Ford Myers : Get The Job You Want Even When No One’s Hiring
This book is sone of the better career change and job search books I’ve read in a while. But it’s got at least one flaw.
On page 27, the author suggests that substitute teaching can be a way to earn extra money. Maybe you can be a “sub” for elementary and high schools, but be aware that these jobs are exhausting and demanding. They don’t pay a whole lot: you might do better as a Starbucks barista.
But one element of the author’s advicei is simply inaccurate. I have never, ever heard of substitute teaching in colleges, and I was a university professor for 20+ years. You don’t get a university job by applying to the human resource department. You write to the dean. Competition is keen for these jobs and I’m not aware that they’re looking for people with real world experience. You can get a part-time teaching job at a university; it’s called beng an “adjunct” and you’ll enjoy low pay and bottom-of-the-totem-pole status. These jobs aren’t especially good for networking either.
There’s a HUGE amount of mis-information out there about teaching jobs. That’s one reason I continue to offer consulting on academic careers: after 20+ years as a classroom and online professor, I can demystify academic careers.