“I just knew that I had to make that change.”

In a supportive school but with her own changing priorities, Primary and Early Years Teacher Georgia was tired of missing out on quality family time and feeling exhausted by the demands of teaching. Leaning into her subject specialism as R.E. Curriculum Lead, she’s found her “dream role” as a Regional Advisor for an education group, providing curriculum programmes and specialist support to schools.

Now working remotely, Georgia enjoys increased flexibility and a change of pace, time for herself alongside passion for her subject, lunchtime walks and getting to drink a cup of tea whilst it’s still hot! She’s also built her business, Georgia Alice VA, through our Teacher to VA Startup Success programme and is looking forward to balancing freelance work with her part-time role.

In this episode, we also cover:

• Weighing up your reasons for leaving
• The anxiety of ‘what’s next?’
• Investing in yourself
• Valuable early support, including off-sick cuppas
• Visualising the future you want
• Applying for competitive roles
• ‘Refreshing’ interview experiences
• Onboarding in a new role
• Getting used to a less busy calendar
• Top tips for subject specialist roles
• Timescales for getting out of teaching

Links:

Teacher to VA Startup Success Programme

Georgia Alice VA

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“It’s okay to prioritise yourself sometimes.”

Passionate about supporting emotional wellbeing in both children and adults, Katie was an experienced Headteacher who cared deeply about her students and staff. After realising that she was “giving too much of myself to my school and not enough of myself to my family”, she began to re-evaluate her career direction.

Now working freelance as an Associate Education Consultant with For The Child, alongside training to be a seasonal yoga teacher and exploring other exciting pursuits, Katie values the time that she took at the start of her career change journey to understand exactly what she wanted. With more time freedom and flexibility, she now enjoys voluntary roles, swimming with her children, riding horses again … and has even signed up to the London Marathon!

In this episode, we also chat about:

• Experiencing fear at the start of the journey
• Taking time to make a decision
• Using tools and resources to explore next steps
• Applying for the right roles
• Putting yourself last as a teacher
• Having an impact in a new way
• Allowing space for ‘not knowing’
• Building relationships and collaborating with others
• Skills that translate from school to business
• Liberation in not living by school terms

Links:

For The Child website

Katie's LinkedIn

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“If they can do it, I can do it.”

Former Primary Deputy Head Natalie was on her second maternity leave when she decided to explore her career options outside of teaching. With creeping anxiety about returning to work and worries about not being present enough at home, she shares that “it had been a long time coming for me.”

Now a Neurodiversity Family Support Practitioner with the NHS, Natalie is enjoying flexibility, renewed confidence, time for professional development, and family balance in her new role. Best of all - she now has her evenings and weekends back!

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Perfectionism vs balance
• New motherhood and returning to work
• Dealing with feelings of failure
• Accessing community support
• Regaining a sense of who you are
• Financial planning
• Setting job alerts and searching for similar roles
• The benefits of hybrid working
• Navigating the holidays with small children
• Top tips for intervention and well-being based roles

Links:

1. The Adventures After Teaching CV 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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“It’s about the right role at the right time.”

After spending 14 years teaching mostly in Further Education, Head of Faculty Gareth left the classroom to pursue new opportunities. Whilst he found his time in education both valuable and enjoyable, particularly at the start of his teaching journey, he began to question the work-life model he was providing to other members of his team.

Now a Senior Product Manager at a university, Gareth walks us through his top tips and offers a skills breakdown for those who are interested in exploring similar roles. Asked what he loves about his new career, Gareth talks about developing new skills, spending more time with his children, enjoying intentional hybrid working, empowering and enabling his future self, having more space to live his life and staying aligned with his core purpose by positively impacting learners.

In this episode, we also cover:

• Being ‘all in’ with greedy jobs
• Generalist and specialist teacher skills
• Learning the language of new industries
• The value of networking for job hunting
• Bridging opportunities when switching career
• What is product management? A sneak peak into the day-to-day
• Asking the right questions around partnership roles
• Translating your skills before you put pen to paper on your CV
• Getting the balance right when leaving education
• Reducing the fear of the unknown

Links:

LinkedIn for Teacher Career Change

AAT Jobs Board - Filter by 'Project Manager' to find similar roles

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

This week, we hear from the wonderful Selini, a former primary school teacher who has made an inspiring transition to become a Community Education Coordinator for a large international charity. Selini shares her journey out of the classroom and into a role that allows her to continue making a real difference in the world on a much wider scale.

As an Academy member, Selini embraced the support and resources available to explore new possibilities after feeling the need for a change from teaching. Now, she thrives in a dynamic, community-focused position where no two days are the same. She highlights the transferable skills from teaching that have been invaluable in her new career and expresses her joy in a role that truly aligns with her values.

In this episode, we also chat about:

• Identifying your transferable skills
• Exploring different career possibilities
• Community facing roles
• Aligning work to your personal values
• The value of LinkedIn for career change
• Embracing new adventures
• Building confidence in a new career

Links:

LinkedIn for Teacher Career Change

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

Former Primary Headteacher Adam, loved the job but wanted to move on before he reached the point of burnout. Securing an interesting ‘lifeboat job’, he quickly realised how valuable his skills could be to the world outside of the microcosm of teaching.

After taking part in our free Summer Bootcamp event, Adam joined the Academy and started to dive into all the practicalities of job hunting as he looked to re-position his skills for a new direction. Now working as Policy Implementation Manager for the Civil Service, he is adjusting to a change of pace, enjoying the intellectual challenge of his new role, and making the most of a life that’s free from Sunday night dread and weekend working!

In this episode, we also cover:

• Finding support as a Headteacher
• Exploring what you want (with an open mind!)
• The Civil Service application process
• Using AI in the right way
• Mindset hangovers from teaching
• Psychological safety in the workplace
• Learning to switch off and slow down
• Teacher holidays - do you really miss them?

Links:

Civil Service Jobs

UKRI

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“It’s given me my life back.”

Head of Drama Lauren loved many aspects of teaching but found that the out of hours working expectations were simply unsustainable, sometimes hitting 12 hours a day for 6 days a week! After taking a few months off to rest and have fun, she spent some time freelancing and then started her job hunt for a full-time role.

Now a Project Manager for an education research charity, Lauren is enjoying a job that’s interesting, varied, and challenging in all the right ways. Since leaving teaching she’s revisited old hobbies, planned term-time holidays and is happy to leave work “at the door” at the end of each day.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Reframing skills with the help of the Academy
• Mentally preparing for an interview
• Trusting yourself
• The day-to-day of project management
• Would project management suit you?
• Top tips for pursuing project management roles
• Benefitting from a supportive community
• Committing to new things outside of work
• Getting excited about “whatever comes next”

Links:

AAT Jobs Board - Filter by 'Project Manager' to find similar roles

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!

“I didn’t realise it … I think I was slowly burning out.”

Reception Teacher Georgi followed her passions into the world of education, but felt numb and burnt out by her last year in the classroom. Stumbling upon the Adventures After Teaching Academy, she loved the supportive community, practical resources, and tools to navigate all the ‘what ifs?’ of career change.

Leveraging the power of LinkedIn to make connections, Georgi explored her passions once again, landing herself a job as a Zoo Education Officer (doesn’t it sound amazing?!) after a wonderfully positive interview experience. She now enjoys varied days, showcasing her creativity and organisational skills across two areas of interest: wildlife and education.

In this episode, we also chat:

• Identity crisis
• Not knowing what to do
• Navigating LinkedIn whilst still teaching
• Growth, confidence, and connection on LinkedIn
• The most helpful resources for translating skills
• Feeling confident going in to an interview
• A day-in-the-life of a Zoo Education Officer (and the key skills you’ll need to get there!)
• Bringing fresh ideas to a role
• Following your interests to find career change joy

Links:

RSPB

Biaza

Wildlife Trust

Butterfly Conservation Trust

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!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE SUMMER BOOTCAMP! ⛱️ The best Teacher Career Change event of the year!