I want to use my MA and no idea how....

[indecisivenessPersonified]

Any advice appreciated. First world/selfish 'problem' I fear!

I feel really quite stupid about this situation.

When I did my degree, and then an M.A, I had been offered a position at the university I went to. Which then fell through.

At the time, I wasn't so bothered. I was young, single and a bit stupid and just got a bog-standard job, had a great social life, lived with housemates, had fun.

Now, I realise I should have kept applying for things at the university, sought careers advice from lecturers as an alumni student, etc but I didn't. I did various jobs but all low-earning, standard ones. I then took time out to work part time only and help raise my stepchildren. They're grown up now I'm no longer with their Mum (I'm a gay female, if relevant at all)!

Eventually I qualified in a totally different profession and now I have a job doing that. I love my job, It's easy, I work from home, no stress, no pressure..

But I feel my earning potential could be so much higher. I am on about £27k pro rata (I do 33 hrs).

It's 'enough'. I'm single and live within my means.

Aside from money, I also want to not have those degrees go to waste.

I'd like to work in a university but I know I'd need further qualifications to become a lecturer. I can't afford that, time wise while working or money-wise.

I am good at teaching and did a spell of helping with lectures while I was doing my MA, but that was 2008!

I feel I'm wasting my Masters Degree, and my potential, I don't use my brain much and I've lost a bit of interest for what I do now, don't want to qualify higher at it.

I'll likely will regret it if I don't at least try.

But then I think, my job now I am very happy in, the company I work for are great, my boss is lovely, I never have to leave the house-maybe I am just nuts! Is there a way around this, any suggestions welcome!

I've name changed as I've had a few rants about this situation to friends and I don't want them to recognise and link it to previous posts :)

So … While scholarship in your MA subject will have moved on considerably since 2008, it sounds as if you still have the skills and energy for academic life.

You need to be doing a PhD.

Presumably you’re under 60 so could get a Government PhD loan? I know (painfully) that this isn’t always a golden key - but if you did it part time you could carry on working full time as well. TBH it sounds as if you could manage both work and study full time - despite what you say. (Forgive the impertinence but your salary and hours don’t suggest that you’re impossibly stretched right now!)

@TottersBlankly thank you. I'd love to be able to get into it without that, but yes I am under 60 and if that's the way then that's the way.
It's painful for me that my education cost so much already and I'll be spending more, but if it'll be worth it I will do it. Going to have a look at that link :)

Yes, I work nights as a counsellor. It's a great job, easy, zero stress, enjoyable and I love being at home but I feel a bit 'Is this it?' about it to be honest.

Whats your profession? My colleague ( community nurse) just got a job as a lecturer at a university ....she has no teaching qualification and her highest qualification is a post graduate diploma ( shes a specialist nurse) ...the uni will put her thru a teaching qualification and a masters .... so depending on your skill set and what you want to teach you may not need a further qualification

I think it depends on what your MA is in. The PP mentioned nursing and that’s vocational so far easier to end up lecturing, if it’s English Lit then that is an altogether different thing, though you will have some useful transferable skills - analysis, close reading, detail etc.

A PhD in and of itself might be enough to satisfy you, not necessarily to work in academia but to give you an outlet. Depending on the field academia is brutal (I have just withdrawn from a PhD in my third year) and very hard to get a secure, permanent job.

I’m in a similar place OP. I have a decent job that pays well but doesn’t use my qualifications at all - but I’m a humanities grad so I am starting the process of looking for where my skills are transferable.

Good luck Op.

@kitcat15 that is brilliant. My BA and MA are in sociology, makes me feel I don't have a chance. I've also got my Diploma in Professional Counselling.
@StColumbofNavron
I would love to work in academia, the thought of further study is a bit daunting but if needs must..

Perhaps I should be looking at other things.

I'd like to earn more money, but also be using my research, analysis and theory-based skills. I am one of those people who thinks 'There's always a way, perhaps not an easy one but a way!'

@StColumbofNavron have you got anywhere with things you were looking at? I'm wondering if it would be a stupid idea to email my old university for advice.

Universities are generally delighted to hear from their alumni - the difficulty is that the specific tutors who thought so highly of you are likely to have moved on by now.

But it would certainly do no harm to get in touch with whichever member of staff you had the best relationship with - if they have moved institution you can easily find their new location. Email and ask if they’d be free for a chat as you’re considering returning to your MA subject and would welcome their preliminary advice. The worst that could happen is that they don’t reply. Anything more would be a bonus. They may suggest some steps you could take to get yourself up to speed and in a stronger position for … re-entry.

I'm a student on a Masters counselling course and some of the lecturers don't have teaching qualifications. When I asked the course leader if you need any qualifications to lecture other than a Masters they said no but it's advantageous to have a doctorate or be working towards one.

@indecisivenessPersonified I’ve started looking at the internal jobs where I am temping and trying to align my skills to see where I could see myself and where my gaps are. It’s a large organisation so I am going to take advantage of the careers advice in HR so I know the job titles at least of what I might look at.

An academic support role has come up as well so I am pulling together an application for that which if successful will give me a job title that is transferable to industry.

I’m taking a long term view though and not actively looking to make a move right now. If I stay in industry I plan to do my current role at my current company for c. 2 years before attempting an internal move.

Teaching is still on my radar for next year, again staying here or being successful in the HE job stand me in good stead for this.

Ultimately, I have plans in a few different directions but nothing solid. My overall aim is to be on one of these paths by Sept 2023.

@benfoldsfivefan

I'm a student on a Masters counselling course and some of the lecturers don't have teaching qualifications. When I asked the course leader if you need any qualifications to lecture other than a Masters they said no but it's advantageous to have a doctorate or be working towards one.

They are actually bucking that trend in healthcare degrees round my way ( NW) .... actively seeking out clinical professionals to apply ( don't even need a full masters...a PG Dip will suffice)