Job opportunities after finishing a childcare course
If you know you want a career in childcare and have completed a relevant course, but don’t know where to start looking for a job, you’re not alone! Many people enrol in an early childcare course simply because they love children and know they want a career in this industry. When it comes time to search for a job, though, you may become overwhelmed.
Fortunately, there are really only a handful of different career paths to take after completing a early childhood education course, so it’s not as hard as you may think to find an opportunity that suits you. In this post, we’ll go over six job opportunities for people who have completed a course in childcare.
Career opportunities for people who have completed a childcare course
Childcare is a large industry with opportunities for people of varying skills, passions and abilities. The perfect job for you is not as far off as you may think.
Early Childhood Teacher
You’ll get to thrive on your passion for children by supporting them to become kind and valued members of society. You’ll use educational principles to guide children’s learning so that they feel safe and empowered to explore the world around them.
It’s hugely gratifying to watch a child grow from a baby right up until they start primary school. You’ll watch a child’s eyes light up when they discover something about the world, and you’ll know that you’re the driver behind that experience.
To become an Early Childhood Teacher, you’ll require tertiary qualifications in early childhood education, as well as a current teacher’s accreditation or registration. If you’ve been working in childcare for a little while and want to advance your career, this is a great path to take.
Early Childhood Educator
Working as an early childhood Educator means you ensure children feel empowered to be curious, imaginative learners at your centre. You’ll be involved in creating an environment where they feel safe and secure to explore their surroundings, while also guiding their play toward meaningful teaching opportunities.
Every day at work will be meaningful and fulfilling, and you’ll be working with a team of like-minded colleagues who all have the same goal – to provide children with the best possible start in their educational journey. You’ll have the opportunity to build relationships with the children you care for, while being an active role model in each one of their lives.
Being an Educator is a great first step if you are interested in working in childcare. You will need a completed Certificate III or Diploma in Children’s Services, as well as a little bit of prior experience working in daycares.
Educational Leader
If you like to think big and be an innovator, then working as an Educational Leader could be the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll be able to put all your skills, experience and knowledge toward a meaningful purpose that will change the way we do early childhood education for the better.
You’ll work with inspiring colleagues, as well as children and their families to find new and creative ideas that can improve early childhood educational programs. You’ll play a significant role in making sure children feel safe, happy and free to learn every time they come to childcare.
For employers to consider you for roles as an Educational Leader, you’ll generally need to have tertiary qualifications in early childhood education as well as a teacher’s accreditation or registration. Other than that, it’s great if you have a creative, open mind and are ready to make a difference.
Baby Ambassador
Have the opportunity to directly communicate one-on-one with parents, carers and families to support their baby in their first 12 months of childcare. You will have the opportunity to learn about a child’s requirements throughout the day and help them get the most out of childcare.
As a Baby Ambassador, you’ll get to know each child really well and develop a genuine relationship with them and their families. You’ll find unique and creative ways to make sure the baby feels safe, secure and comfortable when they come into the nursery so they can feel empowered to learn and explore the environment around them.
Working as a Baby Ambassador is an opportunity unique to Guardian Childcare & Education, so if you already work in one of our centres, you could be considered for this role.
Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant
Working in kindergarten is a unique opportunity to be an early childhood educator in a more structured environment. You’ll focus on setting some foundations for literacy and numeracy to help prepare children to begin primary school. You’ll have the opportunity to watch their eyes light up after they grasp a new concept they’ve been struggling with.
As they grow and develop, you’ll see the fantastic people they’ve become and feel gratified to know that you played a significant part in helping them get there. Children of kindergarten ages are just starting to create life-long memories, and you’ll get to be a part of creating happy, joyous moments that they’ll treasure for years to come.
To work as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant, you’ll require a Certificate III or Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Centre Manager
Become a role model not only to the children you care for, but also to other educators you work with. You’ll get to be a key voice in your childcare centre’s culture and values, while still being actively involved in supporting children to learn and grow.
The opportunity to lead and inspire less experienced Educators will add a feeling of purpose and satisfaction to your career. You’ll go home at the end of each day knowing that you’ve helped develop the next generation of childcare workers.
You will require a little bit more experience to start managing a centre, but if you’ve been working in childcare for a while and have good leadership skills, it may not be as far-fetched as you think.
Next steps after finishing a childcare course
After you’ve completed a course in early childhood education, you’re probably itching to find a job and start doing what you’ve been working so hard towards. A great first step is to look at some of the different types of jobs and decide which ones interest you the most.
Once you know what opportunities would suit you, it’s much easier to start finding job vacancies. There are a huge number of jobs in the childcare industry, so you’ll probably find it very challenging suitable opportunities if you don’t narrow down your search first.