Keep going for the wrong jobs

[Drumstick38]

I am a qualified teacher but I've no idea how I gained the PGCE, teaching is really not for me. I get told I'm too "nice" and not strict enough with the kids. I find the behaviour management aspect of teaching really hard and was put on a support plan in one job because of it.

As a result I've done: TEFL teaching, Teaching Assistant, daily TA supply and support/care work.

I've enjoyed all of these jobs but they are mostly minimum wage, TEFL is not but is often zero hours contracts.

I don't want to be on minimum wage forever, especially as I have a degree and PGCE. There is nothing wrong with it for people who are happy and can exist well on it.

But to have a decent living situation, savings, pay for the driving lessons I need and enjoy life somewhat it's very hard.

I keep going into these minimum wage jobs and then not lasting long as it's so poorly paid. Currently work as a night carer at min wage, whether it's nights, Christmas etc. Zero enhancements. There are care homes that pay £10 per hour , so I don't know why I've gone for this min wage one.

Now applying for HLTA jobs and senior carer etc. Anything above 20k basically, which isn't even that high. Any other advice? Just want to have something with a decent salary that I'll stick to.

Where are you based? Have you thought about SEN teaching, similar principles completely different approach to behaviour management than mainstream.

Go back to teaching, get a few more years under your belt then you'll be able to pick up something related but not classroom teaching? It seems a waste to be able to teach and then work for minimum wage - or yes, get a decent support worker job that pays more money!!

Oh gosh I'm having a similar wtf am I doing moment.

I'm also an ex teacher and keep looking at local gov/support worker or admin roles and then wondering why am I looking at low wage jobs. I have a bit of a desire to be a library assistant on £10 per hour...

How does someone with degree and post grad quals end up here!?

Oh my God, are you me OP? I've got a PGCE and managed somehow to get through my NQT year but like you, I'm not really teacher material. Much too 'quiet' and not strict enough for boisterous UK schools! I have taught abroad (TEFL)which was better, and done a teaching assistant type role, which was less stress but I couldn't survive on the low wage. Also done tutoring in one of those study centres, which was OK but didn't get many hours.

I'm now in a crappy just-above-NMW job (call centre) and don't expect to get out any time soon.

My sibling has an IPGCE and what they freely describe as a 'cushy job' teaching overseas - an international school in a wealthy country. So many perks, pay is great, loads of holidays. They admit they'd never cope with UK schools after this! If you are interested in living abroad it can be a great life.

I think I am just going to muddle out the teat of my working life in low paid boring jobs. I sometimes think how shocked my old teachers would be as I was always academically able.

Teat = rest

Consider teaching adults.

Become a Teacher of the Deaf! I work for the council. My biggest class is 3 children and the behaviour management is a very small part of the job. I get paid the same wage as a mainstream teacher.

Could you tutor? You'd make a good living, especially if you live in an 11+ area. Main downside to it is that you'd be working evenings/weekends.

Could you do private tutoring? You could use your teaching skills but on a 1 to 1 basis the discipline aspect would be completely different.

I've always admired teachers being able to keep control in a classroom. It's an incredible skill and not something I could manage.

Tutoring would still enable you to teach but I would think would be a lot less stressful.

Have you thought about teaching student teachers? Consider working at universities where there are lots of professional support roles available. With your CV experience, higher education support roles would be a good sideways move.

www.jobs.ac.uk/search/?nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=administrative&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=finance&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=fundraising-and-alumni&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=hospitality-retail-conferences-and-events&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=human-resources&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=international-activities&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=it&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=library-services-and-information-management&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=pr-marketing-sales-and-communication&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=property-and-maintenance&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=senior-management&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=sports-and-leisure&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=student-services&nonAcademicDisciplineFacet[]=other

Sorry I forgot to condense the link.

Teaching adults = zero hour contract and works out very low pay. Rewarding but will only earn a few k a year and be a lot of work.

It makes me cross it ends up being a job for older "wives" in the main.

Could you work in schools rated as outstanding or private/ independent ones, I’d imagine the children are better behaved there and class sizes would be smaller but could be wrong. Could you work with younger children, typically they are more compliant age 4-7.

Could you use your teaching qualifications and experience as an Education Officer in another sector? Museums and heritage (my area) all have them, and lottery funded projects usually require an education element to qualify for funding. The same must be true for other sectors too. Try searching for Education Officer.

Outstanding doesn't mean its a good place to work... Agree private ed is different.

I think part of the problem can be thinking only in terms of teaching roles and not going back to other graduate roles.

Could you look at going into something else like marketing or product development which targets teachers. Basically School suppliers . They often have Ex teachers in various roles and they don't need to know you hate teaching

Would an independent school be an option?

I agree with going into a specialised teaching role such / PMLD route

What subject was your pgce / degree in?

I work in admin for a university. Not well paid but rewarding and not much stress, plus they are a great employer and lots of opportunities to progress or change roles later.

Would you consider training adults in the workplace?

I'm in a similar situation, OP. Everyone is suggesting Education related jobs, even though you've said that teaching isn't for you. That's the depressing thing, I've applied for different kinds of jobs but am never accepted, I can only land education jobs. It's actually soul-destroying, I feel stuck in a rut and can't see a way out. It's really tough psychologically to have the only career open to you something so emotionally draining and that you don't feel you're good at or can be yourself doing. Also, minimal financial rewards, huge responsibility and no stability either if you work in adult education. Watching this thread with interest in case anyone has some kind of answer to this. I also had top grades at school, have good degrees and feel like I'm wasting myself for a pittance.

This is literally me, but im just about to get QTS this year. I plan on paying for a masters/conversion course in autumn as well as non-teaching grad schemes.

My mental health has never been worse, even when I had post natal depression.

Goodluck to you! I hope you find something you like!

Applying not paying, although I would be paying the year after.

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated.
I've previously done tutoring too, forgot to mention that, even tried setting up my own tutoring business but it's so unreliable.
My students cancelled at the last minute or just didn't turn up. Decided they didn't want lessons anymore after 2/3 sessions.
Taught a 14 year old girl for 1.5 years, then when lockdown happened the Mum wanted to pay me £10 per hour to tutor Maths online, then her daughter just stopped turning up to lessons and stopped booking any. I asked if she wanted to book any more and she said "no I'm managing fine thanks." No thanks for the 1.5 years or explanation from the Mum as to why they would be stopping lessons, just disappeared.

My PGCE was in Modern Languages.

I will look at independent school jobs, that could be a good option.

Have applied for Assistant SENCO/HLTA jobs which pay fairly well, night carer which pays £10.25 an hour (as opposed to the £8.91 I earn currently) will just keep trying.