A friend or mine is wanting to quit teaching as her current class is horrible. Do any of you guys have ideas for other careers she could look at with the experience she has? Her pay is around 90 something and she recently got a much larger mortgage so it would be ideal if the pay wasn't less than 80 something. If it was less, then it would need a path to get higher within a year or two, not a dead end job. I have been browsing apsjobs.gov.au and have just seen administrative type jobs. But surely there is something else out there for her. Or are any of you ex-teachers and successfully transitioned out to a different but good career?
Job Ideas for Former Teacher?
Quantumcat on 08/02/2022 - 08:53
Last edited 08/02/2022 - 08:55
Last edited 08/02/2022 - 08:55
Comments
She did relief teaching for many years and hated it. She finally got a class but the kids are worse than the ones she had as a relief teacher
every year or just this year?
teach me a thing or two
Then I think she (or is it yourselfš§) is in the wrong field of work.
Obviously she doesn't like kids and doesn't enjoy teaching.Teachers are one of the toughest jobs (you would know if you been through the lockdown home learning phase)
But if one enjoys it, they would treat it as a challenge.
You can't expect to have a bunch of smart well behaved kids for yourself ALL the time. It will NEVER happen.
Consider a career change now I say and forget about teaching. Coz seems like it doesn't suit and would probably make her go Mental.
GL.
Edit:. I have seen some of my kids teachers, they are there just waiting to retire. There is no fire, no energy. I would not wish my kids to have a teacher like that as it ruins their learning and enthusiasm to strive for more. But from the teachers point of view ..what more can u use….3 months Holiday a year with huge super and allowances. Big 90k+ pay or more if u stay few more years. It's something you gotta put up with.
Teachers
areone of the toughest jobs*have
Is this a public or private school?>
Victoria?
What does she teach?
It sounds like the common thread in her terrible classes is her.
90k a year to hate kids sounds like a terrible deal to everyone but her.
is there an option to change school in a better area.
We should we waste our time making suggestions for someone's friend that is not a member of the OB community, has no interest in OB and probably wont listen to anything we say?
Im seriously over this "I have a friend" rubbish.
I say the the OP - just mind your own business, leave your friend alone and stop telling them what to do and leave us alone too.;
I'm sure your friend has a brain will find their way and if they want our help just tell them to become a member and ask us.directly
My friend, friendās uncle and dogās cousin all share the same sentiment as you.
You don't have to waste your time - just don't respond.
Sounds like you haven't experienced having friends but generally they are interested in each other's lives and want to help them when they can. Thoroughly recommend you try it one day - it's lovely having people in your life that care about you.
Document Controller. Often overlooked as basic admin role but does in fact have some technical expertise to it, following ISO 22301 and ISO 27001, preparing for audits and providing support in claims. Average salary for DC in Engineering with some experience is $120k.
As someone who works with document controllers in engineering, this is a good job.
How does one get into DC? is there a qualification or course to get your foot in the door?
F! :)
Nah.
Start off as an admin in an engineering or construction company and then work your way up.
Mind you, the role has no real progression so most people would get bored of it eventually.
@tallkid123: What's happened to those DCs that you know? How long did they stay, what roles did they change to after they got bored of it?
@tikei: Don't know. They were mostly women who had kids and didn't come back.
I only work with one DC now and she has been at my company for over 10 years.
As for roles, no idea.
@tallkid123: Can DC's work from home full time? If so, I don't mind doing it and I certainly won't get bored if i get to WFH
@Homr: Yes. But you'd need to negotiate with your company on working remotely as usual.
My DC mostly WFH. Her job consists of Hybroid's description above so she's mostly dealing with project managers and having all their documentation in order.
But again, as I said, if you want this role, get an admin job in an engineering (civil) or construction firm, be good and then ask after a year or so to progress to be a DC.
@tallkid123: I'm a finance business partner level, do you think I can skip downgrading to admin and just go straight to DC?
@Homr: Honestly, that seems like such a huge downgrade?
I could never imagine my finance business partner wanting to do that.
But it's your life. If you want to pursue it, just have a chat internally with a head of department, etc and take it from there. Although you'd probably have to convince them why you'd want to make such a move in the first place.
@tallkid123: Biggest reason is flexibility. My workplace are anti wfh and they want everybody working in the office.
In the first lockdown 2020, we were still forced to come into the office
@Homr: Find a new job?
That's what I'd do. I used to dream about being remote or mostly WFH. Now that I've achieved it thanks to Covid, I'm never going back to the office full time.
@Homr: I think itād be time to just look at seek and apply for other roles at your level. I worked for a company with the exact same attitude towards wfh, and we also forced to come into the office during the first lockdown. However, I heard their attitude has recently shifted after seeing all other companies offering wfh and now employees can wfh 2 days per week.
My current employer, which had a similar (though not as bad) outlook is also considering wfh for 2-3 days per week. So Iād say keep your eyes out. There might not be as many organisations offering wfh full time, but there are a lot more offering hybrid work.
@Laurana: I'm happy with hybrid work like 2 days wfh. The sad thing is my employer wont even offer that. Pretty piss poor altitude from them
They wanted us to come in to the office during the 2nd lockdow aswell before the government intervened.
How about private tutoring?
She can pick the days and hours she wants to work.
Would have to hustle hard to beat her current 90k let alone constant income - though I guess you can expense a lot of thingsā¦
?? I donāt get it.
This really depends on how good a teacher you are.
Sky is the limit when you are an effective educator.
Man I would be psyched to be earning 90k with decent job stability even if the ācustomersā were difficult. My current job has difficult customers as is and nowhere near 90!
As a great man once said: ā Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.ā
"You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is.. never try."
Can't speak for the OP's friend per se, but I know a number of teachers and it's not just the difficult customers… it's also the going to spend your 'free' time when not teaching calling up parents (who can be worse than the kids themselves), marking, prepping, supervising, admin paperwork (which there seems to be more and more of these days) and then taking that home to do after hours and the "school holidays" everyone thinks is a laze by the beach time.
Thank god there is still connoisseurs of the golden age of simpsons.
It's true. To do the job to the level that the government and society expect, there is no such thing as free time as a teacher. Before school, during school breaks in the day, after school, on weekends, during holidays… there is literally not a moment where you don't have something you could be doing. I think that factor is more draining than the occasional "difficulties" from the "customers".
"BuT tEaChErS gEt LoNg HoLiDaYz"
hehe right in the butt
I mean I totally understand OP's "friend". I was in a role at 90k+ and was stressed constantly. Took a massive toll on my mental and physical health. I ended up quitting and being unemployed for a few months before looking for a new role just so I had time to adjust.
As much as I appreciate a Simpsons quote, half assing isn't always an option. Half assing is not doing one's role and comes with it's own problems and challenges.
I think we all understand opās āfriendā and yeah stress, mental and physical health is definitely still swept under the rug for many places other than random token mental health days or ār u okā day.
Tv: r u ok?
Homer: I told you last night, NO!I guess at the end of the day even 60k jobs demand a certain standard of workā¦ otherwise theyāll throw you under the bus as they always say, thereās always someone else that can do it for cheaper.
And where do you draw the line, right? I have a friend who went from 150k, down to 110k. Sure he made some āsacrificesā but heās in a much better brain space now. Unfortunately not everyone has the luxury of taking a pay cut.. especially the way some of these mortgages are now
Bit of a tangent, but there has been a couple of references to mortgages in this post. I know property prices are very high, but I'm surprised that people may be struggling with a mortgage at a time when interest rates remain at all time lows.
What will they do when interest rates rise?
but I'm surprised that people may be struggling with a mortgage at a time when interest rates remain at all time lows.
Most likely they purchased a mcmansion because credit is cheap at the moment. The future hasn't happened yet, so they don't worry about it.
@brendanm: Yes a lot of people seem to borrow as much as they can without leaving a safety margin. Our current house I borrowed 60% of what I could have my house may not be a mansion but it's got everything we need I'm putting extra into the redraw to pay it off quicker but if I need/want I can dip into the redraw.
@2esc: The real kicker here is, those irresponsible people who are essentially gambling their future wealth… more often than not, will get lucky, and get-ahead of people doing the right thing, playing by the rules, and being safe.
I should know.
@GG57: Too tempting I think with super low interest rates, banks willing to be a bit more reckless with how much is to be borrowed out and the general society view that you're a 'loser' if you're stuck perma-renting. Doesnt take much to put a lot of owners into mortgage stress.
@Jimothy Wongingtons: Probably.
I wonder how they may cope with the stigma of losing their house, or being bankrupt.
Absolutely, however it depends on the role.
Spose it also depends on the skillset. I've been in 45k sales roles that were similarly stressful to the 90k sales role.My current role is much closer to 50-60k, and there is still a standard of work but it's significantly more laid back than what I was doing prior. It's a big ol' pay cut, but I don't want to die quite as much. Trade offs, y'know.
I feel OP's 'friend' is optimistic being able to totally change careers and maintain the pay level they're on.
but I don't want to die quite as much.
me too but I guess alcohol, junk food and plain ol' not pretending it aint a problem is just a good solution
With your wit mate, it is just a mater of time/patience you will earn much north of 90…
Go study for 4 years, take up a hecs debt to work 50 hour weeks with constant stress and responsibility to earn less than an entry labourer at a construction site
ā Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.ā
Sounds like an American anti-strike propaganda.
Why are you replying to a comment that's 17 months old?
Itās.. nearly a 30 year old simpsons quote smh
School just started and she already hates her class?
One of the many reasons why a large percentage of teachers donāt make it to 5 years service
You would need a strong will to teach teenagers. I don't envy them based on some of the classrooms I sat in.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was something stronger than just coffee in their mugs.
Majority of them need a strong hand or two across the buttbutt.
Current teacher here. Problem itĀ“s not only the students. The awful amount of BS paperwork, fear of parents blaming on you every single of their kid's issues and the hours that you donĀ“t get paid, are the problems. IĀ“m in a very good public HS and IĀ“m extremely happy with my students btw. And I love what I do. But sometimes I feel like I have no real power to apply consequences to the naughty kids.
What are your full hours per week - class hours and any hours outside the classroom that relates to your job
Have you met any children?
Your friend could try teaching them how not to be horrible.
Otherwise, why go in every day?
Walk away and let someone else do it.
Don't jump ship to something else expecting the world and everyone to be nice.
Your friend could try teaching them how not to be horrible.
Challenging - they throw chairs and other objects, scream, are violent to each other. Not allowed to ask for help from other staff unless someone is dying. There are some good kids but they get no attention as all her time is spent dealing with the others
Otherwise, why go in every day? Walk away and let someone else do it.
Yes this is what she wants to do
Don't jump ship to something else expecting the world and everyone to be nice.
True, she could end up with horrible colleagues in her next job but at least they will be adults and won't scream and throw stuff (hopefully)
"…at least they will be adults and won't scream and throw stuff (hopefully)…"
Keyword, hopefully. You would be (or wouldn't be) surprised how petty 'adults' can be too even in a professional workplace.
Grass is always greener, but in many cases, better the devil you know.
As someone who said "f no" to finishing a teaching degree and am current a commercial insurance broker, I can agree corporate is just high school recycled. The only difference is age and the free stationery.
I know I actively use my educational psychology textbook on people. It's hilarious and amazing.
Challenging - they throw chairs and other objects, scream, are violent to each other.
wt? How old are these kids? Is this new since the kids returned to school post covid lockdowns or are these the same kids acting up every year?
i second this, i remember highschool days before i changed to another highschool. you would not believe the shit that went down once the kids knew which teacher was lenient and they could get away with things, the kids in our class would throw out all the chairs out the window on a second level building when a teacher left to get some markers. we had this elder asian teacher who the kids tormented, they used to swear at him, throw paper at him, walk up to his face as if they were gonna start a fight with him, i remember kids used to jerk off in class and ejaculate on the floor, i wont name the school but it was in far western sydney lol, poor guy quit his job a year later after i changed schools to a better one coz my marks were getting shit.
adults and won't scream and throw stuff (hopefully)
Don't be so sure about that…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lzM6oOc17UFrom the sound it, she works in a government school in an area with low social economic backgrounds? I don't know what her teaching area is but Private school may be where she could benefit or to improve her classroom management very quickly by establishing her expectations
One suggestion that is non-teaching related is consulting for education publishers such as education perfect
"an area with low social economic backgrounds"
All those words just to say 'poor'.
If parents did their job to raise their kids with manners and respect this wouldn't be an issue.
Good luck with telling them that :/
Your friend could try teaching them how not to be horrible.
This is the answer.
Operant conditioning is not fun to do but it is the gold standard of behavioural change. Nobody wants to ignore bad behaviour and pour praise on even the most meagre good behaviour, but that's how it works. You can literally teach animals to jump through a flaming hoop with this stuff.
The one great advantage with children is that they have the self esteem and psychology of a neurotic girlfriend: desperate for praise, but will gladly take the attention garnered from poor behaviour in second place. Use that in your favour.
That's not how it works. Maybe if they brought back the cane, but disciplining is not an expectation (and nor should it be) of a teacher. Parents need to discipline their kids.
I'm talking severe cases of misbehaviour.
Are they any good at building course content? Instructional designer seems to pay well. Even more on contract rates.
Or if it is the teaching they like, could look more towards the corporate L&D/Facilitator space.
Yeah some corporate education/training jobs pay well.
"Teaching" isn't really a definitive skill.
It would help if we knew what she is specifically skilled and knowledgeable in, and the things she likes doing (we can probably determine that customer interaction might be off the cards).Surely this needs more discussion with the higher ups at her school. Would children throwing chairs and objects and being violent towards each other not constitute grounds for taking this to the principal or similar? Or having parents come into the discussion? Something about this doesn't make sense.
It is possible she is exaggerating. But it is bad enough to make her want to leave
If it's an outer suburbs school, I believe her word 100%
That story is nothing out of the ordinary. Kids can be animals when schools get big and group mentality takes over. Couple that with large classes and run down teachers and I can't imagine how it could end any other way.
School staff here: Nothing happens with these kids. They get told off and that's the end of the discussion. Teachers have no power in their own classrooms any more, most public schools don't even allow detention now.
Can your friend.. dance?
With a Pole?
No, with a Czech…
A friend or mine is wanting to quit teaching as her current class is horrible.
Wait 12 months and it will all change?
Apparently every class is similar - which is depressing as these kids will filter into the local high school where her own kids will go in a few years, and she moved to get in zone for a better high school š
Wait…so this is a primary school?!
Even if he/she transitions out into the corporate world, there will be difficult clients, difficult colleagues, difficult bosses. You will be quitting every time the environment is challenging.
If she hates her current class could she just start relief teaching while looking for another job?
I would think it would be difficult to find an 80k job with only teaching experience unless it's something related to teaching.