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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

If you’ve left teaching, where did you find your job!?

30 replies

Holidayshopping · 04/03/2019 15:27

I’ve has enough and it’s time to go, but I don’t know where to start to find an alternative.

I’ve looked on the local council website and things like Indeed, Fish4jobs and Reed. The jobs on there seem to be either

Cover supervisors in secondary schools
Social workers (loads)
IT jobs
Care homes

I just don’t know where to look?

OP posts:
BobbinThreadbare123 · 04/03/2019 15:29

What are you searching for? What's your background qualification in?

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 15:56

I have looked , too, and can also find nothing. I think the idea that there are loads of jobs for teachers to walk into applies in London and other large cities perhaps but it is certainly not true in my backwater!

CatToddlerUprising · 04/03/2019 15:57

Civil service jobs

TheRealBoswell · 04/03/2019 16:03

TEFL. Much more flexibility. Chance to travel abroad. Some places even offer housing and transport allowance or provide accommodation and transport.

A lot of downsides. Homesickness. Missing loved ones. Missing important family milestones. You often have less power over your classroom and you feel like hired body. Workplace dynamics are quite different. Less power to discipline the students.

Have said all of that, it’s such a rollercoaster of a ride. You have a lot of highs and lows but the good days make the move worth it.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 16:05

The civil service is very area specific! Great is you are in South Wales, for example...

Original poster
Holidayshopping · 04/03/2019 16:19

My background is GCSEs, A levels, 2.1 in English and 20+ years primary teaching!

I can’t move abroad as I have kids here and don’t speak any foreign languages. I’m not really skilled in anything except teaching which I don’t want to do anymore.

People talk about transferable skills but I don’t know where to start?! Where are civil service jobs advertised?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 16:43

holiday if you are trapped in a certain area, as I suspect you are, the CS is a non starter, unfortunately.

I am English, too. I applied for two non teaching jobs last year, in education related roles. I did get interviews at both, amazingly. Both were advertised in TES.

CatToddlerUprising · 04/03/2019 16:48

www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

hollytom · 04/03/2019 16:48

I have just started in civil service and I don’t work in a city. You need to keep checking as different jobs come up all the time

Original poster
Holidayshopping · 04/03/2019 16:52

Thank you for the replies! @Piggywaspushed what sort of non-teaching jobs were they?

@hollytom can I ask what sort of role you are now doing?

I’ll keep investigating-am feeling a bit deflated at the moment!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 17:09

They were educational charities : both working in the sort of T and L side. I did find the hobnobbing aspect of he jobs appealing but the strategy and business sides were a bit intimidating. I withdrew from one and the other, they didn't appoint anyone and changed the role! Apparently, none of the experienced teachers who applied were right for the post!!

Original poster
Holidayshopping · 04/03/2019 17:11

@Piggywaspushed that’s interesting!

I just can’t think what anyone would employ me to do. Teaching has lots of good skills, but I’m not actually trained to do anything!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 17:14

I feel the same : it's an element of imposter syndrome and deskilling. Also, there are no LA type jobs anymore.

Original poster
Holidayshopping · 04/03/2019 17:20

I feel trapped to be honest.

I don’t know which direction to turn and when you’re on the top of the pay scale, it’s good money; nobody will pay me anything like that to just turn up with only the skills of being pretty organised and good at making lists!!

OP posts:
BobbinThreadbare123 · 04/03/2019 17:23

Get on the TES forums and have a look at the 'what can I do?' threads.

Teachers have a phenomenonal amount of skills!

Ever planned and executed an entire topic/subject/theme? Of course you have
Ever run an event, including all the organisation, in budget, with good feedback? Of course you have
Ever explained something hard to a varying audience? Of course you have
Ever delivered any CPD? Of course you have
Ever line managed? If you are HoD or SLT, of course you have
Can you write? Is your numeracy good? Can you use IT? Of course...
Ever stepped outside your own subject and taught another, this demonstrating your adaptability and flexibility? Of course you have
Ever dealt with difficult clients calmly and politely? Of course you have if you had any behaviour management skills or dealt with parents

I can go on... I switched a few years ago. I taught physics. I'm glad I don't do it any more but I am more than willing to help others who would like out!

hollytom · 04/03/2019 17:28

I am working as a work coach in the dwp so meeting with people and helping them get back to work.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2019 17:31

I feel like my area is very very limited for escapee roles!

Slowknitter · 04/03/2019 17:39

Placemarking. I've been part time for years, but my youngest starts secondary in September and I'll no longer have any excuse not to look for a full time job. The thought of going back to full time teaching in a state school feels me with dread. I'm an MFL teacher.

angstridden2 · 04/03/2019 17:49

I escaped in my mid 50s, worked in support role at a local uni for a few years, then in the Library of local,High School. enjoyed both, took a big pay cut though but it was so worth it. There is stuff out there...

ElfrideSwancourt · 04/03/2019 18:04

I escaped almost a year ago - initially took a job at a local after school club, which I really enjoyed but the pay was rubbish.
It did give me back some confidence in myself and now I'm working as a tutor for children in care. I really enjoy it and it's very rewarding.

PatchWorkPrunella · 04/03/2019 18:12

Family support worker
Youth worker
Public relations
Advertising
Recruitment
HR
Editorial assistant
Copywriter

Trippedupagain · 04/03/2019 18:17

There seems to be a lot of money in our area if you do dog walking and dog sitting. I've known a couple of people leave their jobs and set up their own business doing that. Blooming hard work though!

sanityisamyth · 04/03/2019 19:30

I'm starting back to uni in September to retrain as a pharmacist. Could you do that?

gauntletthrown · 04/03/2019 19:53

Have a look on Charity Job. Here are the 'education' jobs they are advertising:

www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/education?workingfromhome=false&isadvancedsearch=true

PinkSmitterton · 04/03/2019 20:28

I left and now work for a university (jobs.ac.uk)
I agree that I learnt a hell of a lot of skills teaching but didn't really recognise it until people in my current job started complaining about being "busy" and commenting on how much I got done in a short space of time Grin

Talk yourself up, it's easy to overlook the things you do as a matter of course. Could you do a brainstorm of everything you do in a typical week and what skills it shows- I bet there would be loads

I know someone who did office work for a school to get her admin experience up. They liked her because she understood who schools worked and she got to know basic office routines as that's a major skillset for jobs that teachers often miss. She then moved into events organisation. Would that be worth looking at?