Career change

shakaman

Hi all,

I've had a serious think about things and decided after 3.5 years in IT, I'm going to try and make the move in to teaching. I've just come to the point where I cannot see myself doing this for the next 30 yrs or so! (I'm 25) It's not a kneejerk reaction to bad day or anything something I've always wanted to do. Applications forms are requested, so ball is rolling, v excited!

Has anyone made a career change recently (especially in to teaching but all experiences would be welcome)?

Anyways hope ye're all well and happy!
Shak

roamer

Just curios as to what you don't like about the IT industry and what kind of teaching would you be interested in?

Corksham

I was thinking of doing the same thing myself a few times

A friend of mine quit IT and is now a teacher and she is delighted with the move
Bear in mind - permanent jobs are hard to come by in teaching and you'll be in college for a year doing the HDip, so you'll need bobs on the side but I would go for it if its what you REALLY want and not just getting out of one thing hoping something else will be better

shakaman

I currently work in projects rather than support in IT and I've become very bored with it, I worked for a large investment bank. I worked in London for 2.5 years and enjoyed it for the first 2 years or so and then decided to move home as I thought would cure the underlying problem. But unfortunately I still get the constant dragging myself out of bed/asking myself how am I going to continue in a career where I don't see myself doing what I'm doing in a years time never mind 30! I must say I also find a mindset in Ireland which wasn't in the UK, the whole pecking order rubbish, it's not how good you are at something that determines who gets the plum tasks but how long you're in the job.

I realise the year's H.Dip will be tough and doing some research I think I'm not eligible for a grant as I was resident abroad in the past 5 years, but I would much prefer be earning less money and being happy than earning well and being unhappy. And I think I would be a happy teacher!

fatboypee

shakaman wrote:

I currently work in projects rather than support in IT and I've become very bored with it, I worked for a large investment bank. I worked in London for 2.5 years and enjoyed it for the first 2 years or so and then decided to move home as I thought would cure the underlying problem. But unfortunately I still get the constant dragging myself out of bed/asking myself how am I going to continue in a career where I don't see myself doing what I'm doing in a years time never mind 30! I must say I also find a mindset in Ireland which wasn't in the UK, the whole pecking order rubbish, it's not how good you are at something that determines who gets the plum tasks but how long you're in the job.

I realise the year's H.Dip will be tough and doing some research I think I'm not eligible for a grant as I was resident abroad in the past 5 years, but I would much prefer be earning less money and being happy than earning well and being unhappy. And I think I would be a happy teacher!

Be well worth it IMHO. I'd love to do the same, have dreams of a retirement job teaching woodwork....... (I'm too far down the line to be changing career now (kids etc)) but will change when I can afford to....
One of the guys that worked for me made the change from IT (coding) into purchasing (Yeah, I know ! :eek: ) but he seems well happy, doesnt regret the move whatsoever...

Fatboy..

shakaman

Ah ffs why was the thread moved, it's an issue on my mind and it's personal to me !!!

roamer

shakaman wrote:

Ah ffs why was the thread moved, it's an issue on my mind and it's personal to me !!!

I think you will get more relevant replies to your questions by having your post in here.

CarolLorraine

It's the other way around for my sister. She's looking to move out of teaching. Teaching in Secondary Schools can be tough!

shakaman

CarolLorraine wrote:

It's the other way around for my sister. She's looking to move out of teaching. Teaching in Secondary Schools can be tough!

Yeah wouldn't be keen on Secondary teaching myself......teenagers can be a nightmare. Not saying youngers aren't but think they are slightly more managable.

Hope she finds something she will enjoy

arctic lemur

I moved out of Secondary teaching in 2004. it was fairly tough. moved to the civil service and love my career move. At leat the evenings are my own. With teaching, you have to prepare lessons each evening etc as well as be involved in extra curricular activities.

Japonica

People change careers all the time. I would recommend that you read 'What colour is your Parachute'. Its an excellent book if you are thinking of changing.

Remember the world is your oyster and you can do what ever you wish. If you don't do it now, you may live to regret it.

finlma

I'm doing the exact same thing as you. I've been in IT for 3 years and I hate it. I'm applying to become a primary school teacher. I was also in London for a few years and earning big money but I realised quickly that thats not what life is about.
Applications are due in at the end of next week for the Primary School postgrad in Ireland. I'm also applying to England cause the Irish one is extremely hard to get into.

The best of luck with it.

Dundhoone

Please enquire from schools in the area you want to work in about jobs and how many applications they have had for postions recently. I have three friends with H.Dips , all did Maths and something else and the three were looking for jobs in Galway over the past 5 years. One temped for 5 years and has just gotten a permanent position, one got her dip last last year and cant even get temp jobs and the other has gone to teach in england as he couldnt get work here!!!

So job situation aint great in the West !
Sorry if this is a raining on your parade type post, I think your change of career is a great idea - no point in doing something you hate.

shakaman

Dundhoone wrote:

Please enquire from schools in the area you want to work in about jobs and how many applications they have had for postions recently. I have three friends with H.Dips , all did Maths and something else and the three were looking for jobs in Galway over the past 5 years. One temped for 5 years and has just gotten a permanent position, one got her dip last last year and cant even get temp jobs and the other has gone to teach in england as he couldnt get work here!!!

So job situation aint great in the West !
Sorry if this is a raining on your parade type post, I think your change of career is a great idea - no point in doing something you hate.

I realise it's tough to get work in teaching, but thankfully I won't limit myself to Galway so i'm hoping something will crop up! Thanks for the advice though.

Tom Dunne

Have you considered lecturing?

All of the benefits of teaching, with none of the hassle. For the institutes of technology, you need a degree with three years post-grad industry experience, but an MSc will certainly help you along the way.

Permanent jobs are few and far between, but one year contracts are readily available. Keep an eye out in the papers from Feb-May.

Salmon

Are you in the lecturing game Tom? Was interested in it myself! I have heard reports that its more who you know than what you know as regards getting employment in the IT's is this true?

Tom Dunne

Salmon wrote:

Are you in the lecturing game Tom?

I am.

Salmon wrote:

Was interested in it myself! I have heard reports that its more who you know than what you know as regards getting employment in the IT's is this true?

It does pay to have contacts, I have two referees on my CV who are both PhD holders and are head of their respective departments. If nothing else, it looks impressive. But having said that, I got my current job from an advertisement in the newspaper - I didn't know anyone in the institute I am in.

Salmon

What do you lecture in? Are you in the game long? Oh Yeah, Did you have to temp for a while or was it hard to get a perm position straight off. I was thinking of getting involved in some adult education in the evenings just to get some class exposure which might stand to me if a position did come up. Does anyone have any suggestions about this.

Tom Dunne

Salmon wrote:

What do you lecture in? Are you in the game long?

Computers, only just started.

Salmon wrote:

Oh Yeah, Did you have to temp for a while or was it hard to get a perm position straight off.

There is a snowball in hell's chance of getting a permanent position straight away. Even after a couple of years, it is not guaranteed. I am on a 1 year contract (so I get paid over the summer ), but they make it quite clear there is nothing permanent.

Salmon wrote:

I was thinking of getting involved in some adult education in the evenings just to get some class exposure which might stand to me if a position did come up. Does anyone have any suggestions about this.

That's the way to do it. You need experience and qualifications. I worked shift in a previous job, so I did around 8-10 hours a week in an institute on my days off.

Salmon

Thanks for the help Tom, Sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a while Shakaman!

shakaman

No probs Salmon, very interesting reading in fact!

Will be checking the papers in the new year Tom. Is there a minimum degree requirement for someone applying to lecture? I only have a 2:2.

Tom Dunne

The specification is an honours degree.

Though having said that, both myself and almost everyone I work with has a masters.

ifconfig

Shakaman.

I'm interested in your thread also. I've been in IT for 12+ yrs
and I feel I should have gotten out earlier. I'm between jobs
at the moment. My wife has a much more solid career than I
do and pays way better (but has a lot of people responsibility
which adds stress but pays the bills).

I am quite disillusioned with IT. I just don't seem to get the
buzz out of it I did maybe 5-8 yrs ago when I was in the
thick of it. I was a better than average coder but really my
strengths were more in coaching folks and encouraging
them and leading by example. However, I think the late
night coding sessions and all of that which is required to
get projects in on time with quality along with actual pay
rates going *down* over time as I was made redundant
and took new jobs just took its toll. I'm pretty cynical
about the IT industry as it stands in Ireland at the moment
as a result.

I'd definitely never want to go back into coding that is for sure.

I get the impression that lecturing in ITs is not going to be
as available as it was a few years back. I think the
falling numbers of students taking techie courses has meant
that the ITs really have their quote of full time folks
on board. That is anecdotal and just an inside track an
old friend of mine gave me a year or two back.

--ifc

shakaman

ifconfig wrote:

Shakaman.

I'm interested in your thread also. I've been in IT for 12+ yrs
and I feel I should have gotten out earlier. I'm between jobs
at the moment. My wife has a much more solid career than I
do and pays way better (but has a lot of people responsibility
which adds stress but pays the bills).

I am quite disillusioned with IT. I just don't seem to get the
buzz out of it I did maybe 5-8 yrs ago when I was in the
thick of it. I was a better than average coder but really my
strengths were more in coaching folks and encouraging
them and leading by example. However, I think the late
night coding sessions and all of that which is required to
get projects in on time with quality along with actual pay
rates going *down* over time as I was made redundant
and took new jobs just took its toll. I'm pretty cynical
about the IT industry as it stands in Ireland at the moment
as a result.

I'd definitely never want to go back into coding that is for sure.

I get the impression that lecturing in ITs is not going to be
as available as it was a few years back. I think the
falling numbers of students taking techie courses has meant
that the ITs really have their quote of full time folks
on board. That is anecdotal and just an inside track an
old friend of mine gave me a year or two back.

--ifc

Hi If......So if you're not happy and your wife has a stable job, why not look to change or am I over simplifying?