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[Mark]

Hello, I have been reading the forums for quite some time now. I am working on my MBA and want to break into education. I am looking at a CC or technical college because I am interested in teaching and not really research. From my understanding education is competitve? I work in the IT field and it is really, really competitive. I have a background in business and wonder if with a MBA I could teach?


But overall, what can an MBA do for me as someone who wants to teach?

[Job Search Success Story]

As an humanities Ph.D., I do not pretend to know a great deal about the job market in Business Administration, but I see a lot of positions perking up after a quick search on the engine.  CCs and TCs are far more likely to hire an MBA than large universities and 4-year schools, as you know (many of those require a "terminal degree" which I'm guessing is some kind of management or business doctorate).  But if you are interested in a CC or TC anyway, you're okay.

An MBA is a master's and that's good enough for many CCs and TCs.  The only problem is that you'll be starting at the bottom of the academic pecking order, unless you've done some teaching already.  So try to correct this if you can.

A lot of the general advice for academic job applicants applies here:

1) Play the numbers; apply to every position you are even remotely qualified for.  Worry about the location after you've gotten the job offer.  You can learn to be happy living in Union Missouri, even if you have to leave campus for Saint Louis, Nashville, Kansas City, Witchita every weekend.  No offense to small-towners; I'm one myself.

2) Check the chronicle's search engine every week until you have a position.  Check higheredjobs.com every week untill you have a position.  Join listservers for Business and related fields, so you'll get those sorts of email posts.  Check the websites for colleges/schools in areas you might like to work.

2) Cater your applications to the job postion (write the cover letter so that you are arguing, collegially, that you are the person the college is specifically asking for).

3) Cater your applications to the college/school.

4) While you're on the market, pick up some adjunct work or other short-term teaching gigs.  Stick them on your resume as soon as you have them.

5) Make a website showcasing your professional and academic experience.  Mention it in your cover letters and resume.

Good hunting!

[Mark]

Thank you for your reply! It was helpful advice I will use...Thanks alot

May I ask what part of education yuo work in and what you teach? Did you find a tough time getting a position

[f]

Im not going into education for money bc I know it is not a get rich type of profession.I merely want to have a satisfying job where I can make a difference in people's lives and enjoy what I do. I'm going to finish my MBA and see what opportunities I can get. I will also keep track of the websites given for this post.

I don't think I could sacrifice 4 years getting a PhD and missing out on potential monet that could be earned during that time frame.


Would you say that the career field of education (those interested in business) is one that is good or very competitive?

[Pecos]

In business, an MBA will be the mininum required to get a job at a CC.  You need a doctorate for a permanent (tenure track) position at a four year school, unless you also have a CPA.  (In other words, an MBA + CPA is often enough to get hired as full time accounting faculty.)  The doctorate for teaching at a four year school may be a PhD or DBA or maybe an EdD.

(About doctoral programs, there are part time programs that provide an attractive alternative to the 4-8 years many people take to complete a PhD.  Although not everyone believes in such non-traditional programs, my take is they are sufficient to satisfy the needs of a teaching focused college.)

In addition to a master's/doctorate, teaching experience is a requirement, which you can usually obtain through part time work, either days or in evening programs.  (Some master's and doctoral programs provide that teaching experience by giving their students jobs as TAs, but that is less common among MBA students.)

Finally, business experience also helps in getting a job teaching business.  The more broad your experience, and the more responsibility you have had, the better.  This is particularly true for getting a job in a teaching focused college.

Also, talk to your MBA faculty about their experiences and views on the job market.

Good luck!

[mw]

Hello Mark,
I understand where you are coming from. Currently, I am working on my M.A degree and I, just like yourself, is trying to get a teaching position in either a CC or TC.
Most of the postings I see, you have to have some sort of teaching experience but I ask this question: For those who do not have it, what should we do?

[Job Search Success Story]

In answer to Mark, I teach drama.  It's not the best area to be in job-market-wise, but it's a heck of a lot better than English.

At the end of a year of applications, starting in September, I received five interviews out of a total 62 applications, and got job offers from 2 institutions.  I might have gotten two more, but by the time the latter two colleges called, I'd already accepted one of the original offers.

IMHO, if you play the numbers and follow all the tips you can collect from this forum, you will get a job eventually.  But you need to be willing to commit as much time to the job search as you might a part-time job.  A lot of applicants let positions slip through the cracks by not looking around as aggressively as they should, by refusing to apply to colleges in certain areas, or by only relying on one source instead of all of them.

So the bottom line is, yes it's tough, but not impossible.

In answer to MW, I worked contractually teaching summer arts camps for a while.  That seemed to help spice up the resume before I had some full-time teaching experience.  I suspect an MBA could teach some seminars or other workshops to demonstrate teaching ability.  There are ways to substitute this requirement until you have your foot in the door.  Add to this a few adjunct gigs, and you've got yourself a teaching resume.

Good luck!

[Pecos]

When I worked in business, I found it helpful to always be on the lookout for possible stepping stone experiences that would help me gain teaching experience.  For example, there are often training classes that are put on in business, from new products, processes, etc.  The "students" may be employees or customers.  ... Another idea:  many CCs and high schools offer non-credit adult ed courses.  Put one together and offer it.  They are always looking for new ideas for courses.

[marta]

That's a great point, Pecos...

I did the same - with each class I finished in my the phd program, I created workshops and invited everybody in my department to attend - we had a ball - especially with the ones with controversial themes such as Women in Leadership and Organizational Change Models...

Cheers,


m

[Curious]

What was controversial about a Women in Leadership course?  Have we made so little progress?