Hi all,

I am a 28 year old history teacher who has decided that I have marked my last essay and I am looking for a change in career direction!!

I was just wondering therefore if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips on how to get started/where to look etc. I am unsure which direction to move in currently and therefore any information or advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks in advance

Cheers

I can recommend doing a short term Contracting role to help you while you decide what you want to do. There are plenty of low level Telephony roles in banking at the moment that are paying about £150 per day. Unfortunately, you might need to be prepared to travel to one of the local cities to do this.

I've done it a few times, and done some interesting jobs which I've really enjoyed.

I'm back in the automotive industry again though, just a different part.

Plenty of jobs going around, house or car selling for example.

boffbfc wrote:Hi all,

I am a 28 year old history teacher who has decided that I have marked my last essay and I am looking for a change in career direction!!

I was just wondering therefore if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips on how to get started/where to look etc. I am unsure which direction to move in currently and therefore any information or advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks in advance

Cheers

Do you have anything in mind regarding what you'd like to do in the future? Also if you don't mind me asking why are you giving up the teaching? I'm nearly 27 and have an MA in History so consequently everybody expected me upon graduating to go into teaching. As it happens I've found myself working in IT procurement for the last 4 years but I've always kept teaching as an option in the back of my mind and would be keen to get your thoughts on it as a profession? I probably should mention that a possible stumbling block is that I find children insufferable and don't think I'd enjoy it at all.

Thanks for the replies chaps!

Not really sure what I want to move into yet and don't really know where to start looking either ha!

In terms of why I am leaving teaching SammBoy its simply due to the workload. I have 115 A-level students which means 115 essays every two weeks meaning that my evenings and weekends are spent either lesson planning or marking.I literally have no free time and of course teachers don't get paid overtime which is the killer. Add to that students who don't want to learn, parents who don't want to listen and restrictions to holidays (yes the amount of holidays are great but you find you work most of them, holiday prices are astronomical, destinations are full of kids (just what you want to get away from!) and the fact that you cant just book a day off for weddings, funerals etc. (has to be immediate family) and the whole profession has just become a lot more restrictive and less enjoyable.


Saying that I would never purposely put anyone off the profession. There are some great aspects to teaching and to be fair it is actually the kids (most of them at least!) that make the job great. I would just advise anyone thinking of becoming a teacher to have a proper research around before taking the plunge!

Go on strike!

SammyBoy wrote:I probably should mention that a possible stumbling block is that I find children insufferable and don't think I'd enjoy it at all.

thinking back to the teachers when i was at school, i reckon you'd fit right in.

You must struggle finding free time with those 16 weeks a year holiday.

think about running your franchise, hours almost certainly will be long but at least what you put in you "should" get out. Britex just right for young guys to start there own business

boffbfc wrote:Thanks for the replies chaps!

Not really sure what I want to move into yet and don't really know where to start looking either ha!

In terms of why I am leaving teaching SammBoy its simply due to the workload. I have 115 A-level students which means 115 essays every two weeks meaning that my evenings and weekends are spent either lesson planning or marking.I literally have no free time and of course teachers don't get paid overtime which is the killer. Add to that students who don't want to learn, parents who don't want to listen and restrictions to holidays (yes the amount of holidays are great but you find you work most of them, holiday prices are astronomical, destinations are full of kids (just what you want to get away from!) and the fact that you cant just book a day off for weddings, funerals etc. (has to be immediate family) and the whole profession has just become a lot more restrictive and less enjoyable.


Saying that I would never purposely put anyone off the profession. There are some great aspects to teaching and to be fair it is actually the kids (most of them at least!) that make the job great. I would just advise anyone thinking of becoming a teacher to have a proper research around before taking the plunge!

Thanks for the response mate, it's only served to reinforce my view that teaching probably isn't for me. Aside from not liking children, the idea of unpaid overtime and work intruding into my personal life is a deal breaker.

As for your original question, I assume you studied History at Uni, which probably means now you're leaving teaching there's no 'natural path' in regards to professions you could enter (besides Historian, obviously). At future interviews you will have to rely on your experiences teaching and convey how they can be transferred over to another sector, and also focus on the transferable side of your History studies.

Here's a brief summary of some of the areas I've worked in:

Buyer/Procurement - If you're good at interpreting data being a buyer could be up your street, the skill is being ahead of the curve and finding the right products at the right prices. In the retail sector it can be very satisfying to see your range hit the stores/website and really generate sales after months of planning and problem solving. You'll need to be a decent negotiator, well organised and able to stand up for yourself because on the flip side when the sales aren't coming in you often find yourself having to explain yourself to management and getting dragged across the coals. Similarly, the hours can be long (although you get weekends off) and it's high pressure! You'll also have to work your way up by starting out as an assistant (slave!) to an established buyer where you'll probably find yourself poorly paid and unappreciated. If you progress to buyer level though the money is really good, especially in retail - oh and you get to travel abroad, I personally class this as a con because it normally just involves traipsing around factories in Bangladesh and China, but some people enjoy it. I've recently moved over to IT procurement because I was fed up with the stress of retail buying, it's not as well paid but way way less hassle and more straightforward.

Sales/Account Management - The pros are that companies are often willing to give people with little experience a chance, as personality is often more important than experience. Your basic salary might be fairly average but if you're good there's usually the potential to earn a lot of extra money in commission/bonus. The hours are generally fairly steady and you'll have your weekends free, also sales teams are often quite upbeat, fun environments with decent banter. Cons are that if you're not very good there's every chance you'll find yourself unemployed, and quick. It's a results business and if you're not producing you will be out. As a result this means it can be quite pressurized at times.

I hope that helps for a starting point/gives you some ideas. One thing I would say though is that I've found the culture at whatever company I've ended up at is the most important thing. The attitude of the senior management/directors often sets the tone for the whole business and can make a good job a great job or a bad job an unbearable job! Good luck!

An interesting thread but teaching still sounds the best bet to me. It begs the question what use is a History degree?

So your classes start between 8.30 and 9am and finish between 3 and 3.30 call it a 6 hour day minus breaks and dinner times which you do get. so probably teach 4 - 5 hours a day? the rest of the day maybe another 4 -5 hours marking or planning? 40 - 50 hour working week sounds normal to me but I don't get 14 weeks a year holiday plus all weekends and bank holidays off or get to retire with a hefty pension after 30 years service. Id think twice before changing career sir as the grass wont be greener

I wouldn't get too hung up on the degree and what careers lead on from there. Unless you're doing something particularly technical or vocational in the sciences or medicine similar then for a lot of jobs it's irrelevant what the degree is.

People do naff degrees because it apparently looks better on their CV when they're applying for non-degree related jobs.

Plus they want to spend x amount of years at uni drinking.

Sidney1st wrote:People do naff degrees because it apparently looks better on their CV when they're applying for non-degree related jobs.

Plus they want to spend x amount of years at uni drinking.

Which is one of my biggest gripes about uni. It should be stopped

What all those people with degrees in travel and tourism or leisure studies, the backbone of the country

Media Studies and Countryside Management are classics too.

I changed careers at the age of 30. Was working in a high st bank feeling very frustrated because it wasn't for me.

Always had an aptitude for computers so got loads of books and taught myself to be a computer programmer. Passed a programming exam and it got me in the door as a trainee programmer.

Had to move to London but been here 17 years now and it's the best thing I ever did.

Apart from having to live in London

boffbfc wrote:Thanks for the replies chaps!

Not really sure what I want to move into yet and don't really know where to start looking either ha!

In terms of why I am leaving teaching SammBoy its simply due to the workload. I have 115 A-level students which means 115 essays every two weeks meaning that my evenings and weekends are spent either lesson planning or marking.I literally have no free time and of course teachers don't get paid overtime which is the killer. Add to that students who don't want to learn, parents who don't want to listen and restrictions to holidays (yes the amount of holidays are great but you find you work most of them, holiday prices are astronomical, destinations are full of kids (just what you want to get away from!) and the fact that you cant just book a day off for weddings, funerals etc. (has to be immediate family) and the whole profession has just become a lot more restrictive and less enjoyable.


Saying that I would never purposely put anyone off the profession. There are some great aspects to teaching and to be fair it is actually the kids (most of them at least!) that make the job great. I would just advise anyone thinking of becoming a teacher to have a proper research around before taking the plunge!

You probably don't want to put it on here but - where do you work currently? Relatively local?

I did media studies at college. The best 2 year doss you could ever ask for!

CleggHall wrote:An interesting thread but teaching still sounds the best bet to me. It begs the question what use is a History degree?

A degree in History directly leads into teaching (a doctorate would allow you to lecture) and academic research. The skills learned as part of a History degree are also a good fit for a career in journalism. However, that's a bit of a closed shop these days if you aren't from an upper middle-class background and in possession of parents able to subsidize a six month unpaid internship in London. There have been a few politicians with History degrees as well, most recently Gordon Brown.

Personally, when I was 17 and choosing my degree course I had no idea what I might want to do for the rest of my life (and still don't). So rather than commit to one thing in particular, which I might not even like, e.g. Law or Occupational Therapy I decided to go with a subject I'd always been good at and figure the rest out later. I must admit though the big draw of Uni was the chance to go out and get steaming several nights a week whilst dossing around with my mates most of the following day - the best time of my life and I wouldn't change those 4 years for the world!

Good to see the teacher-bashers on here. The guy came on and asked an honest question....

As for my story, worked for years in sales, primarily IT based but about 4 years ago I had had enough of the targets etc. Decided to quit it and move to Thailand and invest in my future and become a diving instructor. Best decision I ever made...I had been diving recreationally for many years so for me it was a natural progression....

Muff diving?

"I've been a muff diver for many a year...
and I've spent all my money on muff diving gear...
the snorkel, the googles, the muff diving tank,
if I'm not muff diving I must be having a w...."

(to the tune of NNN)

Foulthrow wrote:Muff diving?

Funny you should say that...I am actually a fully paid up member of the Muff Diving Club of Ireland!

ClaretDiver wrote:Good to see the teacher-bashers on here. The guy came on and asked an honest question....

As for my story, worked for years in sales, primarily IT based but about 4 years ago I had had enough of the targets etc. Decided to quit it and move to Thailand and invest in my future and become a diving instructor. Best decision I ever made...I had been diving recreationally for many years so for me it was a natural progression....

Agreed - people who revel in slating teachers need to get a grip. Yes, I'm sure we all know a martyr teacher or two who we roll our eyes at when they're moaning about how hard they've got it, but it makes me laugh when Joe Bloggs who works at the box factory and thinks GCSEs are the firm from the film Green Street starts talking like it's a walk in the park.

If you're willing, and able, to relocate then your options increase dramatically.

SammyBoy wrote:Agreed - people who revel in slating teachers need to get a grip. Yes, I'm sure we all know a martyr teacher or two who we roll our eyes at when they're moaning about how hard they've got it, but it makes me laugh when Joe Bloggs who works at the box factory and thinks a GCSE is the firm from the film Green Street starts talking like it's a walk in the park.

Agreed. Always found people's grievances with teachers/teaching to be a bit illogical and weird.

Teaching is similar to healthcare really. There aren't that many professions where people really know what folk actually do. However, because almost everyone has been to school or a hospital they think that their limited perspective makes them experts on the subject.

It would be a bit like me thinking Sean Dyche is a right lazy bugger because all he does is the odd substitution, waves his arms round a bit and gives the odd press conference. This is all that I see him do therefore this is all he does.

Foulthrow wrote:"I've been a muff diver for many a year...
and I've spent all my money on muff diving gear...
the snorkel, the googles, the muff diving tank,
if I'm not muff diving I must be having a w...."

(to the tune of NNN)

AMAZING!

Foulthrow wrote:Teaching is similar to healthcare really. There aren't that many professions where people really know what folk actually do. However, because almost everyone has been to school or a hospital they think that their limited perspective makes them experts on the subject.

It would be a bit like me thinking Sean Dyche is a right lazy bugger because all he does is the odd substitution, waves his arms round a bit and gives the odd press conference. This is all that I see him do therefore this is all he does.

His substitutions ARE odd!

Foulthrow wrote:"I've been a muff diver for many a year...
and I've spent all my money on muff diving gear...
the snorkel, the googles, the muff diving tank,
if I'm not muff diving I must be having a w...."

(to the tune of NNN)

Fantastic......absolute genius!!!

lets be honest, there is no expertise to teaching, only passion and enthusiasm is required. you get all the weekends off and more holidays then any other job. for a job that is pretty easy to do and anyone can do, id probably stick at it.

pushpinpussy wrote:lets be honest, there is no expertise to teaching, only passion and enthusiasm is required. you get all the weekends off and more holidays then any other job. for a job that is pretty easy to do and anyone can do, id probably stick at it.

I assume you are a teacher, what do you teach out of curiosity?

ClaretDiver wrote:Funny you should say that...I am actually a fully paid up member of the Muff Diving Club of Ireland!

Did you find the Atlantic cold when you were up in Donegal

Your degree is irrelevant. The fact that you have one is. My eldest did a degree in Spanish and German and has never used either of them, except on holiday. Through good fortune and being in the right place she has ended up as a Quantity Surveyor.

Lifes too short. Find something that makes YOU happy. within reason, wages and holidays should be at the bottom of your list.

minnieclaret wrote: Lifes too short. Find something that makes YOU happy. within reason, wages and holidays should be at the bottom of your list.

Best bit of advice on here.
I know lots of people who moan about their job and they're still doing them 5 yrs or so after they first told me they hated their job.

Personally, my job pays reasonably well, the hours are brilliant and aside from the odd issue I'm more then happy with my current job.

A history degree can be useful, served me well, became a dodgy investment banker and retired after working for 20 years. Well semi retired just do some sports coaching and house husbandry and the odd job

Would you be better in the independent school sector? Teachers at sons' schools seem to enjoy life more than you At an academic private school you do have more desire to learn, little bad behaviour, interested parents etc.

Reading a lot of this thread, is it any wonder that the government now make you
pay for your degree ? If this is representative of the usefulness or relevance of degrees being
taken these days, then I despair.

Another gripe of mine is that every seat of learning is now a university. What a load of misleading
rubbish.

Funkydrummer wrote:Reading a lot of this thread, is it any wonder that the government now make you
pay for your degree ? If this is representative of the usefulness or relevance of degrees being
taken these days, then I despair.

Another gripe of mine is that every seat of learning is now a university. What a load of misleading
rubbish.

I'd be in favour of making higher education free but the entry criteria more stringent. When you see somebody with a degree in Basket Weaving from the University of Padiham it really makes you question why they've put in the time, effort and money to obtain it. Joking aside though degrees will always be relevant and necessary, particularly the science based ones. Arts degrees are more of a luxury but I still think it's necessary to have graduates that are well versed in them.

Whilst we're moaning, one thing that really annoys me is when you see companies advertising apprenticeships for young people in fields like 'Business Administration'. To me an apprenticeship was always in a skilled trade of some sort, and you did your time earning peanuts before you qualified and started getting paid a decent wedge. These corporate apprenticeships are just a way of paying people about £3 an hour for a couple of years before they graduate with no discernible skills to a job like 'Marketing Assistant' and earn just above minimum wage - it should not be allowed.

Sorry, I should have written :-

"If this is representative of the usefulness or relevance of SOME degrees being
taken these days, then I despair."

Nail on the head there as regards apprenticeships. I never worked in industry until I
retired and took a part time job, and had my eyes opened. Young 16/17 year olds
"employed" on apprenticeships etc on below minimum wages with the government
picking up over 50% of the wage. As soon as they reach an age where they are entitled to at
least minimum wage, paid in full by the employer, they are dispensed with and another takes their place.

In my experience, they were taught next to sod all - and their external "tutors/mentors" that I came
across were as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Look at the Civil Service. Many different careers and quite often you need a degree, but not a specific one.

aggi wrote:I assume you are a teacher, what do you teach out of curiosity?

Not a teacher at all. I have a proper job.

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:Look at the Civil Service. Many different careers and quite often you need a degree, but not a specific one.

Civil service is a job for life in many places isn't it?
Even if you're rubbish at the job.

pushpinpussy wrote:Not a teacher at all. I have a proper job.

That makes your cutting insight even more remarkable, I can only assume given the breadth of your knowledge that rather than actually teaching you've worked within an organization that collaborates extensively with local educational authorities? Perhaps you should think about going into teaching? You seem to have it all figured out and could arguably revolutionize the profession given you clearly know exactly where improvement is required?

pushpinpussy wrote:Not a teacher at all. I have a proper job.

What a superbly condescending reply......

I am a Dive Instructor....proper job or not?

So I had an very well paid job out of uni, loved it for 4 years but thought there must be more to life.

I quit and joined the Army at 27 - I love it, fantastic variety and actually generally quite relaxed.

Just a thought.

pushpinpussy wrote:Not a teacher at all. I have a proper job.

But if it's such a cushy number surely opting to do something else isn't very bright.

I can't believe how many people are dismissing the usefulness of your history degree. "you can only teach history or get a job at a research institution" - Rubbish.

You are well equipped to be a treasure hunter/tomb raider/Indiana Jones style adventurer and live a life of excitement.
No marking coursework, holidays when you want, where you want. No pushy parents, just maybe the occasional shootout with some shady blokes over some long lost Nazi treasure/relic/etc.

People may be making jokes about your career options right now, but they wont be laughing when you ride out of the lost city of Atlantis on the back of a dolphin while carrying Poseidon's trident!

Newty wrote:I can't believe how many people are dismissing the usefulness of your history degree. "you can only teach history or get a job at a research institution" - Rubbish.

You are well equipped to be a treasure hunter/tomb raider/Indiana Jones style adventurer and live a life of excitement.
No marking coursework, holidays when you want, where you want. No pushy parents, just maybe the occasional shootout with some shady blokes over some long lost Nazi treasure/relic/etc.

People may be making jokes about your career options right now, but they wont be laughing when you ride out of the lost city of Atlantis on the back of a dolphin while carrying Poseidon's trident!

You've been playing Uncharted haven't you?