I've screwed my career up- anyone else?

[Minkdeville]

It's probably more of a rant than anything.
I qualified as a secondary school teacher 10 years ago back when it was just 1 NQT year and not 2 ECTs.
I'd done a languages degree prior to that, my placement school offered me a fixed term contract but I declined it to go and teach abroad.
I did 3 years abroad teaching in different settings which was great. Came back to try and do the NQT but struggled to get interviews so took on TA/Cover Supervisor and supply work for the next 5 years, as well as tutoring.

I have enjoyed the work I've done but I just wish I did my NQT year 10 years ago. 2 years ago I entered the Civil Service for a change as an Admin Officer. I earn £26.7k a year and make it up to 29 with tutoring and the odd scrap of overtime we have to fight for.

I can't even seem to make it to EO (Executive Officer), which is embarrassing. I got onto a reserve list for 1 role which then expired, and I've made many applications, one personal statement I scored 5s and a 6 but still didn't make it to interview.

Not just applying in my own department but others, EO is a very competitive entry level grade. I honestly feel embarrassed..if I'd stuck with teaching I could possibly be on the Upper Pay Scale by now.

Would a school realistically take on someone to do their ECT 10 years later? My subject is languages which I know is a shortage but still.

I'm honestly pretty down about this and feel like I've wasted everything. Civil Service has an annual pay increase but not always in line with inflation, the application and interview process is challenging and no reflection on your performance or experience.

I know the pension is very good but I actually don't have any other benefits (no flexi!).

You made the best choices with what you knew at the time and also got to live abroad. Now you can apply for teaching jobs- nothing to lose, and I bet you're already qualified for indie schools - especially as you've kept up experience through tutoring.

Oh my gosh, this would be SUCH a good idea. A couple of iffy choices in your 20s, a bit of bad luck and suddenly you're 30 and having children and the career you were promised if you just worked hard is suddenly completely unattainable. This is what happened to me.

I'm also a languages teacher, I ended up using the head of my children's primary school as a referee (a character reference rather than professional) as I had done LOADS of PTA and other volunteering work in the school, and I couldn't tell you who my second referee was now, I've no idea. But that got me my first job back, which led to the second, where I still am, nearly nine years later.

OP - you don't say what language(s?) you teach. If you teach Spanish you just need to keep applying for jobs, you will definitely get one. If you teach German (as I did) the 'shortage of languages teachers' doesn't apply and it never has! Or at least not this century.

Google 'return to teaching'. There must be a way, if you have QTS. I took so long to complete my NQT year that the five-year limit came in and went away again in that time! Good luck.

With respect, that’s easy to say if you’ve had one and earned a decent amount. It’s also stressful being on a low wage.

Surely you act as a leader in a classroom? I would think your teaching roles abroad would be adaptable to cover "leadership".

100% - it's glib comments like that, that come across as completely out of touch with the grinding reality of trying to be in some form of meaningful work that you can enjoy and do well at. A career most certainly is worth fighting for, especially if you're a woman and want to have a dignified, financially stable life where you can call the shots. everywhere else on MN is about women getting a job, and being financially independent!

I'm a bit confused by your post, I just just offering OP a bit of a good news story to show even if she did go down the right 'path' career wise there's plenty people who still walk away from it and start over 🤷‍♀️

Good luck whatever you decide to do. If you decide to stay in the CS then get someone more senior with experience of sifting and interviewing to review your next application. There are various things you can do to improve your chances of getting through the anonymised sift, and then it's all about perfecting your STAR examples for the behaviour questions at interview.

Thanks so much. Im Spanish and French, actually studied German but seems to be very low demand indeed.

I'd be surprised if you got a teaching role in an independent school. From my experience, they have applications from a wide range of qualified staff as the working conditions are perceived to be better. The pay and pension are often worse.

Maybe apply for a language assistant role in an independent to see how you like being on a school? Though the money will be very poor.

I wouldn't bother with teaching. It's hellish nowadays. Why dont you have a complete rethink. Do some other kind of admin role and, if you're good, get promoted that way.

Hi OP. I love your message. I had a full on career but gave it up as it was affecting my health and my husband has a full on super career and was not around to help me. My youngest is starting secondary school and I need to go back to work. My confidence has really taken a hit and I need to get the courage to get out there. I also wish that there were more accesible roles for people who have taken career breaks. i used to work in the Civil Service and I would recommend that you leave. It is a great place to stay once you are at the grade that you want to be but promotion can be super difficult and much easier and more meritocratic in the private sector.

Op, do not go and be a manager in a call centre unless you want your soul to be hollowed out. I know you want to progress and move on from the CS, but don’t do it at any cost.

Why don’t you do something else with your languages? The technology sector is crying out for language specialists for AI roles and most of those pay 2-3x what a TA makes. You could even try a bit of consulting.

@jknhfdaww
Locally we have something called 'Get Oldham working' where they assist people who want to work to find voluntary work. They are very supportive. Perhaps you have something similar local - via the council or job centre?

OP, bit of wildcard, but have you thought about applying to Fast Stream? It isn't only for new grads, and it's one way to move through the glass ceiling to reach more senior grades/ to pivot into new career directions.

I'd be worried that a teacher doesn’t realise that "scoring 5s and 6s" is completely meaningless to everyone not familiar with Civil Service recruitment procedures. I have no idea whether that’s good. But no harm in applying to schools looking for language teachers.

Do you really want to be a teacher in England. Becuase you have been avoiding it for a very long time. If you truly wanted to do that you would have done it by now. I think that you are just wishing you had better pay. Which is fair enough as I would be pissed off on 26k at 35 too. If i were you I would get into a corporate role and work your way up. You have loads of time. Even secretarial work can earn a large amount in corporate, I have friends on 60k as a secretary in finance for example. But there are loads of other types of jobs out there. Maybe time to knock teaching on the head and stop wasting time and go for something else entirely.

I would definitely explore your teaching options in great detail.
My mother was a foreign language teacher when I was a kid, she stopped teaching for a really long time and then when she looked for a job again was employed very quickly and on a decent pay scale.
There is a teacher shortage and when there's needs, there are opportunities.
Good luck.

Good suggestions on some corporate roles before. You could also consider social value roles as there is a strong link with an educational background. You may need to do some volunteering to back up your CV but have a look at social value advisor roles and see if any take your fancy. If you could volunteer in a role that helps people back into work or tries to reach children and parents around STEM subjects and careers, that would improve your application. I am now at manager level and have increased my wage by about 40%. Earning better means I have more money now to do stuff and can also pay well into my work pension.

Social value is a growing area so worth getting in at the low level and work your way up. Be focused and aim to be moving to next role after two years. This is how I developed my experience in the charity sector first.

I'd have thought the private sector would snap you up for teaching, especially given your experience of living and working abroad. Go for it.

I did the pgce but didn't finished my nqt year: totally wrong thing at the wrong time. I've worked in adult since, but recently been made redundant: I got a lot of calls from recruiters to work in pupil referral units, alternate provision, even working in schools, as a lot of academies have different rules. It shouldn't be a a massive barrier.

I went the opposite way with similarly depressing outcomes. Left my HEO civil service job to go into teaching and struggled to fine work post qualification and ended up taking a lower paid non teaching job. I’ve seen my old colleagues’ careers go from strength to strength while I’ve languished in my junior role. This has been exacerbated by poor health, bereavement, and dealing with my child’s EBSA. I’ve just about managed to hold onto my job never mind get promoted!

You might be in a better position if your teaching qualification is still active.

Admin jobs are the road to nowhere and you will be pigeonholed if you stay in it long term.

Make the move now before you get into “mid 40s woman” territory when it gets even harder to sell yourself.

Do you really want to teach? It sounds like a complete and utter ballache.

Have you looked into being a trainer in the civil service or L&D type jobs? I know a guy who was a teacher that went into a trainer role and very quickly became a G7. Sign yourself up to all the schemes the mentoring, coffee mornings etc and get to know people and different roles available.

@Minkdeville you wrote
"I did 3 years abroad teaching in different settings which was great."

Think about that, too. It sounds like a great experience. I think living abroad for a while is so valuable. My years of living abroad has really shaped me as a person.