Former teachers...what do you do now?

b_girl

Hi all,
Just looking for other people's career experiences after leaving teaching.

I have had a just under 2 years career break from teaching, mainly to relocate and have another baby. But to be honest leaving teaching was a massive relief as I'd had enough of the work load and long hours that come with it, not to mention hoop jumping.

I'm now in the position where, having been with my children for the past 2 years, I need something else. I love being with the little ones but my brain is turning to mush :rotfl: and I need some work satisfaction I think plus extra money would be lovely.

My question is, if you are a former teacher what do you do now? And more importantly do you enjoy it? Or has anyone had a career break from teaching, gone back and loved it?

I'd love to hear others' experiences as I'm at a complete loss of what I should do if I do not go back to teaching TIA

duchy

I'd think a lot wuld depend on if you did a pure education degree or have another specialism that might give you better prospects especially if you have no other experience or even interest in any other fields.

Seems to me without that you would be competing for posts with new graduates without experience in that field too.

Obvious questions like part-time/full time , how you'd feel about 5 or 6 weeks holiday a year now you are a parent , how you feel about starting at the bottom again.

Although personally I feel the teaching profession has enough teachers who have stayed because they have no clue what else to do rather than they have a passion for teaching or are good at it -It might be worth considering if a part-time post would give you better job satisfaction and time with your children and no holiday childcare needed.

RedfordML

Why not change age groups and become a TA/Mentor etc


Keeps you in school, fresh age range and because of your background you would be highly valued.


Also you could switch of and not take work home with you....


Good Luck!

dawyldthing

Quite a few go into teaching teachers. I failed final placement but I don't think I would have gone into it anyway. I think it depends what you want to do next and salary wise as teaching is fairly well paid to a lot of careers (but for the amount of hours you all deserve it imho)

speakingofart

I'm now in HR and absolutely love it. Still work long hours sometimes but my life is my own again!

GwylimT

I now work for an exam board part time, I can work from home unless I am presenting at a school or conference in my area. I earn more than I did when teaching, I actually see my children and I'm not verbally abused. I don't actually spend my holidays working and work outside of my usual hours is paid.

I'm a trained mechanic so when my son is at respite I sometimes work a friends garage if I'm not busy.

ecoelle

I went back into retail for a few years just to recover from leaving teaching. Then got married, had a baby and now, 8 years on from leaving teaching I am a relief TA for a few local nursery schools. Gives me the flexibility I need to still be around for my daughter who is 4, and allows me to get my feet back under the table in a few local schools. My plan is to get some recent experience and then hopefully apply for part time TA jobs once my little one is in school next year. I am hoping it will allow me to do the planning and teaching which i love without so much of the stress and long hours. I have switched from secondary school age to nursery as well which has been great. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have any questions you wouldn't want public x

b_girl

Thanks so much for all of the replies!

As most teachers I do love teaching and being with the kids (I'm early years) but am worried about the pressure and constant cycle of work work work when/if I return, especially with a 2 yr old and 9 month old. The holidays fit in so well with family life though.

I'll have a look at HR and exam board jobs too, thanks for those suggestions!

MataNui

I went into teaching from working in industry as a software developer. Though i loved the actual teaching part i found i couldnt stand the majority of my colleagues and quickly decided the petty politics and narrow mindedness of school was not something i wanted to put up with.

So i am back doing what i used to do working less hours (but getting less holidays) and earning a lot more pay.

I think its difficult for ex teachers (particularly if you qualification was a teaching degree rather than an industry focused degree followed by a pgce) to find work outside of the education sector. Pretty much all the teachers i have met have been 'institutionalized' to some degree and would actually struggle in a normal work environment.

Also (and this is particular to my field Computing and Information Technology but probably follows for most) the actual subject based skill level of teachers is dire. They seem to have actually regressed since they finished university which wont help their employ-ability.

missbiggles1

When I worked as an adult careers adviser, I found escaping teachers were some of the most difficult people to help. They tended to be over optimistic about the level of pay they could command and the level they'd start at in a new career.

Why not spend the time now training for a new career rather than expecting your current qualification to be useful away from education?

SandC

Not an ex or current teacher but does supply teaching appeal? My friend did that for years (primary age) and said it was the best option for her - doing the job she loved but without the red tape and hassle involved in a full time position.