Advice on career switch needed

Williamson wrote:

Why does that ugly beast of native only keeps popping up time and again?

Hermeneutica wrote:

Couldn't agree more. But, Virginie asked, and we're telling her ...
Freelance translating [or freelance anythinge else, for that matter] may give her more peace and quiet and above all, day-to-day, minute-to-minute, ***choice***. For her, less money but the option to say "No I can't" or "No I won't" may be worth it.

I miss the subsidised mortgages and the long paid holidays and the year end bonuses, but I prefer the fact that I don't have to justify another hour of darkness if I have a migraine on waking up, or beg for forgiveness if my cat is sick and needs to go to the vet, or a friend needs help at the other end of the country and I can just take my car, my cats, my mobile office and just move over there for a few weeks without having to ask / beg anyone for permission.
And sometimes it's easier to work a weekend and take off a couple of days during the week to do the things you can't do at weekends because the necessary organisations are closed. And so on ... countless examples, including that when a mistake is made, it's *my* mistake [and not somebody else's that's blamed on me], and if *I* do a good job, with a nice client I'll get recognition, instead of my supervisor taking the glory [which brings us back to the career ladder].

In the end, it's always give and take and everyone needs to decide for themselves.

Good night now ...

Dee

nordiste wrote:

Virginie, if you are working for a French company with a CDI (permanent position) you might consider applying either for a sabatical - you won't be paid but you can come back to your previous job if you decide that teaching/translating is not for you - or for a training year (congé formation), where you can be paid about 60% of your current salary while studying.

Lawyer-Linguist wrote:



To find a teaching position, you'll be competing against many English-speaking people with a TEFL qualification. It's a very competitive market too. Ask yourself honestly: who do you think a language school is more likely to appoint, even if you both hold the same qualification?