The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

“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. 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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“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:

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

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

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“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”

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

Once a Secondary Drama Teacher and Head of Drama, Serena felt frustrated with the “other elements” of teaching and wanted more time to focus on the “important stuff” with her students. Returning from maternity leave, and battling exhaustion both at work and at home, she was driven to seek a new role that better aligned with her values and passions. 

Initially taking on her job search alone, Serena joined the Academy last April and went on to secure a fantastic role as a Schools Resources Manager. Taking the best bits of teaching with her, she is now enjoying being in control of her own diary, living life with renewed energy levels, being more present at home and defaulting to happiness!

In this episode, we’re also talking about:

• Frustration with the education system
• Finding the Academy at the right time
• Focusing on finding organisations with shared values
• Dealing with rejection
• Having options with transferable skills
• Relationship building through the first phone call
• Making a committed career change choice
• Enjoying more autonomy and flexibility
• The transformation from anxious to happy

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“I’ve got to try something different.”

Former History Teacher and Assistant Head, Simon remembers “running on empty all the time”. Following a conversation on the playground, Simon experienced a moment of realisation that teaching was no longer sustainable for him or his family, feeling “a weight off” after handing his notice in. 

Now an Account Manager for Unifrog Education, Simon’s new role involves problem-solving, relationship building, and continuing to make an impact on the world of education. He’s embracing the opportunity to work for a company that aligns with his values, whilst enjoying new-found flexibility, aspirations outside of work, and getting to walk his kids to school every day. 

In this episode, we’re also chatting:

• Breaking up with the classroom
• Positive filtering
• Teacher skills that are often overlooked
• Suitability for account management -  you might be better at ‘selling’ than you think!
• Finding something you believe in
• Re-defining who you are and re-thinking where you're going
• The importance of having a plan
• New hobbies, health and habits!

Links:

Unifrog Education 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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“It had taken over my entire life.”

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Head of Geography, Victoria found her ‘4 day working week’ became a 50-60 hour commitment, frequently working 12 hours on a Sunday. Struggling with feelings of not wanting to let people down, she eventually gave herself permission to move on to a new adventure. 

Now the Deputy Director of an education charity, Victoria enjoys a varied role that leans into her relationship building skills and strategic expertise. She is loving the opportunity to have an impact at a high-level in the world of education, as well as re-connecting with friends, rediscovering the things she likes to do in her spare time, and no longer working weekends!

In this episode, we’re also chatting:

• Guilt around leaving and seeking “good enough” reasons
• Taking enough time for burnout recovery
• Feeling confused about next steps 
• Embracing a supportive, structured approach to career change
• Communicating the journey of past experience (including jobs before teaching!)
• The importance of making the phone call
• Positive interview experiences
• Partnerships roles and the power of networking
• Enjoying rest, connection, and fulfillment 

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨   

“It was fantastic until it wasn’t so fantastic anymore”

Primary Deputy Head Giselle took a lot of positives from her teaching career, spending 23 years working in the same school with a “lovely team and a lovely community”. But, as a self-confessed people-pleaser, she eventually found herself wearing too many hats and, with increasing classroom commitments, the workload became unsustainable. 

Now an Operations Manager and Employability Lead for a CIC (Community Interest Company), Giselle is experiencing joy and fulfillment once again in this education-adjacent role. Enjoying relaxed mornings, time-freedom, and new opportunities for development in her unicorn role, she’s feeling like “a weight’s been lifted.”

In this episode, we also cover:

• Ripping off the bandaid through decision-making
• Reflecting on career achievements, strengths and skills
• Staying open-minded about new opportunities
• The importance of calling about a role before applying
• Completing a video application
• “The nerves were gone” - preparing for an interview
• Escaping free-time guilt
• Top tips for operations roles
• Term-time holiday plans! 
• A blossoming CV 🌺

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 you successfully leave the classroom! 

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨