Unemployed teacher problems

LegacyUser

Im a qualified teacher, I spent my entire twenties living in poverty to get my qualifications, volunteering in local schools and Summer camps, running my own classes for kids to get teaching experience and sacrificed so much, I had to end a long term relationship so that I could move away to a cheaper part of the country to study, the distance pulled us apart but I was so determined and thought it would all pay off in the end when I got a teaching job.
Im now 30, cant get a job, dont have a car and live with my parents because I cant afford to move out and cant afford car insurance or a car.
I cant afford to retrain in anything else and I feel like life is slipping past, all my friends are settling down and im still living like a teenager. I really believed that getting the good education would open doors for me but I just feel trapped with no opportunities.
Anytime I meet someone nearly the first thing they ask me is what my job is or where do I work, I feel like a complete waster telling them im unemployed or explaining that im a teacher that cant find work.
I went to counselling but the counselor questioned me like I was lying, he said he'd heard there was a shortage of teachers and tried to give me advice when he clearly didnt know what he was talking about. The entire session was spent explaining to him how shortages are only in certain subject and how teaching is filled with corruption and nepotism.
In my last subbing job most of the permanent staff were related to or friends with the principal, the handful of staff that wearnt from the principals home town had been employed long before the principal was employed in the school.

I was offered both a permanent and sick leave job over the phone last year in the same center, I gratefully accepted only for them to suddenly retract the permanent role without explanation and only offer me the short term 1 hour a week sick leave cover, I recently discovered the permanent role was given to a friend of management who doesnt even have the correct qualifications.
I subbed in an adult ed center 2 years ago, through out the year I was constantly buying materials out of my own pocket that should have been provided by the center, when I went in to collect my things after my subbing position ended I discovered they thrown all my things away when they were cleaning.
This sort of things are very common in teaching, ive heard some horror stories from substitute teachers and how they are treated by schools and education centers, sub teachers have very rights and are exploited and bullied by schools and management as they know we're so desperate for work.
Often schools and ETB's will hire teachers on temporary contracts but keep them on for years, as their contracts arent permanent the job has to be advertised every year but is held for the temporary teacher already in the school. I have had countless interviews which I spent days and weeks preparing for, traveled half way across the country for only to discover the job is being held for someone else. Interview panels have no problem wasting the time and money of desperate teachers just to make up interview numbers.
This year theres been a lack of jobs advertised in my subjects and I havnt received a single interview. I dont know what im going to do come September with no work.
Ive been advised to upskill and gain more qualifications but I cant afford to do that and at this stage I dont see the point, I know teachers who have been subbing for 6 years, have multiple masters, SEN qualifications, loads of experience and still cant get work.
I cant afford to go abroad and I dont really want to at my age, besides what would I be coming back to only more unemployment.
Ive applied to other jobs but employers cant see past the teaching and dont see the transferable skills of which I have many.
In the only interview outside of teaching that I secured, a minimum wage office job, I was questioned as to why I wasn't pursuing teaching, I explained as best as I could, told them how I loved the interaction with staff and students but the job prospects arent great, I focused on my transferable skills and how much I loved working with people and how skilled I am in this are, I focused on the IT skills ive gained through teaching but they basically told me to stick to teaching and didnt really give me a chance, I was confused as they why they even called me for an interview if thats how they felt.
I dont know what to do, my life is such a mess. Im single, have very few friends as most of them have either moved away or settled down, ive no job and live with my parents. I just feel like such a complete failure. I cant believe I wasted so much of my life and money on this career path and now I have no where to turn and no future.
Ive had my cv's and applications checked by interview coaches, guidance counselors and a previous employer, all said my cv was impressive. I have 3 cv's, one for teaching, one for non teaching related work that highlights my transferable skills and a third basic cv that was made up for me by an employment adviser at Seetec.

I just feel like giving up. Im not really looking for advice at this stage because I feel ive heard it all and have exhausted every option. Im just really struggling to cope now.
Can anyone relate?

antix80

I think you do a lot of explaining to people and it doesn't really get you anywhere.
Teaching is a qualification and maybe travelling a bit further afield will help you get a job. Maybe do a tefl weekend and teach english abroad.

The Undecided One

I agree with the 1st answer. When you are at an interview for a non teaching position don’t say that it’s impossible to get a teaching job without connections. Don’t say anything negative about the career path you choose.
If the question is raised just say that you want to try something else, even if you haven’t worked as a teacher yet.
Say that you’ve given it a go and now you want to try something else.
You have to give the interviewer confidence that you are a serious candidate and not someone who will leave at a moments notice when they’ll get a teaching position.
This may sound selfish but it’s your life and you owe it to yourself to put yourself first.
I’m afraid though you’ll have to accept lower pay at the beginning just to get your foot in the door.
Money will come in time, with experience, when you’ll show your employer that you are worthy of being paid more.
Just keep at it and take it one step at a time.

LegacyUser

if i were you i would get out of this corrupt country for good

Addle

If you’re living at home, you’ll be able save the deposit for accommodation abroad quick enough.
Emigrate, work, start a new life for yourself.

JustJoe7240

Addle wrote: »

If you’re living at home, you’ll be able save the deposit for accommodation abroad quick enough.
Emigrate, work, start a new life for yourself.

It’s pretty difficult to save without an income

Looptheloop30

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

It’s pretty difficult to save without an income

Could have spent the summer pulling pints

LegacyUser

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

Im now 30

OK, so you're still young or very young depending on one's definition. As very many of us will be living until we are @ 90, I'll opt for very young. I'm 46, so obviously I have a different perspective on your age than you do. You really need to get a grip about your age: the world is still at your feet. Wake up (I mean that in the nicest way possible).

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

cant get a job, dont have a car and live with my parents because I cant afford to move out and cant afford car insurance or a car.

I've a full-time permanent job as a secondary school teacher and I live with my wife and children in a house in Dublin with 24 more years of a huge mortgage on it, and even larger monthly childcare costs. Careerwise I've "arrived", but I never anticipated so much actual financial struggle, and lack of freedom, once I had a secure job and my own home. So, not only are you younger than me, you're richer than me. Again, please wake up and count your blessings. Your glass is half full here. Far away fields...

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

all my friends are settling down and im still living like a teenager.

Living at home with your parents is not synonymous with 'living like a teenager', by any means. Plenty of adults, and their children and partners, are doing precisely this while they save for a deposit. I did it, with my young family, for almost 3 years. It was very hard, but otherwise we never, ever would have had the savings to buy our own home on top of paying Dublin rents.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I really believed that getting the good education would open doors for me but I just feel trapped with no opportunities.

In fairness, many, many people who went into secondary teaching had crap subjects for getting jobs from the outset. They were of course great subjects in their own right and people got a good education, but in terms of demand for teaching subjects new teachers were frequently deluding themselves with the subjects they chose. CSPE, English, History, Geography, etc were not in demand 10 years ago, and they aren't really now compared to other subjects. Irish, Maths, languages, Home Economics - they are simply better subjects to have in terms of employability. I would be very surprised if this wasn't the case when you did the dip.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

Anytime I meet someone nearly the first thing they ask me is what my job is or where do I work, I feel like a complete waster telling them im unemployed or explaining that im a teacher that cant find work.

Does it matter what they might think? (most of us are too busy to go around thinking too much about others and we're usually just making conversation for the sake of it). At any rate, why can't you say you do subbing but are looking for a full-time job to no avail thus far? Let the word out and more people will be able to help you. Knock on doors in different schools and hand your cv in. This is what I had to do, again and again. Reminders. On this point, it would be vital that you have a car (to be in a school to cover at short notice) and if you don't I'd probably re-evaluate the entire get-a-job-as-a-sub-in-the-hope-of-getting-a-more-permanent-position process which most of us go through.

Our school management is actively asking us all at meetings to give them names of anybody who would be able to sub as there is a problem getting subs (the subs here are nearly always living at home with their parents).

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

The entire session was spent explaining to him how shortages are only in certain subject and how teaching is filled with corruption and nepotism.
In my last subbing job most of the permanent staff were related to or friends with the principal, the handful of staff that wearnt from the principals home town had been employed long before the principal was employed in the school.

While this happens, especially in country areas, the fact that you're evidently looking for a job in a rural area is a major plus: when you finally get a job, you will not have to pay Dublin accommodation or childcare costs, but will be paid the same as a teacher in Dublin. You simply need to keep knocking on doors to increase your likelihood of a job. Expand your area. Be prepared to live beyond your village or county - just have the wit to not bother applying for a job in Dublin/where accommodation costs will in effect be about a 35% reduction in your salary.
Again, the fact that you haven't said your subjects limits the value of any advice you can be given here. Your subjects might simply be way oversubscribed and you're keeping your head in the sand about what you must do - e.g. go back and do a Higher Diploma in Arts or Science for two years to get a more in-demand subject, or leave teaching. At 30, it really shouldn't be a big deal to leave teaching - even if from your perspective it obviously is. You're young; you can get a better career than teaching and all the newfangled bureaucratic, educationally bereft right-on nonsense meetings etc.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I subbed in an adult ed center 2 years ago, through out the year I was constantly buying materials out of my own pocket that should have been provided by the center, when I went in to collect my things after my subbing position ended I discovered they thrown all my things away when they were cleaning.

You simply need to learn to assert yourself in situations like this. I'd find it hard to believe the school would not reimburse you if you gave them receipts and it was clearly used for school business. You should, by right, clear all this stuff with the relevant body beforehand. It shouldn't be an issue.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

This sort of things are very common in teaching, ive heard some horror stories from substitute teachers and how they are treated by schools and education centers, sub teachers have very rights and are exploited and bullied by schools and management as they know we're so desperate for work.

What have you been doing to not leave yourself at the whim of the handful of principals in your local area? What can you do? Extend that area by putting your cv into other schools? Get better subjects?

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

Often schools and ETB's will hire teachers on temporary contracts but keep them on for years, as their contracts arent permanent the job has to be advertised every year but is held for the temporary teacher already in the school. I have had countless interviews which I spent days and weeks preparing for, traveled half way across the country for only to discover the job is being held for someone else. Interview panels have no problem wasting the time and money of desperate teachers just to make up interview numbers.

Yes, this is a big problem. The entire recruitment system is woefully unfit for purpose, and there is much nepotism and plenty of cliques. The number of fake interviews - i.e. it's widely known that the person in the job will get it but others are being called to make up the numbers - is utterly demeaning. The 10-page application forms for many of these very jobs are yet more variants of contempt from school principals to job applicants. That has been the way for as long as I can remember. It's not personal; it's simple supply and demand. Far too many people used to go into teaching, and they knew they'd only get the edge with contacts. When I did it, in the depth of recession, most dippers (particularly those with hugely oversubscribed school subjects) were doing it in the knowledge they'd end up in some awful school system like England's. They went ahead anyway, so I've little sympathy.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I cant afford to retrain in anything else and I feel like life is slipping past.... This year theres been a lack of jobs advertised in my subjects and I havnt received a single interview. I dont know what im going to do come September with no work.
Ive been advised to upskill and gain more qualifications but I cant afford to do that and at this stage I dont see the point,

This 'life slipping past' feeling is understandable, and something which should be used positively to motivate you. Time does fly. Most of us have been there, and will be there again at other moments of our respective lives. You don't say what your subjects are, although it's evident you are a secondary school rather than primary school teacher.

Regarding upskilling, how about one of the Skills Conversion courses? You could, if you still have a grá for your subjects, use them (build on your strong points) and integrate them with the technology of a course above? Loads of options there, at low or no cost. You may also be entitled to a local authority grant. Furthermore, credit unions offer loans for education purposes at a reduced rate, and there is a myriad of other financial support stuck away under some fund or other to help students from poorer backgrounds, etc. I got financial support from my local VEC/ETB to help me pay fees once. You need to do research on this. Make phonecalls. Be active.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I know teachers who have been subbing for 6 years, have multiple masters, SEN qualifications, loads of experience and still cant get work.

The subjects. It's all about the subjects. You should know this. What subjects do they have? The other stuff, including the masters, is fluff in terms of getting your first teaching position. If they have good subjects - e.g. Irish, Home Economics, Maths, languages - and can't get a job, they need to expand their search area. It is definitely significantly easier to get a job now than it was 10 years ago, but it is still very tough in subjects which are oversubscribed.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I cant afford to go abroad and I dont really want to at my age, besides what would I be coming back to only more unemployment.

Many, if not most, of the foreign education companies pay your flight and accommodation costs. They, particularly the English ones, are desperate. You would be returning with more experience and thus would be more valued in an interview, and you're only 30. You seem to be intent on making excuses to avoid change rather than taking control of this.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

Ive applied to other jobs but employers cant see past the teaching and dont see the transferable skills of which I have many.
In the only interview outside of teaching that I secured, a minimum wage office job, I was questioned as to why I wasn't pursuing teaching, I explained as best as I could, told them how I loved the interaction with staff and students but the job prospects arent great, I focused on my transferable skills and how much I loved working with people and how skilled I am in this are, I focused on the IT skills ive gained through teaching but they basically told me to stick to teaching and didnt really give me a chance, I was confused as they why they even called me for an interview if thats how they felt.

You got called for one interview and were rejected. Why is this affecting you so badly? I've long lost count of the number of interviews which I've been called for and rejected. You just have to dust yourself off, tweak your cv and presentation, and start again. It's normal. We are all rejected, and we all need to build up our resilience. Anyway, it's often the case that they are doing us a favour, and I have left interviews genuinely not wanting to work with the people there.

Strugglingtocope wrote: »

I dont know what to do, my life is such a mess. Im single, have very few friends as most of them have either moved away or settled down, ive no job and live with my parents. I just feel like such a complete failure. I cant believe I wasted so much of my life and money on this career path and now I have no where to turn and no future.

Ha! You're single and your life's in a mess? You have enormous freedom as a single person. You paddle your own canoe. There is a whole world of stuff you could do. Young and single and you're thinking like somebody who has not got that freedom. Don't waste any more years in the mental space you're in. It's infuriating reading this glass half empty mentality, when you clearly have so much. You have created a self-flagellating torture zone for yourself. Stop. Perhaps living at home, or indeed living in Ireland, is not good for you? I'd be hesitant to recommend going to Spain or somewhere to teach English rather than getting your career sorted at home first - you're only putting the inevitable on the long finger - but you seem to above all else lack any perspective on the enormous number of pluses in your life at the moment. Most of the workforce in 2019 will have more than one career in their working lives. There is no shame at all in changing careers (and stop being consumed with what people may or may not think about you). Anecdotally, people have been leaving teaching in huge numbers since 2009, although we don't have anything approaching reliable statistics. They go into a plethora of other jobs, many of which are advertised on publicjobs.ie or educationsposts.ie - subject inspectors, Teaching Council, etc - and retraining for other careers. Again, google is your friend. You need to grab the bull by the horns here and get active. Most people who study geography, history, economics or whatever go into perfectly good careers outside teaching. Why can't you? You can. It's the end of July so you need to get your ducks in a row in terms of potential courses you could commence in September to start a new career (never mind the official closing dates on those courses; contact the provider directly as exceptions are regularly made).

Best of luck. And for God's sake, start being kind to yourself.

theoldbreed

Hi OP,

I've been in your situation and I can only tell you what worked for me. You have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. You might not get a job in your home county. I knew that I wanted to work in a single sex school so I looked up every school in counties I would live in and I researched the schools, found names of principals and sent CVs and cover letters to every one of them. I must have sent over 60.

I started off with a maternity leave in one place then a sick leave in another which led to a full time job. That's three different counties, you have to be willing to move around. I had lived and taught abroad for a few years before that too and told myself if it didn't work out here that I was moving to the UK. I signed myself up with an agency there just to be prepared.

Yes the system can be unfair, you can't wallow. I was a similar age to you too. I started teaching in my mid to late 20s because I had been travelling and living away. Age is only a number.
Put yourself out there, it's hard I understand but you always have options.

airy fairy

From reading your post, it comes across to me like you want it all now, and you don't want to work for it, climb the ladder so to speak.
I personally know a few young teachers, and they ALL started on p/t hours, covering mat leave, sick days, bits of days here and there, right across various schools in the area, and beyond. NOT ONE OF THEM expected full time permanent jobs anytime soon. They worked in bars, restaurants, mcD's, shops, trained up as barristas while covering hours in teaching here and there.
Why can't you take a minimum wage job, especially while having no rent/mortgage as you're with parents?
There's no need for you to be unemployed at all, whatsoever.
Ok, not the job you studied for, but it's a job.
How do you think young teachers get known in schools, make a name for themselves, add to the CV, etc? Because they start at the bottom of the ladder, most actually not on the ladder at all, and WORK their way there, little by little, over many years.

You won't get a permanent teaching job handed to you on a silver platter.

antix80

airy fairy wrote: »

You won't get a permanent teaching job handed to you on a silver platter.

+1 to this. Teachers have a decent starting salary, a pensionable job and nice working hours/holidays. In a small town, accounting or law grads would be lucky to get €1000 a month.

Probably is, colleges churn out tens of thousands of graduates - many in arts, but a field like business studies is so saturated with disillusioned grads retraining as teachers, you'll have to be very lucky to get a job as a teacher in your hometown-you could be waiting 30 years for the existing business studies teachers in the local school to retire.

It's not necessarily corruption or nepotism. Just a case of supply and demand.

snor

What is your subject/subjects OP?

LegacyUser

airy fairy wrote: »

From reading your post, it comes across to me like you want it all now, and you don't want to work for it, climb the ladder so to speak.
I personally know a few young teachers, and they ALL started on p/t hours, covering mat leave, sick days, bits of days here and there, right across various schools in the area, and beyond. NOT ONE OF THEM expected full time permanent jobs anytime soon. They worked in bars, restaurants, mcD's, shops, trained up as barristas while covering hours in teaching here and there.
Why can't you take a minimum wage job, especially while having no rent/mortgage as you're with parents?
There's no need for you to be unemployed at all, whatsoever.
Ok, not the job you studied for, but it's a job.
How do you think young teachers get known in schools, make a name for themselves, add to the CV, etc? Because they start at the bottom of the ladder, most actually not on the ladder at all, and WORK their way there, little by little, over many years.

You won't get a permanent teaching job handed to you on a silver platter.

You won't get a permanent teaching job handed to you on a silver platter

all the crooks and corrupt get it. it haapened to someone i know. they went to australia and got a good job good life. small town ireland is is disgusting . you should expose the person who got the got without the qualifications as she is having a bad effect on her pupils

SirChenjin

Have you posted about this previously, OP?

Scarinae

You've expressed reluctance to move abroad because of the cost - however sometimes you can go through a scheme that covers your flights, set up costs etc. I presume you're a secondary school teacher as you talked about teaching particular subjects, although I don't know what your subjects are.

One of my friends is a science teacher and took a job at a private school in Sweden, she didn't speak any Swedish when she moved. She did Skype interviews and I'm pretty sure some of her set up costs were covered but I'm not sure if this was by the school itself or a teaching agency.

There is always the option of doing a TEFL qualification and teaching English abroad for a while, even if this isn't your ultimate goal it could give you some more teaching experience? I know people who have done this in countries like South Korea and loved it, sometimes your accommodation, flights etc is covered.

antix80

sebastopol wrote: »

if i were you i would get out of this corrupt country for good

sebastopol wrote: »

all the crooks and corrupt get it. it haapened to someone i know. they went to australia and got a good job good life. small town ireland is is disgusting . you should expose the person who got the got without the qualifications as she is having a bad effect on her pupils

Calm down!

Nepotism happens everywhere in the world, not just in Ireland. And some of it's not even nepotism - a lot of employers like personal references, employee referrals, etc. So networking and getting to know the right people can help.

In the op's case, it sounds like there are no jobs available in the locality for whatever subject the op teaches. A masters in education by the age of 30 should open a few doors all the same.

LegacyUser

Are your subjects just not in demand? I thinking knowing what your subjects are might assist in giving advice particularly in non-teaching jobs. Are you narrowing your search to a particular area of the country/near home. The reality of it is many start off on eleven hour contracts or less and covering temporary leaves of absence. Come September there will be teachers living in B&b's and hostels while trying to find subbing. You can't let renting or lack of car put you off in job search. You are probably better off seeking advice from teachers in the teaching forum or the likes on Facebook.

Granadino

Go abroad for a while. Get a visa for Aus or Canada if you can afford it, and just get out for a year or two.
Or do a TEFL course and go to Italy. Plenty of TEFL work there, the money is ok, and you'll get to learn a new language, better weather, a new culture. I would highly recommend it.

ILoveYourVibes

Could you go to the UK?

recipesforme

Hi OP,
I felt the exact same way as you a few years ago at the same age. I sent out out my cv everywhere but I added a short paragraph at the top highlighting the skills I'd gained as a teacher: "project-management", "team-leading", "presentation skills" etc. Then I bundled all my teaching experience under one heading, insofar as I didn't list out each school and year, and basically treated each school like a project, such as "managed several teams of 14 year olds - supported and scaffolded learning etc"

Eventually I got a job in a small office as a learning and development officer. It was a junior role but thanks to my background in teaching I soon progressed and am now out-earning what I would have been earning had I stayed teaching.

Yes, the holidays aren't as good but you're not nearly as exhausted at the end of the day, and none of my colleagues have called me a "bleedin' mongo" (yet!)

PM me if you need any more specific information

Scarinae

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Could you go to the UK?

OP, I wouldn't recommend the UK as your first choice if you do decide to pursue teaching abroad. I lived in London for ten years and have friends who are teachers there - there is an insane amount of paperwork and box ticking compared to Ireland due to government initiatives. There is a shortage of teachers there alright but that's because people keep leaving teaching for less stressful jobs or to teach in other countries.

There's an interesting article about it here which also might give you ideas of places abroad you could teach in English.

From the article:

“There’s a toxic mix of factors, created by this government, that is making teachers decide they cannot teach in England in particular any more,” says Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union. “The low net pay of teachers means many cannot even afford rent. There is systemic overworking, with teachers routinely working 55 hours a week, and a vicious accountability system, which means teachers are not given the time and support to get better at what they do.” It reflects badly on the government, she says, that so many highly qualified teachers are going abroad. “It’s not that they don’t want to teach, it’s that they don’t want to teach in the context we’ve created in this country, and the government is responsible for that. We are haemorrhaging teachers, particularly at secondary school level.”

airy fairy

I think the op has no intention of travelling outside the area in which the op resides.
I also don't think a low paid, unskilled job is likely to be accepted by the op for any amount of time.
Op just wants a full time, permanent teaching job from Sept to June, 9 to 4pm and like Verruca Salt, wants it NOW.

P2C

Stickability. My wife is a teacher (Science) and only got a CID two years ago and she’s probably qualified 15 years at this stage. She got shafted more times by schools and ETB’s. False promises. I always said to her do you want to work for someone like that. She nearly turned down the school her CID she is in now. She’s absolutely delighted as she really loves the school and the teaching environment she’s in now.

LegacyUser

OP, you're stuck in a rut. I've been there there. I did a PhD and did loads of lecturing at the same time. I could only get badly paid part time post doc positions at the end of it so I make the heartbreaking decision to leave the career I had trained very long and hard for and took a bottom of the ladder office job. I was instantly happier. There were days where I'd feel down about this position but I definitely had.mpre happy days than bad days and eventually i got a promotion. You couldn't pay me to go back to academia now. So would you consider this? It sounds.like you're being used and abused like doctoral graduates are. My advice would be don't tolerate it anymore. Jump the sinking ship now. Get a stable job with regular money and thats when plans can start to be made. Wishing you the best. Don't waste your life in limbo waiting for another sub job.

ILoveYourVibes

Scarinae wrote: »

OP, I wouldn't recommend the UK as your first choice if you do decide to pursue teaching abroad. I lived in London for ten years and have friends who are teachers there - there is an insane amount of paperwork and box ticking compared to Ireland due to government initiatives. There is a shortage of teachers there alright but that's because people keep leaving teaching for less stressful jobs or to teach in other countries.

There's an interesting article about it here which also might give you ideas of places abroad you could teach in English.

From the article:

I suggested it because several friends and at one point my own mother had this issue.

My mother was an art teacher at one point in secondary schools and struggled to find a position and looked into the UK. But i was still very young so it wasn't feasible.

Several other friends though have gone over I can share with you some of their experiences.

First friend got a job teaching in a private school in london. He had lots of experience though in Ireland Argentina and South Africa. He also had other degrees nothing to do with teaching. His C.V looked great. He was just a mainstream primary school teacher but he also had special needs experience.

He found his job enjoyable. Not that stressful. But its not a STATE school. Less paperwork than his previous jobs here. He came back to Ireland after ten yrs and stopped teaching though to do something else.

My second friend was in the position of being a newly qualified secondary school teacher of English and History. He had a PHD and everything but struggled to find a position here.

He decided to go over to the UK for one year. JUST TO GET EXPERIENCE and then come home.

He worked in a state school in a small town. He hated the school he hated the UK and he hated the town. He found the UK state school system spoon fed kids. They literally had to provide them with new pens everyday. He felt the kids were molly coddled and parents did nothing. Plus its a state school in a poor area. Different kids.

But all of that worked in his favour when he came back to Ireland.
'Oh you have worked in a British State school in THAT area etc'. And he got GLOWING references. With the one year of experience under his belt in the area perceived as 'tough'. He got a full time position in Ireland as soon as he got back.

So if you want to do to the UK it can just be for one year and then you come back and employers will be looking at you in a new light depending on where you are placed in the uk.

Dick phelan

As others have said unless you dead set against it seriously consider going abroad. Even do a TEFL course or something, there is a lot of demand for English teachers in Asia and Middle East especially. And most of the decent one's will pay your flights and setup costs for you so don't worry too much about finance. I moved away with very little cash in the bank but it was grand my school paid my flights and accommodation for the first while.

cloudatlas

airy fairy wrote: »

I think the op has no intention of travelling outside the area in which the op resides.
I also don't think a low paid, unskilled job is likely to be accepted by the op for any amount of time.
Op just wants a full time, permanent teaching job from Sept to June, 9 to 4pm and like Verruca Salt, wants it NOW.

You're being unfair, the O.P's experience is not unique, there are plenty of other careers in Ireland where people are struggling to get a foot in the door, folks with qualifications coming out of their ears who absolutely love their chosen profession and despite the economic up turn in some sectors there is still over subscription in some areas and folks can't get any hours for love nor money. Moving abroad is a daunting prospect, entails some initial struggle and takes a fair bit of adjustment. There are no easy decisions but jeering and sneering at the O.P isn't going to help.

bumders

Have you heard of springboard op? You havnt told us your subjects so obviously not in high demand.

If teaching isn't working out do a level 8 conversion course with springboard.

Also start sticking 20 or 30 quid in the credit union every week if you do need a loan and need to move.

I can see where your from with regards getting your foot in the door. I trained in IT and this my story.

* At 22 years old couldn't get a job in IT for a year
*At 23 years old took a job as an administrator 22K
*At 24 years old took a job as an administrator in a major IT company 23k
*At 25 years old got a job with the same company on their IT Helpdesk 28k
*At 26 years old took a job with another IT company on their helpdesk 30K
*At 27 years old got a job in IT with another company looking after infrastructure 34K
*Three years later went for a promotion in work and now earn 55K

Nothing is handed to you, if teaching isn't working for you time to change

Addle

Ya, you earn your wages in the uk.

Bobtheman

What are your subjects ?? That is a huge influence. You might need a third subject.
I went through what you did but I got my third subject and toughed it out.
I didn't give a **** about not having a car but being unemployed is tough
Choices :
Get another subject
Go to where the jobs are (Dublin)
Go the middle East . For a year or two. Save some money and come back
Teaching has always been a bitch to get employment in but if you insist on staying in one area (rural) then you have only yourself to blame

Church on Tuesday

Bobtheman wrote: »

What are your subjects ?? That is a huge influence. You might need a third subject.
I went through what you did but I got my third subject and toughed it out.
I didn't give a **** about not having a car but being unemployed is tough
Choices :
Get another subject
Go to where the jobs are (Dublin)
Go the middle East . For a year or two. Save some money and come back
Teaching has always been a bitch to get employment in but if you insist on staying in one area (rural) then you have only yourself to blame

OP can forget about that, the accommodation just isn't there.

ILoveYourVibes

You could do tefl lots of jobs in that in Dublin right now ..it might tide you over and get you experience in a classroom.