. They advised searching up the district(s) you want to apply to, going to their website, and looking for any job listings. If you are able to, they suggested, you could also try subbing in your home district if you are still in contact with former teachers.
Another alum noted that sometimes during interviews an employer might provide you with a lesson plan, and suggested that you try to make the plan your own and be creative with it. Going off of that, a participant posed an important question: “What are some common or different types of questions in interviews?” The panelists mentioned questions like, “What makes you a great fit?” or “Why do you want to teach?” For questions about what makes you most suitable for the position, they suggested looking into the school you are interviewing for and the community, so you know what they are looking for and how you fit into it. A few alumni also mentioned that sometimes interviewers will ask odd questions that are not looking for a specific answer, but rather how you answer the question, or how you think through it.
In the end, they discussed the best and the least pleasant parts of teaching. Some of the things they talked about were being yourself when you teach. If you enjoy what you are teaching, your students will too. Teaching allows you to make connections with not only other teachers but your students too, which can be rewarding. Some of the better moments they shared were the “I gotcha” moments, when students who struggled with topics finally understood it after a lot of hard work. On the other hand, some of the less pleasant moments of teaching, they mentioned, were realizing that sometimes your students will not have the best home lives, but you can encourage and celebrate your students while you are with them.