Temporarily moving out of teaching

delta_bravo

Here's one I would like an opinion from people, particularly those that may have served on interview or recruitment panels in the past.

I have just completed my pgde. Currently there is 1 posted job in all of Ireland for the subject. I will be contacting loads of schools looking for work outside of this but clearly opportunities are limited. I will be beginning work in July in an office setting which is absolutely nothing to do with my subject. Say if I couldn't find teaching work for the start of term and remained in this job, would interviewers perhaps view this negatively in future as I have left the education sector? What I fear is that maybe they might see it as me not being dedicated enough to sweat out a few bleak months or a year of no work in teaching. What do you think?

Lord TSC

I think (I hope) that it won't be held against you (and me. Been unemployed since finishing the PGDE last year). I'm sure they'll realise that there's not really any teaching jobs out there and they won't expect you to sit on your ass doing nothing will waiting for a call.

Of course, if you do take a job, you run the risk of getting a call to do sub work and having to turn them down, and I'd imagine THAT would be viewed negativly. But I can't see why anyone would hold getting a job while waiting for a teaching position to open as a bad thing...

rainbowtrout

I'm really not being facetious when I say this but employers won't have viewed you as having left the education sector because you weren't in it to leave in the first place.

You've just completed the PGDE so unless you had prior teaching experience you're not leaving a teaching job or being left go at the end of the school year because of cutbacks. There are hundreds of teachers out there like you and some of them qualified a lot longer. I have friends who have done the PGDE 3 or 4 years ago and have never managed to secure any work in a secondary school since then. Very disheartening. There are loads of qualified teachers on the dole or working in jobs not related to teaching. Nobody is going to look at you negatively, there will be plenty more in your position going to interviews.

It's going to be very hard to get teaching work in the next school year. Most jobs won't be advertised for the moment because they have to be filled under the new redeployment scheme and if there isn't a suitable replacement in that scheme then they can be advertised.

Take the office job and keep plugging away at the teaching applications and you might get lucky but don't hold your breath

delta_bravo

Thanks for the advice.

rainbowtrout

delta_bravo wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Have you considered the UK or even somewhere like Dubai for a year?

Art Teacher

I am not sure what sector you are going to work in but if its a large company then, if there is workplace learning/ training going on then you could work to be promoted in this area.

I do not know your subject area but you could practice your educational qualification in nightclasses in VEC school.

boogle

I worked in the private sector for a year after I completed my PGDE. When an interview panel asked me about it, I explained that I was starting to build a house, and the bank wouldn't approve a mortgage unless I had full-time employment. They seemed satisfied with that, as I took up a teaching position the next Sept and stayed at it.

chippers

There seems to be a lot of work in the UK at the moment. If you really want to make a go of the teaching career I would seriously consider applying over there, as well as applying to Irish schools. I know the UK isn't everyone's cup of tea but your career will progress and you will gain good experience.

Be careful of falling into the comfort zone of an office job and a steady income. Your motivation to pro-actively get teaching work may wane.

Fuinseog

delta_bravo wrote: »

Here's one I would like an opinion from people, particularly those that may have served on interview or recruitment panels in the past.

I have just completed my pgde. Currently there is 1 posted job in all of Ireland for the subject. I will be contacting loads of schools looking for work outside of this but clearly opportunities are limited. I will be beginning work in July in an office setting which is absolutely nothing to do with my subject. Say if I couldn't find teaching work for the start of term and remained in this job, would interviewers perhaps view this negatively in future as I have left the education sector? What I fear is that maybe they might see it as me not being dedicated enough to sweat out a few bleak months or a year of no work in teaching. What do you think?

its still early enough for jobs. You can get a teaching job if you are willing to travel.
There are hundreds of people applying for a single teaching job. You may be called for interview for a job that does not exist. you may be ignored until the first week in September. You may only be offered ten hours a week.

delta_bravo

I know that the UK does have quite a bit of work at the moment but personally I want to stay in Ireland. My 2 subjects are Geography and History. Geography would be easily transferable but the History syllabi for Ireland and the UK are very different. I wouldn't personally be confident teaching in it. Also there's the whole extra cost of moving and all that.

I am reasonably optimistic that something will come up by late August however but was just wondering what people thought as to how I would be treated in interviews if I stayed in this office job for an extended period. I do see teaching as my career in the long term but at the same time I need to earn a living as my main priority. Unfortunately in the short term I may have to go to other sectors to get that.

I don't want to get "rusty" as such so will probably give a few free grinds or assist in a homework club, something to keep the practice going if I don't manage to get hours.

Art Teacher

Delta Bravo, I was in your position for a few years when I first started teaching.

In that time I was interviewed by a bizarre range of interview boards. No one ever asked me a question about having to support myself between employments.

its taken, as a matter of fact that your either on the dole or else working in another sector, in order to be able to survive. I have never encountered a board who asked questions about it or actually held it against a candidate.

What you do need is evidence of teaching experience. Teaching Night Class is a way of getting teaching experience.
A VEC Night School would give you a good reference and opportunity in the sector. Much better than giving grinds if you looking for regular employment as a teacher!
Hope this is helpful!

hunnybunny

I suppose you have a three routes really

1. I would say go abroad. There are teaching jobs out there. England is not quite the land of milk and honey for teaching at the moment due to cuts but London is still pretty good on the job market front.
I would look at the middle east and asia as well. Good salaries and opportunity to save and get experience. As old lady Thatcher said "on your bike":D Thats what I did in any case went where the work was and hopefully when the job situation improves my English experience will make me a good candidate. I know loads of teachers who taught in the UK who came back to Ireland.


2. If you accept another job, depending on your hours and holidays how about volunteering as a teaching assistant? It will keep you up to date on what is going on and give you some experience to put on a CV. I volunteered in a school before my PGCE and I can tell you overworked Irish teachers would appreciate the help. I marked work, read with children, worked with groups etc... The class teacher really loved the help and support in the classroom.
I suppose it depends on the principal but I can t see schools turning down free help.

3, If you keep looking for subbing work or have to go on the dole why not still try to volunteer maybe even full time at a school? I know there has been controversy from the unions about this but as a teacher I think its a great idea. You get welfare but get experience in the classroom at the same time. You wouldn t be teaching but you d have something relevant to put on the CV. Thats just what I would do if I couldn t get a job or leave Ireland.

Personally I am an"on your bike" sort of person. I want my CV to look good and come across as a professional determained to do her job. On saying that you need to have money in your pocket. I hope it works out for you!

PS I am on the board of governors for a school in England and I would look very highly on voluntary work and someone who is prepared to make sacrifices to do the job they love.

Fuinseog

Art Teacher wrote: »

Delta Bravo, I was in your position for a few years when I first started teaching.

In that time I was interviewed by a bizarre range of interview boards. No one ever asked me a question about having to support myself between employments.

its taken, as a matter of fact that your either on the dole or else working in another sector, in order to be able to survive. I have never encountered a board who asked questions about it or actually held it against a candidate.

What you do need is evidence of teaching experience. Teaching Night Class is a way of getting teaching experience.
A VEC Night School would give you a good reference and opportunity in the sector. Much better than giving grinds if you looking for regular employment as a teacher!
Hope this is helpful!

while nightschool is a good idea, they very often look for experience teaching teenagers.

Bigbang

Hey,

Im teaching full time in the UK and Im really not enjoying it. I used to love teaching but it's starting to make me a bit miserable. My problem is Im trying to think of career alternatives that I could try out but it seems impossible. I think once you're a teacher you quickly forget what skills you have and what else is out there.

Any ideas?

Art Teacher

Are you primary, second level - higher ed? whats your subject area?

Bigbang

Im a secondary Geog teacher. I don't necessarily have to have a career linked to geography though.

Art Teacher

Ideas are;

Social work/ Youthwork/ International Aid work
Industry - workplace education & training programmes

Depends on whether you want to earn money as priority? Maybe?

Bigbang

Yeah, I know it sounds shallow but money is definitely a priority. Im really sick of working this hard for rubbish money. The holidays aren't great over here either.
I was thinking of training programmes. I'll have a proper look into that. I haven't been living in the UK for long so Im still finding my feet, it's hard to know where to start looking for new jobs.

Fuinseog

Bigbang wrote: »

Hey,

Im teaching full time in the UK and Im really not enjoying it. I used to love teaching but it's starting to make me a bit miserable. My problem is Im trying to think of career alternatives that I could try out but it seems impossible. I think once you're a teacher you quickly forget what skills you have and what else is out there.

Any ideas?

maybe you can clarify a few points about teaching in Britain.

In your first year you are under observation.

There is more paperwork and bureaucracy involved in Britain.

You get paid less

The kids are much wilder

You are expected to move on after a few years.

Bigbang

Teaching here is definitely different. There is more focus on paperwork but it's not always a bad thing. There's more opportunity for promotion if you're willing to work hard. The money is something that really bothers me at the moment. I work all hours and Im only on about 23k a year, I have friends who work part time cushy jobs that earn more. Teaching in London might not be comparable to teaching in the rest of the UK but the kids are definitely tougher and quite a few of them are just unpleasant...I teach all girls at the moment though so I think thats to be expected.