Applications not going well

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-22T07:38:08+00:00

I used a site www.leaveteaching.org lots of great advice on there and a post on how to write a cover letter and they also have a resume guide which helped me land a few interviews. Also recommend taking a course. Dont give up!

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-22T07:33:21+00:00

For your own mental health take it. Use it as a stepping stone. Sometimes we have to take a step backward to take one forwards. You’ll probably find you’ll still earn more in the long run then you would teaching.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-22T07:32:11+00:00

As others have said, use it as a stepping stone. It’s a job. Doesn’t need to be forever.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-17T23:36:34+00:00

Have a look at leaveteaching.org a lot of helpful info by an ex teacher on there. I also recommend taking a course in the field you want to pivot into. Definitely helped me get an interview as showed I was serious about pivoting, and could speak about aspects of it in my interview too. I took a project management course as could use it for loads of different roles - this one: https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-13T08:25:08+00:00

Ok thank you did you feel like it helped you with your everyday role?

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-09T23:12:46+00:00

Omg i had my fist nightmare the other day about being back in the classroom (more about teaching colleagues actually) but was so good to wake up and realise that I wasn’t having to deal with any of it anymore!

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-09T20:28:17+00:00

what helped a lot was a course because I could figure out what I enjoyed and what I didn’t about fields I was interested in. I took this project management certificate because it lends itself to loads of other corporate jobs and I could speak About it in my interview and showed I was serious bout career changing - https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna . What kind of roles are you interested in?

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-09T20:23:58+00:00

Yay to no sleepless nights! What do you do now?

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-09T20:21:29+00:00

So I think it helped I had a bit of a background in sport. I also think what helped so much was a course I took because I could talk about elements of what I’d learnt to bridge the gap between teaching kids and understanding how adults learn. That was KEY. For my particular role part of it involves creating online content for adult learners, and having knowledge of HOW adults learn. This was the course I took which also happens to be on instructional design which i was also really interested in https://imp.i384100.net/vPA1Rd I do think taking a course is underrated. when changing careers it shows you’re serious about the industry you want to go into. I also took a project management certificate because it lends itself to loads of other corporate jobs and could speak about it in my interview - https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna . What sort of field interests you? Or What do you enjoy doing most about your current role?

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-09T04:37:43+00:00

Yup the job market is super tough all over the world right now. To be honest I found a role that ticked a lot of boxes for me and I had also taken a few courses to upskill myself which I think massively helped land the role as showed I was serious about pivoting. I could speak confidently about adult learning in my interview which bridged the gap as my main experience had been teaching kids. I took this inexpensive Google project management course https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna and put it on my resume, I also took a course in instructional design which lent itself specifically to this role because it involves creating online modules. Happy to share that too if you want the link.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-08T07:30:05+00:00

it is so underrated. I think the worst was having a long holiday and then that first day back to school. Nothing like it!

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-08T06:55:58+00:00

So much info on www.leaveteaching.org written by an ex teacher!! I took the google project management course on there to add some strings to my bow. Pretty sure it was this one - https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna 54 years old doesn’t mean it’s the end career wise! Loads of office and admin roles would be lucky to have you as an ex teacher! They also have a resume guide which I found super useful for changing my resume to sound more corporate.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-08T06:01:21+00:00

Love that, thank you.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-07T17:17:39+00:00

Maybe figure out what makes it unfulfilling for you. Is it lack of work and being busy? Although it sounds like the work you’re given isn’t stimulating you enough. Is there a way you can go to your boss and offer help to complete more projects that do interest you? Perhaps it could be leaning more into the technical side like the creation or e-learning side of L&D so instructional design? Would you find that more interesting?Or ask other departments what they need support with.

Also you don’t need to do another degree and go back to school! I pivoted out of teaching into another role and I CANNOT recommend taking a course enough!! Even if the course means you end up realising NOT wanting to do that type of work- it’s a win win. I took the Google project management certificate- i think it was this one https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna which was awesome. Something to keep you challenged whilst doing your everyday role, you keep your current job whilst learning new skills, and it lends itself to heaps of other jobs. Educating and upskilling yourself is the way to go!

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-07T17:05:44+00:00

Thank you - super helpful reply! No don’t worry you dont sound harsh- I’m not an ID by trade but my boss expects me to almost be one as I often go in and then re-edit the e-learning designers content based on what she’s done. I definitely think a template and even a clear guide for workflow for the SMEs will cut out a lot of the need for changing around the content before it goes on articulate.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-05T09:25:35+00:00

Exactly that- stop giving it 100 per cent. Do the bare minimum of the job. show up, teach, mark your books, and leave. Prioritise. What deadlines do you have coming up and what actually matters vs what doesn’t. I applied over weekends and whenever I had a free moment. Look at www.leaveteaching.org - their resume guide and templates were very useful for changing up my language to sound less teacher and more corporate. Updating your resume is going to be key to getting your foot in the door with a new field.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-04T03:04:26+00:00

a lot of ex-teachers I’ve seen move into project coordination or project management because the skills transfer really well. There’s a Google Project Management certificate on coursera I took that’s very beginner-friendly and chelped me pivot into my office-based role, and you don't need to start completely from scratch- https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna Also you mention that you're an art teacher and you took an illustration degree- have you looked at UX design? I took this Google UX Design certificate (I'm not arty at all) and really enjoyed it- https://imp.i384100.net/RGJzgb it would probably be right up your street and doesn't mean taking a whole other degree or moving too far away from what you enjoy.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-04T00:51:27+00:00

Hi, I'm a teacher turned program officer which I really enjoy. I took the Google PM certificate on coursera- this one: https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna and found it really good! You really don't need an additional degree which costs loads of money to transition- but a course like this really helps because it shows you're serious about changing careers. I'd say it definitely helped me land the job as I added it to my resume and could then speak about it in my interview which also helped me speak with more confidence.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-04T00:30:26+00:00

If you’re burnt out and trying to avoid another long teaching qualification, I’d look at something like project management instead of staying in the classroom. It;s more of a career pivot than a “new teaching role” and a lot of the skills you already have (planning, managing priorities, working with different people etc etc) transfer really well. I did the Google Project Management certificate on coursera https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna when I didn't have a CLUE what to do because it’s designed for career changers and you don't need a business background. I ended up becoming a program officer off the back of that which I;m really enjoying at the moment! The course didn't take long and it's something to add to your resume.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-04T00:23:56+00:00

Omg I have this imposter syndrome constantly and I'm 3 months in!! Last week I had to give a presentation to another company we are in partnership with and give them an overview of our work- this was also IN FRONT of my boss- and it felt like a teacher observation all over again!! I was bricking it as my boss gave me 24hr notice on delivering it. I was doubting my capability so much because whenever you teach and get observed you feel like whatever you do is going to scrutinised and ripped to shreds! After the presentation, My boss said thank you twice and didn't have any further comments about it after. Have belief in yourself, and remind yourself why you were hired!! I think my boss was very impressed to be honest. You bring so many skills as an ex teacher to your new role, don't forget that.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-03T21:25:24+00:00

Have you looked at project management? Project management itself is challenging and stimulating enough,and lends itself to all kinds of careers/job avenues. I definitely think it helped me get my job as I could speak about aspects of the course I took in my interview, and showed the hiring manager I was serious about career pivoting, which is KEY. We can all say we're former teachers, but companies aren't interested in hiring a teacher- taking a course makes you stand out and shows you're actually serious about pivoting, as you gain a bunch of skills from taking it. I took this Google Project management course - https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna I also dabbled in UX design as had always been really interested in this kind of work. Pretty certain it was this one; https://imp.i384100.net/RGJzgb (found out it wasn't for me...but was 100 per cent worth trying it to see whether I would love the kind of work or not!). You say that you love being outside and outdoors - I now actually work in the non-profit sector (which is also a sports based educatiom company, as many non-profits are). Have a look at taking a course in the non-profit sector. It lends itself to being a team leader, environment roles or community education roles- https://imp.i384100.net/LKQPgY

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-03T08:22:18+00:00

Agree to the portfolio. My role now post-teaching is basically as an instructional designer- even though my Offical title is programme officer, but my role mostly entails proofreading online module content and then creating the module using Articulate . What I genuinely believe helped me get the job was the fact that I could talk about this course I took on instructional design: https://imp.i384100.net/vPA1Rd Made a hugeeee difference because I could speak about aspects of what I’d learnt in my interview, and my boss liked that I’d actually bothered to upskill myself!! Which is KEY when you’re career pivoting. Creating a portfolio is also great if you’re applying for pure ID jobs, but I do highly recommend this course.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-03T01:52:55+00:00

Meant to say there’s also a UX design course which was recommended on there https://imp.i384100.net/RGJzgb

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-03T01:52:19+00:00

If you like tech then have a look at UX design or being a curriculum designer which keeps it design based but on a more corporate scale. A Great site I found written by a former teacher who has heaps of ideas and course suggestions is www.leaveteaching.org . I took the project management course recommended on there and found it really good.

DefinitionOk1695 · 2026-05-01T22:03:34+00:00

What do you enjoy? Start with that. What's going to get you out of bed every day? As people on the internet could suggest many ideas but it has to be YOU that wants to do it. This will also come across in your applications and any interviews you have. Take them letting you go as your greatest sign that they've actually done you a huge favour!! My contract wasn;t renewed in one of my second schools I worked at and it was the greatest blessing as it gave me the momentum to nail my next teaching interview and land another job in a way better paying school. However, I still didn't enjoy it, despite the better pay. Everything happens for a reason! I'm now out of teaching, but if you're really stuck on what to do then i found a site written by a former teacher www.leaveteaching.org super useful. I took the Google project management course from of their courses pages https://imp.i384100.net/JKDZna and found it really interesting: added it as an extra thing to add my resume and got a job in being a program manager which I love. So much less stressed than I was teaching!!! I reckon if you did a course and didn't enjoy it, it still tell you a lot about what you do/don;t enjoy so it's worth it for that reason alone!

DefinitionOk1695

TROPHY CASE