Since 2001 the Ministry of Education has contracted with the Ontario College of Teachers to undertake a comprehensive study that looks at newly certified Ontario teachers. The OCT contacts a sample of teachers who had been newly certified in previous years to ask them about their current employment status, the challenges they have faced as beginning teachers in Ontario, and about the efficacy of the various supports that are in place for beginning Ontario teachers.
For the past few years the study has revealed a growing 'glut' of teachers in Ontario with far more teachers being certified than there are jobs. As a result, a growing number of respondents indicated that they had resorted to taking a job outside of Ontario as there was nothing available for them in their area of choice.
Likewise, with more recent graduates each year unable to find teaching jobs or finding only very limited supply teaching employment, increasing numbers of them have returned to former occupations or have taken non-teaching jobs each year to survive financially.
In 2009 the unemployment/underemployment situation impacted upon French-language teachers for the first-time. Although experiencing more positive outcomes than English-language teachers (21% of whom had found regular jobs), new French-language teachers in Ontario no longer enjoy the consistently bright job prospects of earlier years.
Since 2006 there have been an increasing number of newly certified teachers who have indicated that they are unemployed. The involuntary unemployment rate for first-year teachers has increased every year for the past five years. What was a 3% unemployment rate in 2006 is now 24%.
Although the number of applications has dropped over the past three years, there are still far more applicants than there are potential jobs.
So what is one expected to do? Looking for any job these days is difficult enough but getting perspective on the whole picture is imperative! Competition is fierce and prospective employers - namely the Principal sitting across the desk from you during the interview asking all the questions, typically has his/her choice of applicants and will select the "creme de la creme".
You have to do the extra bit to stand out. Do your homework. Get to know whatever you can about the school, be as prepared for the interview as you can be. In other words, rehearse the standard interview questions in your mind. Show interest in the position by having some well thought out questions prepared to ask when it's your turn. Be a 'team-player' and think of why you chose this profession in the first place.
Within a couple of days, follow-up with a written 'thank you' note to the interviewer. If you did not get the job, there is nothing wrong with asking how you could have presented yourself differently so that you could have a better chance the next time around. Think of it as a learning experience. We continue to improve, just listen and make the effort. Attending professional development events, becoming involved in associated organizations such as your union will provide you with a wealth of knowledge to help you view the 'bigger picture'.
Make that effort- it will be worth it!
ETFO THAMES VALLEY OCCASIONAL TEACHERS' LOCAL
