Breaking into Early Education Careers: 6 Steps to Land Your First ECE Job

18 July 2025
Posted in News
18 Jul 2025
News
18 July 2025 Capital College

Breaking into Early Education Careers: 6 Steps to Land Your First ECE Job

Are you ready for an exciting and rewarding career in Early Childhood Education? Early learning schools and child care facilities are waiting for you to apply, but you need to be ready to land the perfect role.

If you’re graduating from your ECE program at Capital College soon, now is the time to prepare to enter the workforce. Keep reading this guide to get our team’s six steps to prepare to apply and land your dream job in Early Childhood Education in British Columbia.

Step 1: Complete your certification and requirements

Before you can get a job in the ECE field, you need to earn your certification and meet other job requirements.

To work as an ECE in BC, you must have:

Browse the ECE or Montessori courses available at Capital College to get the job-ready skills you need to succeed in this career path. We assist you in obtaining your ECE certification and meeting job requirements.

Step 2: Polish your resume and cover letter

Your potential employer will want to see your resume, so make sure it’s up to date with relevant ECE experience and skills. Depending on the role you’re applying for, you may want to tailor your resume to the position.

Be sure to emphasize your relevant soft skills (patience, communication, problem-solving) and tailor your resume for ECE roles. Share examples of your experience where possible.

Your cover letter should also be tailored to the role you’re applying for. Be sure to highlight your passion for working with children, and reference key job requirements that you are uniquely suited to fill (and why).

Step 3: Gain experience, even before you graduate

Work experience will be extremely valuable to a potential employer (and in honing your skills). Look for an ECE teacher program that offers work placement opportunities. You can also approach childcare centres in your community about the option for casual or substitute work in childcare settings while you’re in school.

Look for opportunities to volunteer or work with children to further expand your experience and skills. You could volunteer at community centres, work casual jobs for after-school programs or summer camp programs, or host Professional Development (Pro-D) programs for children and younger students at summer camps.

Step 4: Start your job search strategically

Take a strategic approach to your job search. Rather than applying for every job you see, focus on ones that match your values and teaching style.

There are many places to seek job opportunities for early learning and Montessori, including:

It can also be helpful to stay connected to your classmates, teachers, and other professional connections you make in the industry. They can be excellent resources, offering testimonials and valuable insights into the industry.

How to choose the right ECE job

Not every ECE job will appeal to you. You may have specific requirements, such as full-time versus part-time, the location of the school, and educational philosophy (e.g., ECE, Montessori, Reggio Emilia).

To determine if a school is right for you, ask these questions:

  • What is the student-to-teacher ratio? (You may prefer to work more exclusively with individual students, or in larger classrooms)
  • Are there mentorship opportunities?
  • What are the school policies?
  • What teaching philosophy does the school follow?
  • How does the school communicate with parents?

Ask if you can observe the classroom and see how the children interact with each other and the teacher. This will help you see if your style will mesh well with your future co-workers and classroom environment.

Step 5: Prepare for interviews

Preparing for interviews is a crucial part of the job interview process in any industry. Be prepared to answer questions like:

  • How do you handle challenging behaviour in the classroom?
  • What does a typical day in the preschool classroom look like to you?
  • What’s your communication style with parents?
  • What unique qualities or experiences do you bring to an early learn classroom?

Come to every interview with sample lesson plans you’ve created, photos or testimonials from practicum placements or volunteer experiences with children, and a hard copy of your resume.

Step 6: Keep learning and growing

ECE school graduation is not the end. You’ll be expected to continue learning and growing by taking courses in early learning methodology and other related specialties. There is much we already know about early learning, but scientists and educators have only scratched the surface of brain development and early education.

Even after you get your first ECE job, seek out opportunities for continued learning and professional development. It will enable you to provide better care and education for the children in your care.

Consider getting additional certifications like:

Proof of your initiative in continuing education can help you stand out to employers.

How to start your in-demand career in ECE

BC ECE jobs are in demand (a high opportunity occupation) right now. Many opportunities await you once you complete your ECE education and meet the industry requirements. The first step is to obtain your ECE training at an accredited institution, such as Capital College.

Students in Capital College programs get a mix of in-classroom (or virtual) learning and practicum placements. This mix is crucial for providing future ECEs with opportunities to apply their learning in real-world classrooms, further solidifying their knowledge and developing their skills.

Browse the available ECE and Montessori programs at Capital College and explore our job board to see which ECE schools are currently hiring.