to want DP to let me go on this course?

[Desperateretrainedmumof3]

I retrained nearly 2 years ago but haven't got a job. We're really struggling with money, we could even lose the house.

Anyway there's a course which teaches you how to get interviews for the field I retrained in, it costs £50 and is based in London (we don't live in London so travel costs but a return train is £20 then tube costs so maybe £80 total?

DP says its snake oil, taking advantage of people's misery, but it's totally legitimate. I feel so unsupported by DP. AIBU?

[HermioneWeasley]

Excellent post by woodrunner

[marcopront]

Janey I think you have been very helpful, as have many others. I think she is quite reasonable to want to go on the course, the crucial word is want. I also agree that the course is not the best option.

[Spickle]

My son could really do with some dissertation help in his History degree - let me know if this could be of interest?

[Plateofcrumbs]

On woodrunner and janey68's points: it's not just about the 'can do' attitude- the thing is here the financial risks and opportunity costs. I think the OP rightly understands that most of the things she could be doing to gain experience are extremely difficult for er to achieve right now.

Working for zero financial gain (after childcare/travel) is fine, but if they're on a financial knife edge they need to look at the opportunity costs - could she be doing something else with her time that would be profitable?

Transport is clearly a big factor here - she can probably only afford a second car if she were bringing in a good, regular second income. Getting a second car is a huge financial gamble for any employment opportunity which is less secure. Without a second car she can't take up many employment opportunities. A classic catch-22.

Yes she no doubt could be doing more...but she would have to be prepared to gamble her home and family's future on it. Not a risk I would take personally.

[LIZS]

I'd reiterate that Adult Ed might be a route to gaining some recent experience in the classroom and at times which suit you with minimal childcare issues. Contact your local provider (may be LA/County Council or may be subcontracted to a FE college). Course programmes for September will be drafted very soon and especially with the WW1 anniversary there may be demand before then if that is an area you can teach. It tends to be paid on a sessional basis and may not be long term but is something you could do alongside other jobs. If you worked in an FE college , say teaching A level, there may even also have an onsite nursery which you could use.

[janey68]

I agree... But the home is already at risk, the OP makes that clear. Yet when several of suggested that with the house on the market, it seems an ideal opportunity to move and rent somewhere less rural, where work opportunities/ transport will be better, the OP complained that she didn't want the upheaval of moving away from where they live!

The key point I was making (and I think wood runner also) was not telling the OP to do exactly what we've done, because I agree that it's not a one size fits all. It's about opening ones mind to other options. The OP seems to have tunnel vision, that because she qualified as a history teacher 2 years ago, she has to secure a permanent teaching post within range of her very rural location, even though she has no transport, no means or gaining the experience in schools which people say she needs. There have been many helpful suggestions , from tutoring to relocating and the OP has blocked every singe one! I think the tutoring is still a possibility, because A level or degree coaching could be done on line remotely. If the OP is seriously saying she has tried all these and not had any take up then I'm afraid she needs to accept that at the moment, no one is prepared to pay for her specialist skills so she needs to consider other options. I realise that's very hard when Someone feels passionately that there is a specific job they'd love to do, but ultimately no one is owed a living doing the job they want, you have to put yourself out there and offer the skills which other people want.

Anyway, I hope the OP returns and considers some of the very sensible cost free or low cost suggestions which have been made. And like I said, if she passionately believes that this course offers the solution, then she'd demonstrate how she can save the costs of the course in a matter of weeks, because £80 for a days course plus travel is really remarkably good value, and then I don't see how her DH can put up any objection if there's no financial loss

[marcopront]

Something else to consider is when to apply. After the May half term the pool of people applying is much smaller. I returned to the UK from overseas and applied for jobs in June. I had interviews for almost all jobs I applied for, went to the first two and was offered both and accepted one of them so didn't go to any others. This was for Maths and in a big city but still shows what can happen.

[Jinsei]

Sorry OP, but I agree with the majority here. The course might be brilliant, but if you have no experience since you qualified 2 years ago, I really don't think it will help you get a job. Job applications have to be about substance as well as style, and if you haven't got the right experience, it won't matter how you present it. Harsh, but true.

I also find it hard to believe that there is really nothing you can do to get some experience. Of course, there are obstacles, but I'm of the view that where there's a will, there's a way.

[janey68]

Id like to ask the OP just 3 questions. Of course, it's totally to her whether she wants to answer but it may be helpful in focusing thoughts of how to move forwards.

First, have you demonstrated to your partner how you can make savings over the next few months to cover the costs of the course? That's a good first step if you really believe this course will make a big difference, and will blow his argument about the finance of it out of the water.

Second, have you really marketed yourself as positively as possible for tutoring? Offering not just face to face evening/ weekend tuition, but also online tuition for A level/ undergrad students, demonstrating excellent knowledge of exam board specifications and showing how you are a good bet compared to tutors who may have more experience but perhaps lack your passion? If you've done this and had no response then I think it's an indication of how difficult it's going to be to get a permanent teaching post, because it sounds as if there's more than enough people out there already to meet the demand

Lastly, you say your house is on the market, so would you consider relocating somewhere with better employability and transport links? It wouldn't need to be a million miles away as your partner will presumably want to keep his job, but it would be a big step in making things easier long term, and you're lucky that your children are of an age when they are adaptable and you're not tied to a difficult schooling age yet. From the info you give (£30 total cost to get the train to London plus tube fares for the course) it sounds like you're not a million miles from the south east, so although you're rural, you must be within striking distance of large towns

Please don't feel obliged to answer, and of course it's totally up to you whether you'd consider relocating anyway: I'm simply throwing what I think are some key questions out which may help to focus your thoughts on how to progress from this point