"I don’t miss the school holidays."

After 25 years in the classroom, the last several as Head of Health and Social Care, Jessica reached a point of burnout and knew she no longer wanted to teach. A Google search led her to the Adventures After Teaching Academy, where she focused on rebuilding her self-esteem before even thinking about her next career move.

Now an Employment Advisor for a private company, Jessica is helping others identify their own barriers and find their way back into work. With control over her own diary, genuine one-to-one connection with clients, and her evenings and weekends firmly back, Jessica is thriving in a role that feels both rewarding and sustainable.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Recognising burnout and giving yourself permission to slow down
• Using the Academy community to rebuild confidence
• Creating a "lifeboat" before you leap
• Searching for roles using job titles you hear in the community
• The power of a skills-based CV
• Variety and autonomy in a new role
• Leaving work at work and what that actually feels like
• Feeling valued and invested in
• Why teachers shine in one-to-one settings

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!

Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the May cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Only 100 spaces available ✨

" The biggest change for me is just noticing how much more energy I have for my children."

Former teacher John-Paul reached a turning point during a difficult first term following a job move and the birth of his daughter. Knowing something had to change, he sought support from those around him and found the Adventures After Teaching community, giving him that reassurance that he wasn't alone in how he was feeling.

Now a Bursar for an organisation he'd known for years, John-Paul is managing a Grade II listed estate, overseeing a significant budget and building strong relationships with contractors - all with the flexibility and autonomy to make the role work for his family life.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• The value of a community that ‘gets it’
• Using transferable skills to frame your experience
• Finding opportunities in your own network
• The variety in the day-to-day role of a bursar
• Budget management for teachers without financial experience
• Relationship-building and working as part of a small team
• Work-life balance and flexible, autonomous working
• Persisting through the knockbacks
• Top tips for teachers moving into operations 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!

Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the May cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Only 100 spaces available ✨

"We underestimate how brilliant we are as teachers."

Former primary teacher Rachel left the classroom when work-related stress began affecting her physical health. Despite loving the classroom, the long exhausting days and a particularly challenging final year made her decision clearer. After leaving at the end of August without a job lined up, Rachel took time to decompress before securing her current position.

Now Head of Communities and Development at a charity, Rachel is enjoying the benefits of hybrid working and using her teaching skills in fundraising and development whilst finally experiencing what it's like to leave work on time. She's regained her evenings and weekends, and no longer feels that dreaded "Monday morning sick feeling."

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Prioritising health as a catalyst for career change
• Colleague reactions to handing in your notice
• Taking time to recover before job searching
• The power of a skills-based CV
• Transitioning teaching skills to fundraising
• The importance of community support from people who "get it"
• Timescales to exit the classroom
• Finding roles that align with your values
• Top tips for teachers considering the charity sector

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!

Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the May cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Only 100 spaces available ✨