Finding A Job For Now

Your next role out of teaching needn’t be your forever job.

Are you looking for the "perfect" job or just the "next" job?

Inside the Academy (my group mentoring programme) we've been reflecting on the process of searching for jobs and evaluating a job specification, deciding whether it is a good fit. More specifically, we've been exploring the motivational highs and lows when changing careers.

Undoubtedly, leaving a role when it's all you've ever known can be incredibly scary... but potentially our conditioning as teachers makes this fear worse.

There are 3 points which I'd like to share that I think may help when looking at roles outside of education...

1). When we've enjoyed a "vocation", for however long, it becomes part of our muscle memory - we live the job 24/7. The idea of doing "just a job" feels alien, and therefore, we find it hard to believe another role won't require a similar level of emotional and physical commitment.

As one Facebook member said this week, she's "...not thinking about the ‘forever’ job… after all I thought teaching was the ‘forever’ job!". Yes, you want to enjoy your job, but releasing the idea of a "calling" or "purpose", means you can start looking outside of work for fulfilment.

2). Following this, we might be putting a lot of pressure on the job specification to persuade us it's the perfect next role. A job spec would have a hard time capturing the complexity of your teaching role, and even communicating the daily magical moments.

It follows that a job specification cannot give you a glimpse into the things that are going to make the BIGGEST difference... the team you work with, the encouragement you receive from leaders, the flexibility to manage your energy. If we can accept that these significant things can't be communicated, we'll maybe stop expecting the list of duties to light us up. Which leads me to point 3...

3). If you accept your next role doesn't need to be your forever role, then you start being more open to different opportunities. One member in the group noted, "...by doing this I was able to see how my skills were easily transferable to different roles."

I love the fact some Academy members are applying for, or have already secured, their SECOND role outside of teaching. Once you make the first phone call to ask about a job, have your first interview, process the first rejection, the fear starts to dissipate. Once you know you can get one job, you know you can get another. You're as open to ideas as you are clear on your non-negotiables.

Remember, no one is asking you to commit to a job for the next 10 years!

Considering any path out of teaching may be scary initially, but you will find the place beyond the fear and that's where the adventure gets really interesting!

I've been speaking to teachers all week about joining the Academy and the waitlist for April is now open. If you think you might want a spot, go to the website and pop your name on the list or get in touch at joanne@adventuresafterteaching.com