Anyone moved in to lecturing from another career

[DragonTrainor]

I'm considering a move from my current profession to teaching post grad students. I've never done any kind of teaching before so interested in others's experiences or advice if you have anything to share

did you find it difficult at first?
is it tiring?
what are your hours like?

So you have no training in teaching? What is your research record and specialisation? What are your PG qualifications?

Your questions indicate that you actually need to do a lot more research about what universities do, and how academic staff do it ...

UK HE is in meltdown at the moment. It's a very difficult job, which requires dedication and resilience, as well as highly specialised training.

Yes I have done my research and the role I am considering specifically requires someone with my professional experience.

Did you move into teaching from another role and do you have any experience to share or did you just wish to tell me I'm not suitable for this role even though you know nothing about me or the role?

The questions you ask about "hours" and being tiring suggest you know very little about teaching in a university.

The hours are long and it's a tiring job. I rarely take all my annual leave & I regularly work on weekends. I teach from my research and very long experience as a scholar. I know what makes a good university lecturer - I am one, and I've recruited dozens of them. The questions you ask are not the questions of an academic.

Is this role a research pathway contract, a teaching fellow or teaching only lecturer role? These are all very different beasts!

In terms of hours I am on a research contract, so teaching is 40% of my contract and I tend to work about 45 hours a week. I am definitely on the lower side compared to colleagues as I have DC. Many of my male colleagues work 12 hour days in the office 6 days a week.

I did. From nursing. It’s not without its stresses but I like the flexibility.

I think you're being unnecessarily unhelpful, @ParmaVioletTea . I don't see why these are unreasonable questions.

OP, if you're coming from practice you are likely to find this book useful https://www.routledge.com/A-Field-Guide-to-Working-in-Higher-Education-Transitioning-from-Professional-Practice-to-Academia/Kitchener/p/book/9781032482316?srsltid=AfmBOopQ8ekNm-s6aLWy90NuJxNvVEDPIc089Qy-mZRrmwnMOvHEuQHV

Thanks @ParmaVioletTea I've never done it as I said so I'm asking people who have. Obviously I will find out more directly from the provider when I meet with them. It's up to them to decide if I'm suitable for the role and meanwhile I'm finding out what I can. I'm not sure what your hostility is about.

@Optimustime Thank you for your reply. It is a lecturer role within a professional training university so think accountant teaching moving to teach in an accountancy school. I do plan to ask questions about what the role entails in terms of how many hours I would be teaching, how many hours prepping, preparing exams and marking etc.

I am in a demanding role now where I work long hours so I am comparing to that as well but also have young DC.

@plantperfector Are you glad you did it?

Thank you @ShiverMeLogs for the support and the book recommendation.

Is it a private university, like BPP? If so, I'd look carefully at the terms and conditions, sometimes they can be quite different from standard universities, eg not in USS or Teacher's Pension, amount of holidays, teaching hours expected etc

A lot of people I know who have done this move (I've gone the more traditional route) have also stayed part time in practice, and do part time in university which they feel gives them a good balance. Several have also been supported to do PhDs etc although that's becoming a bit trickier recently.

The role I'm interviewing for is not BPP but very similar and there is also a role at BPP I planned to apply for.

Thank you for the heads up. I don't know what's standard for a teaching contract so I suppose I'll be comparing to my current contract terms.

Thanks yes this is something I've consider partly as I would be taking a pay cut so one option I considered was one day a week locum work but I'm not sure if that would be more stressful. I know some of them offer free or discounted study on their courses and I would also need to undertake the teaching courses if I take on a role like that.

So could you explain what makes a good university lecturer. For those of us who aren't on the inside?

Yes! I’ve done it, and in similar circumstances to you. The hours can be excessive at times but overall it’s far less stressful than my old corporate career.

I really enjoy the teaching side but the sector feels around 20 years behind anything I experienced in the private sector so it can be frustrating.

That's interesting yes it sounds similar! Less stressful is what I'm hoping and I think I'd enjoy it but I expect it to be a challenge especially at first.

If it's teaching only it's definitely a lot less stressful. I've heard (on the grapevine) that some people who only teach can shut their laptops before 9pm.

What I would say is that students have got a lot more demanding. The job is certainly a lot more thankless than it was 20 years ago.

Thanks yes it would be teaching only. I don't think any research is part of the role other than keeping up to date with developments and preparing teaching materials.

Our teaching only contracts require scholarship. So writing textbooks and doing pedagogical research, that sort of thing.

I see. It will be interesting to find out more specifics about the roles I'm looking at.

Loads of nurses teach in universities. I’m doing a top up degree and all the module staff are nurses.

A large proportion of my colleagues have moved sideways from medical jobs to teaching in a medical school, or kept a foot in both camps doing two days of each. I know people who left teaching to train other teachers at university and moves from big pharma to a similar job.

Most have a much better quality of life, I've always been able to choose how many hours I work and we have rules about running our classes and meetings in school hours. I'm probably slightly underpaid but I wouldn't swap more money for the quality of life and flexibility.

I think it's harder in subjects where money is scarce than subjects where you are teaching practical skills. Universities will always be training doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, scientists etc so these departments are much nicer to work in, from a security and ease point of view, but the work less personal and more repetitive than if you have a passion about a particular artist.

Start by making connections, guest lecturer and tutoring on a course - we mostly hire people who have come in that way and you'll know if you like it.

Thanks for your detailed reply. I think I'm with you on the lifestyle being more important than pay.

You might find this interesting, from a lawyer writing about moving from practice to academic @DragonTrainor
My experience of Fellowship as a Pracademic

Ask whether the HEI will support you doing a Post-grad Cert in Academic Practice or similar and gaining Fellowship of HEA.
I'm almost certain our teaching only roles don't require any sort of research or pedagogical output.
Is it a permanent contract or casual hours - if later will likely be subject to fluctuating hours depending on how many international students are recruited but also a way to test before committing to the career change.
If it is a course that attracts lots of international students that can be challenging also due to English proficiency and the students needing to adapt to UK HE expectations.

Thank you for this. I will read this later.

They do support gaining formal qualifications and it is encouraged to do so. It's a permanent full time role. Not sure about international students. I would imagine not many but I could be wrong!

All universities are under massive pressure at the moment and nearly all are making redundancies. At my institution we have had redundancies every year for about 6 years and it isn’t over yet. Compared to other places, we are better off financially so even unis with lots of reserves are making huge cuts.

I wouldn’t recommend entering academia for this reason alone - though there are other reasons too. It’s very precarious at the moment. I’ve been at a uni for 19 years and will likely be make redundant in the next one. I won’t find another job is HE as there just aren’t any. I also have a professional background originally, and a PhD, numerous teaching quals, research etc but I still know I’ll need to change career shortly.

if you are older, are comfortably off and don’t need a career, but are instead **looking for a nice slide into retirement, OK, but if you are younger and thinking long term, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks. That's interesting. The places I'm looking at are private professional universities if that makes a difference. I'm 40 so I still have a good 20+ years in my career and I am thinking I would just go back to what I do now if it doesn't work out but it's useful to hear from you as I wasn't aware of this issue.