Daughter urgently in need of direction

I do not know how anyone copes with teaching these days
Poor young woman could do with some counselling to understand what happened to her and understand herself
Restore her self esteem
She is lucky to have a helpful mum but obviously putting pressure would be counterproductive

DD2 has just taken on an ex teacher in a junior role and it seems to be working well for them and DD2's team are very supportive of getting the ex teacher up to speed with this very different job role.

In about 12 -18 months there is a prospect of promotion to a senior role and the industry has a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced people os there are prospects away from teaching out there.

I don't blame her for leaving it was bad enough when I was working and I only worked with adults on a professional qualification.

As others have suggested look on Government sites, it isn't only the Civil Service that might suit you DD.

Also, as someone has already said, I'd asking myself and her if theres a chance she's becoming depressed. It would be understandable in the circumstances.

Good luck to you both.

I’m going to ask a strange question (and you can dismiss it if it’s not relevant) - how is her love life?

Clearly she’s disenchanted by her chosen profession. Too stressful (and it IS becoming more so at every level.) Time for a change. She young and can pursue anything she wants. (I completely changed course at the age of 53 going into healthcare, for 20 yrs). Change sometimes is what’s needed.)

With her education and experience it can open many doors. She needs to explore. I hope she’s not getting any outside influence from a partner or friend… that’s why I asked. (I’ve seen that happen.) But then again having a trusted friend, confidant can be encouraging. She’s wavering.

She’ll be okay, and in years to come her credentials can take her back to education. Many go through this. Good luck to her.

I think she should look at her local authority and Department of Education to use her education background in these areas. So sad to see someone who clearly cares coming out of the profession. Or how about independent schools or tutoring??

I would also suggest thinking about independent schools, teaching roles there are clearly defined and she is unlikely to end up being "volunteered" for work outside her remit. The problem about admin roles in education is that the hours suit mothers so there is a lot of competition. Also jobs often go to parents within the school.
Others have suggested Local Authority and Department of Education roles but again jobs here are also highly sought after so very competitive.
There are loads of PA type jobs about in many other fields, they're reasonably well paid and, provided she has good computer literacy, she shouldn't need to retrain. Once she has experience and good references she could move into Education admin or into another field if she wanted to.

Everyone seems so obsessed that this lady should stay in education. Why? she has skills and aptitudes that could qualify her for all kinds of different jobs in so many ifferent professions. Why get stuck in a sector that has brought her grief.

She cpuld retrain to do something entirely different. DD did an OU degree in her 30s and since then has powered her way through three different employment sectors. She moved first into background support for a research centre, then into managment consultancy and having learnt another new skill while with the management consultants is moving on to a senior role with one of those companies providing services to banks that they cannot do without. Before this she had worked 20 years in the media. She is in her 50s and proving that age is no bar.

There is nothing to stop this lady doing something similar. It doesn't have to be an OU degree they are expensive, but any kind of training course. Several of DD's friends, all graduates, one a teacher have made these sort of career changes several times in their lives.

The world is this woman's oyste, it is open to her to be anything she likes, if education doesn't suit her forget it. Do something else.

If changing from one kind of job to something different is as difficult to get a chance to do in the UK, where I presume you live, as in Denmark, she has very little chance of suceeding at the age of 31.

A publishing house specialising in school books might just want her, but it would doubtless be easier for her to get a job teaching adults.

Was it trying to keep dicipline in the classroom that got her down? If so, teaching adults is usually much easier than teaching schoolchildren.

Museums or other cultural organisations as already suggested might be a possiblitiy, but they are probably overflowing with historians already.

Your daughter needs to sit down and think long and hard about what she wants to do for the rest of her working life, which after all is something in the region of forty years, as her generation will probably be forced to work until they are 75 or so.

If she has neither husband nor children or any intention of trying to have a family, going back to Dubai, where she was probably making a very good salary for the next five to ten years and banking as much money as she can is probably her best bet. That way she should be able to retire early and live off her savings.

Another possiblity is advertising either in the rich Arab oil countries or in Switzerland for a position as a nanny or governess (private teacher). There are still a certain amount of rich families where the parents travel so much for work that they need a person they can trust, and whom they pay a good salary looking after their children round the clock.

Apart from her teaching qualifications, she will need to be able not only to drive, but to drive to the standard of a security trained chauffeur and have good skills in self-defence. A working knowledge of French and German, Italian or Spanish (at least two languages over and above English) would be a selling point too.

Perhaps Local Authority work would suit. There is little pressure compared to the private sector. LA often employ less qualified staff.
Could she use her teaching experience in the Mental Health area eg. School refusers or tutoring in hospital or mental health hospitals. Her teaching skills are her strength and transferable.
Good luck x

A History degree is a excellent basis for many careers (not at all limiting as someone suggested above!). More barristers have History degrees than Law, I discovered recently. It would certainly be well regarded for Civil Service jobs and similar.

My teacher daughter also quit at Christmas as the classroom became overwhelming and dangerous. She is doing some temping as she does not feel ready to jump back into another demanding role.
She says she feels like she needs to regroup and remember her strengths.

Perhaps your daughter needs to do the same.

Teachers especially perhaps primary teachers often have great managerial skills along with ability to take responsibility and to use their initiative.

I’m overwhelmed by the kindness and understanding of you all!
She really needs to leave teaching but wants to stay, for the time being, in a school environment. I’m delighted to tell you that she has two in person interviews next week after being successful in phone interviews. One as PA to a headteacher and one as coordinator for the sports department of an independent school. She’s nervous but is preparing diligently.
Thank you again for all your marvellous support and suggestions and understanding.
Thank you

It’s such a shame. A number of primary and secondary school teachers have left their professions and joined my team in the NHS as administrators taking considerable pay and pension cuts. However they all say how much happier they are and don’t miss the stresses from their teaching days. Teachers have very transferrable skills and I’m sure your daughter will find something that suits her skill set. Teaching sounds to be a stressful and thankless profession these days. Wishing her all the best for the future.

Maybe she should think about what her transferable skills are? I’m an ex teacher, I left due to stress ( surprise) but realised that I actually enjoyed admin/ paperwork , so ended up as an admin / receptionist person working for NHS. Rubbish money but I LOVED it!

Would she be interested in speaking with an Academic Advisor from the college she attended?

If your daughter wants to be a PA she should go on a PA course
www.pitman-training.com/our-courses/office-secretarial/pa-courses/

There are others some may be run by your local college. I would look for one where there is a placement. This opportunity would possibly turn into a permanent job or at the least offer a reference concerning the quality of skills your daughter has as a PA

She should put her CV on .gov.uk and look up the career

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/personal-assistant

Of course we never stop being a parent but if you were older when they were born,you are officially old when they are in their 30's!

There is a limit to my stamina. I also question the value of trying to rescue. After supporting them for years,surely they must fly away and do their own thing.

Evangeline

I’m overwhelmed by the kindness and understanding of you all!
She really needs to leave teaching but wants to stay, for the time being, in a school environment. I’m delighted to tell you that she has two in person interviews next week after being successful in phone interviews. One as PA to a headteacher and one as coordinator for the sports department of an independent school. She’s nervous but is preparing diligently.
Thank you again for all your marvellous support and suggestions and understanding.
Thank you

Please let us know how she gets on in her interviews and if not successful on this occasion strongly suggest she registers on Civil Services Jobs, they have so many interesting opportunities, her degree would be relevant (showing evidence of research and studying) and so many different departments and pretty good money from HEO level and above.

I did not go into the Civil Service until I was 50 and without a degree. With a degree, great work experience and only 31 she should fit very well.

Grandetante It is very easy to chaange careers in the UK. IN my post, just above yours, I have recounted my DD's experience changing careers and she has many friends who have done so as well.

I'm a qualified accountant. I actually formally retired three weeks ago, but already find myself back doing contract work, pretty much on my own terms, and very well paid. There's a big shortage of us. So I can fully recommend it!

Doesn't Accountacy take years of training?

We have accountants in the family. It can be possible to be taken on to train, to work and be paid at the same time but the competition for places is quite fierce.
I thought a Maths degree might be needed to be fast-tracked?

FLO, Family liaison officer?
Not deputy but assistant head?
Phase leader?

Canbsnan You used one word in your post that is reflective of today’s teaching environment, especially the high school grades… word is dangerous.

My brother left teaching H.S. after 30 yrs (well, let’s just say he retired) because of one reason only - he said the whole culture of teaching higher grades evolved over the years from civility to always fighting attitudes, entitlement and threatening language. And there were fights on campus.

What is this world coming to?? Those are our children and the future of this country and planet. Aren’t they getting guidance and nurturing at home?

Evangeline

My 31 year old daughter is at a crossroads but doesn’t know which road to take- she doesn’t even know where the roads lead!
Highly educated and organised, excellent teacher with six years experience . Dreadfully missed by the school she left at Christmas due to the overwhelming demands of the profession. She has in mind to come a PA to a headteacher perhaps but is having no luck as she has no experience. I have been in touch with a careers advisor but my daughter will not engage with her. She is starting to become very disheartened and I don’t know what to advise her.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where she could go from here?
Many thanks

See if she’ll go back to college to train in admin work . I went back to college at the ripe old age of 58 I enjoyed it immensely and got myself a decent well paid job, best of luck

My son got a degree in English. He then did Tefl teaching in S. Korea , was a sushi chef in Iceland , did bar work in NZ, tried being an estate agent in London . Enjoyed all apart from Estate agent . Then went to Manchester Uni and did a degree in town planning. Now works for Transport for Greater Manchester on the planning / environmental
Impact side of things.
The point to this post is, he was adrift for many years, but eventually found his path.
Evangeline I’m sure she will find her way but she has to forge her own path 🌻