Fed up of teaching what else can I do?

[moshmoshi]

Just that really. I'm mid 40s and really don't want to teach for another 20 years. Have been thinking about alternative careers/jobs for the last couple of years and have decided that this year is my last- but what next?

Are there any people who could share experiences/ give me advice? I'm really not sure what else I would like to do. I can afford a small salary cut so would need to do something that would eventually earn 30k+. I'm happy to retrain but I can't be out of paid work training for long, ideally I would like to train on the job or online whilst I'm still teaching/or in the holidays.

So far I have considered social work, occupational therapy and speech therapy and coding. I am open to anything, it doesn't have to be a people based job as long as it is quite interesting and I can have my weekends back (or proper days off if it is shift work.) I have a humanities degree and a level 3 Business qualification from when I worked in an office during a break from teaching about 10 years ago. I am also happy to have a job rather than a profession as long as I can earn enough.

I live in the south, a small town but can commute to two decent size cities within an hour.

Any ideas? I feel my ideas and thoughts are quite limited and would like my eyes opened to new possibilities.

[reefedsail]

Maybe change sector first before leaving altogether to see if a new flavour helps? Independent school? Special school? VIth form? AP?

[reefedsail]

Sounds like you might like to teach children with autism if you would consider OT and SaLT. That's what I do- the kids are awesome. I'd carry on going in to teach them even if I won the lottery. I have to be part SaLT, part OT, part Ed Psych (and many other hats) as well as being their teacher.

[AnaViaSalamanca]

Digital marketing?

Coding would be difficult and competitive, I wouldn't recommend it.

[moshmoshi]

I have done a couple of years in an independent and a year in an SEN school (a long, long time ago.)

A friend suggested SEN as well, I think I'd really enjoy that, but I'd feel guilty if I only did a year then decided to quit teaching after all.

[moshmoshi]

How do you get into digital marketing? Thanks for the heads up about coding, I thought there was a shortage of coders

[Larsingsong]

I can remember doing an access to health care course with a few different aspiring hcp disciplines.

I always thought the OT degree looked really varied and family friendly. I was applying for diagnostic radiography though at the time, and I love my career choice. It did work out family friendly too after the first year of 24/7 shifts, a really interesting career.

[superram]

I’ve done a couple of things but returned to teaching as I miss it. If you’re secondary could you be a trainer for an exam board.

[tami2k]

Would u ever consider teaching abroad? Would love to do that!

[moshmoshi]

I would love to work abroad but not so practical with DH and DC! I think I would like something completely different, I like change and I want to be able to finish work at the end of the day and not think about it too much. Teaching is always on my mind and I feel quite anxious about going back after half term. I'd have less holidays to get a better overall work life balance.

[Frestba]

The AAT accounts course can be done evenings or module by module. As can some payroll courses I think. Not very exciting for some. I like spreadsheets myself, the time flies by.

[SoloMummy]

Have you looked at charity jobs? Many sit at 30k and you have the transferable skills. There's a plethora of vacancy types.... And tbh once you approach things as you have transferable skills it becomes easier to see that pretty much anything is a genuine potential new job/career.

Ps I too left after 20 odd years. I love working my set hours and actually claiming back my extra time, having flexibility to attend appointments I need to attend without a major flipoout from the head! Autonomy That has been eroded...


I no longer have the 13 weeks holidays, however don't work most holidays and only worked 2 weeks of the summer holidays via my holiday allowance, flexi and arranging my diary in such a way to accommodate the school holidays.

[SoloMummy]

Good luck.

[june2007]

Private tutor, pru, SEN? Adult teaching?

[Namenic]

I career changed last year. I was thinking about it for a few years. I looked on jobs websites for inspiration, to see how my skills matched the job description and what were things I could get on CV. I was particularly looking at tech sector as had done some hobby coding (DH is in the sector, otherwise I would have found it quite hard). I spotted a good opportunity where they employed people without computer science degrees. I’m very happy in new job

[Scarydinosaurs]

AP school and train in SALT and maybe look to going part time with SALT some days, teaching the others?

[Guineapigbridge]

Set up a tutoring business, specialising in tutoring kids who have fallen behind or who need someone next to them to do their schooling at home. Covid will not stop this year, there's at least two years to go where kids' schooling will be disrupted. I think such a business will be successful. Employ other teachers on a contract basis so that your role can become more administrative over time and you can step out with a business to sell at the end of it.

[moshmoshi]

Like the idea of the tutoring business, definitely worth considering. I had a look at a charity jobs website and there were quite a few in commuting distance.

Teaching has such a long notice period I think my vague plan at the moment is to quit in the summer and do supply work so I am free to apply for interesting jobs as they come up.

I have discounted speech therapy and occupational therapy training as it is just not affordable at the moment ( unless DH gets a well paid job.) I think I’ve been hoping for inspiration to strike but not sure if it will, I think I’m more of a ‘work to live’ type person rather than someone who needs a vocation if that makes sense.