QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Ok, so I'm in my 13th year of Primary Teaching, and I'm not going to deny it, it's killing me. I'm exhausted, fed up with having to put in so much extra work, all of it! I'm in at 7am most mornings, sometimes not leaving until late into the afternoon, working at home in the evenings, and well, I have a one day weekend. (I AM NOT WANTING TO DEBATE ABOUT HOW EASY US TEACHERS GET IT, BECAUSE WE DON'T, SO PLEASE!)

I just need help trying to find a new direction, my health is suffering, and my life, well it could be so much better. I'd love a job where I can leave work, in work, anyone got any tips on where I could possibly start?

Jen xo

(PS I become an Australia Citizen on the 23rd May, so that might broaden the possibilities?! I also have 5 years experience as a part-time police officer, from when I lived back in Northern Ireland.)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You have to start by deciding what you want to do - what do you fancy trying?

Is there some career you've always wanted to do?

What are your skill sets?

Once you've decided on at least a general career direction, then you can start to look more closely - will you need to retrain? Will you need to go back to uni? Can you relate your current skills to the new career or are you starting afresh?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I've a book called 'WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?' which is apparently fab in helping you to choose a new direction, I just haven't had much time to read it yet! :blink:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You're still a young chick so anything is possible - what do you WANT to do ( try the magic wand trick) then work from there to achieving it - what further skills will you need? If you decide to try for public service type positions you could see if you can get into admin via your current teaching position - go into policy or something like that in education. Your PR status will only be an issue for federal positions and as you become a citizen at the end of the month that's a non issue!

I second the "What colour is your parachute" suggestion, it's a good book! But you do need time and having had one lifetime in education, you have my sympathies! Mind you, I never did find an alternative which met your requirements! I moved out of education into the NFP sector and ended up doing weekends and evenings just the same LOL - but at least I used o be able to accrue enough TOIL time to take an star holiday every year!

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

As a former university lecturer, I know what you mean entirely about the extra work, unpaid, and the stress of the classroom, albeit it a different kind from primary school! I don't know about teachers, but university lecturers work all through the holidays, and many was the year I was marking papers all over Christmas. One year I was doing it on Christmas Eve. Unpaid, obviously.

Can't help with future direction, but good luck in your new choice!

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Well, there is always business type training - execs, PMs, etc.

Admittedly they are slightly less mature than what you are used to, but there is a distinct lack of homework to mark....

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

This is not strictly true, as you are paid a salary to cover this, rather than being on a wage and being paid overtime.

As an ex teacher, I sympathise with the feeling that you are not paid for working long hours to do the work that someone with a conscience feels they have to do. I got out of teaching, but it sucked me back in at a pre-school/special needs level. Now I have no job due to MS, and having been a teacher for 25 years with just a little break for maternity leave, I really don't know what I can do either, so good luck with your decision Jen and I hope it all works out.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Your hours are contractually set, like anyone else's. Working all over Christmas is outside of your hours and therefore unpaid. It does depend on how you choose to view it, as you point out. For me, this was a small problem compared with other issues closely associated with the education sector like stress, disrespect, depressed colleagues, poor treatment by support staff and, in my case, being surrounded by radical Marxists night and day...

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I quit teaching when I left the UK in 2006 - I vowed I would never set foot in another class room again, and so far I have managed it. I had a good look at what my existing skills and experience could be used to leverage off of, and ended up doing a short course in Technical Writing. That in itself is pretty dull, but it certainly opened up doors to other potential careers - in particular industry based training and assessment. From there I've moved into Project Management and I am now doing my Change Management certification.

It's not easy, but the key is to identify what you can already do, and then try and find something allied to that to move forward with. Perhaps a Cert IV in Training and Assessment would be a good start. I did mine several years ago, and it was a walk in the park for a qualified teacher.



Love that comment :)


S

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

This is good advice, indeed.


Seriously, have you ever tried to make a Marxist laugh?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

How many Marxists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None. The bulb contains the seed of its own revolution.


:getcoat:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I think when work is affecting your health something has to give! You just have to step back and think about what work you would see yourself enjoying? Would you still work with children? I wish you luck in finding something. :fingerscrossed:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Yeah, they wouldn't laugh at that...

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You should have worn the ubiquitous Communist Party T-Shirt...


S

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

What about CRT work? You could do permanent part time in a different career and a couple of days CRT? The ones we have come to our school love the freedom and that there's no meetings, planning etc.
I'm in a similar boat as an ES wanting to retrain and earn a decent crust!! Good luck Jen x x

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Jen, I work in local government and one of my staff was a police officer in the UK, and then again when he migrated to WA. He's now working in crime prevention and community safety and loves it - might be worth a look? Good luck - just the hands on teaching alone would wear me out, let alone any extra work!

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I thought you were going into customs/border security stuff?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Public servant. It's getting harder to leave work at work. With leave loading you still won't get near the holidays.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

If you're on a salary package, you don't even get leave loading :) But a lot of larger local governments allow you to purchase additional annual leave, up to 4 weeks extra in mine - it's deducted from your pay fortnightly, sort of like a leave lay-by. There's always the disclaimer that taking an extended period of annual leave can't be too disruptive to the business area (cue for make sure you give staff plenty of professional development opportunities so they can step into your role if they want to)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Almost teaching levels of holiday;)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I kind of feel the same way. I have worked in the Uni sector for 9 years and have wanted to get out for 5 years. I even got a Masters degree in Transport Planning. But, of course no employer cares about your qualifications they only want relevant work experience.

So my advice is don't look at doing something wildly different to what you are doing now because it is highly unlikely an employer would even look at you.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Until of course you have lots of experience but none of the formal qualifications...


S

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I agree with this, mostly. It seems odd that people with MAs and PhDs find it hard to get work (outside of uni sector if that is where they have been), but I think this is because education is not valued much by our culture. In Germany, for example, it is quite common for people in private industry to have PhDs, because education is valued along with experience, but English-speaking cultures have inherited a strong anti-intellectualism because that is basically the opposite to the European way of doing things. I have found many people, even family members, have sneered at my education - "boffin" etc. It will never change.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I would say Supply Teaching too. Was speaking to a teacher on the weekend who's been working in supply and decided to go for a permanent position when offered to her this year. She's regretting it as she had constant work when doing supply, but didn't have to do report writing, marking and all the other "extra" outside of school hours type stuff. She's going back to supply when her contract is up at the end of the year because she's worn out already.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Jen, I've told you a million times now, dressing up as PC P!ssflaps for the hubby at weekends did not make you a part time police officer.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

:eek:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

:rofl:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Maybe..........
I can empathise with the OP. I was in adult teaching for 16 years - 10 years in the UK and 6 in Australia. 18 months ago I left teaching and now work in community safety a career which is wildly different. My new employer was specifically looking for life skills.

I love my new new job - 12 hour shifts which roughly equate to 3.2 days a week so plenty of time off and when I leave work I never take work home. My employer recognises my graduate status which means my salary progression is fast tracked. The overtime opportunities are good and if I swop shifts I can easily get 2 x 3 week holidays a year without eating too much into my holiday entitlement.

My only regret is not changing careers earlier. I was 49 when I made the switch.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

13 years is quite a lot of teaching experience. Maybe you could find a job with the Education Department, or maybe make a go for the Deputy Principal to Principal career track, which will get you away from the classroom.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Kind of why I suggested the training market. The teaching skills are valid and the area is adjacent - I'd suggest 'customer focus' as an area, which seems virtually missing from the Australian mindset.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

If it's 'missing from the Australian mindset' - then there won't be any jobs going, will there? ;)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Some brilliant suggestions thanks people! Not feeling so hot today, so this is my first sick day this academic year, and the guilt that comes with taking a day off in teaching, well, unless you're a teacher, it's hard to explain. The irony of it all? I received a letter from Ed Qld yesterday telling me that I'm now eligible, after 3 years full-time on contracts, to get permanency! OMFG! LOL

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Is TAFE so wildly different? Are there any skills you could use to teach there? My neighbour is a TAFE teacher and is always off!! No stress during holidays and its definately a 9-5 job for him.
Otherwise what Swervo suggested, Technical Writer is a good inroad to varying businesses...just do NOT get involved in Tender work as that becomes stupid hours!!
Here are a couple of links which MAY be of use:
http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/abou...nistrative.htm
http://www.jobseeker.com.au/Communit...ueensland-jobs
http://www.policerecruit.qld.gov.au/...port+Roles.htm

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Thanks mate xo

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Admin jobs in Community Safety are like gold dust at present, be warned. If you do see one advertised, go for it, they all go on www.jobs.qld.gov.au but due to newman's axe there are very few around and most are only advertised internally at present due to the need to place existing staff.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

silly question....what exactly IS Community Safety? Its not like the CSO's back in UK is it? desk job/roaming?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

There are lots of different job descriptions for Community Safety, depending on the organisation. The community safety team at the local govt. I work for perform a variety of functions - quick rundown:

Education - promoting personal safety and responsible citizenship, involves working with different local groups including schools, recently arrived migrants, youth, seniors and the wider community. Staff are often joined by a local police officer for workshops and presentations.

Information - residents can (and do) call in person or via telephone or email, to get advice on any issue relating to safety or criminal activity.

Crime prevention - working closely with local police, running an email and text system which alerts local residents to current criminal activity and providing an avenue for people to report crimes in their area.

Anti-graffiti - providing police with photographic and geographical evidence of graffiti, especially tagging, which can be used in court.

Working with local businesses to prevent break and enters, theft, and also to promote responsible selling (eg most local businesses in our area won't sell graffiti implements to under 18s).

Representation on State 'umbrella' community safety, crime prevention and emergency services groups.

Lots more but that's the gist. I think it's a great career as there's heaps of variety and the work is really satisfying because you're providing a service that makes a visible difference to people. :)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

cool...is it well paid?? :)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Coordinator around 75k and worth every cent, he the star among my already steller team of Coordinators :)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

ps - a good Coordinator can make the step up to local government management, especially if they take advantage of study leave provisions.