How I changed career from retail to teaching
When I was at school I always found maths interesting. I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, so I could help others become better at maths. Many of my friends struggled with it, and I wanted to stop this happening to other people too.
However after doing my degree in maths and economics, I didn’t go into teaching but instead worked for a global retailer, using my analytical and mathematical skills to improve company efficiency. As a leader and manager I had the chance to develop and coach teams, but still wanted to do more to help people. I was often surprised at how challenging some colleagues found maths, which sometimes lead to poor decisions being made on inaccurately understood information. After nearly 20 years I finally took the opportunity to explore teaching.
I worked for 4 days a week and looked after my youngest son on Fridays. When he started primary school, I volunteered in the local secondary school to get an insight into teaching. This experience was enough to make me consider changing career more seriously, so I registered on the Get Into Teaching website to find out more.
I was contacted by Steven, a Teacher Training Adviser, who gave me support and guidance by email and phone on how to apply. He discussed my experiences, helped me update my CV and reviewed my applications, which helped my confidence. Steven suggested a few things to change and some actions I could take to improve my applications. This ensured that I was showing myself at my best and giving all the information schools needed to assess me properly.
Following my applications I was invited to interviews at several schools, and gained a place at my first choice. I successfully completed my initial teacher training and am now my NQT year. By talking to Steven and making the most of his experience I developed a good understanding of the role of a teacher, which has helped me with my applications and beyond.
I’ve loved teaching so far. Yes, there have been challenging pupils and situations, like the time I had a bird flew through the window and into my class room! But every day there is a moment — a look from a pupil or a simple thank you — that reminds me that I’m helping my pupils develop maths skills that they can rely on in their future careers. That’s the reason I filled in my application with Steven: to help our future generations.
I’d recommend a Teacher Training Adviser to anyone considering applying. They will help you make an informed application and support you through the whole journey. Good luck!
