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.

so high status jobs won't suit me ... cos they are all so high stress?

If you did well at your law degree, but the realities of the career weren’t for you (they are very different things) a Masters in something that would prepare you for a career in research, writing proposals etc might be a better idea.

Definitely take some time to do more thinking, then. Enrolling on an expensive masters degree, or going into another difficult job, isn’t a good idea if you really don’t know what you want to do. Take some time while you can cos you’re at your parents. Get any job for now.

Perhaps think differently about all aspects of work and life, and see what you come up with. Where would you like to live? Big cities, smaller cities, north, south, rurally? Do you want to be on your feet everyday or sitting down? Working alone or interacting with others? Do you mind doing the same task over and over or do you need variety? What kinds of things that are integral to jobs are the things that affect whether you thrive or not, in other words.

We all want money and little stress. We all usually have to compromise on one of those things. If you don’t have a passion, it’s about finding something that pays you enough, that you don’t hate.

Eg my DP is a postman because he needs to be constantly moving in work - he would not thrive if r succeed in an office. But I’m a professor of literature because literature and teaching are my passions.

Status often comes with high expectations, which can lead to stress if prone to it.

There aren’t many careers that will impress your old school and uni mates that are stress free and let you do your own thing, unfortunately.

With high status comes stress.

You can also have low status and high stress which is certainly worse for one's health and wellbeing.

Don't even think about teaching - it doesn't sound like you're that keen.

I agree with PPs who've said you need to take some time to decide what you really want to do then pursue further qualifications if necessary. In the meantime, take whatever job you can find.

I have retrained as a teacher in later life and really like it - incidently have a PhD and 1st class degree from a Russell group uni but that does not have any relationship with being a good teacher - from what you say it doesn't seem you have the enthusiasm for teaching that would carry you though the tricky bits and from what I have observed teach first is an extra tricky way to train - if you can I would take a bit of time out and work what next - maybe go travelling?

I had a very high-paying job before. I graduated with a 2:1 in law from a Russell Group university in 2022.

So you weren't in the profession long enough to even qualify as a solicitor or barrister as you only graduated 2 years ago and you're burnt out already.

I find that surprising as I am a qualified solicitor and have been in the trenches for 15 years. You ain't seen nothing yet if you're burnt out after 2 years before qualification.

I'd think twice abot teaching as it is hugely stressful and do the masters.

Lots of them, yes.

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/working-in-schools-unsustainably-demanding-as-teacher-wellbeing-hits-five-year-low/

Extremely high stress. You also have to complete two ECT (early career teacher) years after you get a PGCE/qualified teacher status. You can be required to teach any subject and cover any subject for absent colleagues - and many colleagues are absent due to stress. There is a high burnout rate.

Do not do Teach First if you want to enter teaching. Look for a SCITT programme instead.

That said you don't sound well suited. It's high pressure in a different way.

I think you should stick with law but look for something less corporate & finish your qualifications.

The business analytics msc i would think carefully about. There's a lot of those courses around now and I'm not convinced they represent good value for money in terms of career development. Are you actually interested in analytics?

Jeez. Don't become a teacher if you've suffered with burn out.

yes, I am. Why are they not good value for money?

It doesn't sound like you want to teach so I wouldn't teach. It's stressful in other ways and you don't sound at all enthused, I think you'll regret it and be looking again in a couple of years. Obv it could strike a chord once you start but I personally wouldn't go into teaching without at least particularly wanting to.

I'd preferentially do one of the masters and leave your options open for a corporate or civil service job.

Otherwise, have you exhausted law as a profession, either in a smaller firm or one with a different culture? Again maybe civil service legal? I wondered about trying this for a year (or 6 months depending on masters intake dates) before committing elsewhere in case a change is as good as a rest since you're not sure about your next move.

Because I work in analytics and I don't have a degree in it.

Work experience is more valuable and also a quantitative degree (which I don't have). The people I know who earn £££ are Comp Sci or maths grads

So what do you have a degree in?

They’re desperate for recruits.

precisely

@WallaceinAnderland you are entitled to a day off to move house

Indeed they are! It’s not teaching or nothing though.

If teaching was a good job with low stress and long holidays, there wouldn’t be a retention crisis, but there is.

The OP seems either unaware it’s a stressful career or thinks that it’s not actually that stressful really and they will be fine.

Oh, Hun. Bless you.
Please don't go in to teaching. You're not cut out for it.
Teach First would be a highly intense year of teaching/training, followed by 2 years probation to complete your ECT. It appears that you haven't researched the profession.
Just pop off back to Uni and do your Masters.

There is no such thing as a 'work-life balance' in the teaching profession.

Why don't you actually listen to the teachers on this thread who are telling you this?

The only reason it is so poorly paid in comparison to the magic circle is because it is publicly funded.

OP- you need to think about why teaching is desperate for recruits. The shortage is because it is incredibly high-pressure. When you ask teachers leaving the profession why they are leaving the answer is rarely “pay” and almost always “workload and stress”.

The teacher shortage is a retention rather than a recruitment crisis. We burn through teachers too quickly because it is an incredibly intense job.

It isn’t poorly behaved teenagers that make it hard either. It’s the responsibility and relentlessness.

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.

With the greatest respect, you are completely deluded! I'm not in any way suggesting your previous job was not stressful, but 6 weeks off in the summer only provides a good work-life balance in those 6 weeks.