Are you middle-aged and looking for a new career? Especially one where your age isn't held against you? You might want to give teaching a thought.

Yes, yes, there are a lot of jobs where there is a noticeable age bias against older workers.  In the business world, sometimes companies prefer to hire younger workers because they work cheap and if they work out, there is such a longer career life ahead of them. This might not be the case with teaching. Schools are realizing more and more that hiring an older worker is not a disadvantage at all, but that older teachers bring a lot of good experience with them that they should be thrilled to have.

The profession of teaching is a perfect environment for someone who has seen a bit of life and who has matured and perhaps raised children of their own.  Teaching full time, while rewarding, can be a huge challenge for younger teachers because it is sometimes hard to establish their authority in the classroom.  An older teacher,however, may be less prone to panic about disruptions or sudden problems that might come up as they teach. Older teachers often have the experience and maturity to handle the problem efficiently without upsetting the rest of the class, thus getting everyone back on task quickly.

To learn more about entering the teaching profession, visit our web page on How to Become a Teacher.