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

Have you considered primary teaching?

If you have issues with behaviour management and lack confidence, then supply teaching is a very hard game. Teenagers eat supply teachers for breakfast. I've taught in behaviour units and have the skin of a rhino but I couldn't do supply.

Have you looked at online tutoring? It's booming at the moment for obvious reasons. . There are numerous online agencies. Not the best rates of pay, but more than TA rates. You could choose your hours around your TA role, teach both mfl and esl, and it would be one to one or very small groups - easier for behaviour management. Completely different skill set needed to classroom teaching.

Can I ask how many teaching jobs you applied for, before 'giving up'? Perhaps your lack of confidence and resilience is what you should be concentrating on, as everything seems to be 'too hard' and all you see are barriers, rather than viewing challenging opportunities.

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.

OP are you pinning all your hopes on your boyfriend? You were asked about "you", you reply with "we" ...

Honestly, if you really want to get your career off the ground you're going to have to act more independently. Don't wait for a joint decision on where you're going to live, at some time, in the distant future ... It's up to you to seek out the best possibility for you and to move swiftly towards it.

You also keep saying you weren't "chosen", which is slightly concerning. Adult life isn't like a children's game. You need to (at least try to) bend it to your will, before you become so beaten down that you give up.

What about supply work? A friend of mine originally struggled to get a teaching job and got one this way.
Have you completed your NQT year? Usually schools prefer to employ nqt as it is much cheaper.

I think you should find a mentor who is in teaching and start supply work.

She Doesn’t sound cut out for supply work at all for me. Maybe think about moving into educational publishing or something but I agree it sounds like y your self-esteem and confidence are your biggest hurdle.

You could try translation project management maybe but those tend to be quite young and buzzy office-based jobs

Charity sector - Trust Fundraising. Full of introverts good at writing! You do need to be driven but there are opportunities in cities plus wfh options.

Look at admin jobs with languahes? It doesn’t sound like teaching is for you.

It really doesn't sound like you enjoy teaching. To be honest it sounds like you dread it, but I wonder if you feel you've sunk all that time and money into qualifying so you have to continue?

You don't. And you are unlikely to feel happy and confident that way.

You're working with other people now, children and adults, so working in an office or other peopled environment isn't going to be worse. Teams don't have to be noisy and chatty, many are quiet.

There are so many options but you don't seem to think you deserve them. Here's a secret: you are just as worthy as anyone else. Find something - a cause, a business, an activity - that makes you feel truly excited inside, and look for jobs that might be connected. (I am not saying here that we can all make a good living only doing the things we love, but for you, I think you need to get some instinct and happiness back into your career plan because you sound like you're aiming so low in terms of finding the right thing for you.)

I'm an MFL graduate too with some experience of EFL teaching. Would you consider working at an international school? Many of them are bilingual (the country's language + English). A teacher friend of mine has been working in them for years, in Spain, Peru and Vietnam. Amazing salary + free accommodation...!

Sorry just saw the post saying that teaching at international schools requires 2yrs experience!

Freelance translation can be really hard-going especially if you have a common language pair. You'd need to start doing ot along side your existing work if you were interested, and probably get a translation qual as well, as many agencies require a particular number years experience or degree, in order to meet an ISO standard.

You haven't mentioned this, but I'm wondering if there is, or if you perceive there to be, some distinct reason why you're not progressing as you ought. So, race/ethnicity, physical impairment, traumatising childhood, oppressive partner. Maybe even living in an area with a difficult reputation ... Because you have qualifications, youth, and freedom from dependents on your side, and yet sound so defeated ...

Can you tutor? With the way GCSE's and A-Levels are going I expect a lot of teenagers could do with some extra help.

Maybe you could do it via zoom with groups of up to 4? Make it cheaper for the individuals, but better money for you per hour?

In normal times, I would also suggest researching other sectors/types of jobs you're interested in, then volunteering or work-shadowing in those sectors. You might also find you're interested in jobs that aren't directly language-related but that make use of your skills in other ways. Might be worth having a think about.

This is nuts. You’re working for less than minimum wage because of the term time thing.

You could go and work in a supermarket and be £200 a month better off. There are a million better jobs than being a TA, it’s usually mums with childcare issues or semi retired people that do those roles. The pay is ridiculously low.

You sound really cowed and unconfident and you really shouldn’t be. You’re educated and capable.

Fwiw I work in a pub for minimum wage and take home more than you do, and with tips it’s a lot more. I have one A level and MH issues which have impacted my ability to build a career. And I’m old. You have your whole life ahead of you!

Get a job at eurocamp in the summer and ski resort in winter.
Go and have fun!
Use your languages

That's all very well, Giganticshark, but the OP is a fully qualified 30, not a gap year 20. She wants stability and status; a career, not just racing all over the world for fun.

(Though I'd be as keen as anyone to read the follow-up thread when she's married a billionaire met on the ski slopes ...)

A "dream job" is not going to land in anyone's lap

You need to apply for a variety of jobs

You need to sell yourself

You need to decide if you want to continue with teaching

Do you have anyone that can " refer you as a friend" into their work place ?