Teaching and education

A career in teaching is a popular choice for graduates, and there are many roles to choose from. Most people associate education careers with teaching at schools or in universities, but there are also jobs working with pre-school children as well as adults of any age, and there are many specialist roles and areas of expertise.

As well as primary, post-primary and third-level teaching, you could work in other areas such as special needs or remedial teaching, adult education, educational psychology, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and careers guidance.

A career in education is worth considering if you enjoy communicating and have a genuine interest in helping people to develop their potential at a range of different levels. Other important qualities include creativity, organisational skills, flexibility, the ability to work in a team and, depending on the area you work in, an enthusiasm for and in-depth knowledge of a specific subject. If you are passionate about a particular subject, teaching could be an excellent choice for you.

Entry requirements vary according to the specific area of education and country you want to work in, but most roles require some kind of specialist training. The majority of teachers in schools need a recognised basic teaching qualification, which can be taken at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

• Teaching and education FAQs: everything you need to know about getting a job in teaching and education