At Work by Lindsey Novak

Q: I have worked for a local high school for 18 years. I started as a teacher's aide and have worked my way up to administrative assistant to the assistant principal. I did not have a degree, but I took classes at our local university and first received an associate's degree and then received a bachelor's in liberal arts. Now I am enrolled in the university's alternative teaching program to earn a master's. I passed the content exam, which gave me a certificate of eligibility to teach English in grades eight to 12. I've applied and interviewed for positions in the school district in which I am an administrative assistant, but I never get the available teaching jobs. I asked the principal what I need to do, and he keeps telling me I am doing the right thing. My attendance is excellent; my evaluations exceed expectations; and my administrative skills are impeccable. I am open to change, yet I am stuck in a rut. I have sent my résumé to other school districts, but moving to another area and a commuting long distance would not be financially advantageous. I think my principal cannot see me anywhere but where I am, regardless of the added knowledge I have from earning the degrees. How do I present myself differently?

A: Your principal likely is waiting for you to finish your master's degree before hiring you as a high-school teacher. Also, because you have done a great job as an administrative assistant, he knows you would be difficult to replace. Most good high schools require master's degrees for teaching, so even though you passed your certificate exam, you may not be qualified yet. Because others have been hired for the teaching jobs you've wanted, take time to get to know the teachers and their backgrounds.

Compare your educational background and work experience with theirs so you can understand why they were hired over you. Remember that even though you know the school, teaching is a career change from administrative work, and your principal always will want to hire the most experienced person for the job.

 

Helping Is One Thing, but Carrying the Team Is Another

Q: I am 38 years old and finished my second master's degree last year, 12 years after the first one. I am from Canada but attended college in the United States. As part of my degree program, I accepted an unpaid internship to gain a lousy three credits and a good marketing job at the university. I was told it would be a "great experience" despite my prior education in the field. The department head said that the other interns needed my expertise on the team and that the project would not be successful without me. I ended up having to stay an extra two weeks in the U.S. because of that internship, and I missed out on getting good summer jobs back in Canada. Looking back on it, I can't believe I bought into it. Internships are sheer exploitation, and they are unheard of in Canada.

A: Internships can give students solid work experience in fields in which they have none. Internships may not be as valuable for adult students unless those students are changing careers. Coaxing you into the internship for your team to succeed is a bogus reason indeed. You went for a master's degree for your gain, not to help others get their degrees.

Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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