One of the biggest things that I have learned in the past six years is to apply for jobs, bursaries etc. even if you don't exactly qualify. The worst that is going to happen is that you won't get what you applied for. Sometimes you are the MOST qualified person out of the group of people who apply.
That is how I landed my term position teaching at a university. For my program, you can graduate with a diploma after 3 years, or a degree after 4 years of university. Regardless of the path you choose, you write your registry exams after year 3 and are completely licensed to work. The fourth year is more to specialize in a certain area or you can also take management/health administration classes.
The past June, I wrote my registry exams and started working full-time at a hospital in Halifax. While working full-time, I also was taking full-time courses in order to finish my degree. A few months into my job, one of my previous instructors informed me that a position at the school would be coming up if I was interested in applying. One of the reasons that I think she let me know about the job is that during my time at the school, I had taken the time to get to know my teachers and had volunteered on committees and at events. I also was a strong student which probably helped. Although normally you need at least three years of clinical experience and a degree to be hired, since it was a short-term position, she said to apply anyways if I wanted to.
After talking it over with my friends and family, I decided to apply even though I was not qualified - I figured it couldn't hurt to try. A couple weeks after I applied, I got an interview, and shortly after the interview I was offered the position. I was the most qualified person who applied. Although I was thrilled to get the position (I eventually want to teach in the future), it was a tricky situation since I would be leaving the department short staffed and I wanted to return to work in the department when the term was finished. Therefore, I needed the approval of my manager before I could take the position.
One of the things that I think I did right in this situation was I kept my manager completely informed and in the loop. I told her that I was going to apply for the job before I actually did and let her know I was interested in teaching in the future. I also told her when I got an interview, and told her right away when I was offered the position. This gave her some time to think about the options for the department since the department was quite short staffed already. We also negotiated terms so that I could work a few half days in the department each week to help out. After a couple weeks, she finally let me know that I could accept the position, and my position would still be there when I came back. I was so excited!
I have spent the last four months teaching, and my last day of my position at the school is coming up shortly now that the term is finished. I will soon be heading back to the hospital. This term has taught me so much and I am so glad that I had the opportunity. I now have much more respect for teachers - there is so much that goes on in the background that I was not aware of before. I also now have an appreciation of how much work goes into preparing for a lecture, how tough it is to mark, and how exciting it is when your students do well. Although I really had no idea of what I was getting myself into (sometimes it is better that way!), I really enjoyed the experience and hope I will be back someday :).
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