The Show Notes:
Jobs in EdTech Making Meaningful Impact: One Man's Experience Protecting Kids Online
If you’ve ever wondered if you could still make a significant impact on the lives of students in a job beyond the classroom, today’s episode is for you. I’m talking with Jeff Patterson, the CEO of an incredible Edtech startup, Gaggle. He’s sharing with us all about how jobs in EdTech are making a huge impact on education!
We all know that technology opens up so many more possibilities for solving problems, connecting, and expressing creativity. But it also makes our students vulnerable to so many dangerous situations. Learn how Jeff’s initiative to find a way to utilize technology in a safe way has literally saved the lives of thousands of students.
The Promise of Making Meaningful Impact
For a lot of teachers, it can be hard to believe that the opportunity for such a high-level impact is still possible. Yet in listening to this episode, it was incredible to discover that the technology that Gaggle has created is literally saving lives by preventing students from committing suicide.
Jeff reminded us that jobs in EdTech may not allow you to work with students on a daily basis, but you’re creating resources that solve big problems for teachers on a daily basis. This improves the learning experience for both students and teachers. This is incredibly rewarding!
More Opportunities Than Ever
Many jobs have been eliminated over the course of the pandemic, but jobs in Edtech are not hard to find. For many schools and companies, digital options for learning and connecting are no longer a temporary option. But incorporating all this new technology also means that much more support is needed to ensure that all this technology can serve their clients well.
Additionally, it is much easier to find ways to advance quickly with jobs in Edtech. Jeff shared the story of someone who started as a sales engineer and became the Vice President within six months. How is this possible? Jeff says it’s important to not wait for perfection and always apply a growth mindset. Consider starting with a contract position to try something on for size.
Advice for Applying to Jobs in EdTech
It’s not every day that you get to talk with a CEO of a startup as impressive as Gaggle. So I wanted to make sure to get Jeff’s advice for anyone interested in applying to jobs in Edtech.
Update your LinkedIn Profile
Make sure that you have an updated headshot on your profile and that your information describes not only what you’ve done but what kind of job you’re looking for. When you make connections, be sure to send a 1-2 sentence message to start a conversation.
Keep Interview Question Responses Brief
When you’re interviewing, nerves can often cause you to be long-winded in your answers. Your ability to listen to the question and answer it directly will help you stand out. Trust the interviewer to ask the follow-up questions they need for any additional information.
Dive in and Start Learning
If you don’t have experience in the tools that jobs in EdTech use regularly, do some research. You can learn so much on YouTube from teachers like Josh Braun, a former educator who teaches sales and marketing.
You can often discover what tools these jobs require in the job description. Having even a little bit of experience with terms and tools will show future employers that you have initiative and are willing to learn.
Could you use the extra support in taking the next step after the classroom?
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Resources Mentioned in the Show
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Connect with Jeff
Jeff Patterson wanted to bring the power of digital communication to schools to engage and motivate students. Understanding that student safety was a primary concern, Jeff created a system that identifies suspicious items and allows control and transparency for teachers and administrators.
Since the inception of Gaggle as a student email provider in 1998, the company has grown significantly adding products that help schools create safe learning environments. When asked why he chose the name “Gaggle,” Jeff replies: “Our goal was to give teachers an easy way to watch over their gaggle of students.” Jeff’s vision of student-centric schools using cutting-edge technology to safely inspire creativity and ingenuity remains the driving force in Gaggle’s ongoing story.