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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is a salary of 26k unrealistic?

70 replies

thatorangeglow · 05/09/2021 21:40

In my mid 20s and thinking of leaving my job. I've worked as a teacher for the last 5 years and generally really enjoy it, but I feel like it's time for a change and I don't want to look back and regret not experiencing life outside of a school. I've worked out that I need a role with a salary of around 26k to be able to afford to move jobs.

AIBU to expect to find an entry level/new starter role for this wage? (North of England)
I have virtually zero experience outside of education, other than a few retail and bar jobs when at uni. My 1st class degree is also (regrettably) in education. Any suggestions of suitable job roles would also be gratefully received.
I've had a look on job advertisement pages, but feel very overwhelmed at the thought of being mid 20s with no experience outside of teaching when looking at roles with this salary.

OP posts:
ScaredOfDinosaurs · 05/09/2021 21:46

Yes it's realistic depending on the job. I got paid more than that as a graduate trainee in 2008!

Original poster
thatorangeglow · 05/09/2021 21:48

@ScaredOfDinosaurs Was that a job you had to train specifically at degree level for? As that isn't really an option for me having already graduated.

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 05/09/2021 21:50

What about something else linked to education that isn’t classroom teaching?

UserNameNameNameUser · 05/09/2021 21:51

Try targeting jobs with directly transferable skills, e.g. working in training (unless that was what you didn’t like about teaching).

Annoyedanddissapointed · 05/09/2021 21:52

You would be surprised how many skills you have which could absolutely be transferred to completely different field. Have you looked at for example civil service jobs? I think you can get close to the 26k quite easily.
I know people who moved there from different fields with no exact experience but had the skills and passed the examples in applications well.

forinborin · 05/09/2021 21:53

What is it that you want to do, OP, any specific likes or dislikes? What were you teaching?

I mean, the options are quite vast, from construction general worker to software developer, both probably would pay around that (+/-) at the entry level.

monkeysox · 05/09/2021 21:53

Civil service.
Serach for graduate apprenticeships

tigerbreadandtea · 05/09/2021 21:54

Have a look at jobs within university student services

DrWhoNowww · 05/09/2021 21:54

It totally depends what you want to do and where in the country you are and what sort of company you want to work for.

I’m Midlands for instance, small private company, entry level office admin job is 19-22k, sales team are 20-28k plus commission.

In Birmingham same admin job is 24k for larger firms and sales jobs 25k plus.

It’s a bit how longs a piece of strung as to whether you could get 26k with zero experience.

It’s certainly possible but probably pretty unlikely in most areas.

eeek88 · 05/09/2021 21:55

My friend taught for a few years then got an office job for the same money. She doesn’t enjoy the work so much but she certainly enjoys only working 9-5

LincolnshireLassInLondon · 05/09/2021 21:56

A friend of mine went from teaching to work for a company developing tech for schools and nurseries. I think he earned more than that when he made the change. He certainly does now a few years on.

My dad left teaching and makes more than that in an examining role for one of the big educational publishers.

In both cases they used their education background so whilst something new, they were not really at entry level and they had loads of knowledge and skills to bring (as will you). You will also be excellent at talking in front of people which is a very useful skill in loads of jobs.

Good luck, OP!

elenacampana · 05/09/2021 21:58

Civil Service. I moved from teaching and didn’t find it at all difficult to get in. You need to be looking at EO roles or above if you want a 26k salary, not sure you’ll get that much in the North, which is where I am too, at EO though. The salaries vary depending on which area you’re applying to.

spotcheck · 05/09/2021 21:58

Primary teaching?

What do you think your core strengths are?

What would you like to develop?

What kind of environment would you like to be in?

Would you like to not be around children at all ?

Greenstick · 05/09/2021 22:08

If you’re a teacher you’ll be used to admin and you’ll have experience in communication and dealing with public. I would recommend NHS admin post. Large GP surgeries pay better than hospitals and quicker career progression. As a previous poster mentioned lots of skills are transferrable. As an ops manager or assistant practice manager in a big surgery you’d get £28K without too much trouble, then once you’ve made yourself indispensable you ask for a pay rise at the end of your first year. If you’re good they’ll want to keep you.

Original poster
thatorangeglow · 05/09/2021 22:11

I am a primary school teacher, so no subject specialism. I suppose transferable skills are typical 'teacher skills' such as Microsoft and excel, planning, risk assessments, CPD, public speaking... and I also manage our school social media page.
I am willing to give anything a try. I am not particularly analytical/mathematical so a financial role wouldn't suit me. Fairer work life balance would be desirable, as I currently work 7:15am-6pm not including my commute.

OP posts:
PileOfBooks · 05/09/2021 22:12

Tbh I have found this v difficult.

We dont have a big civil service employer near us. I can't see a teacher walking into a practice manager roll.

I would def advise you get out now while you can retrain. Even take the hit and retrain for a year. Far harder at 40.

turnthebiglightoff · 05/09/2021 22:13

Retail management entry level jobs will pay at least that, OP.

TractorAndHeadphones · 05/09/2021 22:16

Project management etc roles in tech would offer that. My employer recruited a few former teachers for a graduate programme. If you DM me happy to share details

Annoyedanddissapointed · 05/09/2021 22:16

@thatorangeglow

I am a primary school teacher, so no subject specialism. I suppose transferable skills are typical 'teacher skills' such as Microsoft and excel, planning, risk assessments, CPD, public speaking... and I also manage our school social media page. I am willing to give anything a try. I am not particularly analytical/mathematical so a financial role wouldn't suit me. Fairer work life balance would be desirable, as I currently work 7:15am-6pm not including my commute.
Ask some truthful froend to work with you through hour skills. We do iften underestimate ourselves with "ah well nothing special". It took someone else to look at me like if i were stupid and explain to me that i massively undersold and underestimated my skills. Helped me with examples of these skills as well because lits of employers are now doing skill based interviews with "Tell us when you had to ....".
Ozanj · 05/09/2021 22:18

@thatorangeglow

In my mid 20s and thinking of leaving my job. I've worked as a teacher for the last 5 years and generally really enjoy it, but I feel like it's time for a change and I don't want to look back and regret not experiencing life outside of a school. I've worked out that I need a role with a salary of around 26k to be able to afford to move jobs.

AIBU to expect to find an entry level/new starter role for this wage? (North of England)
I have virtually zero experience outside of education, other than a few retail and bar jobs when at uni. My 1st class degree is also (regrettably) in education. Any suggestions of suitable job roles would also be gratefully received.
I've had a look on job advertisement pages, but feel very overwhelmed at the thought of being mid 20s with no experience outside of teaching when looking at roles with this salary.

contact centres (especially in banking) love team managers with teaching experience, as do retailers or anywhere that hires younger ppl.

Are you interested in nursery education? If so it might be a natural step and might fast track you for promotion. A lot of my most senior colleagues were disillusioned primary / secondary teachers

MaverickDanger · 05/09/2021 22:21

Management consultant focused on change and L&D.

29k grad starting salary easily.

superhappymagicforest · 05/09/2021 22:24

I worked for an educational publisher and we had lots of ex teachers in the marketing and editorial departments where you would earn over £26k.

icedcoffees · 05/09/2021 22:24

@turnthebiglightoff

Retail management entry level jobs will pay at least that, OP.
Retail management is hell on earth, lol.

I wouldn't do it again for the money - it's crap hours and a whole load of responsibility for not much in return, tbh.

Samanabanana · 05/09/2021 22:25

Local government or university roles are what you should be looking at if you want 26k straight off the bat up north. You'll have loads of transferable skills. Good luck!

AnneElliott · 05/09/2021 22:28

I agree civil service is worth looking at. We take direct entrants at EO and HEO level and as a graduate you should fine for either.

Is there a Department near you? Most Departments are setting up satellite offices outside of London. MHCLG has various offices around the country already and the others are setting up in Manchester and Durham. DWP also has offices all over the country.