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Career Change- Advice Needed

vanpiggy
vanpiggy Posts: 69 Forumite
in Employment, jobseeking & training
Thank you all in advance for any help you can give me with this.

I've been teaching for two years and love being in the classroom, but am becoming stressed and ill from the workload and the fact that I do not have a life outside of school. I am planning a change of career, but I am unsure about how to discuss the fact that I am changing careers after two years in interviews and on my CV.

I am also concerned that my reference will highlight that I have missed some time with stress- how should I address this in interviews if discussed?

I appreciate any feedback.
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Comments

  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    Your best bet is to write a skills based CV which will enable you to emphasis your transferrable skills.You don't need to explain your career change on your CV but will need to look at positives that you've gained from teaching to discuss at interview.

    How much time have you had off and what are you planning on changing to?
  • vanpiggy
    vanpiggy Posts: 69 Forumite
    I've had about three months, though part of that was as the result of hospitalisation.

    I'm still uncertain about what to change to. I've considered looking at graduate training opps. in project management, as I graduated from my BA in 2007, so I am still a fairly recent grad. I've also considered HR or Admin work. I'm willing to take a pay cut for free time, though the jobs I've seen advertised compete well with teaching salary.

    Thanks for the advice- a skills based CV would be suitable for both these roles wouldn't it?
  • Anihilator
    Anihilator Posts: 2,169 Forumite
    Anyone paying you 20k or over will expect you to do extra work as required. There is no such thing as 9-5 once you are on to a good salary as if it goes wrong you are expected to fix things.

    The grass may not be greener as you think.
  • justjohn
    justjohn Posts: 2,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Why not move to a smaller school in a better area with smaller class sizes??
  • vanpiggy
    vanpiggy Posts: 69 Forumite
    There aren't any teaching jobs around in the area at the moment in my subject. I have a half an hours drive to work each morning atm, and I can't leave the area because of OH's job.

    I don't have a problem working long hours. Its not a matter of being workshy.

    I do have a problem with starting work at 7:30 am, not having break or lunchtimes because I am dealing with the needs of the students, working each night on planning and marking until at least 8pm and then working my weekends. This has, over the course of two years made me ill. I have asked for support and little has been done.

    I have many graduate friends, mostly better paid than me and certainly not working the hours. And as I said. I'm willing to take a pay cut for some quality of life.
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Anihilator wrote: »
    Anyone paying you 20k or over will expect you to do extra work as required. There is no such thing as 9-5 once you are on to a good salary as if it goes wrong you are expected to fix things.

    The grass may not be greener as you think.

    I wouldn't class 20k as a particularly high salary.
  • Anihilator
    Anihilator Posts: 2,169 Forumite
    Maybe not but you wont get it if you cant handle pressure or long hours.
  • justjohn
    justjohn Posts: 2,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You seem to enjoy the job....
    There are small schools and workload would be less.

    Its just a case as always of balancing quality of life with work/life.
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Anihilator wrote: »
    Maybe not but you wont get it if you cant handle pressure or long hours.

    In relation to teaching or generally?
  • Anihilator
    Anihilator Posts: 2,169 Forumite
    westv wrote: »
    In relation to teaching or generally?

    Generally.

    No one pays half decent money for people who show up and not a lot else. To suceed you need some ambiton and commitment.

    Wanting to work 9-5 and take nothing home with you or never have your social life affected generally doesnt go hand in hand with this.
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