Stressed and don't know what to do.

[muchtooshy]

In a bit of a panic as have found out that my job is ending at the end of July. I can't afford not to work!

I just don't know what sort of job to look for. I mean really I need to do anything but do ideally want a job that I like.

School admin would be good but I don't know when those jobs tend to be advertised. So I am looking at admin in general but they all seem to want immediate starts which I can't really do. If I go for something like working in a shop or cleaning is it unfair to still be looking for a different job?

I just don't know what I am good at. After almost a year in my current job I feel utterly rubbish at everything, like a failure, and like I am not good enough for anything.

I loved admin (school hours would be amazing) but I don't know how competitive these are. Plus I am not sure if I could sell myself in an interview after having my confidence knocked by my current role ...... big case of face not fitting there.

[Goshthatsspicy]

Your local council website should have school administration staff listed. I think?
Try not to concentrate on your recent negative experience. Your face will probably fit next time. It shouldn't be that way, but school politics are ime a minefield. Good luck.

[Goshthatsspicy]

Sorry, just realised you didn't work in a school. I misunderstood.

[Georgethesecond]

What is your current job? What experience do you have?

[haveabreakhaveakitkat]

School jobs are usually advertised on your local city/county council website. How about colleges or universities? They usually have their own 'vacancies' pages on their own websites.

[muchtooshy]

It is a school I am in at the moment and really want to stick with school based admin but there don't seem to be any jobs out at the moment. The politics are crazy.

I am trying to put it out of my mind (although going in for the next 6 weeks is going to be tough with the rest of the team having cosy chats) but I feel drained and quite tearful. Need to pull it together as we need me to have a wage coming in.

Basically I have 12ish years of admin experience both basic admin, finance admin and school admin. A few qualifications too.

[19lottie82]

Sign up for temp agencies for admin work, they always have roles with immediate start dates.

The thing with council / school / college / uni admin permenant jobs is that they are pretty hard to get as there are usually internal applicants too, who will usually have an edge.
However, I usually find with these kind of roles you can sometimes get in as a temp then sometimes work up to a permenant contract.

[momtothree]

School jobs are point scored... so even if Mrs X has worked there 15 years you still can out score her... V unfair on Mrs X ... apply and think you will fail the first interview ... this is experience for you ...not a failure ... look up ..most asked questions for school staff ... most school admins work more than school hours and some holidays .. go for it!!

[FindoGask]

For admin, look at
local council website
local university/colleges website
local NHS trust website
goodmoves (in scotland, or equivalent in England - voluntary sector job website)

You could register with a temping agency whilst you're looking for something longer term. Don't go for cleaning jobs if you want admin. If you have admin experience, you should have enough experience for temporary admin positions and then you would be able to build up your CV a bit too if it takes longer than you hoped to find something permanent.

[19lottie82]

Sorry, read that wrong you said you "can't" do an immediate start, not that you want one.

Advice still stands re the agencies, just sign up now and say you need work from end of April.

Would your current employer give you any wiggle room to leave early if another role came up? You could technically just leave but this may not be the best plan if you need a reference from them

[muchtooshy]

If it gets to mid July and I have to just take any job would it look bad on my cv to go to cleaning/shop work and then to try and get back into admin / school admin?

[FindoGask]

just seen your last post - you have loads of experience! I'm in an admin role now, my first full time position since I had children 8 years ago (and my first job of any kind in 4 years). I filled in countless applications and for a while it felt like nothing would happen, but then I got three really good interview offers and was offered 2 out of 3 of them and was 2nd choice for the 3rd. And I had about your experience level but with a huuuge gap.

Just make sure you really tailor each application to the person spec/job description to make the most of your experience. You will be grand. Good luck!

[FindoGask]

don't get cleaning/shop work. You will be able to get temp admin work to fill the gap.

[Sidalee7]

Agencies, local gov websites as said above. Just want to say don't let your confidence go, v hard when you have had a difficult situation but just think most people have had a bad case of face not fitting. You will find a better job with nicer people! Good luck.

[muchtooshy]

I have looked at my old application forms (before this current job) but would feel a fraud saying the same things about myself now. Confidence at an all time low and I am worried what sort of reference I will get from this job. At least I know my previous employer will give me an amazing reference as they did last time.

My partner is totally against the shop work / cleaning thing as he says I am over qualified as I have admin / management qualifications and that I probably wouldn't be considered for those jobs anyway. But I am willing to do any job to keep the money coming in.

[FindoGask]

why would you feel a fraud? You still have the same experience as you did then.

Why do you think you will get a bad reference?

Sorry to hear your confidence is low. That is tough, but you really don't need to do cleaning to keep the money coming in if you have admin experience. Even if you have to do more clerical/secretarial than administrative work you still should keep your hand in and there's no reason not to - you have the skills.

[bunchoffives]

Why do you feel bound to stay until the end of July when your job is ending?

If the new job is immediate start, then go for it. You owe no loyalty to an employer who is showing none to you.

And anyway, by the time you have applied, interviewed and accepted the 5 weeks will almost be up. So negotiate a leave on half pay with old employers - its cheaper for them so they might be pleased.

[doistayordoigo]

Have you checked with payroll? If you're in a school admin role working term time only, and your salary is paid over 12 months, even if your post finished in July you may be paid for the school holidays anyway....which would make it slightly less urgent that you find anew job immediately the old one finishes. Also, I disagree that most school admin jobs go to internal candidates. I'm in a school and most of our admin staff were recruited externally.

[DarthVadersTailor]

You have 12yrs admin experience so it's safe to say that you're a good admin candidate!! My best advice would be to sign up to agencies near the time your position will end, temping is an easy way to keep yourself employed with good possibilities of a perm position. While doing this you can keep your eyes open for another school if you wish but you might actually find a job you like temping anyway. I don't think you'd find it difficult to get work this way.

[Topseyt]

How old are your children? How much longer is wrap around childcare likely to be an issue?

I know the problem you face re school hour, holidays and work. It was the reason I was unable to work for many years and only got back into paid employment a year ago when my DD3 had been at secondary school for almost a year.

School admin work is advertised on the county council website here, and also often on the school's own website. Some also advertise in the local papers, as I have seen.

Be open to other roles elsewhere though, if there is any chance of your circumstances permitting it anytime soon.

I have occasionally worked in offices where my face didn't fit. It is horrible wherever you are. I guess that when you get beyond the initial shock/panic of losing your job then you will be relieved to be out of there.

Try not to panic (easy to say, I know) about not having anything lined up just yet. My own experience has always been that it is much easier to get a job when you are more readily available to start.

Keep applying for anything remotely suitable that comes up in the meantime.

I will wish you good luck. You are keen and actively searching. Something will come along eventually and you will be much happier than at present.

[WyrdByrd]

I work in school admin and you sound like an ideal candidate to me.

Check out your local council websites - ours is advertising around 200 school based jobs for September start at the mo - the majority teaching but a fair few support roles too.

Don't forget to check out the individual websites of private schools in your area too.

[Topseyt]

You aren't a fraud. I have been where you are with my confidence shot to pieces. It is very hard, and alongside the unhappiness in your current role, it does all too quickly become the normal way to feel all of the time. It is shitty, but you have to plough on through it.

Your experience is relevant and is current. References are unlikely to be a problem in my experience. You will get them. I did, from a similar situation.

[muchtooshy]

I was worried that I would get a reference saying I wasn't capable.

I already feel sick at the thought of going in on Monday morning!

It feels like the stuff on my application form is about another person - one who is capable and confident and has abilities.

[RB68]

I think we all feel like that sometimes. Check out your local govt websites for the school vacancies - they usually have short deadlines but as the schools are brought into line they all have similar if not the same JD and PS for the jobs so you can prepare a document that then only needs tweaking and it feels less overwhelming. It doesn't sound like you are in a good place job wise particularly but please don't stick your head in the sand over it as most jobs now won't employ till a week before school starts in September so you need to get stuck into job apps now have a job lined up and then do what you can to fill in over the summer

[muchtooshy]

I am mostly dreading going back in on Monday. :(

I have been looking at job sites but there is nothing school office based at the moment. Going to apply to a few jobs I have seen and keep looking and maybe join a recruitment agency.

Maybe I am just a weak person but I feel sick at the thought of going in and facing them all tomorrow.

[Eva50]

It's best to try to think of this the start of new things for you. You have clearly been very unhappy and your current post is sapping your strength and confidence. If you can face going in on Monday and getting on with things it would be for the best but if you can't then take the week off. Go to your GP and tell them how you feel and ask about some counselling. I had CBT a couple of years ago in a similar situation and it really helped.

With your experience I'm sure you will find a job you like and will be much happier.