I am a university lecturer, and, up to recently, have dearly loved my job. I teach German and Linguistics (with a PhD in Applied Linguistics).
There are currently redundancies at my workplace and, although not directly affected, I am fed up by the way the organisation currently treats their staff. Things are unlikely to get better. I am also worried that, given that targets are getting higher and higher, I'll find it difficult to achieve them in the next few years AND still have at least some family life.
Personal situation: 19 months old DS, no savings, large mortgage and house in need of renovation (swallowing lots of money every month). Would currently be difficult to sell and make much profit. Moving also not an option because, after many years of work troubles, my husband will move into a job that promises to be a lifetime job (with a good pension) this summer.
I really need to look into different career options now, in case the worst happens or I can't really stand this job any more.
I love teaching - not keen on secondary age (I am just not keen on teenagers), but love teaching young adults!
Lots of experience, obviously, in teaching, but also in training and pastoral care / personal development. Love talking to individuals and help them get the best out of an assignment, their CV, their careers whatever!
Research skills, presentation skills, writing skills all very good. Love writing educational resources and instructions and think I'd be good at it!
Career tracks I've been considering are:
- Speech & language therapy
- Civil service careers
- Language / intercultural training
- Technical communication / Instructional design
The problem is that I can't take much of a pay cut at the moment due to personal situation and that freelance working would leave me very vulnerable at the moment. Also, DS is in (subsidised) workplace nursery - if I were to leave, my childcare costs would rise by about £350.
Arghhh - any ideas! I'd love to get in touch with anybody in the career tracks above.