Changing career

Jobber1

Hello there,
I have been thinking about a career change for a while so I'm sending out this message for any feedback whatsoever. I am currently a national school teacher in a permanent position. I'm really fed up of my job and was thing about moving into accountancy or some related area. I know I can do a diploma in ul which gives me cap 1 exemptions. Some of you may think I'm mad leaving a permanent position for hard slog for another few years but I cant see any future in my current situation. If any of you have been in a similar situation or anyone with any advice I'd be more than grateful.
Thanks lads.

Lombardo86

Jobber1 wrote: »

Hello there,
I have been thinking about a career change for a while so I'm sending out this message for any feedback whatsoever. I am currently a national school teacher in a permanent position. I'm really fed up of my job and was thing about moving into accountancy or some related area. I know I can do a diploma in ul which gives me cap 1 exemptions. Some of you may think I'm mad leaving a permanent position for hard slog for another few years but I cant see any future in my current situation. If any of you have been in a similar situation or anyone with any advice I'd be more than grateful.
Thanks lads.

Do you like finishing work early? I have friends who are national school teachers and they complain if they are not home by about 4 in the evening. Accountancy i imagine will be a hard slog in terms of progression up the ladder in these larger firms - i'd expect you could be working up to 70 hours a week some weeks.

National school - driving from door-to-door? big accountancy (admittedly not all) firms would be based in town.. are you willing to commute in the wind and rain etc?

Are you willing to give up earning potential to get the qualifications needed? Have you the funds to do this?

Few things to think about!

dmc17

You might do better in the Work & Jobs Forum

MadsL

If your heart is not in teaching, get out.

I did two years and knew it wasn't for me - and I certainly didn't want to turn into a bitter old hand like the ones I saw in the staffroom.

Plus you make space available for those who genuine want to teach and have a hard time finding a permanent position.

whiskeyman

If you have the time (you might do) and the money, it'd be a good investment and good for you to do the diploma / accountancy exams.
You'll know as you study if it's still the area you want to get into.
Once you're qualified, then you can think about making the change for good.

Best of luck!

I wouldn't leave a permanent job, its great having the certainty of a job for years and years to come. Getting into something on the side to make some more money for the summer months would be a better road to go down and keep you teaching job

heldel00

Jobber1 wrote: »

Hello there,
I have been thinking about a career change for a while so I'm sending out this message for any feedback whatsoever. I am currently a national school teacher in a permanent position. I'm really fed up of my job and was thing about moving into accountancy or some related area. I know I can do a diploma in ul which gives me cap 1 exemptions. Some of you may think I'm mad leaving a permanent position for hard slog for another few years but I cant see any future in my current situation. If any of you have been in a similar situation or anyone with any advice I'd be more than grateful.
Thanks lads.

Would it be an option to move from whatever position you are in to another, eg: mainstream to learning support/ resource?
I know how you feel OP. Been in mainstream class for 11 years. No chance of moving class because no one else wants to swap. Would love to give LS a go bit LS teacher has been in position for 20 odd years and no budging him until he retires? It can get very monotonous esp in a small school.
What about doing a masters in eg: education and business and branching out from there? I watched a programme one night and a man was on it who used to be a primary school teacher and he left it to work for one of the educational book companies

Meathlass

Don't leave your position yet.

Study for your accountancy exams in the evenings and during the summer and then when you're sure it's the right move for you - go for it.

Ruu

Hello, have moved your post to the Work and Jobs forum. Please read the current charter.

Mod.

Baggy Trousers

Explain why you want to leave teaching so we can offer better advice.

I nearly went the Accountancy route myself after a Commerce degree and I know a fair number of miserable accountants so be very careful.

happygolucky00

I don’t know OP. I definitely think you should get out if you’re not happy. Accountancy is tough though, long hours, not such good pay for a long time! Can be hard to climb the ladder too. It’s very different from teaching you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time sitting at your desk working on the computer everyday and going over details to avoid errors. It can be fairly repetitive and monotonous. Like Baggy Trousers said I’d be careful, make sure you know what’s involved first!

I switched careers. Took a fair old risk in leaving a permanent job, went back to college to do an MSc, and am now in a job that I make way less money than I did before. BUT, I've got career prospects now, I enjoy work, and I wouldn't change a thing.

As a teacher is it possible for you to take your career break, do the course, try get a job, then go back to teaching if it doesn't work out?

Anyway don't stay in the job if you're miserable. It isn't worth it.

Jobber1

Thanks for all the advice lads . Funny thing is I already have a Masters of education degree, thought that might get me out of the classroom but to no avail so far. If anyone knew an office or firm where one could get a few days experience during the mid term or Easter or something it would be great . It prob give some sort of idea about whats involved. Im still relatively young and have no kids or mortgage yet so not too many constraints.

Baggy Trousers

Jobber1 wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice lads . Funny thing is I already have a Masters of education degree, thought that might get me out of the classroom but to no avail so far. If anyone knew an office or firm where one could get a few days experience during the mid term or Easter or something it would be great . It prob give some sort of idea about whats involved. Im still relatively young and have no kids or mortgage yet so not too many constraints.

Have you much of a life outside school? I always think an active social or sporting/hobby life helps.

Jim2007

Jobber1 wrote: »

Some of you may think I'm mad leaving a permanent position for hard slog for another few years but I cant see any future in my current situation.

No I don't think you're mad at all. You spend far too much of your life at work to do something other than what you wish to do. And no I don't think that the job being permanent and pensionable is enough reason to spend the next 20 or 30 years doing it.

But having said that, a month after qualifying at one of the big 4 firms, I resigned and never practiced accounting again! It was just not for me and I realised that there was not way I was going to spend the next 40 years doing it, no matter what the rewards were.

I was always interested in software engineering and so after a summer spent climbing in the Swiss Alps, I stayed on to work as a freelance software engineer on a six months contract, that was 25 years ago and I'm sill here! And I have never regretted my decision.

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela