Other Work Avenues Available To Someone With A Higher Diploma In Education

ronanluke

Hey,

I qualified as a secondary school teacher last year and with a serious lack of work in this country I was wondering does anyone know of any other types of jobs i can apply for besides teaching??

Thanks,
Ronan.

Heydeldel

I've asked this question here before. Everyones advice seems to be to leave and teach abroad. I've looked in to non -teaching jobs, but don't want to give up on it just yet! Depends what you are interested in really. Lots of marketing, sales orientated jobs around.

What about youth work? I'd love to hear more suggestions, it's hard to know where else we could fit in.

Crazyteacher

What's your undergrad in ?

ronanluke

BA in history and politics. I'm working a bit in schools but its hard to depend on it as im on a casual basis. Just looking to see if there is any more solid routes that it can take me, working 40 hour week.

implausible

ronanluke wrote: »

BA in history and politics. I'm working a bit in schools but its hard to depend on it as im on a casual basis. Just looking to see if there is any more solid routes that it can take me, working 40 hour week.

Your subjects aren't great to be honest. If you really want to teach, would you consider adding a more teachable subject to improve your employability?

Have you tried Youthreach, Further Education or Adult Ed? There might be some openings if you broaden your teaching horizons.

Crazyteacher

ronanluke wrote: »

BA in history and politics. I'm working a bit in schools but its hard to depend on it as im on a casual basis. Just looking to see if there is any more solid routes that it can take me, working 40 hour week.

Would you consider upskilling ? A person would those subjects could be suited to work in media , journalism, archives, museums, tourism, even law if you were interested. You could still sub too whilst doing a course. Teaching is definitely not the only way to go. But if you love it, consider adding maths or Irish or a language to your qualifications.

ronanluke

Upskilling i.e. adding subjects to my qualification involves spending more money on another undergrad course. At this stage I've spent too long in college. I'm in the difficult situation of having too much knowledge and not enough experience that employers go on about. Always been interested in journalism and media, might try look for some volunteer work or something small to get my foot in the door in that area.

Afroshack

ronanluke wrote: »

Upskilling i.e. adding subjects to my qualification involves spending more money on another undergrad course. At this stage I've spent too long in college. I'm in the difficult situation of having too much knowledge and not enough experience that employers go on about. Always been interested in journalism and media, might try look for some volunteer work or something small to get my foot in the door in that area.

Have a look at www.volunteer.ie for volunteer tutoring in your area, which I did during a gap year and found it really benefited my teaching (also looks good on the CV!) You'll most likely end up in DEIS areas giving tuition to children with additional needs, really worthwhile for someone with a teaching career ahead of them!

Heydeldel

Could try interning - not too sure about Jobridge - but some publishers/ media companies offer more substantial internships. I did a publishing related internship a few years ago and it has really stood to me. I can whip it out on a CV when I need it.

I did an English and Philosophy degree and an MA in another arts related subject - I feel your pain! I know I need to add another subject to my teaching qualifications but I just don't have the money to do it at the mo.

Rebelheart

ronanluke wrote: »

Upskilling i.e. adding subjects to my qualification involves spending more money on another undergrad course. At this stage I've spent too long in college. I'm in the difficult situation of having too much knowledge and not enough experience that employers go on about. Always been interested in journalism and media, might try look for some volunteer work or something small to get my foot in the door in that area.

1) As somebody who had your subject combination I had to face the truth that upskilling was essential. I'm now teaching fulltime because I went back to get additional degree-level qualifications at night. I had no appetite for it, but it had to be done. Politics is not a teaching subject so, like me, you only had a single subject from your degree: history. In absolute fairness to the many people who have two or more subjects, you can't expect to get a teaching job based on a single subject. You were fully aware of your subject problem - i.e. you'd need a second real subject - before you signed up to the PDE.
If you're serious about teaching, you should have been spending the past year getting those degree credits at night while looking for a teaching job. Had you done so, you'd be halfway (30 ECTS credits) through the two-year course/60 credit course which is necessary in order to be able to teach a second subject. Financially, you would get 20% of the tuition fee back in tax and a further c. 50% back via the Teacher Refund Scheme in Marino. In other words, financially it is not exorbitantly expensive to add another subject.

2) If you're not really into teaching and you're sick of spending money on education courses, you could make a clean break from teaching and investigate the ICT Graduate Skills Conversion courses, which are aimed at people with Level 8 qualifications. All courses are free because there is a shortage of these skills so the government established these courses to address that shortage. There are 760 places available, and most started in September 2013 - they are still accepting applications for 7 of the 15 courses. Further information
Here's a list of the 15 programmes available under the Graduate Skills Conversion course.

3) Do a one-year Masters in a subject where there is a shortage of people in the workforce. Your existing degree subjects are very little use, unfortunately, so I can't see much alternative to your going back to upskill no matter how much you do not want to.

evolving_doors

Dunno if it helps but volunteering in local/community radio is a good way in to media/journalism . If you can find one that has current affairs/community content then send an email asking to be part of the team.

I did it yonks ago and was surprised by the amount of contacts you could build up.Basically...beginner politicians and local councillors were only too eager to get media exposure and practice the interview process. Yould also come into contract with govt. departments and councils. Everything was usually done through their pr handlers but eventually you would get their direct mobile number. A few serious volunteers built up a fairly good contacts book which got them into 'real' jobs in the media. Of course it's a long road but I reckon it was better than any media course.

Dunno if that helps.

ronanluke

Rebelheart wrote: »

1) As somebody who had your subject combination I had to face the truth that upskilling was essential. I'm now teaching fulltime because I went back to get additional degree-level qualifications at night. I had no appetite for it, but it had to be done. Politics is not a teaching subject so, like me, you only had a single subject from your degree: history. In absolute fairness to the many people who have two or more subjects, you can't expect to get a teaching job based on a single subject. You were fully aware of your subject problem - i.e. you'd need a second real subject - before you signed up to the PDE.
If you're serious about teaching, you should have been spending the past year getting those degree credits at night while looking for a teaching job. Had you done so, you'd be halfway (30 ECTS credits) through the two-year course/60 credit course which is necessary in order to be able to teach a second subject. Financially, you would get 20% of the tuition fee back in tax and a further c. 50% back via the Teacher Refund Scheme in Marino. In other words, financially it is not exorbitantly expensive to add another subject.

2) If you're not really into teaching and you're sick of spending money on education courses, you could make a clean break from teaching and investigate the ICT Graduate Skills Conversion courses, which are aimed at people with Level 8 qualifications. All courses are free because there is a shortage of these skills so the government established these courses to address that shortage. There are 760 places available, and most started in September 2013 - they are still accepting applications for 7 of the 15 courses. Further information
Here's a list of the 15 programmes available under the Graduate Skills Conversion course.

3) Do a one-year Masters in a subject where there is a shortage of people in the workforce. Your existing degree subjects are very little use, unfortunately, so I can't see much alternative to your going back to upskill no matter how much you do not want to.

What are you on about, I was fully aware of my subject problem???? Politics is what you are meant to need to teach cspe. Its a compulsory junior cert subject. If the teaching community actually took it serious it could be a decent subject. Its recognised on my teaching council registration. Was i also meant to study another undergrad while doing my PDE?? Its a pity the Irish system focuses on three subjects. There is a serious deja vu feeling coming with these "go back and make science and IT your other subjects". Get the kids focused on what makes money at present without looking to the future but shir I suppose they also said construction industry would never collapse. All of a sudden everyone is meant to only have an interest in science and IT, the teaching community go on about inclusion and getting all the students involved, maybe they should use that approach with the teachers. Also surely upskilling should be something after experience is gained maybe a year or two after being qualified not as soon as you are qualified.

spurious

ronanluke wrote: »

Politics is what you are meant to need to teach cspe. Its a compulsory junior cert subject. If the teaching community actually took it serious it could be a decent subject. Its recognised on my teaching council registration.

If they ever introduced the long-proposed 'Politics and Society' subject, spoken about for years now, people would take CSPE seriously.

evolving_doors

Sorry to scaremonger but isnt CSPE becoming a non_compulsory subject for the new JC? I could be totally wrong there.

Anyway, op I think people mention science as an add on subject as 'statistically' it can provide more hours than say history! Other than that..you could do whatever extra subject you liked really.

And yes I agree, Ireland doesn't need every student to become a scientist/mathematician...but the way they haver on about it is really devaluing other subjects and ignoring the diversity of student's talents

rainbowtrout

ronanluke wrote: »

What are you on about, I was fully aware of my subject problem???? Politics is what you are meant to need to teach cspe. Its a compulsory junior cert subject. If the teaching community actually took it serious it could be a decent subject. Its recognised on my teaching council registration. Was i also meant to study another undergrad while doing my PDE?? Its a pity the Irish system focuses on three subjects. There is a serious deja vu feeling coming with these "go back and make science and IT your other subjects". Get the kids focused on what makes money at present without looking to the future but shir I suppose they also said construction industry would never collapse. All of a sudden everyone is meant to only have an interest in science and IT, the teaching community go on about inclusion and getting all the students involved, maybe they should use that approach with the teachers. Also surely upskilling should be something after experience is gained maybe a year or two after being qualified not as soon as you are qualified.

Sorry, not to belittle your qualification, but the dogs on the street could tell you that being qualified to teach CSPE means absolutely nothing in terms of getting a job. Everyone and anyone gets CSPE on their timetable as a filler subject. It will never be taken seriously when there is no follow on subject at LC level and it will drop further down the list of priorities if the new Junior Cert comes in and is no longer compulsory. Schools when hiring are going to look at your exam subjects, not counting CSPE as it is farmed out to anyone with spare hours on their timetable, and if you are applying for a job with History and CSPE and someone else is going for the job with say English or Irish and History, they will be hired every time over you as they provide more options for a principal that is timetabling classes.

There is very little work out there, if you want to have a career in teaching you will have to get a second subject. No school will be able to provide you with full hours in history, and if they have any full timers whose hours need to be filled they will get CSPE before you. You do not have to do a whole degree to get another subject. You need 60 credits. So you take a selection of modules that come to that total and then you make sure those modules meet Teaching Council requirements. Some people go the Oscail.ie route as it offers English and History on a modular distance learning basis. I studied maths through Open University and registered as a maths teacher a few years back. I'm currently studying extra physics modules in Maynooth to bring up my physics credits.

Armelodie wrote: »

Sorry to scaremonger but isnt CSPE becoming a non_compulsory subject for the new JC? I could be totally wrong there.

Yes, English, Irish and Maths will still be core and with national testing due to be brought in for English, maths and science, I imagine science will also be compulsory.

Miss Lockhart

ronanluke wrote: »

What are you on about, I was fully aware of my subject problem???? Politics is what you are meant to need to teach cspe. Its a compulsory junior cert subject. If the teaching community actually took it serious it could be a decent subject. Its recognised on my teaching council registration. Was i also meant to study another undergrad while doing my PDE?? Its a pity the Irish system focuses on three subjects. There is a serious deja vu feeling coming with these "go back and make science and IT your other subjects". Get the kids focused on what makes money at present without looking to the future but shir I suppose they also said construction industry would never collapse. All of a sudden everyone is meant to only have an interest in science and IT, the teaching community go on about inclusion and getting all the students involved, maybe they should use that approach with the teachers. Also surely upskilling should be something after experience is gained maybe a year or two after being qualified not as soon as you are qualified.

You were surely aware of the low status of CSPE? You may disagree with that but it has always been that way. Your other subject, History, is also an option at LC so again, it doesn't offer the best prospects.

As for studying undergrad modules during the PDE, well there were several doing just that when I did the course. But I think Rebelheart thought you were longer qualified than that so could have been doing them since the PDE.

As for your points about the emphasis on Maths/Science, I agree totally that we should not have such a narrow focus or overlook students' natural interests and aptitudes. But the fact is that there are plenty of teachers out there who can offer two and often three LC arts or humanities subjects too. And many of those are still upskilling and adding on further subjects. That's what you are competing with. So I have to agree that upskilling is essential if you want to remain I teaching.

ronanluke

I think it's fair to say qualification belittled there. No doubt if i get an extra subject I'd have to go and do something else.. Seems to be the way it is in Ireland. Thanks anyway.

Miss Lockhart

ronanluke wrote: »

I think it's fair to say qualification belittled there. No doubt if i get an extra subject I'd have to go and do something else.. Seems to be the way it is in Ireland. Thanks anyway.

If you want to interpret it as being belittled then that is your perogative. But nobody has done anything other than discuss your qualification in light of the facts. The fact is that your qualification will necessarily be judged by comparison to those also applying for jobs and it is a fact that many of those applicants' qualifications offer greater flexibility and more subject options to a school.

Everyone is in the same boat and everyone has the option to upskill to increase their own employability.

rainbowtrout

ronanluke wrote: »

I think it's fair to say qualification belittled there. No doubt if i get an extra subject I'd have to go and do something else.. Seems to be the way it is in Ireland. Thanks anyway.

There's nothing wrong with a degree in history and politics, but when it is being put to teaching use, it only gives you one viable subject.

No more than there is nothing wrong with a degree in biology, but on it's own isn't going to get me a job as a nurse or doctor, I would have to have other areas of expertise.


There are many people who go into the PDE like you with 'two' subjects and possibly assume that having two subjects and being accepted for the PDE mean that their qualification will get them a job. It will qualify them for a job but whether those jobs exist are an entirely different matter.

I met a girl a couple of years ago on a night out who was starting the PDE, her subjects were French and Italian and like you thought 'Oh I have two exam subjects'. Reality is that Italian is taken at LC level by about 300 students, so realistically there are no Italian jobs out there. She will more than likely only gain employment with her French qualification.

As far as I can see none of this is ever spelled out to prospective PDE students, as colleges are receiving a lot of money from them in fees. The other side of that is many PDE students don't research the job opportunities in their subject areas. A quick scan of the LC/JC stats every year would reveal a lot about the popularity of the subject and the need for teachers in that area.

CSPE, SPHE and Religion are anomalies because they are compulsory subjects but are typically used to fill space in timetables, so realistically they have to be ruled out of viable subjects when considering job prospects.

I don't believe every student should be turned into a mathematician or a scientist but I do believe that PDE students should look at their subjects carefully before applying for the PDE and see if there are realistic job prospects from them.

The ball is in your court on this one ronanluke, you can spend some money on getting an extra subject, it could be done over a few years to keep costs down. You could continue to try and get work, with what is realistically one subject, or you could move to a different career area, depending on what you do you may need a different type of qualification.

Heydeldel

Op would you consider teaching in the UK? Having one subject seems to be fine over there. There are teachers with multiple subjects of course, but most job are advertised as a one subject post.

Chikcer1013

rainbowtrout wrote: »

. You do not have to do a whole degree to get another subject. You need 60 credits. So you take a selection of modules that come to that total and then you make sure those modules meet Teaching Council requirements. Some people go the Oscail.ie route as it offers English and History on a modular distance learning basis. I studied maths through Open University and registered as a maths teacher a few years back.

Hi rainbowtrout, I am looking to up-skill. I just qualified with Geography and History. I want to add Maths or English, with no background in both. I would prefer to do it with Open University as it would be online. I am right in saying that? I am doing some casual subbing and I have a part- time job at the weekends so would have to be night course or an online course?

What modules did you have to do? I emailed the teaching council but the response I got was vague to say the least. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

rainbowtrout

Chikcer1013 wrote: »

rainbowtrout wrote: »

. You do not have to do a whole degree to get another subject. You need 60 credits. So you take a selection of modules that come to that total and then you make sure those modules meet Teaching Council requirements. Some people go the Oscail.ie route as it offers English and History on a modular distance learning basis. I studied maths through Open University and registered as a maths teacher a few years back.

Hi rainbowtrout, I am looking to up-skill. I just qualified with Geography and History. I want to add Maths or English, with no background in both. I would prefer to do it with Open University as it would be online. I am right in saying that? I am doing some casual subbing and I have a part- time job at the weekends so would have to be night course or an online course?

What modules did you have to do? I emailed the teaching council but the response I got was vague to say the least. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

You could do English through Oscail.ie Distance learning and accredited by Irish universities. It's either DCU or UCD.

With Open Univeristy I did MST121, MS221 and M208 - well I did more modules than that but I already had maths in the first year of my degree. The Maths and Stats degree from OU is recognised by the Teaching Council. Everything is done by distance learning, they send you the books and you submit your assignments by post or online. There's a long thread that I started about it about 2 years back, if you do a search of the forum you will find it.

Teaching Council won't tell you specific modules until you have them completed, which is daft, but that's the way it is.

evolving_doors

Maybe I dreamt it but was there someone on here saying that the university of london do an online degree!

mockingjay

I agree with other posters here that CSPE is a timetable filler, when I was doing my dip we could do an elective module to have a qualification to teach it, which we all did and this gave us a 'third' subject. Sociology graduates are also qualified to teach this subject. As there is only 'one' class per week for students it is always given as a timetable filler in my school, whether qualified or not.