Landing your first position in Childcare is such an exciting time and a fulfilling accomplishment. With the increase in women returning to work after having children, the Early Childhood Education industry is snowballing. The growth is excellent for people seeking employment in early childhood education and care. The tips in this blog will help you to land a position as an Educator at the best Childcare Centres. While there are plenty of vacancies in the industry, not all jobs are the same! Pay, conditions, hours and facilities will change from employer to employer. Let's help you build your professional credentials so that you can have the pick of the bunch.

Networking is everything!
Everyone you meet throughout your journey in early childhood education is a potential colleague, boss, or employer. Always put your best foot forward, be professional, be confident and show a genuine interest in the people around you. Impressions you make during a work placement or at a study group could lead to employment opportunities, these people can also be used as referees when you apply for a position.

Get ahead of the pack!
Once you know where you'd like to land a position, make contact with the employer or centre director, introduce yourself and tell them that you'd love to work with them when you graduate and ask if they have any work placement opportunities. If you're applying for a popular workplace, this will help your application stand out when the time to apply comes along.

You Can't Sell a Secret!
Create a LinkedIn Profile so that potential employers or recruitment companies can easily find you and learn about you. When writing your profile, we suggest that you think carefully about how you want to "sell yourself". Your personal brand, and what you can bring to the company, along with your motivation for working in the field are all aspects that future employers will want to know. Your qualifications and any additional study is also great to add to your profile. As you meet people in the industry make an effort to connect with them on LinkedIn so that you can easily make contact with them again. 

Never stop learning.
Employers love people who invest in their career. It shows that you're in it for the long-haul, that you are genuinely interested in what you're doing, and that you are a motivated and dedicated person. For example, you can start your studies with the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and then progress to the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care followed by the Team Leader Skill Set. There are plenty of ways to continue building your knowledge through subscribing to online newsletters and keeping up to date with what's happening in the industry.

If you're passionate, qualified, personable, and professional you'll be off to a great start! If you'd like to learn more about a qualification in Childcare, please get in touch with our team, we'll be more than happy to help you.