Future...!?!

Fafasmurf

Hello!
Firstly, if this is in the wrong place for this thread please feel free to move.

So I've been unemployed for 3 years now. I qualified as a Primary School Teacher from Hibernia College but have had no luck getting work since.

I'm currently thinking about going back to Uni to do a Masters in Music Therapy and my plan would be to work for myself.

I have a few questions.

Should I think about becoming self employed (even though it won't be for a few years?) and does ANYONE know if there are any grants available for going back to Uni to do a Masters. I have already enquired about the BTE but I don't qualifiy because the MA isn't in Primary Education (which I already have).

It's things like this makes me want to leave the country. They make it absolutely impossible to progress...:(

batman400

You could find English Teaching Classes in countries like Germany (Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg), The Netherlands, Many Parts of Asia (South Korea, China, Thailand). With the music Therapy I guess you could take this route but I'm not sure what the future would hold for you in this country and financial climate.

Me personally, I'd travel to asia and teach english get some worldy experience and then decided what to do afterwards... you never know it might change you completely!

Fafasmurf

Thanks batman400,

I have taught English as a foreign language here but I know there is a market for Music Therapy, it's becoming more and more popular with parents how may have children on the Autism Spectrum etc..

I'm not in a position to up an leave the country so really that isn't an option for me which is sort of my point. This government doesn't give a feck about keeping people here and helping them to get on in their lives and careers in Ireland.

barneyrubble46

follow your heart, do what your heart is telling you, otherwise you could end up getting side tracked. you are right about the Government most of the Politicians are just making a career out of what they do, they have no interest in the people of this country. The damm bankers got us into this mess, all of which still seem to have nice cosy jobs, its the people on the street who are suffering, all that study and hard work you have put in, and for what? Good luck with your future

MouseTail

There is no point becoming self employed until you are ready to start trading as a self employed person. Can you work whilst doing the Masters? Obviously not teaching, but any kind of work in order to self finance yourself. There are no grants, so most post grad students are bankrolled by parents or working their way through.

GarIT

Fafasmurf wrote: »

It's things like this makes me want to leave the country. They make it absolutely impossible to progress...:(

You do realise that you are in the only country in the world where you could have progressed as far as you did in education without occurring massive debts don't you?

batman400

GarIT wrote: »

You do realise that you are in the only country in the world where you could have progressed as far as you did in education without occurring massive debts don't you?

Not exactly true, for example in Germany education is completely free. Even for foreigners, a University education is free and a lot of the courses offered in English.

Mrs OBumble

batman400 wrote: »

Not exactly true, for example in Germany education is completely free. Even for foreigners, a University education is free and a lot of the courses offered in English.

For an unlimited number of degrees, too? The OP is talking about a 2nd Masters here.



It's unfortunate that there is such an oversupply of primary teachers - and that the OP didn't do more research into likely supply and demand before they started training. (I remember meeting people in 2008 bemoaning the lack of teaching jobs - and if anything we've had a baby boom since then, as people started families in 2009.)

OP: it's good that you've done some research into demand this time. But what about supply? I know of several people training in music therapy at the moment, which makes me wonder how many others are, and how much paid work there really will be.

Since you're considering music therapy, I guess you are a musician. Are you teaching and/or gigging (busking, weddings, whatever your dime is)? If so, you should already be registered as a sole trader and declaring your income from that. If not - is there potential to grow some income that way and study part-time - ideally growing your client base away from gigs and towards therapy as your skills grow?

Or would you look at some other kind of work in the interim? Personally, I'd be reluctant to simply follow one Masters with another. It makes you look as though you're a permanent student rather than a potential employee, especially when it's an area which strong competition for the work that's available.

Fafasmurf

GarIT wrote: »

You do realise that you are in the only country in the world where you could have progressed as far as you did in education without occurring massive debts don't you?

So I should say thanks very much for educating me but not giving me enough opportunity to get a job?

Mrs O'Bumble, I play music but it's not a job. I play at a weekly session but I don't get paid for it, it's my hobby and I thought sure why not go and make a job of it.

I have noticed for years that people are very quick to advise you against going back to college or doing something different than what you already have done even if it's trying to make a better life for yourself. I have been told this on SO many occasions regarding jobs, study etc...

So I should sit here on the dole until a job falls into my lap? Because applying for jobs in what I'm trained to do is fruitless, frustrating and basically at this stage, pointless.

Rubberchikken

Go back to college.
You have talent for music, and it is being proven to be very successful with children with SN.

Have you looked into giving music lessons/employment in a drama school?

I agree that the educational opportunities here are good but the ability to progress beyond a certain point needs to be improved.
Good luck

Jim2007

GarIT wrote: »

You do realise that you are in the only country in the world where you could have progressed as far as you did in education without occurring massive debts don't you?

Well I know for a start that a part from living expenses, there are very few charges for college in Germany and Switzerland.... And I'd expect to find the same situation in many other European countries.

Jim2007

Fafasmurf wrote: »

I know there is a market for Music Therapy, it's becoming more and more popular with parents how may have children on the Autism Spectrum etc..

Have you quantified the market? How big is it?, how fast is it growing? What is the typical fee?, how many clients would you need to generate an economic living? What kind of expenses and outgoings would you have?

You need answers to these kinds of questions in order to decide if your proposed course will help you earn a living.

Mrs OBumble

Fafasmurf wrote: »

I play music but it's not a job. I play at a weekly session but I don't get paid for it, it's my hobby and I thought sure why not go and make a job of it.

I have noticed for years that people are very quick to advise you against going back to college or doing something different than what you already have done even if it's trying to make a better life for yourself. I have been told this on SO many occasions regarding jobs, study etc...

So I should sit here on the dole until a job falls into my lap? Because applying for jobs in what I'm trained to do is fruitless, frustrating and basically at this stage, pointless.

The people I know who are studying music therapy have mostly made a living from music for years before deciding to follow the therapy path. They are mostly multi-instrumentalists, can sing as well, and are comfortable in a variety of styles/genres. If you haven't yet got good enough to even lead (and thus get paid for) sessions in one genre, then I would wonder if you have the skills for music therapy. Now I'm no expert - you should be researching the entry criteria yourself - but that is who you would be competing for work with.

I don't think you should just sit there applying for jobs just in the narrow area you trained in.

Instead, you should be applying for all sorts of jobs, as well as doing volunteer work to get some workplace skills and experience under your belt.

I'm assuming you've applied for subbing at all the schools locally, and haven't even managed to get that? If so, then you have next-to-zero chance at getting any permanent jobs that come up.

Sorry if this sounds mean. Trying not to be - but I'm thinking there's a reality you're not facing up to. Realistically, your choices are adapting yourself to the local job market, or emigration.