Those who enjoy substitute teaching usually have the following personality traits:

• Desire to work with children ages 5-18
• Relate well to students
• Able to inspire a love of learning
• Good sense of humor
• Flexible – Able to adjust quickly to unique and changing circumstances
• Good example for the students (model citizen)
• Love to learn
• Willing to try new things
• Patient
• Kind
• Fair
• Consistent

There are a few things individuals can do to determine if substitute teaching is right for them:

• Volunteer in a classroom to experience first-hand the challenges of teaching.
• Attend a district orientation or job fair hosted by a school district.
• View the SubOrientation video produced by STEDI.org.

The blog post, Reasons It's Great to be a Substitute Teacher, lists several reasons why substitute teachers love their job.

It is important to note that not every individual may be a good fit for a substitute teacher position; just as some people don't possess skills to be a good mechanic, a nurse, or a carpenter. While almost anyone can develop the skills over time, it's okay for a job seeker to forego substitute teaching and pursue other employment opportunities for which they are more qualified.