Oddly enough, the college where I teach likes to see some experience, but actually is biased against applicants with significant experience.  Long time adjuncts who have dedicated years to our institition have been told they are unhirable because they have too much experience, this despite the fact everyone knows they are great teachers.

I often advise people who want to teach at my community college, and think that because they have a law degree, they can teach Political Science, or because they have a PhD in Literary Studies, they can certainly teach the “lower” courses in the community college English Dept. If an applicant proclaims proudly that they can develop a course in 15th century poetry or urban planning, I know for sure they have no clue what we do in community colleges!

I tell them exactly what this author says — experience teaching adults, at a minimum, and preferably with the kinds of adults who attend community colleges.  I suggest they can begin to get this kind of experience by applying to work in Tutoring Centers (especially accessible to them if they are still in their graduate studies), by volunteering in community-based Literacy programs, GED programs, or programs to prepare immigrants for U.S. citizenship. 

We will often hire adjuncts with little teaching experience if they have professional experience in specific areas for which we educate students — business courses, for instance.  I also tell them to get their applications in for adjunct teaching, then be prepared to jump in at a moment’s notice — when an assigned faculty member has to drop a course unexpectedly at the beginning of a semester, we often hire an adjunct with little teaching experience but who is willing to step in at the last moment.  And voila, they begin to accummulate college teaching experience. 

I don’t agree with the writer who said adjuncts known to be outstanding teachers are often passed over.  We collected the data a few years ago, and about half our FT hires are drawn from the ranks of adjuncts.  It’s healthy for the college to bring in some new talent mixed with some who already know the college and have a proven track record.

Finally, for the record, I would never hire a candidate who considers teaching at a community college their “fallback” option!

Kathleen Schatzberg, President
Cape Cod Community College

Excellent article.  Trying to get a teaching position in a community college is extremely difficult, as I know from personal experience.  I never have managed to crack that nut, but do have some university teaching experience.  Here in Los Angeles, it’s quite competitive to get a teaching position in a community college.

 This.

 What?

I
look at finding a job like playing the lotto. Every employer views an
applicant’s experience in different ways, as many of the comments on this post
indicates. However, I will say that I am graduating this May with an MA in
History and the only reason I wanted a Master’s was to teach at a community
college. I taught four classes as a Teaching Assistant, my school only paid a
$200.00 annual stipend, so I certainly wasn’t in it for the money. I did that
because I absolutely and thoroughly adore teaching at the college level and ultimately
would prefer to work in a community college. Yet, I sent out my Teaching
Portfolio, CV, and a cover letter and have only received rejections letters so
far. One Department Chair in the area was kind in his response, but also said,
you “only have TA experience,” as if I was some useless nobody
incompetent that did not have teaching experience (I was also an instructor for
five years in the business world so apparently he did not read my entire CV) or
understand the community college environment. I started at a community college.
I was one of those students that came from an economically disadvantaged
background that couldn’t afford to go to a four year institution right away. I
also was always a working adult that had to pay my own way through school and
that was another reason I chose to go to a community college for as long as I
could since they generally have more flexible class schedules with classes in the evening and
on-line. So I understand the community college environment and
student body quite well. Moreover, clearly I care about teaching if I was
willing to practically do it for free as a TA and forgo paid part-time work
that would have brought in an income that I desperately needed. Then the
Department Chair suggested applying for another unpaid internship geared to
train people to work as a professor with the local community college district
to gain even more experience. Since my school loans are running out, I don’t
have the financial luxury to work for free any longer. I either work for pay,
or I starve. I also don’t have any problem starting as an adjunct to build
experience, but when people won’t even give you a chance to start as an
adjunct, how do you get this “experience”? It seems no one in colleges
or any industry for that matter is willing to give people a chance to get their
foot in the door anymore so they can acquire this “experience.” This is a
shame. There are so many people with great potential that would be phenomenal
professors or fantastic in other professions and they are overlooked. It just
feels like everywhere you turn, a door is slammed in your face for one reason
or another. But, the lack of “experience” is a very old and truly unfair paradox
of the work world.