I have my teaching certificate but no schools in the state are hiring, what should I do?

-When I started down the teaching path their were a lot of jobs, but now that I have my certification there is a hiring freeze and they are laying off teachers by the thousands.



I had to sacrifice a lot personally and professionally to get certified as a teacher, and now it feels like all that was a waste of time (and money). People say "go for special education or math or science" and I would love to do that but all of those programs are at least 2 years. I have bills due today. I cant' even afford to go back to school because I can only get part-time work right now, which only covers gas.



What can I do to make serious money? (preferably legal).There may be several things that you haven't thought about that will bring you into some money quickly. Go to the several school districts in your area where you may have access. Ask if you can do substitute teaching for them. I think that would open up some opportunities. If you worked hard at it had lots of prepared and learning activities for both lower and upper grades, that might bring you some funds to pay your bills.



It may also make you available for work as a long term substitute teachers job. Those opportunities occur when teachers need to take leaves of absence for illness in their families, emergencies, or other critical events that affect teachers' personal and professional lives.



You may also have near you a private school at the elementary or secondary school near you that may have a need for a teacher with your talents.



Other things you might do are to tutor through a private company like a learning center, or you may want to start your own tutoring business as a tutor. Depending on your location, you might ask for $50 an hour as a tutoring fee without having to buy textbooks. Good luck.Unfortunately when there are too many people for a certain job, only the best get hired. I would probably not choose a teacher who did not know when to use THEIR and THERE when I had lots of applicants. Sorry!

That being said, there are other areas that are hiring such as sales positions. Since you say thousands of teachers are being laid off in your area, you must be near or in a large city. Change the focus of your search. Try being a representative for a line which only requires a BA, not a specific major. Good luck!