What work were you doing?
I worked at BT as a Human Resources Manager. I joined as an apprentice after I left sixth form as I knew I wanted to earn some money and didn’t want to go to university, so the BT role was the best of both worlds earning money and gaining a qualification too and ultimately a degree in Business Administration. I enjoyed being a part of the small team in HR, but in the time leading up to me thinking about leaving, there were lots of redundancies happening and restructuring taking place and I didn’t like having those types of conversations with people. Everything felt very mechanical and impersonal and that was one of the main reasons I felt I needed to make a change.
What are you doing now?
I’m a primary school teacher in a local school; I’m taking a bit of a break right now from full time teaching and am working as a supply teacher to spend more time with my family.
What prompted you to make the change?
The parts of my job that I didn’t enjoy became bigger, I didn’t like feeling like a small cog in a big, corporate machine and I began to wish that I could do something more creative. In my mind too, the “corporate” world didn’t feel “real” and I wanted to do something that made an impact in the real world.
When did you start to make your change?
I resigned from my job at BT, much to my dad’s disgust at the time, before I had another plan or another job! But, I just knew it wasn’t doing my mental health any good by stating in that environment. Being solely responsible for my mortgage meant I had to have some money come in, so I did a series of temporary/intermediate jobs for a few months without really having much of a plan at that point. Then, a friend of mine shared with me that she planned to go travelling to Australia and wanted someone to go with her, and I decided to go! The only thing stopping me was my house in my mind, so I decided the very next day to put my house up for sale and it sold pretty quickly.
How did you decide what to do next?
This happened about 3 months after I left BT and I set off on my travelling adventure! While I was away, I did lots of thinking and it was actually my friend that happened to mention one day that I’d make a really good teacher. That sparked something in me and I thought - “I might be actually!”. I’d taught swimming before, so I knew I had some of the skills that would be required and I’ve always loved working with children and I could really see myself doing it. Even though, when I got home and shared my thoughts, I had a few family members who said “Ooo, you don’t want to do that…”. That just made me think - “I’m going to prove you wrong.”
How did you practically make the shift?
When I returned home after 5 months of travelling, I was pretty set on pursuing teaching as a career. Unfortunately it was the wrong time of year to apply for the teaching course, so I took a job with the national blood service and worked with them for a year to earn some money. During that time, I also went into my local primary school as a volunteer which really reassured me that I was on the right track. I loved it. At this point, I was living back at home with my parents and I successfully secured a place on the teacher training course. The degree I completed while at BT helped me then get onto the PGCE course so I was incredibly thankful, even though I chose not to go away to university, the route I took had enabled me to pivot more easily, I didn’t have to think about going to university and completing a degree now.
I loved the year’s course, I scored really highly in the final assessment and managed to secure a job in the February at a school for the September which was amazing.
What didn’t go so well?
Selling my house when I did was, looking back, a bit of a rash decision! I know I was fortunate in having my mum and dad to go and live with for a while, and I don’t regret it because it enabled me to be where I am now. Looking back, the path to get here looks a bit patchwork, but it all knitted together in the end!
What help did you get?
Having a friend suggesting something was a big thing. Having my parents practical support through the years’ training was really helpful so I could focus on my studies. I think having the support of others was crucial.
What was the most difficult thing about making the change?
Feeling like I was starting all over again from scratch from a “life sorted” point of view, stepping off the property ladder for example and leaving a job that I was progressing well in. Taking the financial hit was huge for me at the time too, going from earning a good salary with my own home, to earning next to nothing and living with my parents again while I was training was really hard. I did question whether it was the right thing to do many times, but stepping off the property ladder and having to live off a much reduced income for a period of time weren’t enough to stop me going for it.
How did you overcome those challenges and worries?
I’m a big believer in thinking positively and going for what I want. I was set on it as a path and really felt I would be successful. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and dealing with each thing as I needed to and eventually I got there!
How did you feel when you started your first teaching job?
I felt so happy. It felt so different from a corporate environment and I felt like I was personally having an influence on what was going on around me.
What would your advice be to someone feeling a bit stuck?
Know that there is something else other than what you are doing.
You don’t have to put up with feeling like you don’t fit in. I got to a point where I just felt I don’t belong here.
I got a lot of experience from my time at BT and my qualification and I feel like that experience helped me become a better teacher.
You have to believe in yourself, back yourself, have some courage and despite your doubts, go for it and make it happen.
You can make your life better for yourself, no one else can do it for you.
You don’t have to know where you’ll end up to make a start. Take small steps, small goals that all add up.
I love my career and it now fits really well with my family. I’m 41 now and I do feel like I have another career change in me yet. I love writing, I wrote a short story recently which I’m expanding on and I'm letting that bubble for now and I’ll see what happens!