The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

“I do not feel that sheer tiredness that I did when I was finishing a school day.”Former Early Years Teacher Tina Harrison spent 13 years in the classroom, working as both an Early Years Lead and Forest School Lead, before making the decision to leave teaching. Now a Team Support Administrator at a large national energy company, she's enjoying hybrid working, better sleep, and a workplace culture that genuinely celebrates wellbeing.Tina's journey wasn't without its challenges - from the emotional ups and downs of supply teaching to standing out among 400 applicants - but she successfully leveraged her transferable skills in organisation and relationship-building to secure her new role. Tina shares her honest insights about what she wishes she'd known earlier, the power of building rapport in interviews, and how she's learning to shed the teaching mindset around urgency and productivity. Despite some initial imposter syndrome, Tina is thriving in her new role and looking forward to what the future holds. In this episode, we also talk about:Starting your transition earlier to lay the foundationsSupply teaching as a bridge - and its unexpected challengesPivoting from initial career ideas when they don't alignStanding out in competitive interview processesTeacher transferable skills for thriving in administration rolesReframing urgency and letting go of the "it will get done" mindsetWorking through imposter syndrome in a new roleCompany cultures that prioritise mental health and wellbeingThe messy middle - and remembering it's temporaryLife after teaching: happier for both Tina and her familySign up for our FREE webinar 📆 From Classroom to Project Management to discover how your teaching skills translate directly into PM roles ✨ Thinking about leaving teaching? Sign up for our new free webinar 💛 Leaving teaching in 2026 for your roadmap to leaving the classroom next year - delivered straight to your inbox on 27th December.

"Life is far too short."Former primary school teacher Emma spent 10 years in the classroom before making the leap to a Programme Officer role at a university. While she knew early on teaching wasn't her "forever career," the decision to leave was still incredibly difficult. After facing rejection in education-adjacent roles, Emma found support through the Adventures After Teaching community, learning to translate her experience and work through the grief of "if I'm not a teacher, then what am I?"Now enjoying a hybrid work schedule and supportive team environment, she's rediscovered what it means to feel lighter, more present, and aligned with her values.In this episode, we also talk about:The grief of leaving your teacher identity behindDealing with rejection sensitivityBreaking the hyperachiever cycle and learning to restTranslating teacher skills for Programme Officer rolesWhy the journey might take a little longer than you think (and that's okay)The (good!) culture shock of starting a new job outside of teachingEnjoying simple freedoms in a new role (toilet breaks and uninterrupted lunch!)Finding camaraderie in a supportive team and asking questions without guiltHybrid working and workplace adjustmentsBeing present at home and improved work-life balanceIf 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!  Thinking about leaving teaching? Sign up for our new free webinar 💛 Leaving teaching in 2026 for your roadmap to leaving the classroom next year - delivered straight to your inbox on 27th December.

“It’s the best feeling when you’ve made that decision … it took a weight off my shoulders when I said ‘I’m gonna do this.’”Former primary school teacher Barbara spent 12 years in the classroom, mostly teaching years five and six alongside middle leadership roles. By her seventh year, some of the excitement that she once had for the classroom had waned, and trying to fix it by changing schools or year groups just wasn't cutting it. Facing burnout and declining health, she made the brave choice to start putting herself and her well-being first. Now a Grants Officer at a charity celebrating young people's achievements, Barbara loves her varied role, hybrid working, true control over her schedule, and - best of all - having her evenings back!In this episode, we also talk about:Making the emotionally difficult decision to leave teachingThe critical importance of foundational work on values and mindsetIdentifying transferable skills as a confidence boostBreaking burnout patterns before entering a new roleThe "squiggly journey" to finding the right roleNavigating first interviews and assessment tasksSalary negotiation for teachers used to pay scalesDaily responsibilities as a grants officerCore teaching skills: attention to detail and adaptive communicationWork-life balance and managing your own timetableIf 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!  Thinking about leaving teaching? Sign up for our new free webinar 💛 Leaving teaching in 2026 for your roadmap to leaving the classroom next year - delivered straight to your inbox on 27th December.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel."Former secondary school French teacher in Scotland, Laura left the profession after five years, having experienced burnout due to staffing crises and increasing workload pressures. As the only consistent staff member in her modern languages department amid post-Brexit staffing shortages, the isolation and pressure eventually led to her being signed off with workplace stress.Now an Employability Team Leader, Laura is enjoying the freedom and flexibility of her new role, mentoring a team of employment coordinators and working with clients who face barriers to employment. With autonomy over her schedule and a varied day involving travel, meetings, and relationship-building with employers, she's found a sustainable career path that allows her to come home with energy for her personal life rather than feeling like a "zombie."In this episode, we're talking about:Navigating burnout and being signed off workThe emotional difficulty of job searching while dealing with workplace stress The value of Academy well-being calls and community supportSeparating self-worth from professional outputFinding roles with movement and client interactionDay-to-day life as an Employability Team LeaderUsing LinkedIn for networkingRegaining work-life balance and personal energy post-teaching 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!  Thinking about leaving teaching? Sign up for our new free webinar 💛 Leaving teaching in 2026 for your roadmap to leaving the classroom next year - delivered straight to your inbox on 27th December.

The right role at the right time for the right people.Two former primary teachers, Emma and Victoria, share their inspiring journey of leaving the classroom together - though they'd never met before! After teaching for 12 years each, they both secured roles as primary curriculum writers for Developing Experts. Now they're enjoying creative freedom, collaborative culture, and the chance to use their teaching expertise in exciting new ways - building curricula from scratch, integrating real-world careers education, and finally having the time and headspace to problem-solve away from the high intensity of the classroom. In this episode, we also talk about:Feeling validated through connectionThe power of community for dealing with rejectionCareer change accountability and motivationTranslating ‘teacher speak’Dealing with the scary bits of career change Securing competitive roles Enjoying a comfortable interview experience Skills for curriculum design Remote work and prioritising mental healthBeing in control of your own dayLinks & Resources:www.jobsafterteaching.co.ukIf 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!  Thinking about leaving teaching? Sign up for our new free webinar 💛 Leaving teaching in 2026 for your roadmap to leaving the classroom next year - delivered straight to your inbox on 27th December.