Please advise on career choices

[Miladamermalada]

I'm in a confused situation career wise.
I have a profession-say I'm an English teacher. I've had time out and the thought of going back puts me off, but it pays quite well.
Currently I'm doing a job similar which has quite a fast progression-think PGCE to become a University Lecturer-this is well paid and I get a respectable qualification alongside it. However to do this, I have had to swap subjects to History.
I don't think I want to be a lecturer. I also don't think I fit in being a teacher. I am finding the level of work fine, but the History is very difficult to understand, as my degree was in English, then I did the teacher training after it.
I'm earning ok money, it's ok for now but I wonder if it's worth it. I'm not specialising in English teaching so I'm not progressing career wise. I'm drifting. The position I'll be in at the end of what I'm doing now will be better qualification wise but will leave me as a Jack of All Trades Master of None, which I'm worried about.
I will find it hard to go back to English Teaching, my teacher friends have already had promotions to head of dept etc. I will still be at basic level despite what I'm doing.
Basically, I'm doing some very prestigious work, which pays very well, which gives me a lifelong qualification, but isn't linked specifically to my profession.
So, what do I do?

1. Scrap what I'm doing (a very rare opportunity and highly prestigious), and go back to a starter role
2. Carry on for the next 2 years then I can make the decision as to what to do next
3. Withdraw from all and retrain as something else (think social worker-two years MA, something I've thought of for a while?

For clarity there will always be teaching jobs, there won't be this opportunity again, and 3 will get me into debt as all my degrees have been scholarship funded.

There’s no right answer. What feeeld good in your gut?

You sound like your not keen on your current position but scared to give it up due to the prestige of the role? Are you scared what others will say? Are there any other opportunities that will come from this path apart from becoming a lecturer? Are these of interest? If not I can’t see the pony on staying on that path? If there is then staying for two years isn’t a bad option.

You do t seem to like teaching and you are right that going back in at the bottom would be frustrating.

Regarding retraining.. this is an option but surely there are other roles you could do with your experience and existing qualifications? Unless you are really passionate about social work it’s a lot of expense.

Hi thank you.
I have been told by professionals from both fields it will be worth it. It is a LOT of work. Other opportunities may come but it is very hard-and I'm intelligent, but even I find it challenging to the extreme.
I'm not scared of what others will say but of my own feelings of failure. I will feel good in two years if you get me?

Starting again at the bottom is depressing and I think if I were to progress I would have done so by now-I am very good at what I do and would have been promoted had I stayed, easily.
Not overly passionate about social work. Probably an option to avoid the current dilemma-and I'll still be entry level.
I've had a baby and lost confidence and that's part of it. I feel I fit nowhere. My current employers head hunted me and are highly supportive.
I could also do a lot with the existing qualifications but face the barriers that I'm not currently teaching. So they question my commitment to the field.
Thank you, it's helpful to talk myself through it.
Everyone has told me to stay, except one who said to do the bare minimum at job 1 whilst my baby is small and to enjoy it.
I find being a sahp very challenging and she's better in nursery.

Anyone else? Thanks!

Try posting in Academics Corner, you'll get a lot of advice there if you can be more specific ( PM someone with your actual situation then it doesn't show on the thread).

There are pros and cons to all your options. You say you don't want to be a teacher or a lecturer and your heart isn't in social work. Do you have any other interests apart from English?

I think only you will know which is right. I loath history and find it very difficult to wrap my head around so I sympathise in that respect!

Hi, we're moving this over to Academics' Corner to (hopefully) get the OP some more advice.

Look carefully at the options your new "History" qualification will bring (beside the lecturing, which you already know you don't want to do). If the job market is good and buoyant outside of academia, and your qualification will be helpful (e.g. a PhD in for example global health science or something quite applied with an industry or sector attached) then do it. If it's a humanities PhD with a terrible job market, then do not bother. Prestige will not compensate for a load of stress and time away from your kids slaving over your qualification.

If you enjoy "English teaching" go back with a happy heart as so many people take time out of this career for family, life / work balance. You can still achieve your own promotion when the time is right.

If you aren't fussed about either "History" or "English" options then you need to brainstorm to see what your current qualifications could be used to do. Any passions you do have in related areas? Would visiting a recruiter help you with this? It seems mad to retrain into an area you're not particularly into. Some good careers coaching could really help you if you could put aside some funds to pay for this.

Thanks both.
I have ruled out retraining. It is a waste of time and money and I would be lower grade than I am. Pointless idea.
I don't like the day to day hands on 'English'. I like the theories and academic critique of it-research. I am excellent at research in English. I have an MSc with distinction and publications in this. I could get a job in this specialising tomorrow, but there is a glass ceiling after one promotion. I'd like to progress further than that, but I'd also like to do part time for now. My dd is 2 and I left a DV relationship when pregnant.
History qualification is PhD level but nothing at all to do with English. I can try to use it for English, with some abstract publications, and perhaps swap over to English to lecture. However I don't like lecturing. I like research.
Research is what I excel in but only in English. I am crap at History research but somewhat want that qualification. History is humanities based yes, and an abstract topic though interesting. If I were to say it to friends and family they'd thing wtf?!
What I am really thinking is to try and get a PhD funded for English. I turned something like this down and now regret it. Academically I'm top of the game so would have a chance.
I know when I say 'prestige', it isn't on Academics corner btw, I was trying to explain it in a non academic context!
Fuck. I don't even have a pension and I'm 40. I had years out with DV. Argh!

How old is your child? Will you have any more do you think? I ask because I personally found the stage of having a baby/toddler very 'fogging'. It was hard to think about myself while I had such an intense focus on a very young child. Now my kids are hitting school age, I am starting to retrain, and it is a much better time.

In the meantime, I would second the idea of careers counselling, and of getting on your university gradlink, if you have one, or on LinkedIn, and asking people in a range of careers of interest to have a coffee with you and talk through their job. People are very generous with their time in that respect. In other words, you don't have to find the solution right now, but you can do some prep and thinking work.

She's 2. No more I'm sterilised!
I am just coming out of the fog. It's been hell (unplanned and divorce in first year)-love her but so sick of mothering I can't bear to be around newborns.
I am trying to get myself to a good position for Reception. That is what made me stay with History as I will be finished then, and can go back to English or do what I want with history.
I could work as an 'English' researcher part time for two years and then look into developing.
A career counsellor would be good. Might see about something for ex alumni, my former uni was excellent.
Thanks

Sorry things have been so tough .

A research only career can be extremely challenging - short term contracts, precarious, punishing. I speak from current experience in the social sciences! No pension either, and none to look forward to realistically. If I had known my DH would develop chronic illness I would have chosen something more secure, and may have to step sideways in that direction soon, so it's all about your personal circumstances and how you can make it work. Do think carefully about changing jobs and moving location every 18 months and how that would realistically work for your setup.

There are other sectors where research only trajectories are more organised and sustainable though e.g. biomed, health, sustainability etc. If "English research" has a more stable career ladder then definitely try to get a funded PhD and pursue it.

If you don't enjoy history it sounds not ideal to pursue, as you "are your last job" in academia. Good luck, I hope you find the balance you want. You sound really strong and very motivated.

Update:
I've contacted someone in 'English' about some possibilities of a funded PhD closer to home than where I work now.
I felt enthusiastic and familiar when writing the email.
This would mean there was a future at the end of it whether practical or academic.
I'm going to give it a go.
Is it bad form to cut your losses in another field to go to another one? I can demonstrate commitment etc.

Nope, I would just explain it really simply- that's the field of expertise you want to develop and feel most at home in, but you really appreciate the opportunity they gave you. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Thank you spring.
I'm looking at a research proposal today. Going to use my MA dissertation and try to go back to that topic.