Should I become a teacher or go to a masters?

[lostandconfusedmh]

After burning out from my previous law job in the city due to mental health issues, I’ve been recovering at my parents' place since being let go in July. Thankfully, I’m feeling much better now.

I’ve secured a job as a trainee teacher in my hometown, but I can’t help feeling a bit bitter because I had a very high-paying job before. I graduated with a 2:1 in law from a Russell Group university in 2022.

Now, I’m at a crossroads: should I take the teaching job or finish my master’s? I have offers from:

• A former Russell Group university
• A business analytics course from the University of London
• An MSc in Finance at SOAS

I’m considering these options as a way to re-enter the corporate world, as I no longer wish to pursue a career in law due to the culture. However, the teaching job is also appealing because it’s less stressful than working in a Magic Circle law firm, and the summers off would provide a good work-life balance.

The downside is that the teaching job is at a rough school with poorly behaved pupils, which adds another layer of complexity to my decision.

I'd strongly advise not to enter the teaching profession unless it is a passion of yours (sounds unlikely from your comments)
Pursue your masters instead and then you'll be older and wiser and might decide to re enter law but a different branch perhaps?

Do not become a teacher, for God's sake - particularly if you've just burnt out in a previous job.

I recommend you read the thread in AIBU (sorry can't link) about 'AIBU to be shocked that my DH has PTSD from teaching'.

Every teacher on there is saying they are not surprised. Teaching is incredibly damaging to your mental health.

Don't do this to yourself.

This. It doesn’t sound like teaching is for you.

If you're not sure, do anything but teaching.

Ex teacher here. Just don’t. High stress, draining, frustrating, exhausting. The resilience you need is off the charts. I am resilient, driven to teach and a good teacher but am so glad I’m out.

What do u do now?

The business course, definitely.

I have a maths degree from a Russell group university. I did a PGCE and taught for a while. Worst decision ever.

Don’t go into teaching because you think the holidays will give you a nice work/life balance.

I'd suggest if you use the word 'rough' for a school you might be working in, you might have some learning to do before teaching!

Plenty of teachers have RG 2:1s, OP!

If you only finished your law degree in 2022 and have already been let go from your job, did you complete all of your law qualifications?

It sounds like maybe a high stress job isn’t for you-teaching included.

I'm not getting the vibe that a passion for shaping the next generations hearts & minds is your primary driver for becoming a teacher if you're already feeling miffed about the pay & looking forward to the holidays.

Couldn't you consider a job using your qualifications but not in super circle mega law companies?

Civil service has in house lawyers but IME so far, treats employees much better than private sector. Flexi time, decent pension & probably comparible-ish pay to teachers starting salary.

Nope, that's why I want to leave the industry

So why is your first thought to look at another high-stress sector?

I want to do this but I missed the application cycle. If I apply by September, my job starts in 2025 so what can I do for a whole year?

I think you would be wise to think about what it was you didn't like about law - I'm assuming you didn't get to qualification if you graduated in 2022? Do you want to finish qualifying? If you were sacked, what is your reference like?

What I wouldn't do is leap straight into something else (ESPECIALLY teaching. Requires far far more resilience than most jobs) whilst you're still recovering and before you've worked those answers out - possibly with a coach or therapist. Otherwise, the issues you had in law may well follow you, and could make you more unwell.

Is teaching even that high-stress? What is a high stress sector?

Errrmmm.... yes. Very, very high stress - I came out of teaching to be an HR director and my job now, even though very high level is nowhere NEAR as stressful as Year 9 p5 on a friday.

Did you do work experience in a school before you applied?

My reference is neutral cos the law firm I worked at only gives boilerplate references: year and rank and no comment on performance
I didn't get sacked, I quit but my boss did warn me that if I continued my poor performance, I would be sacked

Ok, good, so you've got a neutral reference you can take forward, that's really positive. So, think about what you didn't like about law and what sorts of things you do enjoy as a starter which might then guide what you'd like to do.

It sounds like a masters while you work things out isn't the worst idea - can you afford to return to being a student?

Yes, it is.

Are you suggesting it isn’t a stressful job?

No, my grad scheme is at Teach First

I did Teach First as a route into teaching. Do not, if you are struggling at all with mental health and resilience, do Teach first.

Please.

You sound clueless OP.
A masters would give you some time to think about what you actually want. You could get some experience in a school perhaps.

Frying pan. Fire. Why would you think teaching would be a stress less environment?

Is that a serious question? Do not go into a front facing , caring profession, working with demanding 'clients' with this attitude, especially as you already regard it as lesser in many fairly obvious ways.