This is a hard one, well, in some ways it’s easy but to succeed it’s hard.
Generally schools take on people that they know and these are generally people that have gone through their courses and do things their way, some schools are open to other ways of doing things but many like it just so. To take you on a school would have to like you, think you’re good with people and at teaching people, that you have the required level of skill and knowledge to work with their customers, to accomplish this is often quite a tall order, understandably so when it’s their reputation to consider and they also want to further their business, the better the new guy the better chances of doing that.
I think that most people see the courses that John does with Woodcraft and Jonny does with his school as a good way of learning the required skills, I’ve talked to a number of people that have done these and it’s not so much the bit of paper as the structured learning and knowing that at the end of it you’re going to be well rounded in all the areas you need, they use it as a classroom or a fast track to the knowledge and skills, maybe the bit of paper will have more significance in the future, especially if the few schools that are vying for control of the industry set things up how they want to, then you might very well need a bit of paper to get on.
Those that have set up their own schools often have a background in bushcraft/survival, be it military, working for someone else, doing loads of courses or having a great life with people that have taught you loads, there’s loads of places people have picked up skills, although often when they’re acquired by the individual directly through books and the odd course they’re not that well rounded, we tend to do things we like and there’s often areas that we’re a lot more enthused about than others
Some of the well established schools owners/leaders have come through Woodlore courses (a few have been instructors) they do some courses and they set up a school, now days this is a bit harder because there’s more scrutiny and more choice for people so they ask more questions and sites like Bushcraft UK help people to know about schools and instructors etc.
Keep in mind that most of the established schools had no qualifications, no bit of paper etc, they just decided to set up and teach survival and bushcraft (obviously they end up having to have insurance etc) many smaller schools are supported because they run courses on weekends and when the owner takes time off of work from his full time job, in these instances the schools don’t have to make a lot of money, if any as the wage from the main job is enough and they’re enjoying themselves with the bushcraft school, some are open about this and some try to hide it as much as possible.
Doing it full time is a big commitment be you a school owner or an employee. Long hours, strained relationships, physically demanding, dealing with people all the time etc etc. If you’re the owner you get all the hassle, if you’re an employee you get insecurity (not always the case but usually) work can be seasonal etc so you’re not bringing in an income regularly etc. If you’re a single guy or have an understanding lady then you’ll be fine and it could be a great experience, if you have another income, or you’re young enough for it to make little difference to you then you’ll be fine and it’s worth pursuing if you want to, the experience will be completely worthwhile (usually
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These days I’d imagine that you would need to volunteer initially, that way you can get some experience and you’ve got a better way of getting in, even if it’s preparing the site, humping the kit in and out, keeping the place tidy etc etc, if you’ve got the resources pay for as many courses that you can that will bolster your skill base, study hard, work hard at it, get to meets and learn a broad range of skills, even for doing the same things, always act professionally, always. If you’re going for a job with someone they’re not going to be that interested in the bit’s of paper from instructor courses, they want to see what you can do and who you are, they evaluate that for themselves, unless you’re going to do something with say an outdoor pursuit centre or some such where it’s not the main focus of the place and the bit of paper says you can do what they want, they’re not so likely to be able to assess you.
Call up the schools, ask them what they’re looking for in an instructor, in the current climate some are not doing well and others seem to be doing fine so you’d get a good rounded view of things from them, many of them are very nice people and would be more than happy to give you advice directly. Talk to them, practice your skills, learn all you can, learn to be good with people while being professional, be willing to sacrifice quite a bit and you might get somewhere
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