getting out of teaching, what next?

lolo62

Has anyone made a successful transition to something else?Presumably anyone who has wouldn't be on this thread but maybe some ideas floating about?I've been working part time in a private school with absolutely no rights for 10 years..it was all fine when things were good as there was plenty of work to go around but, inevitably, things are tough at the momentOn top of that, the building I work in is falling down and there are constant problems that the administration have started burying their heads in the sand over.I'm constantly asking myself, ok, what else could I do...I'm in my thirties so I don't know if I would adapt to working in retail or phone centre like I did in my twenties..Anyone tried their hands at anything else?

amacca

I have the same question and I'm permanent.

Is there anywhere out there one could get guidance, what could you retrain for at this stage in life that would have fairly ok prospects. I'd be prepared to swap a decent percentage of my salary for less demanding ridiculous working conditions etc. It's not not that I can't do it, its just that I'm not sure I want to anymore given how the job is deteriorating to not much more than childminding and abuse taker. Its also not that I'm not willing to work hard btw. I'm just sick of the constant cuts, sniping, attacks and being squeezed from every angle. Its just not worth it, I think its taking a toll on my health tbh.

lolo62

amacca wrote: »

I have the same question and I'm permanent.

Is there anywhere out there one could get guidance, what could you retrain for at this stage in life that would have fairly ok prospects. I'd be prepared to swap a decent percentage of my salary for less demanding ridiculous working conditions etc. It's not not that I can't do it, its just that I'm not sure I want to anymore given how the job is deteriorating to not much more than childminding and abuse taker. Its also not that I'm not willing to work hard btw. I'm just sick of the constant cuts, sniping, attacks and being squeezed from every angle. Its just not worth it, I think its taking a toll on my health tbh.

Its not worth it. I'm starting to feel like I am seriously devaluing myself by putting up with it. But I'm stuck on what next.
Part of being stuck is the thoughts of retraining...and the cost.
Another 4 years of essays and jumping through hoops to get a qualification that might or might not serve me.
I couldn't afford the fees anyway with the way things are right now.
Ultimately I would like to work for myself. I don't think I could ever see myself starting out in another institution at this point, they are just inherently dysfunctional!
would love to train as a psychotherapist, or start a business, but that's down the road..what to do to get out of the establishment in the mean time is the tricky one!

evolving_doors

Educational Psychologist!!! I vaguely remember someone telling me about a 2 year course in UCD. Possibly ask your Learning Support co-ordinator about them.

lolo62

Armelodie wrote: »

Educational Psychologist!!! I vaguely remember someone telling me about a 2 year course in UCD. Possibly ask your Learning Support co-ordinator about them.

Never heard of that before, thank you!
Now, learning support coordinator..hmm sometimes in winter we don't even have heat so I'm sure if I ask the guy who walks around in a suit calling himself 'director' if that's him, I might actually need a translator..

Off to do some googling, thanks again!

Clairey__

I went back to college and am doing software development.

It's a government funded conversion course. It's a year long and you get a level 8 qualification. It's extremely intense and tough but I am really enjoying it and the job prospects are certainly more positive than teaching.

ictskills.ie is the website with all the information and applications.

There are people from all walks of life and all ages on my course and I had never studied computers previous to the course. Something to consider when looking at a career change.

poolsandles

If you have any interest in the early childcare and education sector, I know quite a few primary teachers who have found employment in that field without any extra training. Good luck.

smallgarden

try springboard, courses are in areas that need graduates and are designed for people upskilling or retraining and can be free if eligible, worth having a goo. most courses wont start till september

theLuggage

No idea on how to go about doing it but how about guidance counselling? (I know a few teachers who got into this by doing the relevant qualifications). Or getting into the inservice aspect, delivering inservices etc to teachers?

smallgarden

For guidance you need to do a specific guidance counselling course. Most are two years part time. There's a list on teaching council website. Guidance has probably been hit the worst with cutbacks though so it definitely isn't a great fall back plan. I qualified the year of the cutbacks and I'd say very few of my group are working as a guidance counsellor, most had to go back to their old jobs. I've come across a number of schools where there's at least one other teacher qualified in guidance in the school

lolo62

Thanks guys...some great ideas there. Ideally I would like to steer clear of schools altogether, even though guidance counsellor appeals to me, I'm dead set on no more staff rooms and offices full of passive aggressive people.

I teach music one to one and the actual work is very enjoyable. Its all the other crap that p****s me off! I don't think it gets better than where I am in that respect, so I if I'm going to bite the bullet, it has to equip me for a total change.

It's so hard to visualise that right now..have stopped watching news and listening to any radio in order to help change my limiting beliefs. There is a general consensus you should be happy with your lot at the moment. To aim for something different is not going to attract much support, especially in this country!
(except the kind and forward-thinking folk on this thread )

Icsics

Have you considered Music Therapy?

lolo62

Icsics wrote: »

Have you considered Music Therapy?

I have, would probably suit me very well with the skill set I have but I'm not sure how much demand there is for therapists. I could see myself being in a similar position to now down the road....stuck relying on the system because you can't charge/earn enough to go out on your own.
My pay is pretty crap but I pay prsi at least and this keeps me covered during Christmas, Easter etc. if I could go out on my own teaching music without having to declare myself 'self-employed' I'd do that.

lolo62

I wonder if the trick to getting ahead in these times is being a bit of a 'jack of all trades' or at least a couple...
Nothing seems to be a viable option on it's own any more from what I can see!

RingTheAlarm!

This thread is something I have been tempted to start myself, well done! I have been teaching for a few years and I'm actually making my pan to get out at the moment. All the reasons above have more or less summed it up.

What is your degree in OP? That still counts for a lot and the fact that you are teaching the subject shows in itself that you have a lot of skills in presentation, explaining information, etc. I'm planning to do a masters probably in another year or two (still saving) but I'm trying to get work experience over the summer months in other areas, just to see how it goes and if I don't like it try something else. I'm not in a situation where I will be able to go back into a job in September but I'm actually relishing this now more than anything.

From the other comments on this thread as well you're not alone OP! Also I read that you teach music? Another area might be production?