Career change: From university researcher to secondary teach

[midnightOK]

This is not a AIBU post, I mainly post it for traffic.

I am currently doing research in university. I am on a fixed contract and I am over 40 years old. I keep feeling that research jobs are not sth suitable for me. On one hand you need to keep learning new stuff, which becomes difficult when u become older and often distracted by kids or housework. On another hand, my job is not a permanent one and the lack of job security makes me worrying all the time. I am thinking of retrained to be a secondary teacher, but not sure if that would be a sensible move? English is not my native language and I am worried that it might be difficult to deal with teenagers, especially when I have to consider cultural differences and language barrier etc. Can anyone pls advise me? Many thanks for wisdom Mumsneters.

Or in case you have any good suggestions for my next career? I have a PhD in engineering. I have tried to apply for some data scientist positions, but deeply in my heart, I don't want to do jobs which you have to keep learning. Thanks

what are your coding skills like? Data science can be great & pays v well, but you do need to keep reasonably up-to-date (Python etc). I know someone who did a Coursera in machine learning (after physics phd) and now earns ££££ in data science.

i'm sure others will be along to advise on the teaching route.

Why not look at teaching engineering to older teens? Those in colleges generally want to be there and want to learn.

As far as behavior schools have behavior policies, you go to schools for experience!!

Depends on your first language but that could be an area to explore.

A lot of teachers have English as a second language - that shouldn’t be an issue really but you could look into EAL teaching - there’s always students with language barriers to start with in education.

You could branch out and help families settle into communities - again depends on language and culture

I think if you don’t want to keep learning new things then teaching Secondary mainstream is almost certainly not for you. Maybe FE lecturing though contracts can also be short and pay unexciting.

Do you like teenagers? Enjoy their company? Not get intimidated by groups hanging out outside maccies, etc?

For me, that’s the clincher. If you can imagine enjoying working with teenagers then teaching is a wonderful career, and with an engineering background you should be able to train for maths or science, both tend to be shortage subjects meaning you might get a decent bursary to train. If you would be doing it for ‘something to do’, though, just don’t. Too many people try it because they don’t know what else to do, and they invariably hate it.

My DH retrained as a teacher in his 40s. He was also a PhD scientist.
He spent time in secondary schools to make sure it was for him first. As tech subjects are always moving on, I would imagine you will always be learning though. DH certainly has his head stuck in text books or is online researching often enough.

You know reading again, and nicely meant, could anything help you feel less overwhelmed? Have you a support network, have you got time for yourself and can you outsource that housework? You are bright and capable - you sound like you would benefit from some career mentoring and a bit more time to look after you.

Re train as a maths teacher; you will always be in demand. Teaching A level maths means you get those who have chosen the subject and want to work ( mostly!)

I was going to say the same as AttaGirrrrl. If you really like the idea of teaching teenagers then get some experience I'm a school, speak to lots of teachers and explore it further. If you're feeling fed up in your current role and it seems like you might as well be a teacher then I'd strongly advise against it.

Your age is no problem. You seem to have a good command of English too.

Your final comment suggests you think teaching doesn't require learning. Maybe you don't exactly mean this. But you will have to be committed to lifelong learning, appraisals, feedback, etc if you become a teacher.
Also, you will be responsible for the whole child/well-being/behaviour. You will have a pastoral role as a form tutor (which I know doesn't t happen in all education systems) and you will be legally responsible for safeguarding every child you teach (could be about 140 a week) when you teach them.
Knowledge of your subject is just one aspect.
I know I sound deadly serious. I am. Maybe observe some UK secondary schools in your local area before you apply to train. I'm not sure your heart is in it.

Don't go into teaching if you don't want to keep learning!

Get into school and get some experience. Go to a comprehensive school in a non leafy area.

Private schools don't require formal teaching qualifications, do they? That might be a good start and there are no "crown control" issues at private schools

@parietal

what are your coding skills like? Data science can be great & pays v well, but you do need to keep reasonably up-to-date (Python etc). I know someone who did a Coursera in machine learning (after physics phd) and now earns ££££ in data science.

i'm sure others will be along to advise on the teaching route.

Thanks parietal. I actually have an interview this week about coding and I am dreading of it. My coding skills haven't improved much in these years, which becomes a very weak point when I try to apply for new jobs.

@BluebellsGreenbells

Why not look at teaching engineering to older teens? Those in colleges generally want to be there and want to learn.

As far as behavior schools have behavior policies, you go to schools for experience!!

Depends on your first language but that could be an area to explore.

A lot of teachers have English as a second language - that shouldn’t be an issue really but you could look into EAL teaching - there’s always students with language barriers to start with in education.

You could branch out and help families settle into communities - again depends on language and culture

When u say teaching older teenagers? Do you mean college students? I haven't looked at that, but do they also require similar training?

@XelaM

Private schools don't require formal teaching qualifications, do they? That might be a good start and there are no "crown control" issues at private schools

Probably plenty of ‘crown control’ problems in some private schools 😂 but even private schools will want someone who has teaching skills, rather than someone who is fed up of learning their subject with no teaching track record.

Academies don’t have to employ qualified teachers either but why on earth they would want someone who doesn’t want to learn anymore is beyond me. There is a lot for most people to learn about teaching if they aren’t teachers already, let alone subject matter.

@QualityMarguerite

I think if you don’t want to keep learning new things then teaching Secondary mainstream is almost certainly not for you. Maybe FE lecturing though contracts can also be short and pay unexciting.

Thanks. There are some teaching focused roles in university, but most of the time they are highly competitive and the pay is not good enough. Most importantly, they are often fixed contract roles. I suddenly feel I am old now and I don't want to keep posting CVs. I want to do sth which is decently paid, fairly stable and not stressed all the time. I regret that I haven't thought of pursuing a career in accountancy. I like dealing with numerical work. I just hate being stressful and having to learn new stuff everyday.

Hmm. Teaching is very stressful with new things every day...

@AttaGirrrrl

Do you like teenagers? Enjoy their company? Not get intimidated by groups hanging out outside maccies, etc?

For me, that’s the clincher. If you can imagine enjoying working with teenagers then teaching is a wonderful career, and with an engineering background you should be able to train for maths or science, both tend to be shortage subjects meaning you might get a decent bursary to train. If you would be doing it for ‘something to do’, though, just don’t. Too many people try it because they don’t know what else to do, and they invariably hate it.

Thanks. You pointed out sth critical. actually I have never been with a teenager closer to me in my life. I have no idea what they are like nowadays. My kids are still small

@ShitPoetryClub

My DH retrained as a teacher in his 40s. He was also a PhD scientist. He spent time in secondary schools to make sure it was for him first. As tech subjects are always moving on, I would imagine you will always be learning though. DH certainly has his head stuck in text books or is online researching often enough.

Thanks a lot. That seems encouraging. Is it possible to just volunteer in a school without any formal reason for that?

@QualityMarguerite

You know reading again, and nicely meant, could anything help you feel less overwhelmed? Have you a support network, have you got time for yourself and can you outsource that housework? You are bright and capable - you sound like you would benefit from some career mentoring and a bit more time to look after you.

Many thanks, QualityMarguerite, . My OH doesn't help much with kids and I basically deal with everything related to kids, which together with the stressful and insecure job, makes me constantly worrying. I do need to find time to read. I enjoy reading but I feel like my brain is constantly filled with other stuff and I don't have enough time to read. I graduated from a top university in another country, and I often feel very disappointed with what I have achieved so far.

You sound like you could look at an office role that includes finance then when you get your mojo back moving into doing CIMA or similar then looking for more challenging roles?

@XelaM

Private schools don't require formal teaching qualifications, do they? That might be a good start and there are no "crown control" issues at private schools

Can you name any? They're not all the doddle you obviously imagine either, 'crowns' or not! Adolescents will soon sniff out incompetence in a teacher and take advantage, whether it's Eton or Bash Street.

Secondary teaching is hard work, OP, and you need to be multi skilled with people, professionally up to date ...and able to cope with endless edicts from on high, not all of them of any value or use. I wouldn't say don't do it but you need to be pretty sure that you actually want to.

@QualityMarguerite

You sound like you could look at an office role that includes finance then when you get your mojo back moving into doing CIMA or similar then looking for more challenging roles?

Yes, that's one of the ways to go. I am just worried I might be too old to start that from scratch.

Thanks @campion and @XelaM. Multi skilled .... I don't think I am good at that

With what you’ve said about not wanting stress, you’d be mad to go into secondary teaching. Have a look on the staff room board.

Don’t know if you like teenagers, don’t like stress, don’t consider yourself multi skilled, don’t want to learn new things… I’m sorry, but it really doesn’t sound like teaching is for you!