Can't get an interview

[Unemployedexteacher]

As per username, I am an ex-teacher. I quit teaching due to a huge number of issues and want to stay out of the education sector. I taught secondary English (literature and language) right up to A Level. I am hoping to move into copywriting/content design/other writing roles.

I have applied to about 80 jobs this year. I have adjusted my cv as per all advice and highlighted what is relevant (I worked in the non-profit sector before teaching). I have sent covering letters which detail how I meet the requirements, and included a skills matrix that lists each requirement and where my experience matches or where I have a transferable skill.

I have gone through LinkedIn, Indeed, Total jobs etc. I tried a couple of recruiters but they just kept putting me forward for teaching roles.

I have had nothing. Nada. Not even an interview. I haven't put my DOB on cv but going from education dates it's obvious I'm mid 40s. Is it my age? I know it is illegal to discriminate but how would anyone know, as its easy to just state I don't have the relevant experience.

And if it's not my age, where do I go from here? I've followed all of the advice and still haven't got anywhere. I am so despondent and down-hearted.

Widen the net. Copywriting is highly specific and not many jobs going - in fact being eaten up by AI..!

Try recruiters for general admin support, try tech boot camps for web design and light front end coding.

DOB on cv but going from education dates it's obvious I'm mid 40s.

I left dates off my education- just put on the qualifications I had & only mentioned the highest qualifications achieved as well.

I’m in the same position, having the same issues. I do feel we have transferable skills, but there is rhetoric around this without any commitment from employers. They are always going to go for someone coming straight out of the same job in the same sector. I’m starting to feel that it’s one of the things holding this country back if people can’t actually progress or switch sectors and upskill. Teaching is not a job for life any longer, all the people who’ve asked my advice on training to become a teacher have come back to me within a few years and said they wish they had listened to my recommendation not to do it.

I don't have any good advice but have you signed up to Sian Meades' email? She's a writer who sends out a roundup of job opportunities once a week. I think some might be more along freelancing lines.

Just adding, I was at the top of the pay scale with no intention to progress into management, and zero opportunity to do so where I was. I was facing another 25 years of lowering pay and conditions and increasing workload. I had to work evenings and weekends to complete the workload to a standard I was happy with, there was no way that was sustainable. I had a mini breakdown after I left. How was it for you after you left, and did you leave for similar reasons?

In theory, I like the idea of going into policy or the civil service; in practice there is no way I could place my confidence into Ofsted or similar. Also, the fast stream option has been suspended. I’m considering retraining, it feels like a high risk option at this age, but probably the one I will take. Have you considered law? It’s obviously language-based, and one of the few careers you can convert to without a whole new undergraduate degree.

It's not your age, it's the fact you have no relevant experience.

Why don't you try freelancing?

Depending on your geographic location, have you considered a creative role in something like an exam board? It might mean you leverage your teaching experience rather than try to ignore them. I'm thinking like OCR if you live near Cambridge.

Maybe invest in studying for a professional qualification and gets some hands on experience by volunteering at a charity.

I’ve completed a level 6 CIM Diploma in Marketing and am just about to start a level 7 leadership in marketing qualification. I also volunteer for a charity and offer my marketing skills. I have worked predominately in hospital sales with a very light touch of marketing but have decided I’d rather move into marketing so felt I needed to be professionally qualified to compete. Volunteering for a charity allowed be to practice my knowledge and develop new skills without any pressure. I tick a lot more boxes now. Professional memberships are useful and often offer a lot of opportunities to learn more through articles, insights, courses and webinars.

I would imagine being presented with a ‘skills matrix’ without any evidence of completely current copywriting experience might be a bit off-putting?

Have you considered taking some time to acquire a fresh, relevant qualification? That might help with new contacts and an up to date perspective.

Don’t know if you’d find the Mature Study and Retraining board of interest:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You may find some helpful ideas there.

Thank you, some things to consider. Will definitely sign up to that email. I don't think I'm clever enough for law 😁 but thank you. DH has also suggested just contacting companies and offerering copywriting/proofreading services - maybe a more freelance route is viable.

@smooththecat Very similar issues really. I have three dc so dropped to 0.6 but the workload, particularly post covid, just kept on increasing. I was absolutely burnt out from it and had a panic attack every day in 2021, until just before the October half term when I handed my notice in. I don't regret it at all. I also know that, certainly for a while, I want nothing to do with the education sector.

Well, having met and worked with quite a few lawyers, I’d say there is some diversity going on there in terms of brain cells 🙃

Thank you, as I missed a few comments before I posted. Will definitely look at the retraining page.

I'm considering an old style campaign. Much like I used to walk around town and hand my cv to companies, (1990s) I may print some flyers and advertise to some local companies to provide copywriting/proofreading services. I can also look into what courses/retraining would be useful.

🤣

Have you considered working in Careers? There is a sector shortage of career advisors. Lots of transferable skills and knowledge eg running group workshops, designing and writing engaging materials, teaching, 121 guidance with students. But no marking, part time flexible working and a 9-5. I work as a careers consultant at a university and lots of ex teachers move across as a career change. DM me if you'd like to have a chat.

I think a lot of teachers imagine they can walk out of teaching and go straight into another career at a similar level of pay despite no experience. In reality the 'transferable skills' you get from teaching are the same transferable skills lots of people working in professional jobs earning 30k+ will have, but you'll be competing against people with 5-10 years sector specific experience to boot. Copywriting isn't only about your written English skills, to go in at anything other than entry level you'd be expected to have marketing sector experience or sector experience of the industry a company/institution is operating.
What salary bands are you looking for? With no related experience you'll only be considered for entry level roles so will be competing against new grads.

Have you worked across different schools? They can be so different, some are high pressure micro managed roles with constant checking and others are happy as long as you have a good rapport and get results. Good culture so not much behaviour management helps. Just saying as some teachers stay in one or two schools and would love others if they found the right culture.

Also, few places employ copywriters now. They just expect their PR/ marcomms staff to have that as part of their skillset, in addition to other more current skills as so much is digital now.

When you say recruiters have put you forward for jobs, is that permanent jobs or temp roles? You may have more luck in the latter.

But as others have said you probably need to start with a spot of freelancing. A lot of places that would take someone with little/no direct experience are also those that don't need these skills full time and hire them in on a freelance basis. You should then also think about your online presence - how are you demonstrating your abilities, particularity your ability to use research insight to make an impact with a particular audience? If you worked in nonprofits before, can you offer your skills to some local charities for free to build your portfolio? Volunteer article writing for the local community free sheet if you've got one?

As a teacher in HEI it makes me groan a little that teachers who cant hack teaching then think perhaps I can work for OFSTEd!

If I were you I would look at marketing and communication officers at HEI, there's lots of jobs at www.jobs.ac.uk/search/?keywords=communication+officer+&location= and I imagine your teaching experience would b a huge bonus in the education sector.

I am in a similar ish situation, however I am already employed. I want to go part time and there is a local job that has come up with two very distinct parts to it, that I have never seen requested before - think along the lines of animal care and finance . I have both, 13 years experience in one and 20+ in the other. I am early 60s. I did O levels. I would need to create a cv from scratch and even then I'm really not going to get an interview am I?

I want to contact them and ask if it's worth the effort but they are bound to just say 'send it in' because they can't really say anything else legally can they? I have a real dilemma!! Any advice gratefully received!

Copywriting is extremely popular and over saturated. 500+ applicants on some roles.

Job hunting is awful at the moment. Whoever said unemployment is at an all time low is mad! I know so many like us applying for an abundance of roles.

Nope it wouldn't. HE marcomms jobs want MARKETING experience. I've been on the interview panel for jobs like these and we wouldn't consider someone with no marketing experience.

Yes sorry, I agree with above PP

Also if you see the amount of people with marketing experience applying for marketing roles, its usually over 100+

Very over saturated job market at the moment for marketing and copywriting

Everyone wants to do it!

If you don’t at least try then you certainly WONT get the job will you