Searching for Jobs

Searching for jobs can be intimidating, especially if you have never worked full time outside of the university environment.  Still, we assure you that there is no need to fear! You are a successful and talented individual, and there are many jobs for you are qualified.  Similarly, with a master´s degree you are now able to research, analyze data, and solve problems on a different level than when you were an undergraduate.  Therefore, with the right approach and a commitment to spend the time required, you can find a meaningful job after you graduate.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind as you begin your job search:
  1. You will most likely not find the perfect career right out of the gate.  Instead, focus on finding a good-enough job that has the potential to either give you needed experience or connect you into an industry that can give you more opportunities in the future.
  2. Looking for a job takes about as much time as an actual job.  Be prepared to spend 15- 20 hours per week in this venture over a period of many weeks.  It is important that you are consistent in your search and do not get frustrated when things don´t work out for you right away.  Stay positive and remember that all job searching is beneficial, because it will either help you network, give you application/interview experience, or teach you how to better market your skills.
  3. It is very likely that you will need additional training to better fit yourself into a specific career field. 
  • Public School Teaching: For example, if you are interested in teaching at the elementary or secondary levels, you need to be aware of licensure requirements for specific states as well as required courses (up to an additional 86 credits) that are needed to teach certain age groups.  Some states allow for alternative licensure paths, which can save you some time, but be sure to choose a path that is accepted by the state where you hope to teach.  Other schools, such as UVU, provide a Post-Baccalaureate licensure program, which is intended for individuals who already have a degree in a content area (English, French, Spanish, etc.).  It is designed to be shorter than a full BS in Education but still give you the needed classes and a student teaching experience.  Most Post-Bacc programs are about 35 credits and will require an additional 1-1 1/2 years of full time study.  You do not get another degree with a Post-Bacc program, but you do acquire the needed credits for a teaching license in that state.
  • Internships: Many times, companies expect you to have the necessary training before you start work full time.  Because of this, internships are a good way to get your foot in the door.  For more information on internship opportunities through BYU, check out our Internship page.
  • Professionally Relevant Classes: If you see yourself doing something like web design, publishing, editing, etc., after you graduate take a class in that area!  This will make you much more marketable when you graduate, and help speed up your job search.  While you do not have much time for other courses besides those in your program area, one additional class during Spring term may help you develop a marketable skill that will make you more competitive.


For more information on the Job Search, check out the BYU Career Services page on Job Search Strategies.
“Of the 1.5 million people now employed in the profession of college teaching, more than one million are teaching off the tenure track, with no hope or expectation of ever winding up on the tenure track. Many of them do not have Ph.D.'s: According to the 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (the last such study conducted), 65.2 percent of non-tenure-track faculty members hold the M.A. as their highest degree—57.3 percent teach in four-year institutions, 76.2 percent in two-year institutions (many holding more than one part-time position).” 

-Michael Bérubé, "The Humanities, Unraveled"
Below are some tools that can help you as you search for jobs.
Public School Teaching
Normally, teaching job fairs are held in March every year.  Usually school districts start posting jobs around the end of February/beginning of March, although it is not unusual for last minute hirings to occur as late as August.
Utah and Nationwide Job Searches
BYU University Career Services lists several online resources to help you in the job search on their Job Search Strategies page.
Community College/University Teaching
Interested in teaching at the college level?  Below are some good resources for you to consider in addition to individual college and university job pages:
Government/Non-Profit Jobs
BYU Career Fairs
BYU University Career Services offers the following job fairs:
  • Career and Internship Fair (October and January)
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Career Fair (September and February)
  • Law School Fair (October)