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

If you write well and have a languages degree, and if you have teaching experience but are not so strong on the classroom management you might consider English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Students are usually highly motivated and behaviour is not an issue.

If you're prepared to do summer pre-sessional courses and some zero hours / short term contracts you will definitely find work as there is a real shortage in university summer schools. There are a few online EAP (TEAP) courses running (do one at a university as they might offer you work after you finish the course) and you'd most likely be teaching online for the time being so you wouldn't need to move away. You can even teach "abroad" from the UK eg with Westgate, teaching learners in Japan (university, high school, young learners so not all EAP).

Long-term, if you can get a university position, it's decent pay, pension, holidays etc. If you live in a big city, you could pick up f2f teaching too.

Still a national shortage of MFL teachers- www.tes.com/news/40-more-mfl-teacher-trainees-needed-2020

If I were you OP I would look into teaching English abroad. Go work in Asia and build up some confidence. You won't get paid a massive amount but you will gain confidence and get some amazing life experiences.

Sorry to be harsh but you sound so... "Oh, I don't knowwww" about everything. That's why you are not moving up and into better jobs. It does show in interviews that you are just... "Meh" or unsure.

You really need to sit down and have a talk with yourself about which direction do you want to go.

"Someone with better Spanish".

Would you consider teaching English in Spain for maybe a year? A native English speaker plus a qualified teacher, you'd be snapped up surely? This would give you teaching experience plus you'd get full immersion in Spanish and enhance your langauge skills.

What language do you speak? Could you be a translator for the NHS or private?

There are several jobs you could do if the top of my head. Publishing companies (Pearson Longman, OUP etc), Cambridge Assessment often advertise. You say you have an EFL cert, if it's the Celta or Trinity then this combined with your teaching qualifications could help you get jobs teaching EAL. If you fancy a move overseas then the International Schools would offer a decent package (salary+ housing etc) and so a chance to save for a return to the UK.
EFL at the moment is rather precarious... a lot of schools etc have closed both here and overseas though British Council and International House may start recruiting again for overseas.
More admin based.... uni admin/student services might be an idea.

Try the civil service. You can apply for entry level jobs and the fast stream graduate programme.

It sounds like you need some interview skills training. Can you see a careers adviser or even do an online course? Try Conel for free taught courses online. They are likely to have courses on employability.

Try looking for work in a sixth form college. As long as it’s a decent one, it will be walk in the park compared to school teaching and the behaviour management that entails. Good pension too.

If I were you then I'd speak to the schools who rejected you and find out why. We're desperately short of language teaches and many positions go unfilled each year. That means schools would rather have no one than have you - you need to find out why or you'll never get a job. If you fix that problem then you'll have a £30,000 job.

I struggle to understand how you haven't found a job as a languages teacher as they are in short supply and high demand. Have you considered looking further afield? Do you drive? Never compare yourself to other people, comparison is the thief of joy!

Unsure from your posts if you want to teach or not?

Honestly teaching is a life style not a job. You say you have a good work life balance. You need to think what you are willing to give up to start earning more money?

If you are willing to move, work in for academies/ require improvement schools? As there is jobs going, you need to be flexible in your first few years. Have you thought about primary MFL roles?

As someone who does recruit teachers (for a world wide organisation), sadly if your CV landed on my desk I would pass on it (maybe give it to the graduate team). The reason for that is as a teacher you need to be independent, you need to be self motivated. Someone 4 years after qualifying who is not teaching or holding a TLR does not show these things.

Things you can do to improve your income and future opportunities. Ask your current school about doing intervention groups; covering lessons (make sure you get paid qualified teacher rate for this); run language clubs. Out of school; on line tutoring, during holidays (and when boarders open) summer school teaching (you going to China/ Korea/ Japan or where the kids come to the UK it pays about 2/3 thousand USD a month).
First though you need to decide what you want to do.

Look for independent school positions. Behaviour management usually far less challenging.

@Whatkatiedid389

Have you thought of moving to a new town? Perhaps you can’t find a role because of where you’re applying or live? I noticed you passed your PGCE and you have experience so that should be enough. Maybe you and our boyfriend could move together? Good luck whatever you do you seem like a hard worker so I’m sure you’ll get there

Is teaching at an international school abroad an option?www.tes.com/jobs/browse/international

www.tes.com/jobs/browse/international

Most international schools/countries require minimum 2 years post qualifying experience. Not all, though. For many countries it's a visa issue, but the majority of schools require this for quality assurance.

@flyingant any international school that is worth working for (ie tier 1 or 2 schools) will require 2 years if you want to work as a teacher. They may take you on as a graduate (ie help in dorms and as a sort of LA).

Have you looked at the Civil Service? If you have good languages and you live in\near London there are possibilities.

Or languages in the private school sector (not London)

Civil service? Look at "civil service jobs" online to see what is available.

Have you thought about going to the middle east to teach? I know these covid times make everything harder but I have friends who have set themselves up very well after a few years teaching abroad.

Have you thought about becoming a translator?

healthyfreelancers.com/how-to-become-a-translator-without-a-degree

Could you add an additional language to your repertoire? You say that you need to improve your Spanish. Could you try to get a job near Spanish border teaching English and then try to spend time in France to improve your French too. Aiming for further or higher education too would be good. I think that at the moment you are prprobably competing with native Spanish speakers too. All my dc's teachers are native speakers. That combined with behaviour management issues could be an issue. It sounds too as if the current school don't particularly value you. I wonder what their references are like.

You would make an excellent nanny overseas OP that could potentially pay very well. Your CV sounds very appealing, you are young, sporty, speak and can teach MFL. The world's your oyster, but you sound very downbeat. I would invest in a few sessions with a career coach and try to improve your confidence.

Translators run their own businesses and need a bit of oomph. I’m amazed op that it seems to have taken someone on here suggesting supply teaching for you to consider it. I think you need to go and talk to your university careers service.