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!).

I am not a teacher, but also in a career with a very strict post graduation training. For various personal reasons I spent 5 years doing something completely random at the end of my training, then tried to move back into the role I had trained for, that is also quite competitive. Took a few dud interviews, but got a role. Now no longer see those four years as wasted, I learnt a lot in them. I really think it is unlikely that your career is as damaged by the gap as you think.

Also, as far as I understand, schools in many areas really struggle to get language teachers, so I would think you could be quite sought after.

It’s not as hard as you think applying for HEO, I’m talking from experience. Yes lots of people struggle with the recruitment process, like I said it comes down to how well you can write a good example to tick all the boxes. Working abroad as a teacher, you could easily come up with something to meet the criteria for an EO, and a HEO. Pretty much everyone I know embellishes. Just look at the criteria and write an example that sounds high level, with responsibility. Write like you’re proactive and take ownership and lead . Apply for a few roles that you don’t even want to get feedback and a feel for the process. It’s doable- genuinely it comes down to the writing of good examples, using STAR format and bullshitting a bit.

OP, are you a bit overwhelmed/burned out? Working full-time, tutoring and being short of cash would wear anyone down.

It might help to take a bit of leave specifically to get some bandwidth, and plot a way forward.

Don't rush into a slightly better-paid job which takes you further away from where you're best suited.

https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=spanish%20speaking%20roles .... There are a few in here, and I suspect more if you dig a bit.

Thank you for all these replies I didn't expect all these.
A job for a work coach has come up today actually so applying for that.
Also looking at teaching roles and any sort of refresher courses I could do.
Thanks a lot.

https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/jobs/teacher-of-spanish-notre-dame-catholic-academy

No advise but I'm the same. Left a career because I thought I wanted a change and less stress. Am now also admin in civil service and I hate it. Wish I'd not left my last role where I was paid more, was more senior and every day at work was better than this shit show.

Have you tried the DWP? You'd make a great work coach with your teaching experience.

Redundancy forced me into a CS job - I’m more qualified than my head of division, equal strategic experience in a different field and I can’t get beyond a HEO role. The tremendous backwards step I’ve taken has killed my career and the CS application process works the opposite way for someone in my position- I need to be able to talk about past roles and give specifics. Perhaps there is progression in the CS but you need to plan and take every L&D opportunity and have a strategic mindset. It is not what I believed it to be

Have you considered the Tax Specialist Programme? Start as HEO and Grade 7 once qualified.

They’re crying out for teachers these days. There are many routes into certain professions, and I’m sure teaching is one of them. Check out national careers service (gov website) as a starting point perhaps?

I work in civil service, it may have had benefits in the past, it doesn’t now. They are a terrible employer and management and central HR have form for going miles out of their way to flout their own policies and procedures but send incessant emails about wellbeing and diversity and inclusion as though that fixes anything material. Management has more mood swings than a three year old and each time you’re subjected to a “new way of working”. There is a terrible churn with more recent entrants as people now recognise you are better off in the private sector - at least you won’t be berated publicly by the people you are attempting to serve (Ministers) or get whiplash from the constant changes in direction.

Morale is low and it is getting worse every year, it is no wonder to me your current position is depressing you, get out while you can would be my advice!

Qualify as a teacher and come and work in New Zealand. We have a teacher shortage.

You would need to check if a school can legally take you on to do an ECT role as I believe there is a time limit on it. I’m amazed you didn’t realise this when you qualified as a teacher and just got your NQT year out of the way.

These things happen. I left a well paid job which I hated, had a bit of time off, did a two year MSc in AI (before it really took off, was still a bit niche) with the intention of creating a tech startup (knew what I wanted to do, and managed to angle my dissertation towards it). Towards the end of my course, whilst investigating something relatively trivial, I had some blood tests that revealed something concerning and led to a diagnosis of a rare bone marrow cancer, with "poor prognosis and poor overall survivability". The anaemia and fatigue I now get means I'm no longer able to work, certainly don't have the energy to start a business. Life has a way of kicking you in the teeth when you least expect it. Taking things day at a time and taking pleasure in small things like short walks with the dog, and getting to grips with things like philosophy and maths.

This resonates with me! I'm an experienced health and safety practitioner of 15 years with good qualifications and got made redundant from the job I loved last year, managed to get in with a health and safety consultancy early this year in what was sold as a role supporting clients with h&s needs but that told has become very very minimal and I've pretty much being tricked into working on a hotline that takes calls to log reports of verbally abused staff for a large organisation.

I have people crying down the phone at me times and it's like being the Samaritans and I don't understand why I'm in this role. Occupational health have said I can't be typing like a bat out of hell all day because I've got dupuytrens contracture and suspected carpal tunnel so we'll see what happens but I feel wasted and like my careers fallen flat. I too have had thoughts about starting a cat sitting business, feeding cats, watering plants, picking up post etc.

Ooof that sounds like a missed job, I've been there too!
It's bloody amazing working for yourself and with animals, I would recommend it to anyone x

Comparison is the their of joy! Stop comparing your colleagues ages and pay scales what’s more important is are you living comfortably on your wage/ have disposable income to do things outside of work? Freelance interpreter work? Kumon?

I had over two hours of interviews to get the job, all about my technical h&s skills and how much I could support clients and I'm just baffled as to why I've doing doing mainly call centre stuff.
I had a video call with a h&s training company yesterday about joining them as a freelance safety trainer as I love training people but I'm up against my partner who is really twitchy about the idea of self employment but as you've proved it can clearly work and pay enough money!

Sorry I meant that sounds like a 'mis sold' job, not missed!
Yeah my husband was the same, understandably, but within 3 weeks I was full, did a leaflet drop, messaged the other dog walkers in the area to say hi and think of me if they get any jobs they say no to, that worked really well, good luck if you do take the leap! X

Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction: A guide to QTS in England | Engage Education https://share.google/eWxR3mtiG0gNZT46D looks like there's no actual time limit on induction, just FYI.