Changing career to teaching? The influential factors which motivate Irish career change teachers to choose teaching as a new career

Abstract

This article is based on a research study completed as part of an Ed. D dissertation which explored the experiences of career change teachers (CCTs) in Irish primary and post-primary schools. Their motivations for changing career, both intrinsic and extrinsic, along with the influence of family in career changers’ decisions to change career were explored. This research used a convergent parallel mixed methods design, with a sample of 112 participants. Data was gathered through the use of an online survey, completed by 107 participants and fifteen semi-structured interviews, ten of whom had also completed the online survey. The main motivations identified by career change teachers for changing career included a long-held desire to become a teacher, the influence of family members who were also teachers, crucial life events, positive prior teaching and learning experiences, loss of employment and interest in their previous job and other more extrinsic motivations. This research study provides a deeper understanding of the factors that influence a career change to teaching. This knowledge will assist in the recruitment of this diverse cohort of teachers to the teaching profession, bringing experience, skills and knowledge from different fields and backgrounds to the modern classroom.

Keywords:

• Career change teacher
• identity
• motivation

Ethical approval

This study has been reviewed and received ethical approval from Maynooth University Research Ethics committee.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Association of Musicians of Ireland) is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music (Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann 2022).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Annette Geoghegan

Annette Geoghegan is a primary school teacher with 21 years teaching experience and is deputy principal in St. Anne’s Loreto P.S. in Navan. She holds a B. Ed from St. Patrick’s College, a M. Ed and a post-graduate diploma in Educational Leadership from Maynooth University. She graduated in November 2022 from Maynooth University with a Doctorate in Education, specialising in Teacher Education. Her areas of interest include teacher career change, teacher identity and teacher attrition. Annette also works with Hibernia College on the PME programme as a PE and SPHE tutor.