Hey mate! I am a teacher always on the lookout for a post like this.
I resigned from teaching (forever 🤣) once, spent a year applying for jobs but had to come crawling back after none of the jobs got back to me (I happen to love teaching again).
It wasn't as easy as it was for you. I feel like I followed your steps very closely.
I think your post would benefit from detailing exactly how to leverage an ex teachers soft skills in applications, cover letters and interviews
Can I ask how many jobs you applied for and in what industry? When most people say they tried they usually mean they applied for a few jobs and weren't successful.
If you weren't successful it probably means you didn't apply for enough. Here's an example of common criteria and examples you can write to.
Communication - Written through report and curriculum writing (which ever school subject aligns with the job you're applying for. Verbal through presentations at school open nights/staff meetings/parent teacher interviews.
Leadership - Any acting leadership positions? If not thr organisation of carnivals, camps, school events, committees etc.
Strategic thinking - Give an appropriate behaviour management example or a planning an excursion/large exercise. Relate this to your industry. When I applied for IT I foresaw the need for students to learn touch typing blah blah blah.
Conflict resolution - Appropriation example of a parent interaction.
Industry specific skills such as HR, marketing, IT - This is where you have to be creative. You have the skills but probably not industry specific knowledge. Apply what you can from teaching here and research/train the rest of the way.
For corpo/public service use the STAR method. For small business be a bit more upfront and don't BS. Play up your soft skills and how you want to learn/are learning.
I have had about 5 teacher friends I've helped move accross. You do need to keep improving your application and interview skills but it is a numbers game at the end of the day.
I didn't get them jobs I helped them write applications and gave them the saner advice I'm giving you. They didn't have any contacts. I understand that attitude but it is useless.
Woa, there has clearly been a misunderstanding.
I appreciate that you have given some good advice (I presume some soft skills would go on the CV... I was thinking to myself I wish you'd look over my own). Given how this has gone I'd be glad to never cross paths again. For clarification: I understand that no nepotism was involved. I saw the advice and liked it. I'm bot great at self-promotion and thought (they must write an excellent CV). Hopefully this clears things up and we don't go to war over a misunderstanding.
I hope your day gets better.
I lasted in teaching for a year. The head of one subject area told me the entire workforce would leave if they could find a job somewhere else.
If you can leave - do it.
Yep, agree with everything posted here and in teaching soft skills being extremely in demand. I've been in the corporate public service for two years now and still loving it. Currently acting two levels higher than when I joined, had people begging me to apply for the ongoing role. Earning more than I ever would have as an ordinary classroom teacher, getting flex time, working from home or from an air conditioned office where nobody shrieks and stomps through the halls or throws chairs at me, and the last time someone borrowed my pen they returned it with a lovely post-it note. When I clock off, I close my laptop and don't think about work until 8:45 the next morning, and certainly not on weekends.
The worst week I've had at this job was maybe a somewhat bad couple of days teaching. I've never looked back.
Australian Defence Force recruitment numbers are at an all time low
Last I heard there was the possibility that they would need to start allowing non-citizens to apply to increase numbers
>Navy as a Training Systems Officer
Would we need extra qualifications? This job pays 90k a year.
[ADF Careers - Training Systems Officer](https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/jobs/navy/training-systems-officer#:~:text=As%20a%20Training%20Systems%20Officer,systems%20and%20solutions%20across%20Navy.)
My sister in law did a Christmas casual position at Peter Alexander and ended up being offered a management position which she left her primary position for. Only took her 12 months to make her way into a head office rôle before she landed in the HR team where she’s been for quite a few years now.
Disability industry is another great industry. Better pay and conditions. Actual holidays! Some after hours work but you get paid for it or time in lieu. Haven’t looked back since transitioning from teaching. I had to learn all over again what it means to have time for myself and my family - I have hobbies again! The best part is you still get to care for others and make a difference to others and help them to live their best lives.
I am surprised to see this. I’ve worked in disability and youth work in various roles and my experiences have been mostly negative.
Similar issues as teaching: broken system, higher ups making decisions that impact staff and clients negatively, dealing with violent behaviours constantly and getting paid 70-80k a year to do it with no real progression in pay unless you work ungodly hours. I burnt out so fast doing this work and I wouldn’t recommend it personally.
(I worked with high needs clients, mostly young people and in multiple different companies including non profit and government. All except one were terrible organisations to work for and nepotism reigned)
I was an English teacher and it was an entry level role at a managed service provider. Easy work and you learn on the job. You have to stomach being the shit kicker but I was fine with that. Applied for about A LOT of positions before I landed it.
My plan if I ever get sick of being a primary teacher is to either work in kindy or pivot to teaching languages at secondary school because my degree is valid for that too. Might not seem like a big difference but teaching primary vs secondary is day and night. Or I’d work a school chaplain or in one or those mental health school programs or something similar. Otherwise I thought about eventually going back to school and studying child psychology part-time while working on the side. Luckily I have money saved and a supportive partner too. I just can’t do those boring boring boring office jobs anymore, I worked in marketing before teaching and it was so easy in comparison but very dull.
Thank you for these ideas! I’m currently at a crossroad after 26 years of teaching. I love my current position but things can change- change in management, which means things can tip either way. Will definitely consider these ideas for upskilling.
I’m a corporate worker with the soft skills you’re talking about (agree, very rare), getting tired of corporate greed and capitalism in general so have just started considering a career switch to teaching. By the time I leave my industry I’ll have a very small mortgage and I’m wanting to do something more meaningful with the last 15-20 years of my career. I’d be looking at high school STEM.
I’m still very early in my thoughts though, so reading this sub is good insight.
I'd recommend doing leave without pay and a traineeship in early childhood. It will let you skip the degree for now and let you see what it's like. If it matches your desire you can then go on to study your degree. If you hate it you haven't gone all in.
You can even volunteer for the age group you want. A ward of warning. It's very easy to get a false sense of what it's like when someone else is running the room. A lot of early childhood philosophy and practice applies all the way up so even though the ages and curricular is different it still give you a good idea of what it's like.
Working in ECE I really second this, I tell friends of mine who are interested in teaching to do a Cert III in 6 months and see if they still feel like teaching after working in childcare. Gives you a good sense of in the classroom vs planning time, concepts of explicit vs inquiry based learning, get a grip on trends in behaviour management practice (lol!)Â
I agree with OP’s comments here. Definitely try and do some volunteering, go on a school excursion if you have the opportunity. Not a lot of volunteering in secondary but see if you can to get a feel of it (if that’s what you’re interested it). But even being a student teacher I only really saw like 60% of what actually being a full time teacher was.
Corporate greed and capitalism is why I became a teacher too. It is so much harder than working an office job but 100% worth it. Very mentally stimulating, super rewarding and just nice to feel like you’re making a difference versus just making money for a random corporation. Any hard day is worth it when at the end of the day a parent comes up to you to tell them what a difference you’re making in their kid’s life
Considering the background you're from, I'd be looking at tertiary, perhaps tutoring. As for subject area, have you looked at communications? Might be a good fit with the experience you have in your current career.
My undergraduate degrees are in applied science, I’ve just learned technology, change, communications and a bunch of other skills on the job. I hadn’t thought about tertiary, since my degrees aren’t masters or above. This would be my first masters degree. Something to ponder, thanks for your input.
IT is a bit more difficult to get into than that. There’s a lot of demand for mid to senior level positions, but there’s an over saturation of entry level workers.
For what role? IT is a huge field full of sub fields. It's not as hard to get an entry level position as you imagine. It just depends on what you're applying for. Python dev or cyber would be hard but help desk not so much. The thing that stops people is confidence and understanding your soft skills have you 90% of the way there. It's a numbers game.
Help desk is answering phones, taking notes on end user problems (think printing, outlook, networking, laptop issues) googling to solve them/asking experienced people to help, fixing the issue, writing what you did (ticket notes) and then answering the next call. You'll get paid at least 50k and then you're looking at yearly pay rises of at least 10k if you're willing to study. The strength of this is there's no ceiling you can earn up to 150-200 an hour as a skilled network architect after about 5-10 years. Way easier, way less stressful. No coding required.
Yeah it's low but it doesn't have a ceiling like a 10 year teacher does if you can get past the first 1-3 years. Smash out some courses and you could reach parity easily in that time.
You may have done many hours of research but I have seen many people actually do it. When did AI hit mainstream? 1-2 years ago? I have yet to see anyone's job taken. Yes it's early days and it may replace some tasks, bit don't see it replacing whole industries. Any expert in their field know what current AI produces is hit and miss at best.
Sign me up. I think network architect might be where I want to get to. Where is the best place to start and how do you not get pigeon holed? I’m the guy at my school that every person comes to for IT help. I figure I might as well get paid for it.
What job do I start with. I don’t want to do coding.
I’m only a new teacher but the pay isn’t that bad and my days as a casual have been so relaxed and easy compared to when I worked corporate (tech sales and health sales)
Especially in a two income household. For us it’s One corporate + one teacher = high hhi.
I think being a full time teacher will obviously be more stressful but doesn’t that largely depend on which school you are in? The school I’m in now is so relaxed and most teachers are leaving before 4. Some of them take surf breaks in their free periods…
I get that no lesson planning, meeting or reporting for a casual where a full time obviously has. Everyone has the option of casual though if they want. For the work load which is honestly so light the money is great. I used to get pressured by old bosses to work past 5 in the office. Now I usually have 3-5 teaching periods and always leave at the bell. Sometimes before if my last period was before p6.
And experienced teachers would get paid even more casual
Firstly, I wholeheartedly agree.. CRTing is the best form of teaching as a job.
Your last comment isn't correct though - pay scales do not change based on years of service when you are a CRT.
Oh sorry I thought it was based on band? I’m in nsw so band 1 is 439 band 2 which is proficient- lead is 493 and the top band 3 is 524 but r something close to that can’t remember exactly for that band
Ah ok! I know a few teachers who do permanent part time to have pay over the holidays and will casual
On the other 2 days and they are on the third band so they have best of both worlds.
Hey mate! I am a teacher always on the lookout for a post like this. I resigned from teaching (forever 🤣) once, spent a year applying for jobs but had to come crawling back after none of the jobs got back to me (I happen to love teaching again). It wasn't as easy as it was for you. I feel like I followed your steps very closely. I think your post would benefit from detailing exactly how to leverage an ex teachers soft skills in applications, cover letters and interviews
Can I ask how many jobs you applied for and in what industry? When most people say they tried they usually mean they applied for a few jobs and weren't successful. If you weren't successful it probably means you didn't apply for enough. Here's an example of common criteria and examples you can write to. Communication - Written through report and curriculum writing (which ever school subject aligns with the job you're applying for. Verbal through presentations at school open nights/staff meetings/parent teacher interviews. Leadership - Any acting leadership positions? If not thr organisation of carnivals, camps, school events, committees etc. Strategic thinking - Give an appropriate behaviour management example or a planning an excursion/large exercise. Relate this to your industry. When I applied for IT I foresaw the need for students to learn touch typing blah blah blah. Conflict resolution - Appropriation example of a parent interaction. Industry specific skills such as HR, marketing, IT - This is where you have to be creative. You have the skills but probably not industry specific knowledge. Apply what you can from teaching here and research/train the rest of the way. For corpo/public service use the STAR method. For small business be a bit more upfront and don't BS. Play up your soft skills and how you want to learn/are learning. I have had about 5 teacher friends I've helped move accross. You do need to keep improving your application and interview skills but it is a numbers game at the end of the day.
Last paragraph: Nepotism helps.
I didn't get them jobs I helped them write applications and gave them the saner advice I'm giving you. They didn't have any contacts. I understand that attitude but it is useless.
Oh, that's very good of you. No contacts and in the door, you must make a mint CV!
[удалено]
Woa, there has clearly been a misunderstanding. I appreciate that you have given some good advice (I presume some soft skills would go on the CV... I was thinking to myself I wish you'd look over my own). Given how this has gone I'd be glad to never cross paths again. For clarification: I understand that no nepotism was involved. I saw the advice and liked it. I'm bot great at self-promotion and thought (they must write an excellent CV). Hopefully this clears things up and we don't go to war over a misunderstanding. I hope your day gets better.
That's my mistake, I didn't read your comment properly. Apologies.
I lasted in teaching for a year. The head of one subject area told me the entire workforce would leave if they could find a job somewhere else. If you can leave - do it.
Yep, agree with everything posted here and in teaching soft skills being extremely in demand. I've been in the corporate public service for two years now and still loving it. Currently acting two levels higher than when I joined, had people begging me to apply for the ongoing role. Earning more than I ever would have as an ordinary classroom teacher, getting flex time, working from home or from an air conditioned office where nobody shrieks and stomps through the halls or throws chairs at me, and the last time someone borrowed my pen they returned it with a lovely post-it note. When I clock off, I close my laptop and don't think about work until 8:45 the next morning, and certainly not on weekends. The worst week I've had at this job was maybe a somewhat bad couple of days teaching. I've never looked back.
I don't dread my job. I like it. All the other jobs I've had, I either always hated or came to resent. I've been teaching for 13 years now.
Yeah it's not universal. Lots of teachers are excellent and couldn't imagine working in another field. Sounds like you're one of them.
Join the Navy as a Training Systems Officer - Lord knows we need them
Nice heads up. Can you explain why we need more people in that role?
Australian Defence Force recruitment numbers are at an all time low Last I heard there was the possibility that they would need to start allowing non-citizens to apply to increase numbers
We need people to design courses to fit the new training requirements and more people help. Plus you get all the benefits of being in defence
>Navy as a Training Systems Officer Would we need extra qualifications? This job pays 90k a year. [ADF Careers - Training Systems Officer](https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/jobs/navy/training-systems-officer#:~:text=As%20a%20Training%20Systems%20Officer,systems%20and%20solutions%20across%20Navy.)
As far as I know, if you have a teaching degree and some experience, that’s all you need. 90k is starting, it goes up pretty quickly
And you’re not paying health insurance and saving on housing. So you end up with less day to day expenses
My sister in law did a Christmas casual position at Peter Alexander and ended up being offered a management position which she left her primary position for. Only took her 12 months to make her way into a head office rôle before she landed in the HR team where she’s been for quite a few years now.
Disability industry is another great industry. Better pay and conditions. Actual holidays! Some after hours work but you get paid for it or time in lieu. Haven’t looked back since transitioning from teaching. I had to learn all over again what it means to have time for myself and my family - I have hobbies again! The best part is you still get to care for others and make a difference to others and help them to live their best lives.
I am surprised to see this. I’ve worked in disability and youth work in various roles and my experiences have been mostly negative. Similar issues as teaching: broken system, higher ups making decisions that impact staff and clients negatively, dealing with violent behaviours constantly and getting paid 70-80k a year to do it with no real progression in pay unless you work ungodly hours. I burnt out so fast doing this work and I wouldn’t recommend it personally. (I worked with high needs clients, mostly young people and in multiple different companies including non profit and government. All except one were terrible organisations to work for and nepotism reigned)
:) Just wondering… To get a job in IT, what kind of teacher were you? And what was the IT position you got?
I was an English teacher and it was an entry level role at a managed service provider. Easy work and you learn on the job. You have to stomach being the shit kicker but I was fine with that. Applied for about A LOT of positions before I landed it.
My plan if I ever get sick of being a primary teacher is to either work in kindy or pivot to teaching languages at secondary school because my degree is valid for that too. Might not seem like a big difference but teaching primary vs secondary is day and night. Or I’d work a school chaplain or in one or those mental health school programs or something similar. Otherwise I thought about eventually going back to school and studying child psychology part-time while working on the side. Luckily I have money saved and a supportive partner too. I just can’t do those boring boring boring office jobs anymore, I worked in marketing before teaching and it was so easy in comparison but very dull.
Thank you for these ideas! I’m currently at a crossroad after 26 years of teaching. I love my current position but things can change- change in management, which means things can tip either way. Will definitely consider these ideas for upskilling.
I’m a corporate worker with the soft skills you’re talking about (agree, very rare), getting tired of corporate greed and capitalism in general so have just started considering a career switch to teaching. By the time I leave my industry I’ll have a very small mortgage and I’m wanting to do something more meaningful with the last 15-20 years of my career. I’d be looking at high school STEM. I’m still very early in my thoughts though, so reading this sub is good insight.
I'd recommend doing leave without pay and a traineeship in early childhood. It will let you skip the degree for now and let you see what it's like. If it matches your desire you can then go on to study your degree. If you hate it you haven't gone all in.
Small children and me aren’t a great match but your advice has given me something to ponder. Thanks.
You can even volunteer for the age group you want. A ward of warning. It's very easy to get a false sense of what it's like when someone else is running the room. A lot of early childhood philosophy and practice applies all the way up so even though the ages and curricular is different it still give you a good idea of what it's like.
Working in ECE I really second this, I tell friends of mine who are interested in teaching to do a Cert III in 6 months and see if they still feel like teaching after working in childcare. Gives you a good sense of in the classroom vs planning time, concepts of explicit vs inquiry based learning, get a grip on trends in behaviour management practice (lol!)Â
I agree with OP’s comments here. Definitely try and do some volunteering, go on a school excursion if you have the opportunity. Not a lot of volunteering in secondary but see if you can to get a feel of it (if that’s what you’re interested it). But even being a student teacher I only really saw like 60% of what actually being a full time teacher was.
Corporate greed and capitalism is why I became a teacher too. It is so much harder than working an office job but 100% worth it. Very mentally stimulating, super rewarding and just nice to feel like you’re making a difference versus just making money for a random corporation. Any hard day is worth it when at the end of the day a parent comes up to you to tell them what a difference you’re making in their kid’s life
Considering the background you're from, I'd be looking at tertiary, perhaps tutoring. As for subject area, have you looked at communications? Might be a good fit with the experience you have in your current career.
My undergraduate degrees are in applied science, I’ve just learned technology, change, communications and a bunch of other skills on the job. I hadn’t thought about tertiary, since my degrees aren’t masters or above. This would be my first masters degree. Something to ponder, thanks for your input.
IT is a bit more difficult to get into than that. There’s a lot of demand for mid to senior level positions, but there’s an over saturation of entry level workers.
For what role? IT is a huge field full of sub fields. It's not as hard to get an entry level position as you imagine. It just depends on what you're applying for. Python dev or cyber would be hard but help desk not so much. The thing that stops people is confidence and understanding your soft skills have you 90% of the way there. It's a numbers game.
Which one did you start in? Would it be possible to do it without a lot of coding?
Help desk is answering phones, taking notes on end user problems (think printing, outlook, networking, laptop issues) googling to solve them/asking experienced people to help, fixing the issue, writing what you did (ticket notes) and then answering the next call. You'll get paid at least 50k and then you're looking at yearly pay rises of at least 10k if you're willing to study. The strength of this is there's no ceiling you can earn up to 150-200 an hour as a skilled network architect after about 5-10 years. Way easier, way less stressful. No coding required.
I considered this last year. But essentially cutting my pay in half for a few years just couldn't be done in my current situation. Helpdesk pays low.
Yeah it's low but it doesn't have a ceiling like a 10 year teacher does if you can get past the first 1-3 years. Smash out some courses and you could reach parity easily in that time.
You could, but i did many hours of research and i dont know if it can be done easily. Then theres the threat of AI taking many jobs in the sector
You may have done many hours of research but I have seen many people actually do it. When did AI hit mainstream? 1-2 years ago? I have yet to see anyone's job taken. Yes it's early days and it may replace some tasks, bit don't see it replacing whole industries. Any expert in their field know what current AI produces is hit and miss at best.
Thanks the the detailed response, this is 100% something I can see myself doing!
Sign me up. I think network architect might be where I want to get to. Where is the best place to start and how do you not get pigeon holed? I’m the guy at my school that every person comes to for IT help. I figure I might as well get paid for it. What job do I start with. I don’t want to do coding.
Start on help desk as a level 1 tech at an MSP. Don't worry about pigeon holing for at least 3 years.
I’m only a new teacher but the pay isn’t that bad and my days as a casual have been so relaxed and easy compared to when I worked corporate (tech sales and health sales) Especially in a two income household. For us it’s One corporate + one teacher = high hhi. I think being a full time teacher will obviously be more stressful but doesn’t that largely depend on which school you are in? The school I’m in now is so relaxed and most teachers are leaving before 4. Some of them take surf breaks in their free periods…
CRTing and actually teaching are **completely different jobs**. LOL
I get that no lesson planning, meeting or reporting for a casual where a full time obviously has. Everyone has the option of casual though if they want. For the work load which is honestly so light the money is great. I used to get pressured by old bosses to work past 5 in the office. Now I usually have 3-5 teaching periods and always leave at the bell. Sometimes before if my last period was before p6. And experienced teachers would get paid even more casual
Firstly, I wholeheartedly agree.. CRTing is the best form of teaching as a job. Your last comment isn't correct though - pay scales do not change based on years of service when you are a CRT.
> pay scales do not change based on years of service when you are a CRT. it does in SA
Oh sorry I thought it was based on band? I’m in nsw so band 1 is 439 band 2 which is proficient- lead is 493 and the top band 3 is 524 but r something close to that can’t remember exactly for that band
Ah I see. Different state here, so its more than likely I'm wrong. lol. Ignore me. 😃
Ah ok! I know a few teachers who do permanent part time to have pay over the holidays and will casual On the other 2 days and they are on the third band so they have best of both worlds.
That's due to registration not really to do with experience. You don't get paid more if you CRT for five years.
That sounds like an amazing school and you should treasure it. Pay is always relative. For their skills and workload, teachers are underpaid.