Bye Teaching

Becoming a proofreader - with Melanie Cotton

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:18:31 GMT

This week we’re chatting to freelance proofreader, Melanie Cotton. Melanie taught French and Spanish during a 25-year career in the same secondary school before retraining as a proofreader and leaving to focus on her business, Argentum Proofreading, four years ago.

She helps self-publishing authors, independent publishers and businesses of all shapes and sizes share their words with complete confidence. She has clients across the globe but is based in Cheshire.

We talk about:

Melanie’s teaching experience and how she left
Training to be a proofreader, gaining accreditation, and starting to build her business
Getting clients and referral networking
Investing in a professional website
Establishing a consistent income
Getting clients from LinkedIn
What you can earn as a proofreader and pricing your work
Running a business and wearing all the hats
Melanie’s advice for those looking to leave teaching and set up their own business

Have a look at Melanie’s website for her proofreading business:

www.argentumproofreading.co.uk or say hello to her on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-cotton

I’d also recommend a look at her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@routesoutofteaching4635 where she interviews ex teachers about how they left teaching and what they’re doing now.

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building a tutoring business - with Caroline Bowmer

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:36:50 GMT

Today we are joined by Caroline Bowmer, who left a 15 year career in science teaching in 2019 to start her own business, Alchemy Education, an online education company.

Caroline and her team use a transformative programme of tutoring, exam technique and mindset coaching to help students to reach their potential and get their best possible GCSE and A Level exam results.

We talk about:

Caroline’s teaching experience and how much she loved being a teacher
How grief can make you reconsider your career path
The need for flexible working when you have a young family
How teaching isn’t a very family friendly career
Building a tutoring business as a side project
Growing her business to replace and exceed her teaching salary
Managing a team of tutors
The importance of mindset and a strong support network
Recognising your transferable skills
Leaving teaching and building a life that is more balanced and rewarding

You can find Caroline’s website here: https://alchemy-education.com/

Say hello to Caroline on LinkedIn

Follow Alchem Education on Instagram

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Becoming a ghostwriter and thought leadership consultant - with Victoria Doxat

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 18:30:00 GMT

This week, I talk to Victoria Doxat. Victoria is a thought leadership consultant and ghostwriter who left a 17 year teaching career this year to focus entirely on her business. She works with corporates and multinationals and specialises in planning, writing and editing whitepapers, expert articles and bylined articles for senior executives.

We discuss:

Victoria’s experience teaching GCSE and A Level philosophy
Getting involved with a union
Challenges and rewards of teaching and union work
Transitioning into freelance writing
Building a successful freelance business
Victoria’s current work and client base
Advice for teachers considering a career change

Take a look at Victoria’s website: www.victoriadoxat.com

Say hi to her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-doxat/

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retraining as a coach - with Jenny Sharp

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:29:20 GMT

Today I catch up with Jenny Sharp. Jenny is a career coach who left a career as a computing teacher shortly after the pandemic to retrain as a life and business coach.

She now enjoys a multi-faceted, blended career featuring coaching, counselling and mentoring, maths tutoring, and computing teacher education.

In her coaching business she specialises in working with women who want help with their career confidence, motivation and direction. Her clients range from teachers to product owners and managing directors across the UK and beyond from her base in North Yorkshire.

We chat about:

Jenny’s teaching journey
Her decision to leave
Working for STEM Learning
Retraining as a coach
The difference between coaching and mentoring
Choosing the right coaching course
Challenges and strategies for building a coaching business
Advice for teachers considering a career change

Jenny’s website is: www.jennysharp.co.uk

Say hello to her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennysharpcoaching/

Follow her on TikTok: @jennysharpcareercoaching

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-sharp-coaching/

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a change in circumstances forces your hand - with James Ball

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:44:50 GMT

Kicking off a brand new series is an interview with James Ball.

James spent twenty years as a history teacher, head of history and head of humanities in schools in the West Midlands.

He has been writing textbooks since 2008 and a change in circumstances recently precipitated him leaving the classroom to begin writing full-time.

He now lives in Copenhagen with his partner and daughter and authors textbooks, popular history books, educational blogs and articles. He also creates teaching resources for a range of charities.

In this interview we talk through:

James’ teaching journey and early career
The challenges of teaching and financial strain
His transition to writing textbooks
Balancing teaching with family life
Leaving teaching and embracing freelancing

Visit James’ website (www.ballpointcopy.co.uk). Say hello to him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/ballpointcopy). You can also have a look at his textbooks on medicine and Henry VIII and the American West and America, 1920-73 , read his article about dual coding and another about the impact of the history curriculum review. You can also listen to him on this podcast for Oxford University Press.

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Believing in yourself without ego, with Jo Millet

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:47:23 GMT

This week I catch up with Jo Millet.

Jo is an ex head of department and former history and politics teacher from London. She joined teaching through Teach First, then spent 8 years in both state and independent schools.

Jo lives in Bristol and now runs her own marketing agency, Lean Content. She’s the host of two podcasts and is setting up another business in 2024. She's also written a few books on marketing and does stand up comedy in her spare time.

Jo and I talk about:

The importance of self belief without ego
How it’s easier to start than you realise
Struggling with being the little fish
Getting fired from her first job out of teaching
Starting again from the bottom
Not giving up
Being glad she was a teacher but also really glad she left

You can find Jo on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-millett/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jo_millett/). Or you can visit her website (https://leancontent.co.uk/) and listen to her podcast Niche Upon a Star on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/164BdOCvIXOBxVztUR9pXs) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/niche-upon-a-star/id1724724440).

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From teacher to learning designer, to sustainability gamechanger, with Helen Hill

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 09:50:38 GMT

This week I’m chatting to an ex colleague of mine, Helen Hill.

Helen is the founder of UnlikelyGenius™️ and co-founder of Be The Future. She is an all-around creative, providing writing, design & illustration, and learning tech. She left teaching after being diagnosed with MS and feeling pushed out as a result of a toxic environment.

She now wants to shake up our outdated education system from the outside and support our overstretched teachers to teach about tough topics like climate change, world events, and mental health.

Helen and I talk about many things, including:

toxic work environments
being pushed out of jobs
neurodiversity and invisible disabilities
and getting into learning design as an ex teacher.

You can find Helen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenhill/) and Instagram (@unlikelygenius & @bethfuture.earth. Check out her websites for Unlikely Genius (https://www.unlikelygenius.com/) and Be the Future (https://www.bethefuture.earth/). And, I highly recommend her book, Falling off the Ladder.

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding a better work-life balance, with Kerry Quinn

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 18:08:19 GMT

This week I catch up with Kerry Quinn. Kerry is a social media strategist and content creator who left a 14-year teaching career to start her own business, The Teacher Marketer.

Listen in to find out how Kerry said goodbye to teacher stress and burn out in search of a better work-life balance.

Say hi to Kerry on Instagram @the_teacher_marketer, join her Facebook group Teachers in Business, or download her free 90 day content planner.

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving teaching to become a UX writer, with Inés Ivorra Harrison

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:52:20 GMT

This week I talk to Inés Ivorra Harrison. Inés is a content writer for education and EdTech.

She left a 11 year career in teaching ESL and FLE in January 2024. She now works mainly with educational and EdTech companies across the globe from the comfort of her home near Barcelona.

Listen up to find out how Inés made the transition from teaching to content writing. We discuss:

- How she deliberated over her decision to leave teaching

- Taking a course in UX writing

- The different types of writing you can do as a freelancer

- Becoming an EdTech content writer

- Difficulties in finding full time employed roles outside teaching

- Identifying transferrable skills that teachers have

- The benefits and challenges associated with running your own business

Visit Inés’s website: https://www.inesivorra.com/

Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/inés-ivorra

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble Follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From primary teacher to sustainable website designer, with Molly Scanlan

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:00:10 GMT

It’s series two of the Bye Teaching Podcast and today I talk with ex primary teacher Molly Scanlan.

Molly left teaching in 2020 and now creates sustainable websites for social enterprises and other non-evil businesses. She’s also a co-founder of a social enterprise herself, a writer and a parent.

Listen in for Molly’s take on our broken education system, teacher overwhelm and frustration, and the toll it can take on your mental health.

We also talk about some of the strong transferable skills teachers have and how their work ethic can set them up to be really successful business owners.

Visit Molly’s website: https://www.mollygetsitdone.com/

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scanlanmolly/

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Don’t forget to hit ‘subscribe’ in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick update

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:18:52 GMT

Just a quick update on what's coming up for series two of the Bye Teaching podcast.

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Don’t forget to subscribe in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

This podcast was produced and edited by Simon Elvin - say hello to him over on LinkedIn

Music by Escape from the Giant Bubble follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

08 Making 6 figures in your second year of business, with Peta O’Brien-Day

Fri, 24 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Today I talk to Peta O’Brien-Day. Peta is a brand messaging strategist and conversion copywriter who works with socially conscious brands, helping them weave their values into their messaging – without getting cancelled.

She’s the host of The Soap Box Podcast, and runs The Soap Box membership – both of which aim to help smaller socially conscious businesses feel more confident talking about causes they care about.

Peta spent 15 years as a youth worker and teacher, honing her empathy and communication skills before moving into marketing.

Listen up to hear Peta talk about how the education system can hinder progress, struggling to find a work-life balance, and the challenges of juggling a teaching career when you’re a newly widowed parent of a small child.

She also discusses the copywriting course she’d recommend for beginners and how to find what you’re good at. We also dig into handling finances, networking, having difficult conversations and overcoming imposter syndrome.

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Sign up for Peta’s free workshop ‘How to have better conversations – in real life AND in your business’ on 30th May 2024 at 7.30pm. Register here: https://dogged-composer-9633.ck.page/7ab453c80d

Visit Peta’s website here: https://wordsbypeta.com

Find her on Instagram

Connect with Peta on LinkedIn

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Copywriting courses mentioned in today’s podcast

Alex Cattoni’s Copy Posse

Comprehensive Copywriting Academy

The Copywriter Club

Copy School (Copyhackers)

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Don’t forget to subscribe in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

Music and audio editing by Simon from Escape from the Giant Bubble follow them on

Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and

let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

07. “If you’ve been a teacher, you can do pretty much anything.” Amber Jay on leaving teaching and becoming a business coach.

Fri, 17 May 2024 06:00:50 GMT

Amber knew that she wanted to leave teaching really early on. In fact, she was still training when she had the realisation that this career just wasn’t for her.

People told her that she’d regret it if she left. But she knew she wouldn’t. And she hasn’t!

Amber is now an ICF-accredited business coach and mentor whose mission is to help ambitious teachers build their own brilliant coaching businesses. So, they can leave the classroom for good and create a life that brings them the joy, freedom and income that they deserve.

Listen to the episode to discover how Amber left teaching when she was still an ECT (after having taught English as a second language for some years) and built up her coaching business.

Visit Amber’s website: www.amberjay.co.uk

Connect with her on Instagram @amberjaycoaching

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amberjaycoaching

Join her free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/classroomtofullybookedcoachclub

Download her free Coaching Biz Essentials Checklist

Don’t forget to subscribe in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06. From teacher to travel consultant. Alison Rose’s 5 Year Plan

Fri, 10 May 2024 06:00:05 GMT

This week I caught up with travel consultant and part-time primary school teacher, Alison Rose. She started her business, Alsion Loves Travel in 2023 as a side project. And she has a five year plan to build up her business to the point where she can leave teaching altogether.

Alison talks about how she initially started out as a travel consultant as a way to save money on her own holidays. After a while her business grew, and she’s at a point now where she has a plan to gradually build it up so she can leave her teaching job.

You can find Alison on Instagram @alison_loves_travel or on Facebook, or head over to Alison’s website if you’d like to book your own travel.

If you’d like to find out more about earning money from travel, drop Alison a DM on Instagram, or head over to travellikeaninsider.com and enter ‘Alison Rose’ in the referral box. If you’d like to join the private Instagram group, follow @virtualtravelfranchise and DM Alison @alison_loves_travel and she’ll get you accepted.

Thanks for listening!

Don’t forget to subscribe in your podcast player and recommend the podcast to other teachers you know.

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble follow them on Instagram @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05. How to get your first clients (even if you’re brand new and have no network)

Fri, 03 May 2024 10:00:08 GMT

Ever dreamt of starting your own business but dismissed it as a possibility because you wouldn’t know where to start?

That was me back when I was a teacher.

I looked at people who were freelancers and wondered how on earth they got their clients. And I just assumed it was something I could never do.

These people had huge networks of contacts who’d refer them for work. How was I supposed to do that? I didn’t have a network at all.

I wish I’d known then what I know now. I wish there’d been a podcast full of tips and advice about how to leave teaching and start and run a business.

So that’s why I’m sharing my top tips for getting your first clients as a service based freelancer.

Listen up to find out.

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

DIFTK (Doing it For the Kids) - a podcast for freelancing parents

Being Freelance - a podcast with a different guest each week who tells their story of how they got started being freelance

Being Freelance community

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04. "It's not a vocation anymore." Katharine Matthews on leaving teaching to be a freelance writer

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:00:33 GMT

The first of many interview episodes… This week I talk to Katharine Matthews.

Katharine is a generalist freelance copywriter and content writer who left a 15 year career in English teaching during the pandemic to start her own business, The Absolute Word.

She works with businesses of all sizes and sectors across the UK and beyond from her base in the North East.

Say hello to Katharine on social media. You’ll find all her links here: The Absolute Word

Follow Bye Teaching on Instagram: @byeteachinguk

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

03. What else can a teacher do?

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:50:03 GMT

Desperate to leave teaching but don't know what else you can do? Teachers have a tendency to underestimate their skills. There are tons of things you're already doing that would be super valuable in countless other work settings.

In today’s episode I talk about:

teaching adjacent roles
other teaching-related ways to make money
taking a part time role while building up your business as a side hustle
teachers' transferrable skills
building a business out of your hobbies and other skills
other business ideas for ex teachers
identifying your skills & doing competitor research

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

02. Will I need to take a pay cut when I leave teaching?

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:10:44 GMT

Worried about having to take a pay cut if you leave teaching? I was too. Now I out earn my old teaching salary every month.

BUT I did initially take a pay cut. I wish I’d known then what I know now.

In today’s episode we talk about employed roles, starting your own business, transitioning out of teaching with teaching adjacent roles, and how to plan if you’re desperate to get out soon.

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

TES

Teachers pay teachers

Fiverr

People per Hour

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01. The top 3 things stopping you leaving teaching

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:05:54 GMT

Want to know the 3 biggest fears teachers have when they think about leaving teaching? Then today’s episode is for you.

I’ve talked to hundreds of burnt-out teachers who are desperate to get out. And there are many things that have them putting off making a plan. But these are, by far, the most common ones.

Have you got other fears about making the leap? DM me on Instagram and let me know. You can find me @byeteachinguk

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

Google Digital Garage

Hubspot courses

Coursera

FutureLearn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bye Teaching trailer

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:00:33 GMT

Are you a burnt-out teacher desperate to get out? Do you dream of leaving, teaching and doing something else? Maybe working from home, or starting your own business?

In 2016 I was exactly where you are. Hating my job, desperate to get out, but not knowing how to make it happen.

I now run my own successful copywriting business.

Each week I’m going to share some helpful tips and insights about leaving teaching and running your own business. And I’m also going to interview other teaching escapees who have also made the leap. So hopefully you can learn from our mistakes and get to where you want to be a lot faster.

And be free and say bye to teaching for good.

Music and audio editing by Escape from the Giant Bubble @escape_from_the_giant_bubble

Got a question you’d like answering on the podcast? Email me and let me know at hello@byeteaching.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.