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Ambition (or not)?

4 replies

sunshine75 · 08/03/2012 06:30

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm at a career crossroad and don't know which road to take.

I'm a teacher at the top of the mainscale pay structure (£37k ish) and have been 2nd in dept in the past but gave it up after returning to work after maternity leave. I know I could be a good Head of Dept but I'm not sure I want to. I work hard but enjoy my home life and have a degree of work/life balance at the moment.

Will I regret not going for it later (as I have at least 25 years of working life left - aaargh that's an awful thought)?

Will I regret going for promotion if it means that I have no life, am really stressed and only make about £5k a year more?

Any middle managers out there who love their job OR who wish they had just just stayed at the chalkface and got to leave work at 4.30 every day.

I realise that I earn an 'ok' amount of money, can cope with my present workload and really enjoy my time away from work doing things for myself and for my family. Would I be mad to give this up for a few extra quid and shit loads of stress? Or will I get increasingly bored and frustrated seeing people less qualified that me trying to manage me?

Help

OP posts:
mrsflower · 08/03/2012 08:49

You are happy with your job and your work/life balance. I would stay as you are for the time being. Who cares if you're not top of the tree yet?

You have 25 years ahead of you. Perhaps review your situation again next year. You might find you feel differently then.

There is a lot to be said for having a work/life balance. Something that doesn't seem to be achievable with many 'fairly decent' jobs these days.

angelonthetree · 08/03/2012 10:03

i would stay as you are too! Unless you have ambition to climb higher in the world of education and need a HOD role to get you there.

Also, depending on if you have a DP earning +£40K if you go over the barrier you'll lose your child benefit... just a thought?

Enjoy your life :)

sunshine75 · 08/03/2012 18:28

Thanks for the advice. Will plod along as I am for now (I think)

OP posts:
callmemrs · 08/03/2012 19:35

I would stick with it. You are earning a decent wage, and happy with your work life balance so why rock the boat

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