The Once-Great Vocation of Education

Chloris

I'm a Mary I graduate from 2012. I got very lucky when I finished college, after just a year of subbing I managed to secure a maternity leave cover position and get my dip done.

This year, however, has not been so lucky. The school I was in last year haven't contacted me about any subbing (maybe because of some issues the principal had with me personally, to do with my family) and in spite of visiting then at the start of this year I haven't received any calls from the schools I relied on when I first graduated. I'm assuming they've replaced me. It's like there's just no demand for subs, I've tried subsearch and textasub but to no avail.

Hence why I'm skulking around boards.ie at 4.30am. I'm so disenfranchised with the career I picked. Lucky for me, I've worked with people who have disabilities since I was a teenager so I get some paid work from a company who provide assisted living care. This means that I'm not completely unemployable. I don't have a qualification in this type of work so I won't get a contact with these types of organisation and I feel I'm wasting my degree doing this work any more than part time anyway.

My question is:

What areas of employment besides teaching and disability care could I pursue for a steady income and an exciting job description? I'm a musician too, if that's of any relevance. I'd love to be able to figure out what profession would be the best for me, are there any guidance counselling services I could cheaply consult with to guide me in the direction I should go next?

I'm sure there are other despondent teachers in my position, and other people with heartening success stories... I can't be the only one in this crappy situation. Please help us!

juneg

Its often a case of being in the right place at the right time. you seem to have relied on one school for work so maybe cast a wider net and try to become a regular sub in a few schools, that way you will be known in more places. Do you drive?

There is definitely a shortage of work for subs at the moment but that's how it was when I started out too 20 years ago and more. It will come good again and make sure you have your foot in the door somewhere when it does.

Be nice to the secretary, they are often the ones ringing the subs!!!
Best of luck

spurious

There won't be any extra sub work while the S&S provisions of HRA are in place.

byhookorbycrook

It may well be the schools are oversubscribed with subs and ,as already said, that you need to broaden your area or even move out of that area.

heldel00

Teaching in cavan. Was off sick last Monday and Tuesday. Rang principal on Sunday night to say I wouldn't be in. He rang 18 subs and still couldn't get anyone for to cover me.
Got a girl for Tuesday but she lived 40 miles away in a different county! Was not well enough to go back on Wednesday but just had to because he couldn't get anyone. Serious short supply of subs up our end of country!

byhookorbycrook

I am aware of a group of teachers who moved from an area in Munster which was vastly overstocked with teachers to a midlands area that was very short of qualified teachers. They rented a house between them and subbed all of last year. If one got work and already had work, they passed it on to the next housemate.

Chloris

I'm not willing to uproot my life for a career. My family are the most important thing in my life and my parents need my assistance in caring for a sibling with special needs. My partner has work here too. That's why I'm asking about a change of career rather than just going to the rural areas where I'd find teaching but be unhappy.

I'm trying to find work doing home tuition. I rang the Dept of Education today and the woman I spoke to said there is no list of teachers with experience working with children who have disabilities. I think that's bonkers, my parents are always looking for qualified and committed people to work with my brother. She referred me to "rollercoaster.ie" as somewhere I might find some advertised posts or where I could post my availability. There was nothing there really, one girl in Limerick saying she was available and that was it really.