Excuse me while I interrupt my lovey-dovey wedding happiness - I need to vent, and it's not going to be pretty.
Job hunting sucks, you guys.
It's still early days in the school term, but I've not had any calls for work. It's frustrating, that's for sure - but in actual fact? The more I think about it, the more I feel that I don't work well with this whole casual teaching thing. I did it for a while when I first arrived in London and ended up hating it - the waiting around, the different place every day, the never knowing what's been planned, the complete disarray that comes with it: all things that this uber organised girl struggles with.
I've come to the realisation that I need to find something stable. In my perfect little career bubble, that would be in the form of a full-time, permanent classroom teacher role. Unfortunately, finding a school in Sydney that will take you on as a permanent member of staff is harder than finding a needle in a haystick. It's pretty damn irritating too, considering all teachers ever hear about is the dramatic shortage of quality primary teachers in the Western Sydney suburbs. Ha. Well excuse me, but I know of a fully qualified and experienced teacher, with a car, who is ready to settle down with a classroom of kids and willing to work in some of the more 'challenging' suburbs and she is STANDING RIGHT HERE. Well, sitting, but you know what I mean. AND SHE IS NOT WORKING.
{deep breath}
Anyway, numerous permanent job applications that I've put in through the Department of Education here have led to nothing. The system is ridiculous - it really is. I must have applied for twenty different teaching roles on offer in the last two months, and only one has even got back to me, just one. The one response I got? Was that the position had been filled internally prior to the ad going live. This leads me to question if the jobs on display are actually even vacant jobs at all, or just ones that are advertised because they have to be. Chances are, they've already got their own teachers slotted in for the vacancy - so there's no real job there.
As much as I didn't want to do it, I'm going to have to start looking for work outside of teaching again, because I can't afford to sit around and not work. We have so many things that need financing, and I feel incredibly guilty that Jase is busy working and I am not. I've tried to keep busy - I'm doing as much as I can to help with home/wedding/life stuff, so that he can relax when he gets home from work. But what about me? This is ridiculous.
Feel free to send your good-job-vibrations this-a-way. I'll take 'em.
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13 comments:
sending super job vibes your way. x
i hope that you get a call in the next few weeks for a perm job!
Hey,
Came across your blog from Amanda
Just wondering where abouts you're looking for work, I know a few teachers at different schools Penrith/st marys way if you want me to get them to put a good word in for you
It's tricky, a mate's has only just got a full time job after being casual for the last 3 years.
The casual pool sucks... but once you get in, it picks up a little
Have you tried doing some volunteer work at schools where you'd like to teach? If You get yourself known they will call you for relief and then a contract. Gotta be patient!
Your lack of recent experience may be a hinderance so do some volunteering stuff to get your hand back in and to get known as someone who will put themselves out.
Perhaps find a friend from Uni and help them and their school.
Good luck. Relief work does suck but it is a means to en end. You don't want to not teach for too long as the longer you are out of it the less employable you become.
We have a teacher at our school who taught in London for 3 years and it took her another 2 years of relief to get a full time job. She had relief work nearly every day after the first 6 months and then several contracts.
Kathy
@ Carly - thanks, appreciate it. Every little bit helps!
@ Ali - have emailed you, and thanks - that's really sweet of you. I've been in & done the casual thing before, and am hoping to NOT have to stay there long.
@ Kathy - If I was in the position to volunteer, I would give that a shot. Unfortunately, I just can't afford to do it. At this rate, I'll be looking & applying outside of teaching just for money purposes, which is something I don't want to do - but if it pays the bills...
Hey there Aly,
The situation with employers in this country is beyond a joke to begin with.
Let me tell you a little story, I was out of work for 10 months after being retrenched. During that period, I sent a grand total of 217 job applications. Only TWO ever sent me back a response. Employers don't bother unless you have exactly what they want. It's pretty much bad manners I think, a courtesy email would be nice.
But DO NOT loose hope! Sometimes you may feel like it will not end, but it will! Someone, somewhere is looking for exactly the type of person that you are. I let that slip my mind quite a bit when I was out of work, and chose sometimes to wallow in self pity. But don't let yourself do it!
My advice would be to gain some new qualifications, or do some voulenteer work. My proactiveness with enriching my skill set was the reason why I got the job at David Jones. It shows you are willing to better yourself, even if you are not getting paid for the privilage.
And it helps to keep busy. You will have no problem with that, with all your wedding preperations you busy bee! But keeping occupied is the key to well, not going mad. Ahaha.
Head up honey! Something will come your way!
Big hugs darlin. Sending you all my 'great jobs will come your way' vibes.
xox
Oh girl. I feel your pain. I have been in my current job for over three and a half years. I have been applying for other jobs for about three years. I have been offered a few but typically the pay is significantly lower than what I am making now. I am the primary earner while Brooks is still in school, so I can't take my dream job if it doesn't pay enough. But just getting interviews is tough. Plus since I work for a university that employs about 13000 people, I want to stay internal bc of benefits. The only downfall is that they know exactly what you make currently and I have been told several times I am overqualified for the position. AKA, they don't want to pay me what I earn now. UGH! I hope something awesome comes along soon!
Get a part time job doing something to make money, volunteer the rest of the time. Seemples!
When i was looking for a good job in my field, I worked mon-fri in something I hated, and volunteered on Saturdays doing something I loved!
I've got my fingers crossed for you that you'll find a job soon! Hang in there and think positive. I know it's hard...I was there before. <3
What about tutoring afternoons and weekends. You can get $40+ and hour and that will leave you free in day time for other things
Kathy
Wow, seems like the job situation is equally as awful abroad as it is in the states :( I'm sorry you're having a rough go of it, and hope you find something soon!
Got nothing but sympathy for you on the job front. Every time I've gone through it, it's sucked.
I do know of a position coming open some time in the next few months but it's on the east coast of the US, so a bit more of a commute than you would probably like.
Sending good vibes your way....
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