Helpful advice - job in Sainsburys or Nursery

[BrimFire]

Gave up teaching in July after nearly 20 years. Had had enough really and increasingly resented the set holidays after DC left school... However after a good few interviews for jobs with CAMHS/ remote education providers etc I have failed to be offered anything. Very disheartening.

I am now applying for anything that will pay the bills and have got 2 interviews on Thursday. Both within walking cycling distance both paying just above NMW. I may not get either but if I have to choose which do you think?

Supermarket - Pro’s -12 week contract for Christmas (leave date to look forward to if I hate it/ buys time for better job) , staff discount, overtime possible, varied hours. Cons - Would see everyone I know as it’s it’s the main supermarket in town.

Nursery - Pros- I enjoy working with children and babies, Mon - Fri, regular wage. Cons - Feels like possibly a version of teaching but with half the salary.

Anybody with experience of either help me choose ( if I get a choice obviously).

I've worked in both a nursery and a supermarket. And in education.

Nursery was by far harder work than sainsburys! It's relentless and my goodness the bugs. Hats off to nursery staff as they are saints most of them!

I'd do sainsburys and look at longer term roles! Unless you plan to stay in education , in which case nursery would be better for your CV

I worked food retail for years while a student.

I fantasise at the moment (the NHS is fucked) about walking away and going back to sitting on a check out.

Even floor supervisor shifts at Christmas were pleasant compared to my current role.

I did think about supply but honestly that seems really thankless. I don’t think I could cope with an unfamiliar school as well as trying to do a decent lesson. Plus you never know when you get work and it’s term time only again.

Childminding might be good actually. I must look into how long registration takes.

Definitely sainsburys! You get to talk to adults all day. Nursery is just babies, toddlers and occasionally moody parents

Whenever I visited my child's nursery I've had to sit on a tiny chair or the floor and have found that aspect of it a strain on my knees, as I am getting on a bit now

I’m a teacher and when I saw the heading my answer straight away was Sainsburys, then to see you had left the career yourself. I honestly believe in the nursery the work load and stress will not be much, or any less, than it was as a teacher but for much less pay. Only thing to consider is how much do you need this income because at least the nursery is permanent (I assume) and it’s easier to find a job whilst employed. The Sainsburys one may well keep you on but after Christmas is a tough time to find a job unless you get something more permanent before then.
Good luck!

Sainsburys!

@AdelaideRo Sorry to hear that. Pretty much why I walked. Hope something changes for the better for you 💐

@LividLaVidaLoca Reporting back!

I tried both. I lasted 3 days at the nursery. If anything it was more of the stressful bits of teaching and unbelievably less interaction with the children.

The supermarket has been a revelation.
The only negative is going back to just above minimum wage but since everything else has improved its been worth it.
Maybe just my store but I had zero management from any managers. I was on shelf filling. On my first shift one of the other staff gave me a quick run down if what to do and that was it . The shift managers and store manager always bid me a cheery hello and my line manager ok’d a couple of days off without any problems what so ever but that was it. I can’t describe how incredible it was not be micro managed, work scrutinised or not to have to perform pointless tasks, just because. I asked somebody if I was unsure and everyone knew how to do everything and was happy to share that knowledge.

I could go to the loo whenever I wanted.

I had half an hour ( unpaid) break that I could take whenever I wanted without having to ask anyone. Literally up to me how I spent 30 minutes of every shift but no one cared or counted.

Free drinks and food. Tea coffee, hot chocolate, squash and a selection of food like cereal, soup, crisps and bread available for staff to help themselves on shifts . Plus stuff that was out of code we could take home. No having to remember a packed lunch. So refreshing.

Feeling the benefit of being active. Walking and moving round all shift. Feel better for not sitting at a screen for lots of the day.

Anyway, I really liked it. I have just accepted a new role with CAMHS but frankly I have said to my manager I would quite like to stay on in case it doesn’t work out. It was only part time ( 20 hours over 3 days) so maybe full time wouldn’t be as good but 7 hrs didn’t feel like a days work. Whereas I felt like I’d done a days work by lunchtime when I was teaching.
As part time jobs go it’s been fantastic.