Tips for finding work in America?

[heo luoi 206]

Just so you're clear, that summer off is represented in wages. You'd need to contact the state education board. Tons of schools are in need of qualified teachers. Also being a 'substitute' teacher requires a surprisingly little amount of formal education/certification.

Does anyone have experience in becoming a teacher. I'm considering it because of the 15 weeks vacation (The 15 days at most other jobs compared to the 30 I'm used to is slowly making me feel depressed) I think being a teacher and having so much time off would be perfect for me in order to travel back to London and spend time with my family & also for them to come and visit me in Texas too.

I've read so far that you need a bachelors degree from an accredited university and then you need to do a certification. I can't seem to find out though if my degree from a London university would count as being "accredited"? Does anyone know?

[londongal 17]

Just so you're clear, that summer off is represented in wages. You'd need to contact the state education board. Tons of schools are in need of qualified teachers. Also being a 'substitute' teacher requires a surprisingly little amount of formal education/certification.

So for example if a teaching job is advertised as $50,000 I still need to deduct the holidays off ?

[heo luoi 206]

No, no. Just saying from other conventional jobs you work all year. My understanding is (ive known a lot of teachers or their spouses are teachers) is its time off but not exactly PTO. Its really $50k for 9mos of work not 12. You may get evenly distributed monthly but thats not truly 'paid time off'. Just saying not sure what your expectations from home is. I think europe that exceptional amount of time off people get is all paid. Not saying its still not the best idea for you and sounds like you should be qualified just unsure what your predisposed expectations from home were. Teachers do also get a lot of school days / holidays off too.

Like NFL pro football athletes, only get paid game checks for the season / post season. After that they dont get paid anything in the off season. Their off season is not PTO. I suppose its all a matter of perspective but just saying tis all.

http://work.chron.com/teachers-paid-during-breaks-22786.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/07/myth-of-teacher-summer-vacation/397535/

So for example if a teaching job is advertised as $50,000 I still need to deduct the holidays off ?

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Does anyone have experience in becoming a teacher. I'm considering it because of the 15 weeks vacation (The 15 days at most other jobs compared to the 30 I'm used to is slowly making me feel depressed) I think being a teacher and having so much time off would be perfect for me in order to travel back to London and spend time with my family & also for them to come and visit me in Texas too.

I've read so far that you need a bachelors degree from an accredited university and then you need to do a certification. I can't seem to find out though if my degree from a London university would count as being "accredited"? Does anyone know?

I would imagine your degree and university could be evaluated easily enough. But you can't just become a teacher without going through a certification process and likely some further coursework. Here's some info http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/

Teaching is not as easy as you think it is. Beware. I would suggest spend a couple of weeks in a classroom full-time before you spend a lot of money to get certified in a profession that could be half the pay and a tenth of the respect. Try it out by volunteering.

[londongal 17]

I would imagine your degree and university could be evaluated easily enough. But you can't just become a teacher without going through a certification process and likely some further coursework. Here's some info http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/

Teaching is not as easy as you think it is. Beware. I would suggest spend a couple of weeks in a classroom full-time before you spend a lot of money to get certified in a profession that could be half the pay and a tenth of the respect. Try it out by volunteering.

I agree. think I'd definitely have to try it out first. I'm just so discouraged by the lack of annual leave most jobs in the states give you. I don't want to fill like a prisoner in the US when all my friends and family are in the UK so I'm just researching and trying to find out which jobs give the best annual leave options.

[heo luoi 206]

Well for context, at least UK rather easy to come/go particularly w/ VWP. Nor is it particularly far.

Others are even less able then you/yours

Also in context, just if you are a teacher just means YOU could go. Or host. But your spouse would likely be stuck working so that isn't always so fun.

[TBoneTX 43,064]

You might also have to spend summers taking "continuing education" courses.

[londongal 17]

I don't mind so much about taking summer courses etc, even if my partner couldn't come with me, at least I know my Mum & Dad could come and stay in the US instead for long periods of time (especially if I have children by then) it would mean a lot for me for my parents to be able to come and stay during summer to bond with their grand-kids, and for me to be able to catch up with them, rather than have to go to work everyday and just spend evenings & weekends with them or whatever.

Granted, I know some people have it a lot harder, I guess I'm just so used to having 30 days of paid annual leave that I'm struggling to come to terms with it possibly going down to only 15 or even less Just trying to consider all my options whilst we are still in the planning and preparing stage...

[heo luoi 206]

With seniority/experience most places let you accrue more over time. Also roll over some amount of it yearly. Also some jobs will be less facilitative if you were take a huge long contiguous chunk at once or youll certainly need to give plenty of notice.

I don't mind so much about taking summer courses etc, even if my partner couldn't come with me, at least I know my Mum & Dad could come and stay in the US instead for long periods of time (especially if I have children by then) it would mean a lot for me for my parents to be able to come and stay during summer to bond with their grand-kids, and for me to be able to catch up with them, rather than have to go to work everyday and just spend evenings & weekends with them or whatever.

Granted, I know some people have it a lot harder, I guess I'm just so used to having 30 days of paid annual leave that I'm struggling to come to terms with it possibly going down to only 15 or even less Just trying to consider all my options whilst we are still in the planning and preparing stage...

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi