Anyone a lab technician in a school?

[LurleenLumpkin]

I have an interview for a job as an assistant lab technician.
Could anyone tell me what I could expect to earn, just in case they ask me!
Is it minimum wage?

[theMARGEposter]

oo - this sounds interesting! ...

[EffiePerine]

Can eb an interesting job - my mum used to be one. Be prepared for lots of cleaning chewing gum from school uniform. The big perk was that she got to fill our Sodastream canisters for free

[Fossil]

Is it in a school or a hospital?

[Blandmum]

It is a great job, but lots of hard work. Our techs are fantastic woman and I really couldn't do my job without them.

Do you want to know about general stuff that might come up?

[Spagblog]

Yes please mb...sorry tis me - forgot that I was a simpsons character!

It is in a private school Fossil. Only 14hrs a week so ought to fit in around my two.

[Blandmum]

Our techs set up and maintain all the kit that we use in the lessons. They also do all the electrical testing on stuff.

They are responsible for all the safety assessments....the main body that organises the chemical safety is called Cleaps.

It may be worth asking how much of your time will be taken on maintainence, how much on setting up/taking down etc.

Also worth asking what the work breakdown is in terms of KS3/4/ and 5

Also worth asking if you are involved with 'in class' work

[EffiePerine]

Oh and you get to wear a white coat and do stiuff with petri dishes

[gscrym]

I was one when I was about 19 and hated it. I had done 2 years working in a busy industrial lab and went to work for a school where the only way to get promoted from trainee was for someone to leave or die. If I hadn't worked in an industrial lab, i'd have probably liked it.

You get all the kits ready, do demos sometimes. Maintain equipment and look after plants and animals. I didn't get the holidays off but that was when we did a lot of our work. If you have good teachers, it makes your job easier. I worked for a posh girls school where some thought it beneath them to help out.

And my worst job was wsahing microscope slides on a Friday afternoon.

Good luck with the interview. If you get the job, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It just wasn't for me.