What do you do when employment opportunities dry up?

[DaddaGreen]

I left teaching to work in environmental education. I've loved working with primary aged kids, the freedom of being outside of the school curriculum & the ability to find part time work. However with government cuts to charity funding & schools doing fewer & fewer trips (again due to funding) the sector is dying. I'm geographically limited by my family & applying for the rare jobs as they come up but think I need to look at other job sectors.

So, how do you decide how to take a new career direction when you have little ideas what you want to do. I'd love to stay working with kids and have thought of working Early Years. I've tried volunteering as a TA in KS2 but found it wasn't what I wanted as I wanted more chance for creativity & independence. I've done care/support working with disabled kids/adults before but would rather avoid that sector due to an unhappy family history around that issue.

Something tells me I need something new, but how on earth do you find out what?

I think the easiest way is to take small steps. So, make a list of key words for you/your current job (i.e. organised, early years, encouraging, etc.) and decide what you would like to incorporate into a new role.

Look on www.indeed.co.uk and search on those words. You can even set up job alerts. See what comes up and grabs your attention.

Thanks. I'd never thought of searching by key words rather than job titles

Do you have a country park or similar near you you could perhaps be a ranger at and teach kids too maybe?!

It's really tough OP. It's been a rude awakening for me to find out how few opportunities there are for former teachers or how difficult it is to break into something else. I've been lucky and got a NHS role (albeit low paid and part time). If my prospects in this job don't improve in the next twelve months I'll be going back to university to do a degree in one of two possible healthcare options. Is this do thing you might be interested in?

I'm afraid ranger jobs are few & far between. As a non statutory service they're another victim of the cuts. Study is a possibility. We can afford it & don't need to rely on my salary. I just need to work out what I want to do before spending any money.

Centerparcs recruit for rangers.

Being a playworker or forest school leader would fit quite well with your skillset.

Look for regional jobs with national play or outdoor education organisations?

Keep an eye on the civil service jobs website for Forestry Commission jobs. Also, what educational venues are near you where your skills could be transferable? Here in Cornwall I'd recommend you contact the Eden Project for example. Anything along those lines near you?