Collectively, we have interviewed and hired many hundreds of applicants over the course of our careers in the sector. We’ve also had the misfortune of losing good people, and very rarely, having to let people go. In this article we share our thoughts on what it takes to build a fulfilling career in early learning.
It's a calling
Educating young children is a calling, it isn’t just a job. However, like all things that are rewarding and fulfilling, it isn’t always easy.
The plasticity of young brains is phenomenal, and children’s earliest experiences have a significant impact – not just now, but for the rest of their lives. Forming a connection with a little person and helping them gain conceptual knowledge that will form the foundation for formal schooling is one thing – helping children understand their own feelings, collaborate with their peers, and exercise voice, choice and ownership over their learning is another.
The benefits of early learning are many and varied – in our opinion, there is no more important job that can be done to benefit society than to educate young children.
It’s a journey, not a destination
If you start the job thinking that you have nothing left to learn, you’re not doing it right.
The pleasure of reading doesn’t come from turning the last page of a book, the pleasure of reading comes from the process of reading. Similarly, no matter what qualification you hold, professional fulfilment comes from continually expanding your intellectual horizons in partnership with children, families and colleagues.
Boundaries
The type of people attracted to working in early learning tend to be nurturers. When you develop close relationships with children, families and your colleagues, it can be very easy to prioritise other people’s needs over your own.
However, it’s impossible to draw from an empty well. If you want to do your job and do it well, you need to make sure that you have something to give. This is why it’s so important to have boundaries. It’s an unfortunate reality that most employers, in any sector, will take from you as much as you’re prepared to give. Please make sure that what you give to the job is sustainable in the long term.
Leave the past in the past
It’s common for people to have had mixed experiences in previous roles, regardless of the sector. These experiences shape us and inform our ideas of the kind of place we want to work and the type of colleague we want to be.
However, there is also a point where these experiences have a negative, rather than a positive, effect on your working life. If you’re carrying baggage "let it go" (Elsa, Frozen 2013).
The grass is greener where you water it
Most people are familiar with the saying ‘the grass is greener on the other side’. We see this a lot in early learning – people leaving their current centre for somewhere that they think will be better, or that offers slightly more money, but that ultimately doesn’t live up to their expectations.
Sometimes, the grass is greener where you water it. If you’re not 100% satisfied where you are, it’s worth asking yourself what you can do to make your current centre somewhere you can be happy. Some of this comes down to your employer and your work colleagues, but some of the responsibility also sits with you.
The right fit
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of thinking really carefully about what you want, and what information you need to have about a role to ensure that it is the right fit for you and your employer.
Turnover in early learning is fairly high across the sector but it doesn’t have to be this way! If you approach a role with the expectation that it’s for the medium to long term, it’s important to be picky.
Oh the places you will go...
There are a lot of opportunities for progression in early learning, and these opportunities aren't limited solely to your qualification - or roles within a centre. If you work for someone that owns more than one centre, there are always opportunities to step up into a leadership role in another centre. Futuro is planning to offer the IB Primary Years Programme, a curriculum for children aged 3 and over that is run in primary schools globally. IB Educators with experience running the Primary Years Programme are in demand across the world, further extending the career horizons of our team members.
However, progression isn't simply a case of doing your time and moving 'up the chain'. Each step up involves the development of new skills and knowledge, so it's important to find an employer that will support your career aspirations and build a development plan that supports the achievement of your career goals.
Want to talk?
If you’re interested to know more about working in early learning, or for more information about careers at Futuro visit our website or call us on
1 300 388 876.