Retrain in another area?

thegreatescape

Hi all, I'm a recently qualified secondary school teacher in home economics, biology and science. While I'm enjoying the career itself, it has become increasingly obvious to me that the opportunities and prospects within teaching are not what they used to be and I'm not sure if I see myself in the profession for longer than a couple of years.

With this in mind, are there any master programmes/retraining opportunities that exist that anyone could recommend? My areas of interest are quite vague, but anything in science, human rights or perhaps business would interest me.

Would be appreciative of any insight anyone could give.

Millem

Would you consider going into food industry?

thegreatescape

Millem wrote: »

Would you consider going into food industry?

Absolutely. Just unclear of what additional qualifications would be needed if any. Thanks for the reply.

Millem

thegreatescape wrote: »

Absolutely. Just unclear of what additional qualifications would be needed if any. Thanks for the reply.

I don’t think you would need any tbh.
Did you just qualify last year? If so did a number of fellow graduates not go directly into food industry?

smallgarden

I qualified years ago but spent a time trying to find a NPD job in the food industry as specialised in food studies in 4th year. Got interviews and job offers but ended up in teaching. I tailored my CV for the food industry

_Brian

thegreatescape wrote: »

Hi all, I'm a recently qualified secondary school teacher in home economics, biology and science. While I'm enjoying the career itself, it has become increasingly obvious to me that the opportunities and prospects within teaching are not what they used to be and I'm not sure if I see myself in the profession for longer than a couple of years.

With this in mind, are there any master programmes/retraining opportunities that exist that anyone could recommend? My areas of interest are quite vague, but anything in science, human rights or perhaps business would interest me.

Would be appreciative of any insight anyone could give.

My daughter is hoping to do the same qualification, can I ask what the problems are you see. It concerns me a bit.

evolving_doors

thegreatescape wrote: »

Hi all, I'm a recently qualified secondary school teacher in home economics, biology and science. While I'm enjoying the career itself, it has become increasingly obvious to me that the opportunities and prospects within teaching are not what they used to be and I'm not sure if I see myself in the profession for longer than a couple of years.

With this in mind, are there any master programmes/retraining opportunities that exist that anyone could recommend? My areas of interest are quite vague, but anything in science, human rights or perhaps business would interest me.

Would be appreciative of any insight anyone could give.

Quite a few upskilling courses in springboard

https://springboardcourses.ie/results?keywords=food&providers%5B%5D=10&providers%5B%5D=49&providers%5B%5D=44&providers%5B%5D=64&providers%5B%5D=59&providers%5B%5D=2&providers%5B%5D=58&providers%5B%5D=27&providers%5B%5D=54&providers%5B%5D=29&providers%5B%5D=24&providers%5B%5D=12&providers%5B%5D=19&providers%5B%5D=6&providers%5B%5D=30&providers%5B%5D=4&providers%5B%5D=28&providers%5B%5D=26&providers%5B%5D=32&providers%5B%5D=11&providers%5B%5D=7&providers%5B%5D=9&providers%5B%5D=8&providers%5B%5D=5&providers%5B%5D=46&providers%5B%5D=63&providers%5B%5D=20&providers%5B%5D=3&providers%5B%5D=43&providers%5B%5D=35&providers%5B%5D=23&providers%5B%5D=36&providers%5B%5D=65&providers%5B%5D=62&providers%5B%5D=61&providers%5B%5D=48&providers%5B%5D=39&providers%5B%5D=40&providers%5B%5D=22&providers%5B%5D=21

thegreatescape

_Brian wrote: »

My daughter is hoping to do the same qualification, can I ask what the problems are you see. It concerns me a bit.

Firstly I'd be apprehensive given the 5 year nature of the course now, this would have put me off doing it in the first place.
There are so many threads in this forum that explain the woes of teachers but from my perspective, there are a few issues in my few months of experience thus far. The main issue for me is the lack of progression within the career unless you want to go into management. There is also a lack of reward for work done, lessons taught other than self fulfillment and job satisfaction. Even though a newly qualified teacher's starting wage is quite good, the rate of progression is very minimal.

Honestly, the only benefits I can say for teaching is if you're in a good school and students are grand it makes the day easier, finish at 4pm and enjoy the holidays.

thegreatescape

Millem wrote: »

I don’t think you would need any tbh.
Did you just qualify last year? If so did a number of fellow graduates not go directly into food industry?

I did just qualify last year. As far as I know, no one went into the food industry this year. I think a big misconception is that a lot of home economics go into the food industry when this isn't the case.

happywithlife

firstly to address the home ec teacher going into food industry thing - St. Angela's have long tried to explain to joe soap that it has diversified in recent yrs and now does more than just the teacher training course but media have in the main failed to grasp.this concept and continually confuse other Angela graduates with the teacher graduates.
To the OP, it sounds more like you're disillusioned upon graduation? besides progression into management what other career progression did you envision? I'm unsure. You can move sideways I guess into the likes of jct/pdst/sec but usually you'd want a few years under your belt. You mention lack of reward for work done and lessons taught (other than self fullfillment) -again I'm unsure as to what your expectations were? Teaching can be a lonely place in the sense you are on your own in your classroom 9 classes a day (unless team teaching which is rare) and home ec can be especially hard if you are a one teacher dept in your school.
Without prying and wanting to go all Dr. Goggle on you, are you simply underwhelmed by the reality vs the dream? If you only graduated last year I think its a bit quick to turn your back on a hard earned 5 yr degree from St. Angela's

But on a more practical helpful note
have you considered lab work / EWO type role? Food hygiene ? Microbiology? etc

evolving_doors

I know of 2 young home ec teachers who left school to go work in Diageo. Probably junior entry salary but hey! Better than the sub circuit.

Blaizes

evolving_doors wrote: »

I know of 2 young home ec teachers who left school to go work in Diageo. Probably junior entry salary but hey! Better than the sub circuit.

Some might even call it a sub circus

Millem

thegreatescape wrote: »

I did just qualify last year. As far as I know, no one went into the food industry this year. I think a big misconception is that a lot of home economics go into the food industry when this isn't the case.

Oh right....it was mentioned at a home ec meeting at the start of school year that a number went directly into food industry;)

Blaizes

Millem wrote: »

Oh right....it was mentioned at a home ec meeting at the start of school year that a number went directly into food industry;)

Not a home ec. teacher but I heard this too, might have read it in an online newspaper article. Aside from that Springboard have courses in the area of food science as already mentioned by Evolving Door and they look very good.

You could also apply to companies like Glan Bia I think they have some kind of graduate programme. Also meat factories who need technicians, I'd say you are in a really good position, food is a real growth industry so loads of potential.

Tom Dunne

Data Analytics in the science/biology areas is massive at the moment.

Plenty of Springboard courses/uspskilling courses available.