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ploughon
Joined: 26 Jul 2015
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 11:44 pm Post subject: Life after TEFL? |
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Hey guys,
So I've been in this game for getting on a decade now, and Ive been thinking of getting out of it for about half that. Ive had a good time (for the most part) but now feel its time to move on. I'm not sure what else to do, what I could do or what I'd be qualified to do (I have a BSc Psychology which Ive never used) and am looking for a career change where hopefully I wouldnt have to return to university (I just hated the stress and debt first time round).
So what do you guys plan to do, career wise, after TEFL? |
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getbehindthemule
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:00 am Post subject: |
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I'm one of those that (did it backwards) has had a professional career before moving to teach abroad. I'm getting halfway towards the decade mark now!
I'm pretty sure that I dont want to go back to my home country and fall back into the grind again. So, I guess that I need to find a healthy balance between travel and saving over the next few years. Once I've saved up enough cash I will most likely take a chance on a business endeavour in Asia.
I must say that I'm content at the minute living in crazy China as I only spend 9 months of the year here. I think if I was in a different position, where I couldnt get out a couple of times a year to chill, my mindframe would be different. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:43 am Post subject: |
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| ploughon wrote: |
| I'm not sure what else to do, what I could do or what I'd be qualified to do (I have a BSc Psychology which Ive never used) and am looking for a career change where hopefully I wouldnt have to return to university (I just hated the stress and debt first time round). |
Unfortunately, you'll probably end up having to return to school. Depending on where you're from, that could mean getting a professional/continuing education cert, graduate cert, or a master's degree.
For starters, where's home? Also, what are your interests and what do you feel you're good at? |
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Osiry
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 4:38 am Post subject: |
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The tech industry is always a good option if you're into that sort of thing. There are loads of free self study options available online for anything from data analysis to computer programming.
If this is a field you're interested in, you really don't need to go back to university to get the required skills. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Life after TEFL? |
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| ploughon wrote: |
Hey guys,
So I've been in this game for getting on a decade now, and Ive been thinking of getting out of it for about half that. Ive had a good time (for the most part) but now feel its time to move on. I'm not sure what else to do, what I could do or what I'd be qualified to do (I have a BSc Psychology which Ive never used) and am looking for a career change where hopefully I wouldnt have to return to university (I just hated the stress and debt first time round).
So what do you guys plan to do, career wise, after TEFL? |
What country are you from? I can give you some ideas. I currently work for the government. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| ploughon wrote: |
| I'm not sure what else to do, what I could do or what I'd be qualified to do (I have a BSc Psychology which Ive never used) and am looking for a career change where hopefully I wouldnt have to return to university (I just hated the stress and debt first time round). |
Unfortunately, you'll probably end up having to return to school. Depending on where you're from, that could mean getting a professional/continuing education cert, graduate cert, or a master's degree.
For starters, where's home? Also, what are your interests and what do you feel you're good at? |
If you are from the United States, you can probably get a government job if you don't want to return to school. I would be happy to offer some advice if you are an American and are looking for something else. I taught ESL from 2005-2011 and then returned to the United States in 2012. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| If you are from the United States, you can probably get a government job if you don't want to return to school. I would be happy to offer some advice if you are an American and are looking for something else. I taught ESL from 2005-2011 and then returned to the United States in 2012. |
You're referring to usajobs.gov.
There weren't as many fed job and budget cuts back in 2012 as there are now. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
| If you are from the United States, you can probably get a government job if you don't want to return to school. I would be happy to offer some advice if you are an American and are looking for something else. I taught ESL from 2005-2011 and then returned to the United States in 2012. |
You're referring to usajobs.gov.
There weren't as many fed job and budget cuts back in 2012 as there are now. |
First, I didn't get a federal job in 2012. Second, due to the lack of potential employees, the job market is good in the United States. There are not a lot of people that are willing to work that don't have a job. If one is willing to do anything to get their foot in the door there are jobs. There are Federal jobs that they have a hard time filling. I am not willing to elaborate on a public forum, but would be happy to explain to anyone through private messages that are interested. There are no guarantees, but there are mass hiring's by the Federal Government that they have a hard time filling all positions. |
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getbehindthemule
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
| If you are from the United States, you can probably get a government job if you don't want to return to school. I would be happy to offer some advice if you are an American and are looking for something else. I taught ESL from 2005-2011 and then returned to the United States in 2012. |
You're referring to usajobs.gov.
There weren't as many fed job and budget cuts back in 2012 as there are now. |
First, I didn't get a federal job in 2012. Second, due to the lack of potential employees, the job market is good in the United States. There are not a lot of people that are willing to work that don't have a job. If one is willing to do anything to get their foot in the door there are jobs. There are Federal jobs that they have a hard time filling. I am not willing to elaborate on a public forum, but would be happy to explain to anyone through private messages that are interested. There are no guarantees, but there are mass hiring's by the Federal Government that they have a hard time filling all positions. |
Fair play mate, but I'm sure many would rather eat toenails for a living than work for the federal government  |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| The OP, regardless of his/her nationality, seems more concerned about potential career paths to explore post-TESOL rather than which job boards to use. |
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psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 4:04 am Post subject: |
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| getbehindthemule wrote: |
Fair play mate, but I'm sure many would rather eat toenails for a living than work for the federal government |
Why? Reasonable pay, easy job, pension, almost impossible to be dismissed for incompetence. Granted the job would probably involve pointless, repetitive drudgery - filling in forms all day - but to someone with a degree like psychology, this career path would be a very natural progression. |
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psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 4:23 am Post subject: Re: Life after TEFL? |
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| ploughon wrote: |
Hey guys,
So I've been in this game for getting on a decade now, and Ive been thinking of getting out of it for about half that. Ive had a good time (for the most part) but now feel its time to move on. I'm not sure what else to do, what I could do or what I'd be qualified to do (I have a BSc Psychology which Ive never used) and am looking for a career change where hopefully I wouldnt have to return to university (I just hated the stress and debt first time round).
So what do you guys plan to do, career wise, after TEFL? |
You forgot to include the most crucial piece of information: your age.
Other things to consider:
1. Any career change, even if you did a master's or other post-graduate level qualification (which you've no desire to do, in any case), is going to involve starting at the bottom. That's if you manage to get a job. Prepare to spend at least half a year applying for jobs and being offered an interview for almost none of them.
2. Consider that, in EFL, there are various things you could do. You could teach one-to-one (private tutor), for instance. You could specialise - e.g., restrict yourself to just adults or just very young children.
3. Where are you now? Consider where growth, optimism and opportunity are in the world at present.
4. Be realistic. You are not going to just swan into a high-paying job. Changing careers, especially if you are middle-aged or approaching it, is likely to be very tough. Anyone can get bored with their present situation, but is it really that bad that you'd be prepared to live with parents and claim welfare for an extended period of time? |
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getbehindthemule
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| psychedelicacy wrote: |
| getbehindthemule wrote: |
Fair play mate, but I'm sure many would rather eat toenails for a living than work for the federal government |
Why? Reasonable pay, easy job, pension, almost impossible to be dismissed for incompetence. Granted the job would probably involve pointless, repetitive drudgery - filling in forms all day - but to someone with a degree like psychology, this career path would be a very natural progression. |
It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, working for Trump etc. but we won't go there haha! |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 8:08 am Post subject: |
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deleted
Last edited by JZer on Fri May 25, 2018 11:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| psychedelicacy wrote: |
| getbehindthemule wrote: |
Fair play mate, but I'm sure many would rather eat toenails for a living than work for the federal government |
Why? Reasonable pay, easy job, pension, almost impossible to be dismissed for incompetence. Granted the job would probably involve pointless, repetitive drudgery - filling in forms all day - but to someone with a degree like psychology, this career path would be a very natural progression. |
With around 2.8 million Federal jobs as of June 2017, one doesn't have to fill out paper work all day. There are jobs as a Backcountry Park Ranger, Wrangler, ESL Teacher, Park Ranger, etc. There are a lot of options when it comes to working for the Federal government. |
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