Joanna's journey: From Teacher to Project Manager

Joanna, a secondary school teacher from Birmingham, successfully transitioned to project management after completing a comprehensive project management pathway with Learning People. Frustrated by the inflexibility of teaching and its impact on her family life, she sought a career change inspired by a friend's success story. With the expert guidance of Learning People’s Career Services, Joanna gained essential skills in project management methodologies, leading her to secure a new role perfectly aligned with her career aspirations. The continuous support from the StudentCare™ team and her career consultant was instrumental in her journey, empowering her to navigate the transition and achieve her professional goals.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, my name’s Jo. I’m from Birmingham in the West Midlands. Until now, I’ve been a secondary school teacher, and I have just completed the project management bundle through Learning People.

Tell us why you enquired with Learning People.
I was recommended Learning People by a friend who had already made a successful career change through them. She particularly highlighted the quality of the Career Services, as well as the courses themselves. I looked at my life in teaching and realised it wasn’t really working for me anymore. I was bored; it was inflexible and didn’t fit well with family life. She introduced me to the idea of project management, showed me the courses, and talked me through her day-to-day experiences. I thought, yes, that sounds right for me. She then put me in touch with Jenny from Learning People, and we went from there.

What job were you doing previously, and what are you doing now?
I began the course just over four months ago. I completed the bundle that included Change Management, Agile Foundation, Agile Practitioner, and then the PMQ at the end. Four months later, I have passed all the exams and have a job lined up, ready to start in a few weeks. I’m really excited about it, and it’s exactly what I want to do. Part of that success is thanks to the excellent careers service that supported me along the way.

Tell us what the career consultation phone call was like for you.
The initial phone call with Jenny was really useful. She listened well to my situation. I was fairly certain I wanted to leave teaching at that point but was unsure about my potential options, what kind of salary I should expect at the start, which courses were best to take, and whether it was the right choice overall. Jenny was great; she listened a lot, kept in touch with me in the beginning, and was really supportive, as was everyone else.

How much use did you get out of our StudentCare™ team?
The StudentCare™ team were very helpful. They kept in touch quite regularly.

Did you use any of the course mentoring?
I was offered a mentor over the phone to keep in touch with regularly. However, I didn’t utilise that much. What I did make use of was the support available via email whenever I had extra questions or needed resources. They were there to help me when I booked exams and to share my results. Although I didn’t use the support as much as I could have, it was reassuring to know that it was available throughout the entire course.

Tell us about your experience of working with our Career Services team.
I made extensive use of the Career Services team. I was paired with Chelsey Murray, who was fabulous. She reviewed my CV and helped me adapt it to look less "teacher-ish". She assisted me in setting up my LinkedIn profile and merging the two effectively. Chelsey was there when I got interviews, coaching me on how to handle them, what questions were appropriate to ask, and how to present myself. She sent me plenty of supportive materials along the way. Perhaps most importantly, she was like a cheerleader in my corner, genuinely excited about my successes and opportunities, always wishing me luck and celebrating when things went well.

What kind of impact did your Learning People experience have on your career journey?
I’m really pleased with my career direction now. I’ve exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to get a job in project management, and there was a point where I started to lose faith and thought I might have to settle for something else. But in the end, I secured the project management job at a company and in an area I couldn’t be happier with. I am thrilled, and I hope things only get better from here.

What have you enjoyed about your Learning People experience?
There are two aspects that stand out for me: the flexibility, as I was able to study alongside a full-time job and raising two children, and the exceptional career support that accompanied it.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about enrolling?
My advice would be to do your research, have discussions with Learning People and with friends, and thoroughly investigate your career path. Ensure you have the time and motivation, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.

Was it worth the investment?
Absolutely. I’ve landed exactly the job I wanted, which I definitely wouldn’t have been able to secure without these qualifications and the experience I gained along the way.

Ready to start your own career transformation? Discover how Learning People can help you unlock your potential and achieve your dreams.