Career Change- Advice Needed

vanpiggy

Its an inner city school, and there are no other jobs about.

I've asked for support with the stress, tried to manage the workload, but the school is embroiled in an Ofsted panic and more and more new policies and agendas are being piled on in a knee jerk reaction to the new criteria. I have thought about it hard and I would like to try my hand at something else.

My relationship is suffering massively under the strain as I'm constantly depressed. I never see my parents etc. because they live in a different part of the country and there isn't time. Anhilator might be good at managing those demands, but for me it seems like I have to make a choice at the moment.

Does anyone have any further advice on job applications, CVs, interviews etc?

bristol_pilot

Not many jobs paying what teachers are paid expect you to work unpaid at home all evening during the week, most of the weekend and all through your holidays. We're used to seeing stressed-out teachers coming into industry and you are right to make the move while you still can.

What is your subject? If it's maths or science you will have no problem securing alternative employment.

westv

Anihilator wrote: »

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.

I don't agree. £20,000 is a bog standard salary (apart from some areas of the UK) and shouldn't require any particular committment to the job outside what is expected from a person with a professional attitude. The national average is about £24,000.
If you were saying £40,000 (outside the City) then I might agree. In the City make that figure £50,000+

bristol_pilot

Trainee security guard at my place gets £20k - bottom of the salary scale.

vanpiggy

Thank you very much for understanding how stressed I am guys, I really appreciate your support.

Anhiliator, I am an excellent teacher, I have received teaching awards, run several after school activities and get excellent results. I think it is unfair that I have asked for advice and had such digs made at my character- intentional or otherwise. That I am unable to continue teaching may, or may not be, a failing on my part. I cannot continue, and don't think teaching is a career for people who are willing to give anything less than 100%. I cannot give this anymore.

My OH currently earns £7,000 more than me, works much shorter days and agrees-with less responsibility. Same qualifications. Same no. years experience-the difference between private and public sector.

My degree is in languages, so transferrable communication skills and my linguistic abilities may benefit some companies.

Oldernotwiser

bristol_pilot wrote: »

What is your subject? If it's maths or science you will have no problem securing alternative employment.

That's a bit over optimistic, don't you think?

Absinthe_Fairy

vanpiggy wrote: »

Thank you very much for understanding how stressed I am guys, I really appreciate your support.

Anhiliator, I am an excellent teacher, I have received teaching awards, run several after school activities and get excellent results. I think it is unfair that I have asked for advice and had such digs made at my character- intentional or otherwise. That I am unable to continue teaching may, or may not be, a failing on my part. I cannot continue, and don't think teaching is a career for people who are willing to give anything less than 100%. I cannot give this anymore.

My OH currently earns £7,000 more than me, works much shorter days and agrees-with less responsibility. Same qualifications. Same no. years experience-the difference between private and public sector.

My degree is in languages, so transferrable communication skills and my linguistic abilities may benefit some companies.

Vanpiggy, I can't offer any advice I'm afraid but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. My dad took early retirement from teaching through stress a few years ago. It's a horrible situation to be in, but a degree in languages and two years of teaching experience (so many transferable skills) should hopefully stand you in good stead whatever you decide to do.

Anhilator has a point in that most professional jobs require commitment and overtime, but in my (albeit limited) experience few jobs require the constant overtime, inspections, emotional involvement and general devotion teachers are expected to do/have. Even if you completely ignore the salary aspect. The 'long holidays' don't even begin to make up for it.

I absolutely do not think that it is a failing on your part. I know a lot of teachers (members of my family, friends, family friends) and I don't know a single one who doesn't suffer from stress to a greater or lesser degree. Most of them would leave in a heartbeat if they didn't have a large mortgage or weren't nearing retirement age anyway.

Good luck, anyway :T

DVardysShadow

vanpiggy wrote: »

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?

if you have issues with stress and being totally absorbed by a job, then avoid project management