To ask what alternative careers might suit me.

[HamnetandJudith]

Ok, not really an AIBU, but I’m wondering where to go next with my career. I have an ancient Oxford degree in English Literature which probably isn’t relevant anymore! I’m an experienced English teacher in middle management and while I enjoy aspects of my role, I am not sure I want to progress further in teaching.

When I left university I wanted to study law, but I was worried about the financial cost and I decided not to pursue it, something I now regret.

I’m really at the beginning of the process of exploring my options, so just wanted to gather ideas.

I am worried that my age (late 30s) and lack of experience outside teaching is an issue - but I do want to consider my next steps. I would consider further training (if I could do this alongside working). I like the look of some civil service/public sector roles and I’ve been looking at roles connected with education/training that might utilise my skills.

I still feel like I’m drawing a blank though and my fear is that a lack of decision making will ultimately lead to inertia and me seeing out the rest of my days in my current role.

I know I’m very lucky to have a secure job at the moment and I’m not jumping ship just yet, but planning ahead.

Has anyone seen a career coach - or would recommend one?

Appreciate any thoughts!

You mentioned law. Can you consider becoming a magistrate at your local court? A friend does it and loves it.

becoming a magistrate

I have considered this, as I’ve organised my school mock trial competition and we visited the magistrates’ court - I really enjoyed the day.

What interests so you have, are you passionate about anything? This might give you a starting point. Have you looked into Law conversion degrees?

Whilst you are retraining you could vecome an English tutor, with an Oxford degree youll be snapped up.

I like writing and I’ve produced some resources for an Educational publishing company, though that doesn’t pay particularly well. I’ve tutored in the past and always had plenty of work, though we have a huge mortgage and I’m scared to take the leap! A drop in income would be problematic for us.

I have looked at possibly teaching part time and doing a law conversion (there are some flexible options) but then I wonder if this is realistic now, as I have a family and can’t compete with all the bright young things.

Just bumping this. Is it worth seeing a career coach? I’m not 100% sure what I’m passionate about tbh. I feel a bit stagnant!

Has anyone made a similar move in mid life?

Prospects.ac.uk have so much information about different careers etc and, helpfully, a questionnaire you can complete that will give you a list of careers best suited to your skills, experience and desires. I've actually found it very accurate.

If you're interested in pursuing law or teaching, I would reach out and request some informational interviews with people in the professions - just ask to pick their brains a bit about their jobs, what the reality is like, getting started etc

They're both very demanding careers and both industries have a great deal of pressure on them at present.

There have also been careers coaches posting in AMA and the work boards so you might be able to ask their advice if they're still around. At the very least you may find their threads helpful.

I also think that competing with recent graduates isn't a problem. Many employers love career changers because they have a level of experience and commitment younger applicants don't. Your challenges, I think, are in working out which path is right for you and in figuring out how to manage finances while you change.

Have a think about what you and don't want in a job, as well as how far you're willing to go to change careers. For example, if your mortgage is what stops you, would moving to a cheaper house br an option?

You're just at the beginning of the path, and of course its not too late, but research thoroughly your options so that you're clear on how and what you'd like to achieve.

Good luck!

Brilliant, thank you. I’m already a teacher and absolutely agree it’s incredibly demanding, especially at the moment. I’ve joined prospects, so I’ll start having a browse on there.

I don’t think getting a smaller house is an option- we have a big blended family and need the space we have. Options will have to take finance into consideration. I really wish I had thought more carefully when I was young with no commitments!

My DH has made the move from teaching to the civil service and hasn't looked back since. The hours he was putting in as a deputy head were ridiculous as he had full class responsibility too so the work/life balance he has now is amazing - now that I actually see him of an evening and weekend, I'm glad to say I still like him!! 😂

The roles within the civil service are so varied that there's bound to be something in there you'd like which would utilise the skills you already have too, as well as build up new ones.

@Standrewsschool

You mentioned law. Can you consider becoming a magistrate at your local court? A friend does it and loves it.

becoming a magistrate

Magistrates are unpaid, so not really a career change!

I am really interested in the civil service actually. I looked at the fast stream, but I wouldn’t be able to relocate. Could be worth looking into further.

I left teaching in 2011 and worked at an exam board for 5 years before moving to a related field in the Civil Service in 2016. I love it - the work, the conditions including better pay and the people. Cannot recommend it enough. Good luck!

Apologies, I missed you mentioning you're already a teacher!

Hindsight makes everything clearer doesn't it? I'd be doing something else now if I knew then what I do now!

The house move was just an example, you might find there are various ways around managing finances but you might need to creative :)

Good luck with the research!

Thank you, I’ve lots to think about. I’m trying to explore what sort of experience I can gain now at school so that I can offer an employer something useful when the time comes. I’m currently completing a middle leadership course and I’ve got experience managing a team - so I should have plenty of transferable skills.

Would you consider educational psychology? I have an English degree and a background in communications, am also late thirties and looking at career change. If I had any educational experience at all I’d be looking at educational psychology or therapy.
I’m also looking at a possibly move into academia with a few years of part time study. Do you think university lecturing could be preferable/an option for you?

You need a BPS recognised degree in psychology to get into an Ed.Psych. Doctorate so that will take you at least 6 years.

There will be some major growth areas over the next few years - mental health and educational technology to name but two. You might want to look further into ‘future jobs’ because there’s going to be an explosion of work in areas that have never been explored before.

What about something like school inspector or whoever it is defines school policies and curriculum?

@emmathedilemma

What about something like school inspector or whoever it is defines school policies and curriculum?

You mean a Dementor? It’s not that appealing to many teachers, who have been conditioned to dread and fear them.

Civil servant here (and married to a teacher!). Have you signed up to Civil Service Jobs alerts, just to get a sense of what’s out there? Do you have a minimum salary expectation? If you were considering the faststream, then sounds like you’d be prepared to go in low and progress up. I think you might find the faststream quite frustrating though - will post more tomorrow. You aren’t required to relocate on the faststream, if you have clear reasons why not, by the way.

Have you considered a role in one of the many arms length bodies of DfE, like Ofsted, the regional schools commissioners, several others which I can’t immediately recall? Your teaching experience will be relevant and you might find it easier to secure a job above graduate entry level.

I think you might find it hard to secure a Grade 7 job or above in most non-education depts, as you really need some civil service knowledge and experience, but being in a policy area related to education would make up or your lack of that other knowledge, and you’d have time to pick it up.

I would look at jobs with the exams boards. Some really interesting stuff there and your experience would be relevant.

You mention not wanting to progress further in teaching. Why is that? What aspects of it are unappealing to you?

Conversely, what are the things you feel you would want to be looking for in a new career, which you cannot find in teaching?

When do you feel happiest and most fulfilled in what you are doing?

If you feel you have more to give, or currently untapped potential, how would you describe what that is?

I was going to say civil service even before you mentioned it! They would appreciate the Oxford degree and teaching experience in a way some other roles might not, for example it might be tricky to move at this stage into something private sector and fast paced. The main issue with civil service is that it can be so London centric but that works if you’re near London. If not Maybe explore local council jobs? Our local planning department has some jammy jobs but I’m not sure how you get them.

Will law always be the ‘job that got away’? Law is a field where you’re considered young until you’re about fifty 🤣 so it might still be worth exploring if you’re keen to do so and IF you could face going back to being very junior, which is hard. What is it that interests you about it? I did City law and found it very dull, if I did it all again I’d have done high street conveyancing or something else with a very short commute...

If you have the money could try a law conversion and see how you feel. That might also set you up for teaching at a law college which could be a good back up option (again some very jammy jobs there - much easier than a school!).

Ps running yournown tutoring business from home can also be lucrative if you don’t mind the lack of colleagues etc

I’m a teacher (primary though) with an English degree and I’m also the SENCO at my school. I’m ok with it at the moment and am pregnant so going on maternity leave soon so not looking to change right now, but I have looked at Speech and Language Therapy before.
Route would be a Language Pathology MSc (an English degree counts as one of the entry requirements, as well as teaching experience and special needs experience being a relevant bonus).
For example:
www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/degrees/language-pathology-msc/#profile

I like the idea of having more autonomy than you get in teaching. I like the idea of being able to plan my own day a bit more than I do now and not be waiting for the bell. I feel that in teaching you are micro managed and I would like to be treated like a professional. I want to be able to progress up the salary scale and I feel I’ve got where I can possibly go in teaching now.

I was interested in family law - but I feel that isn’t a realistic option now due to finances and the fact that I would have to work extremely long hours in the early years. With the family commitments I have now, I don’t think it’s doable and I’d be setting myself up to fail.

I have signed up to civil service jobs and I’m getting notifications coming through so I’m going to do some more research there.

The issue with teaching are the massive notice periods you have to give - but if I move into a related field in the civil service- hopefully that would be less of an issue. I feel that keeps you trapped in teaching!

I did see an exam board job last year, working for AQA and I didn’t go for it as I felt it was out of my league. It was Head of my subject and would have been an advisory role for teachers across the country, delivering training etc. I think I need to work on my public speaking skills (I’m actually not bad - I just get nervous!) and also become more proficient with aspects of IT and I’m going to look at interview and application form requirements.

Hopefully by next September I’ll be ready to make the move! I still feel a bit in the dark, but at least I have some ideas.

Forgot to say, I’m not near London- I’m in Cheshire. But where I live is near the M6 and commutable to Liverpool, Manchester and the Midlands. So hopefully that does give me a few options.