Teacher
(Female, Age 32) from Chicago, IL
This is a REAL-LIFE job profile written by a Female aged 32 who works as a Teacher in Chicago, IL. We have removed all names and personal information in order to protect privacy. This professional kindly spent a bit of their time to complete one of our job profile surveys so that prospective job seekers like you could read their insights. Please excuse any punctuation or grammatical errors in this profile.
At a Glance
Current Job
Basic data on your current job
| Job Title | Teacher |
|---|---|
| Salary | $60,000 |
| Other Compensation | None Set |
| Hours/Week | 45 |
| Company Size | (not answered) |
| Location | Chicago, IL |
| Years Experience | 4 years |
Career Ratings
Opinions on your CAREER overall (i.e. not just your current job)
| Years in Career | 0 |
|---|---|
| Education | (not answered) |
| Income Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Interest Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Work-Life Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Fulfilment Rating | 0 / 10 |
Current job Q&A
Describe the type of organization you work for.
I work for Chicago Public Schools as a middle school teacher.
Describe your job role and responsibilities.
I am responsible for creating, implementing, and managing curriculum at the middle school level with approximately 30 students per class. There are MANY aspects of teaching, but that is the overview.
Please list an additional benefits (beyond compensation) that you receive.
11 sick days per year (that accrue), 3 personal days, summer, winter break, spring break, health insurance, retirement plan
Do you feel you are under/over or well/fairly compensated at your current position?
well to under paid
Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Please explain.
I work with students daily and other teachers as well, though most of my interactions are with students. I like my job very much in terms of teaching and learning from the students.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it.
Please rate each of the following aspects of your current job on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest/best):
Income: 3
Benefits: 4
Hours: 6
Co-Workers: 5
Supervisors: 2
Job Title: 8
Level of Responsibility: 7
The Actual Work: 1
Table of Contents
How you got your job
How did you get your current job?
I read about my principal in the newspaper and e-mailed him.
What was the application process?
Submitted resume and cover letter and then had an interview
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
I had one interview. It was a fairly straight-forward conversation that had begun over e-mail and was a chance to get to know each other and share ideas.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
I don’t remember off-hand.
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
I learned more from my colleagues, graduate school, and the actual role of being a teacher.
Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I have a masters degree in teaching elementary education, and I student taught for an entire school year.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
I think it helped to have the theory, although the reality does not always match up.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
My student teaching year was definitely helpful in preparing me for teaching.
If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
First, I would recommend spending time in different classrooms at different schools. If you are still interested, I would recommend researching all the available education programs out there to become certified as a teacher, and then advocate for the kind of teaching position that you desire.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
There are a wide variety of skills that help become a successful teacher. It’s important to be enthusiastic, patient, enjoy learning and teaching, have good organizational skills, willingness to learn, and many other skills as well.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I think at least a master’s degree in education is important, though on-the-job training is the most helpful!
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Get lots of rest, know that you can’t get everything done each day (or ever!), and always have an outlet to share about the many events of each day.
Educational background
Please list your educational background:
High School GPA:4.5
| GPA | School | Degree | |
| College (Undergraduate) or Technical/Vocational |
|||
| Graduate or Professional (Masters or Doctorate) |
Ask a Question of this Mentor
This mentor has opted to receive questions from people interested in this career or job position. Please be respectful of their time and willingness to help. Include some basic relevant background so they can intelligently answer your question.