Presented to WorkBC's Back in Motion Employment Services clients. on May 3, 2023. Teaching is a rewarding and in-demand career. This presentation reviews the process of getting trained as a teacher, how to get certified, and how to apply for a job.

1. Launch Your Career
in BC Education

2. Andrew Jang
Senior Manager, Strategic Talent Acquisition

3. “I am joining you from the traditional territory of the Coast Salish
peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-
Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.”
Make a Future’s work spans across the traditional homelands of
hundreds of Inuit, Métis, and First Nations peoples across British
Columbia, each with their own unique traditions, history and culture.
We are committed to Reconciliation and to strong Indigenous
partnerships and relationships.

4. Why Work in Education?
• Make a difference in the community you live in
• Opportunity to share your passion
• Flexible work arrangements are available
• Supportive work environment in a school
community
• Professional development is always available
• Excellent pension and extended health benefits
• One of BC’s Top Employers
• An opportunity to see kids grow and thrive
• Summer’s off!

5. Provincial hiring trends in education
2020 2021 2022
Teacher
Support
Exempt
Source: Makeafuture.ca, January 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022

6. 1. Public school districts
2. Independent schools
3. First Nations schools
4. Offshore schools
Employers in
BC Education

7. Public schools
60 school districts (employers)
100,000 employees
• 49,000 unionized educators
• 40,000 unionized support staff
Roles in school and districts
Opportunities province-wide
Excellent benefits, compensation & pension

8. Independent
~400 independent schools
Offers teachers & students “choice”
Shared teaching philosophies or faith
Compensation varies among schools
Opportunities province-wide

9. First Nations
100+ school locations across BC
Working conditions vary by location
Small multi-grade to large classrooms
Compensation varies among employers
Adventure & cultural immersion

10. BC Offshore
China, Egypt, Thailand, Qatar, Bahrain &
Japan
BC-certified teachers – BC curriculum
Colleagues from around the world
Cultural immersion and travel
Save and pay off tuition!

11. Careers in
teaching

12. 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Physical Education
Technology Education
Teacher Librarian
Music
Core French & FSL
Science
Indigenous Language & Culture
Math
English
TTOC
Counsellor
Middle/Intermediate
Learning Assistance/Support & Resource
French Immersion
Primary/Elementary
In-demand Teaching Roles
Source: Makeafuture.ca, January 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022

13. How to Become a Teacher
• BC teaching certificate from the Teacher Regulation Branch
• BEd programs: UBC, UBCO, UNBC, SFU, UFV, UVIC, VIU
• Or professional upgrading programs via SFU:
– PDP (professional development) – for non BCEd grads
– PLP (professional linking) – for paraprofessionals
– PQP (professional qualification) – for new Canadians
– HEART – for teachers who need to recertify

14. Salary & Benefits
• Good salary and amazing pension
• Extended health and dental
• Annual professional development
• Summers and holidays off
• Compensation varies among
public, independent, First
Nations and offshore schools

15. Why teach?
I first started teaching guitar when I was
14 … in Calgary. After High School, I went
to the University of Victoria to study
music performance. While I enjoyed
performing, I found I missed teaching and
decided I needed to pursue teaching in
addition to my performance practice. I
quickly found my passion, and I have only
continued to love my career more and
more as I have gained more experience.

16. Careers in Non-Teaching
Roles

17. EXEMPT
(EXCLUDED STAFF)
• Human Resources
• Labour Relations
• Accounting & Payroll
• Marketing & Communications
• Information Technology
• Health & Safety
• Transportation
• Facilities & Operations
• Energy Manager
• Capital Projects
• Executive Assistants
• Purchasing & Logistics
• Non-unionized roles
• Includes educational leaders,
directors, managers, coordinators
• District/board office or remote sites
• Salary workers

18. SUPPORT STAFF
(UNIONIZED)
• 40,000 support staff in BCEd
• Unionized roles
• Often non-management roles
• School-based, board office, and other
school sites
• Hourly workers based on a set wage scale

19. SUPPORT STAFF
(UNIONIZED)
Working with students
• Education Assistants
• Settlement Workers
• Youth Care Worker
• Indigenous Support Worker
• Before and After School Attendant
• Supervision Aides
• Food Services
• Occupational Therapist
Not working with students
• Office/Clerical
• Accounting/Payroll
• Facilities, Trades & Custodial
• Tradespeople
• Building Service Workers
• Bus Drivers
• Dispatch Clerk
• Laboratory Technician
• IT and network technicians

20. Support Staff Wages
• Special Education Assistant - $27-
$29/hr
• Noon-hour Supervisor - $22/hr
• Office Support – $22-$32/hr
• Network Support Spec -$32/hr
• Groundskeeper - $32/hr
• Foreperson - $36 /hr
• Youth and Family Worker – $33-
$35/hr
• Journeyperson - $36/hr
• Truck Driver - $24-$26/hr
• Culinary Assistant - $31/hr
• Casual Labourer - $22/hr
https://bcpsea.bc.ca/support-staff/collective-
agreements/wage-schedules/

21. 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Speech Language Pathologist
Purchasing & Administrative Services
Information Technology
Human Resources
Custodian
Bus Driver
Indigenous Support Worker
Early Childhood Educators
Payroll, Finance & Accounting
Child & Youth Care Worker
Principals & Vice Principals
Office & Clerical
Trades, Custodian & Facilities
Student Supervision
Education Assistant
In-demand Non-Teaching Roles
Source: Makeafuture.ca, January 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022

22. General requirements
• Need to be able to work with and relate with children, youth,
and their families
• English language skills are a requirement – fluency varies
• Criminal record search is required
• May require specific training or qualifications, e.g. ECE
certificate, First Aid/CPR, drivers’ license, etc.
• Must be reliable and dependable

23. How To Apply

27. Link Your Application

28. Online Application Tips
• Avoid using images in your resume and cover letter
• Include job posting keywords, position title, and competition
numbers in your application
• Compress large PDFs and JPEGs
– Cutepdf.com
– Compressor.io
• Check the job application log

29. How to get
hired

30. 1. Set your application to visible
2. Tailor your application to the role and
district
3. Link to a teaching portfolio or video
4. Detail relevant past work experience
5. Use good references
How to get noticed

31. What do expect after you apply
• Don’t expect to hear back right away
• Smaller employers may be more accessible to you
• Applications are confirmed via email
• Interviews conducted virtually or by phone
• Districts may check references before the interview

32. Include good references
• People who have seen you
teach, e.g. sponsor teacher,
Principal, etc.
• People who have supervised
you, e.g. managers, supervisors

33. The hiring process
What to expect when you apply for a job

34. What to expect after applying
• Online notifications that you applied
• You may not hear back right away or not at all
– Two to four week wait times
• Call/email from HR or the principal
• An invitation to a virtual interview

35. How hiring decisions
are made
• How your qualifications align
with selection criteria
• Influenced by practicum
evaluations reports and
references

36. What employers are
looking for
 Passion for teaching and innovation to met the
needs of all learnings
 Commitment to social and emotional learning
 Collaborative and inquiry mindset to teaching
 Familiarity with the latest BC curriculum
updates

37. Prepare to talk about…
* First Peoples’ learning principles &
perspectives
* Planning skills
* Social and emotional learning
* Assessment and evaluation practices
* Differentiation and inclusive learning
* Collaboration with colleagues
* Conflict management & problem solving

38. STAR Technique
Think of stories that exemplify your skills
1. Situation – describe the situation, “set the scene”
2. Task – describe the task you had to complete
3. Action – explain what you did and how you did it
4. Result – end with the results of your efforts

39. Next Steps
1. Apply to Teacher Regulation
Branch & Teacher Qualification
Services (TQS) – 2-6 weeks
2. Research employers on
makeafuture.ca
3. Create a professional portfolio
4. Sign-up for job alerts
5. Attend a virtual career fair

40. Questions?
contactus@makeafuture.ca
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twitter.com/makeafuture
facebook.com/makeafuture
instagram.com/makeafuture
ca.linkedin.com/company/makeafuture