“I do love teaching … but I do not like the system.”

Primary Teacher and Outdoor Learning Lead, Pauline was struggling with serious burnout. She tried a change of key stage and reduced hours but continued to feel like teaching was “just not the same anymore.”

Pauline’s new adventure started with an idea … gardening! Over the last year, she has turned this passion for outdoor learning into an everyday reality. Now a Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) Practitioner, she combines part-time charity work with growing her own business, connecting both children and adults with nature to support their wellbeing and learning.

We also explore:

• Accepting “it’s not me”
• Recognising the need for rest (getting signed-off sick)
• Embracing semi-retirement
• Doors opening through volunteering work
• Connecting with others again after experiencing burnout
• Enjoying a more relaxed and flexible working environment
• Working with vulnerable groups
• Where to look if you’re interested in similar opportunities
• ‘Thinking big’ to build a business with love
• What success might look like

Links and Resources

1. LinkedIn for Teaching Career Change Course

2. Visit Pauline's LinkedIn profile

3. Explore Thrive training

If you're looking for step-by-step support to start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Business School and choose from five different pathways to turn your teacher skills into a business you LOVE.

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Former History Teacher and Head of Sixth Form, Kirsty loved her school but was fed up with the constraints of teaching … working long evenings and regular weekends, as well as having no flexibility around holidays.

Now working in Consultancy (with an epic job title that you won’t want to miss!), in this episode Kirsty details her journey out of the classroom, from “feeling my way around in the dark by myself” to using networking, work experience opportunities and the support of the Academy to help secure her new dream role.

We also explore:

• Leaving before burnout
• Dealing with the overwhelm of job hunting
• Taking ‘messy action’ to get started
• The benefits of finding a like-minded community
• Being attracted to sales roles - creativity and reward!
• Braving phone calls
• The power of LinkedIn
• Different styles of interview
• Opportunities for Maths teachers in the actuarial space
• Enjoying continuous learning, freedom and her first holiday outside of term time!

Links and Resources

1. CVs for Teacher Career Change Course

2. LinkedIn for Teaching Career Change Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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With so much love for her school and all that she’d achieved in her teaching career, Co-Headteacher Charlotte made the difficult decision to pursue a career change after “feeling depleted rather than energised.”

Now in a brand new (recently promoted!) role as ‘Assistant Director, Programme Leader’ for a leading educational CPD organisation, Charlotte shares her journey to experiencing joy and passion for a new sector. In this episode, she talks about finding a job that encompasses some of the ‘best bits’ of teaching, utilises all of her amazing leadership skills, and gives her so much more flexibility to enjoy time with her family.

We also explore:

• Exiting from senior leadership roles - and the additional challenges this can present!
• Stepping away confidently
• Using supply as a ‘safety net’
• Networking to explore the reality of new roles
• Building an amazing CV and cover letter
• Trust and confidence in a new role
• Working in a new way
• Top tips for getting into programme management - from a hiring manager!
  
  

Links and Resources

1. CVs for Teacher Career Change Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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After losing her passion for teaching, Michala left her role as Head of Humanities and whole-school Teaching and Learning Lead to become a Training Programme Delivery Manager for a national charity.

Rather than being triggered by one thing, Michala talks in this episode about a build up of lots of little struggles that eventually motivated her decision to walk away from teaching. Despite feeling stuck initially, she recalls her husband’s words: “you can become an expert in something else again”, as well as feeling validated and encouraged listening to other ex-teachers speaking on this podcast … now she’s back to share her own inspirational story!

We also explore:

• Feeling unappreciated in the classroom
• Investing in yourself
• The idea of choosing differently
• Balancing work and job searching
• Breaking down the ‘gobbledygook’ of job descriptions
• Showcasing your USP through presentations
• Handy interview tips and techniques
• Getting used to new ways of working
• Managing the holidays with a family
• Looking forward to the future
  
  

Links and Resources

1. CVs for Teacher Career Change Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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After 14 years as a Drama Teacher and Subject Leader of Performing Arts, Nicola moved away from the classroom and set up her own business as a Virtual Assistant, specialising in all things systems and tech.

Nicola shares her experience of struggling against an ever-changing educational system, “working harder, but feeling worse”, before deciding to step away to pursue a new passion. In this episode, we talk about all things ‘VA’ (Virtual Assistant) so if you’re interested in building a business or pursuing a pathway as a Virtual Assistant, you’ve got to give this one a listen!

We also explore:

• Feeling like a ‘master of none’
• Being surprised by burnout
• Getting out of a cycle of stuckness
• Embracing a slow transition out of teaching
• Juggling full-time work whilst building a business
• Why teachers make fantastic Virtual Assistants
• Setting boundaries in business
• VA niches - finding what you love!

Links and Resources

1. LinkedIn for Teaching Career Change Course

2. Free Creating Your VA Business webinar

If you're looking for step-by-step support to start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Business School and choose from five different pathways to turn your teacher skills into a business you LOVE.

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A former Assistant Headteacher with 13 years teaching experience behind her, Amandeep transitioned out of the classroom and into an interesting new role as a Senior Education and Development Officer within the NHS.

She shares her experience of stumbling upon the job advert (whilst on holiday!), nailing the interview and thriving in this position where her skills and expertise are valued and trusted. With her fixed-term contract coming to an end, Amandeep is confident that she now knows what works for her and is looking forward to approaching her next job search with a confident message of ‘I can do this.’

In this episode, we also explore:

• Balancing work with job hunting
• Creating a little space to prepare for a new role
• NHS applications and how these can vary
• Finding your interview calm
• Transitioning into remote working
• Shaking feelings of imposter syndrome
• Utilising old skills whilst developing new ones
• Embracing squiggly journeys

Links and Resources

1. LinkedIn for Teaching Career Change Course
2. NHS Jobs

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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Join me this week where I’m chatting to Cathie about her empowering secondment into the role of Specialist Teacher for Inclusive Practice with her Local Authority.

Cathie shares her experience of burnout after 27 years of teaching, and talks of re-discovering her passions in this new role where she’s able to use her transferable coaching and mentoring skills, alongside her extensive knowledge of the education system and inclusion, to reassure and encourage teachers, parents, and children.

In this jam-packed episode, we also explore:

• Recognising the cycles of burnout
• Testing your financial baseline
• Adaptations and gratitude in a new working environment
• Finding a role that allows you to share your gifts
• Making your CV feel like ‘you’
• Connecting at interview with aligned values
• Getting back her evenings and weekends!
• Embracing mistakes whilst enjoying the adventure

Links and Resources

1. CVs for Teacher Career Change Course


If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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Join me as I chat to Rachael about her move from leading Maths to finding a rewarding new role leading communications and administration in a Franciscan Missionary. Rachael was looking at operations and project management roles when she found this unique role!

Rachael looks after the Sisters supporting with logistics, reporting, communications, helping them to have worldwide impact with their missions.

In this episode we also explore:

• Feeling torn between the classroom and leadership.
• Finding focused support with quantifying transferable skills.
• Treating career change as a "job" in itself.
• Five interviews lined up after using the Academy resources!
• Working for a values-drive organisation while creating a new identity.
• The day-to-day role and similarities with teaching.
• Keeping an open mind looking at admin roles.

Links and Resources

Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood

www.jobsafterteaching.co.uk

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

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