volunteering in a school - but wanting a job in Marks and Spencer

[purple15]

I have years experience working in childcare and am currently volunteering in a school hoping for part time hours.

My aim is to eventually get 16 hours. But the main benefit will be the school holidays. Thirteen weeks each year, which is a quarter of the year! Great, and I think my current volunteering will hopefully lead to a job.

It has always been at the back of my mind, that I would really like to work at marks and spencer.

Should I go for the school holidays or try the Marks and spencer, with only 4 weeks.

[pouffepants]

What an odd question!

[ssd]

WTAF?

[alienbanana]

Huh?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Do what you think is right for you. Are the chances of an actual job realistic? m&s will always be there.

[FarBetterNow]

I presume you mean as a TA.
You will find that you probably won't get paid for the holidays.

[GoblinGranny]

Go for both and see which one you get.

[TinyDiamond]

that's true far. if you're lucky enough to get a permanent ta contract then you only get paid for the hours you work. although your salary is split over 12 months so you do get paid every month but you're not being paid for when you're not there though

[maddening]

You could see if m&s might do seasonal work? Summer and Christmas are times that they may take on seasonal workers so possibly having a returning seasonal worker who they don't have to train each time might be attractive to them.

[purple15]

I have been working for 20 years in the private sector with only 4 weeks holiday a year, whilst some friends working in schools have always got the school holidays.

It has always been in the back of my mind that one day I will get these school holidays. Thirteen weeks Holiday but some of this unpaid,

[madamehooch]

Retail is generally quiet during the school holidays, unless you live in a tourist area.

In general, retail is not taking on extra staff, for obvious reasons.

Christmas is when they start to hire, but jobs are usually given on a temporary basis and temporary staff are generally expected to work shifts such as weekends, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day etc.

Not being funny, but do you have a rose tinted view of working in M&S? Having made the move from education (as a TA) to retail myself (not M&S) it does bring its own stresses and is more physically demanding than you may think.

[madamehooch]

I meant quiet during the summer holidays!

[purple15]

Yes, I think I have a very rose tinted view of working at Marks and Spencer lol.

[purple15]

Madamehooch. Do you regret the move from TA to retail ? And just which you had stayed in a school, and do you miss the long holidays.

[purple15]

Sorry meant to say : do you wish you had stayed in a school ?

[madamehooch]

purple. No I don't regret the move BUT I was extremely fortunate in that the retail job I now have allows me to work with children and schools, so I have the best of both worlds - the child contact without the stress of working in a school.

I miss the long holidays. I don't like working Saturdays but a weekend shift is usually the norm, as are evenings (some shopping centres stay open until 8.00pm.)

Retail is very unpredictable at the moment as is well documented. Customers are more demanding, because they know that they really have you over a barrel. You're on your feet a lot, and there can be a lot of lifting involved.

My advice to you would actually be to apply to M&S for a temporary job over Christmas, which is when the jobs are likely to be available. You would be experiencing retail at its most hectic and would then be able to compare it with what you currently do at the moment. Alternatively, you may be lucky and get a good old Saturday job with them (but these are usually snapped up by students.)

I wouldn't give up volunteering until you know whether you enjoy retail. It is possible to do both (some of our staff are working in schools whilst working in the shop,) but be prepared to give up some of your family time.

[Nanny0gg]

Most of school holidays are unpaid. It's just that your wages are spread over 12 months.

Try and do both.

[gabsid]

Yes, do both. The school can't expect you to volunteer for 16 hours, I hope and I would (only if you volunteering already) communicate to them the need to earn a living. Then see what works out.