Fed-up lecturer seeks new challenge that pays more (ha ha!)

[dodi1978]

Hi,

I am a lecturer in higher education (humanities subject), from an EU country.

I have been in a position of lecturer for 10 years now (although I don't really count the first two years as I was still finishing up my PhD). Since then, I've been completely stuck. Applied for promotion to SL last year - refused. Constantly applying for research grants - no luck.
As a result: few publications (to get publications, I need proper DATA, and to get those, I need FUNDING). It's a vicious circle.
At the same time, the targets are higher every hear - our module evaluation results are now part of our appraisal! If not all targets of the appraisal are reached, no chance to even apply for promotion that year - you get the gist, another vicious circle.

I really try to do what I can, but this job, which I once loved, takes over my life. I have got a 2 1/2 year old and, because I do most drop-offs and pick-ups at nursery, time I can spend at my desk is limited. No family support locally and my husband works over an hour away - so he can only do the occasional pick up. This means that I catch up with work stuff most evenings and never have any time to myself.

I am sick of it!!!

The problem is...

1. Changing to another academic role is tricky given the lack of track record for funding and publications.
   
2. With one small child and another one on the way, commuting would be tricky, so I am more or less stuck here locally anyway.
   
3. DS1 ist at the university nursery, which not only is one of the cheapest in town, but I can also fully salary sacrifice the fees. Essentially, this means we save a good £500 on other nurseries which are a) more expensive and where I b) would only get childcare vouchers.
   
   So I am looking at completely changing my job, and am looking to square the circle. I need a role that is localish and pays more than I currently earn to cover the increase in childcare fees.
   
   Any ideas, anyone?
   
   My skills are, I think, in teaching (I am a bit tired of it due to the consumer attitude of students, but generally still like it), but I also really enjoy writing / materials development kind of things. Internationalisation / languages are another interest. Learning & development roles in the corporate world would interest me, but how much can you earn with these? I have got a PhD and 16 years teaching experience, if that counts.
   
   Any advice / pointers appreciated. I am in the South East, commutable to London, but not keen on it with (soon) two kids. I want to use my maternity leave to seriously look for opportunities.

[Rollinginthevalley]

Another thing for your PDR/Annual Review

There's a good lot of research to suggest that student evaluations of teaching are ore accurate at assessing students' sexism (unconscious bias) than the quality of the teaching.

I once jokingly said to my University's head admin person for teaching (ie a Dean-type seniority but not an academic) that my male colleagues should start at around -3 on our 5 point scale for teaching satisfaction. He actually seriously agreed with me. (But he wanted something from me in that meeting and had to be nice to me).

I'm sure between us all here we could find enough links to this research so you could challenge the "Satisfactory"

[jamaisjedors]

Not specifically academic advice (although both Dh and I are in the business) but really what you are going through sounds like normal life for a family with young children and 2 full time jobs.

It IS hard work, but you also get a lot more flexibility in our type of job than a 9-5 office job. The downside of being able to pick up the kids from school/before 6pm for me Is work pretty much every evening g and at weekend when I can too.

It also sounds like you are bearing all the responsibility for the DC.