Jobs I could do/ average salary for my age

[Whatkatiedid389]

I'm 30 and earn £17k basic earnings and around 1-1.5k with my part-time second job.
I have a languages degree and i'm qualified as a teacher. Haven't yet managed to get a teaching role sadly but I work as support staff.

I can only afford a flat share/bedsit, hardly have any savings, have debt to repay, can barely afford driving lessons.
There's no way I could afford a long-haul holiday or to buy a car etc. Unless I saved for a long time.

I know money is really not everything, and being happy is more important.

I'm not looking for a champagne lifestyle, but majority of my friends etc. Seem to be on or around high 20s-30k per year.

I feel embarrassed that I can't even afford a 1-bed flat and a car at my age.

What sort of graduate jobs do you think i'd be able to do ? I've realised the only way is to get a well-paying job. I have a good education and sell myself too short.

The problem is, I have no experience apart from school-based roles and some waitressing.

Thanks in advance

I'm beating myself up too much. My ex used to complain because I couldn't afford long-haul holidays, then left me for a girl who bought her own house at 24 and they went to Cuba and places together.
I feel so embarrassed when I hear that somebody 10 years younger for instance is much better off than me financially.

I'm confused... What job are you currently doing if you are trained as a language teacher? Are there really no job, temporary position or cover roles you can get?

What's your part time job? Tutor at £30 hour?

I though there was a lack of language teachers

Money isn't everything but lack there of can def get in the way of peace and happiness! Don't beat yourself up. I definitely went through a phase like yours. Getting a better paid job is definitely a good start.

From a teaching background, And if you have decided you don't want to continue applying for teaching positions, have you considered working in the charity sector? For example in the learning/education department of charities - or this + outreach/young ppl programmes at cultural organisations. My DH did a similar jump at some point in his career

When did you qualify as a teacher? Specialist MFL teachers are generally in short supply - would you be prepared/ able to move for a teaching post if you currently live somewhere where there are no vacancies?

I've worked in housing associations for years and found them generally to be well paying , with a variety of jobs to chose from with good progression opportunities. Starting as something like a housing officer usually doesn't require any specific qualifications.

Depends which area you live in, have you considered moving to a cheaper part of the country? Applying for teaching jobs in the north etc?

Limited jobs with language degrees unfortunately. You could opt to get another degree / retrain but might be quite long / expensive.

Don’t compare yourself to others I know it’s easier said than done. There will be people who are 50 who earn minimum wage and can’t afford nice holidays.

If your ex left you for another women he didn’t leave you because you couldn’t afford nice holidays. He sounds like an ass / very materialistic and he could have opted to help pay for your part if he really wanted.

Move to where there are teaching jobs available? Take on nannying, tutoring, childcare roles in your spare time? Gain an additional desirable qualification for teaching roles? For example coaching, extra curricular club involvement, forest schools, swim teaching etc?

Why don't you find out how you can start teaching again/whats required. Contact a few agencies to register and start there. Its best if you don't compare yourself to others, that won't help much. Instead focus on where you want to be and what you need to do to get there. Be grateful for what you have now.

I would have said you had done the hard bit of career prep - degree and teaching qualification. Ready for the jobs market and potential for climbing the salary ladder if you choose to move up to SLT.
Or do you not want to teach?

Are you earning 17k PLUS an extra grand a month? Or total of 1-1.5k a month?
Can you move areas? Or are you tied to your current location?
Have you been applying for teaching jobs? Or are there none about?
Teacher would be the obvious graduate jobs to apply for. My old company used to employ lots of European language speakers to take and process orders.

My company is in education and employs people with teaching backgrounds as kind of account managers working with schools and teachers that purchase our service. So something similar is a possibility.

I thought language teachers were in short supply. They are round here (SW) anyway.
What jobs have you applied for?

I am an administrator in higher education (London) paid around £34K. I have an English degree and Masters but most administrators only have a degree, often arts or humanities. University admin roles are often well paid with decent conditions.

Thank you for the replies. I live in a big city so there are sufficient teaching jobs but I've never been chosen.
I had an interview at my current school where i'm a TA but I wasn't chosen. When there are 5 of you at an interview it's hard.

That's true I shouldn't compare. I have a roof over my head and I can support myself so that's the main thing, just when I hear my friend saying how she spent 2.5k on a computer or whatever, I think that sort of money would change my life.

As a teacher I find it mad to think you cant find a teaching job in MFL. We have a really hard time finding well qualified MFL teachers in my area (gloucestershire). Maybe you could move to where the jobs are? That's what I did in order to find a job I could make a decent amount of money out of. I am the same age as you and on 30k after 5 years teaching. I moved countries actually. Sometimes if you want a decent job you need to make some hard moves.

I am on 17k from my school job then about 1-1.5k as a tutor in addition.
I think i've just been really unlucky to not get a teaching role yet, I will have to keep trying.
I will also have a look at charities and admin roles.

Would you be willing to move?

Maybe you need to focus on your interview technique? I think you should ask your current school for feedback on your last interview and maybe ask a colleague to help you prep eg a mock interview. Record the interview and see where you may be going wrong.

From what you have posted, it feels to me like your interview technique is a big problem and even if you look for work outside of teaching, you may still struggle.

How long have you been looking for teaching jobs OP? Are there things you are missing with your qualifications or something you can do to boost your CV, like volunteering? Have you looked into EFL? EFL isnt brilliantly paid but private tutoring could bring some money in.

How many teaching jobs have you had interviews for? If you do want to teach (and although you don't sound particularly enthusiastic, you haven't said that you don't), you need to apply for (almost) any job that comes up.
What has your feedback been from the interviews? Can you ask, especially in the school where you are currently emplyed, what you would need to do to get the job?
Maybe you need coaching in application writting or interview technique? If not from your current colleagues, then maybe go to the careers service at your university.
What about supply? It is so much easier to get a teaching job from a teaching job and if you maybe aren't great at interview you could prove yourself in the classroom. Schools are generally risk averse and will go for a proven safe pair of hands if you can show them you are that.

Sorry, we do need to know when you qualified. Day to day supply isn't as good an option if you are over five years in and haven't done your NQT year.

Given that you are single and able to relocate, I suggest that you spread your wings and start to look nationally for a job. I know that it may seem daunting but the reality of relocating can be the start of a life-changing adventure! Have you looked at the private education sector?

Reading between the lines on your post, it does sound as if you have been a bit lacklustre in your attempts to move your career onwards and upwards. Time to give your self a kick up the bum, review your CV, believe in yourself and make things happen!

In all honesty I stopped bothering looking for a couple of years because I didn't think I could handle being a teacher, the school already has concerns about my behaviour management.

I've got an EFL certificate and spent a few years working abroad in that. It was really fun and I thought I was very good at it, but sadly it was not fixed income, it was largely 0 hours contracts.

I think i'm just feeling like a bit of a loser and my self-esteem is low. Seeing girls in my school in their 20s get promoted to head of year/head of dept and probably earning double what i'm on.

I have an amazing work-life balance but that's it. I'd be willing to move, but can't until next year really.

I have a boyfriend and he lives further away. We're not entirely sure where we want to move to, if we are going to stay round here.
I qualified in 2016 so that possibly puts me at a disadvantage.

I live in a big city so there are sufficient teaching jobs but I've never been chosen.
I had an interview at my current school where i'm a TA but I wasn't chosen.

Did you ask for feedback? Do you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie?