This study explores the expectations of teaching as a career held by beginning teachers who undertook a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) teacher training course for secondary schools at three institutions in the North of England. Over 300 student teachers completed a questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of their PGCE course. A sample of 28 students were then tracked through their first 2 years in post by e-mail communication. During this 3-year period, the most frequently cited positive factor was the pleasure generated by pupil success and the most frequently cited negative factor was workload.