It shouldn't be this hard to get a job.

[Changemyname18]

Hello, looking for support and advice. I returned to work this year after 7 years being a full time mum. I'm mid 40s, solid school results, redbrick 2:1 degree in a traditional subject, then worked for big 4 accountancy firms for 16 years. Never completed chartered exams, opted for different department which suited me better. I was at the top of my grade, and happy with my lot, because of the people I worked with and the work flexibility. Didn't go back after 2nd child, as childcare was logistically impossible due to the demands of my husband's employment. I enjoyed my time at home, and did lots of school and other volunteering when both kids at school. I got an admin job at the start of this year, found the work straightforward, but the team were great. Really felt like I proved I could still do work. I worked hard and got great feedback. But I couldn't stay there, as i need term timd only. But I've now been applying for roles in admin in schools, wanting term time work, and I'm not getting anywhere. I get interviews, but feedback has been 'you are over qualified', 'you don't fit with our school profile, 'we have a candidate who is a better fit for our school, we have filled the space internally', 'you've never used SIMS'... What else can I do to persuade somewhere to employ me? I pick up computer systems quickly, SIMS can't be that hard. Running out of Sept start opportunities. How did the rest of you get that elusive term time job? Apologies for long post, didn't mean to rant this much.

[flossietoot]

Why can you only work term time? How many children do you have?

[RandomMess]

I got experience using SIMS volunteering with a youth charity within a school. What about the finance/bursar roles within schools? Or a term time post at a uni?

[honeysucklejasmine]

Tbf, SIMS is hugely counter intuitive IMO, so that might be a genuine concern!

I will probably face similar issues going back and it does worry me.

Fwiw, a friend told me employers like DEFRA offer lots of term time contracts.

[MargeryB]

Are you targeting schools to get term time only? What if you got a regular job then took parental leave for each summer holiday once in? Yours and their father's leave can cover all the rest if you do that. Alternatively use some holiday clubs like most of us do?

[BoxsetsAndPopcorn]

I think schools want the best person for the job, not someone who has picked it for the hours and holidays. Added to that you have no previous experience of school admin and a big work gap then it's going to be hard to get in.

Schools will have advertised months back for September posts. Is there a reason you can't use holiday childcare?

[Changemyname18]

I only want to work term time to be with my children in the holidays. floosietoot lifestyle choice. Partner is self employed. We have no other family support for childcare. I'm choosing not to put my kids in holiday clubs. Where I worked, it was a bunfight to get time off at school holidays. I don't want that. Financially, I am in a fortunate position that I don't need to work. But I want to use my brain and my skills. It's not as if I have no school experience. Have even considered retraining as a teacher, but I can't do the secondary training in 2018. I have all the other qualifications but lack one day of experience in a school. So govt helpline said I can't apply! And they are screaming out for teachers. Hence I'm wondering what you need to get any type of school job!!! I thought a decent education and plenty of school experience would be fine.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I think it’s hard getting a part time admin job. I think it’s almost Impossible to get a termtime only admin job. They’re very rare, and many many mums are chasing them. I’m not sure why you think it should be easy tbh!

[P00ka]

Yes I tried to get a part time job that would work around the kids. I couldn't find one. I am a single parent as well so they need me a bit more (as there's only one parent). I had to work full-time. My age probably counted against me too as I'm in my late 40s. It's hard.

[greendale17]

Being a teacher because you only want to work term time and schools hours would be a big mistake

[Scarletrose28]

I think you need a bit of a reality check. Aside from niche areas, it’s pretty competitive to get any job, let alone one that exactly suits school hours. You’ve also got a fairly large gap on your CV which puts you at a disadvantage as compared with those job seekers who are already employed or have recent experience. And it is true that you’re overqualified. Why are you aiming for school admin jobs? Do you intend to stay there for the foreseeable future or are you looking to move on up? On the plus side, you’ve said that you don’t need the money. Which means that you can afford to be patient and wait for a suitable opportunity to come up. A lot of people don’t have that opportunity and have to take jobs that don’t fit school hours and consequently have to use childcare. Perhaps in the meantime you could do a course or volunteer. If you’re ultimately interested in teaching why not apply for teaching assistant roles?

[Racecardriver]

Have you considered just starting your own business instead? School Admin doesn't really sound like it will do much to stimulate you and you will still have to work during school holidays (albeit not as much) anyway. The main thing for you seems to be the hours. The best way to gatuntee the hours you want is to set them yourself.

[flossietoot]

Colleges often offer term time only roles

[NapQueen]

School dinner nanny?
Sign up as a cleaner with your local coucil - they will have term time only cleaning contracts with schools/collges etc.

[AgathaRaisonDetra]

Not helpful @NapQueen

[NapQueen]

Sorry?

Op wants term time only work yes? Which both of my suggestions are.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I thought I wanted term time only work as it is the more interesting roles are not in school admin. I suggest you volunteer, I did term time only volunteer role in a charity, did the training, stuck at it for four years and made the most of the flexibility offered by volunteering, so I opted out of work during school hols. 4 years later I am in a position to work 3 days a week, DH works from home 4 days a week, the children are old enough that they can be left to their own devices while DH works. I got a paid position in the charity I volunteered with. DH and I are taking leave during school hols so we can do fun stuff. I can use my long weekends for other trips in hols.

If money is no object volunteer in an interesting role until you can work around your kids. School admin is boooring!

[Changemyname18]

Thank you agatha you understand. nap queen, school cleaning jobs are after hours, and I want a job to use my brain and skills, not just a job- i dont need the income, but its important for my kids to understand that Mums can work too, as until the start of this year, they had a Mum that didn't work. I've been getting interviews, just not getting the job. Advice from friends has been along the lines that I am overqualified, and that some interviewers may feel threatened that I am more educated than them. Also that the potentisl employers don't understand why I just want an admin job. I've love advice from those that have managed to get school work, how long did you have to go through the application game before you were successful, particularly if you were looking at the job to fit in with family.

[dancingqueen345]

If you feel like these employers see you as over qualified then surely the answer is to scale back your CV?

[greendale17]

Advice from friends has been along the lines that I am overqualified, and that some interviewers may feel threatened that I am more educated than them

^I think the fact you haven’t worked for 7 years is a factor.

[JingsMahBucket]

Why are holiday clubs not an option? Did you plan on taking long family trips or something like that?

[LatteAndLettuce]

Firms like EY offer back to work schemes - not sure if they offer term time work at the end of it (doubt it if it is client facing but may be worth looking into).

Can you think a bit laterally - if you worked in tax for example, could you teach/lecture/write for professional journal?

[tomhazard]

Term time only roles in admin are very very popular. Lots of People just like you looking to keep their minds active around looking after their children.

What about being a TA? There are jobs in mainstream schools, special schools and colleges that need different types of TA.

A friend of mine does term time admin for the local music service you could look into that sort of thing.

7 years is quite a big gap on a CV.

[Sillybilly1234]

Train as a senior school maths teacher. They are screaming out for those.

Sorry but you do come across as a bit up yourself. Maybe check that too.

[AgentProvocateur]

As an employee, the 7 year gap would concern me, then the very short stay at your most recent position.

[h0rsewithn0name]

I work in school business management. Our last admin vacancy attracted over 80 applications. But we can't get midday supervisors for love nor money.

Genuinely, if you want to work in a school, apply for midday roles. Offer to stay to help when they are short staffed. Before you know it, you will be the internal person that gets offered that job.