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?

I really feel for you, OP, and lots of the "helpful" comments on here have been spectacularly unhelpful - reading the 10th suggestion that you volunteer when you have already explained that you can't afford the childcare to allow you to volunteer must be immensely frustrating!

You do seem to be stuck in a catch-22 where, to earn money, you would have to spend money you haven't got on transport and/or childcare and/or training. I don't see a way round that. The only other thing I can think of is doing some tutoring online (e.g. via Skype) - I have no idea how feasible that is though in your particular circumstances, as I don't know what you teach. Otherwise I guess it's a case of waiting until your youngest starts school.

I do hope it works out for you in the end - I think it probably will (we will always need teachers) but I appreciate it's incredibly hard at the moment.

She's trained for secondary History hackmum, she told us that already!

Actually a lot of people have suggested volunteering when her dh is at home.

hackmum I can definitely see your point but the problem is that there is really not any other way into a permanent job in the OP's case. I appreciate she is not in a position to follow the advice re volunteering but that doesn't change the fact that this is pretty much the best/only option :( sorry OP

I wish I'd written hackmum's post. Spot on.

Pecker up, OP.

And also OP, another idea is to ask schools directly if they need chaperones on trips etc as I know some schools are unwilling to let their teachers out of the classroom so maybe you could earn a bit of cash taking their place by going on trips to museums etc - history is a subject which involves lots of trips and schools would happily pay you a good rate and be happy to avoid agency fees. Plus the dates would be well known in advance so you would have time to try and sort ad-hoc childcare.

Silverapples - i think the reason she isn't getting TA jobs isn't down to qualifications but due to no recent experience after her PGCE. That £80 would better go towards childcare so that she can get some, even voluntary. If she registers with agencies she may well pick up some 1 -1 tuition as has been stated, just for a few hours that surely she can sort some childcare out for. I'm a single parent with no family support so I do understand the difficuites, but supply is like a snowball. nothing to lose by giving it a go surtely?

Tutoring for A level and GCSE history in the evenings / weekends when no childcare is needed, would be another possibility, as there may be pupils around who are approaching exams and whose parents want some extra tuition?

You will need to prove that you are bang up to date with the various exam board specifications, and convince them that you're worth the extra money and can push their child's grade up, but this would be one way of making some extra income this year without spending on childcare

I'm sorry you're in this situation OP.

If you're still interested in doing some tutoring work you can list your details for free on your mumsnet local page. It might come to nothing or it might get you a GCSE history student and help keep wolf from the door / keep your CV busy.

Your mumsnet editor might even tweet / Facebook about you too if you email them. You'll be surprised how much local traffic some sites are getting.

Good luck.

Teaching jobs that are advertised require application forms to be completed but my school is happy to take CVs from people and interviews those they think might be suitable for any gap filling (like teacher who needs an op) and lots of staff have got into permanent work at my school or others nearby. Definitely worth a try.

Apply for invigilator jobs (all levels from SATs up) or cover supervisor roles (though not great pay).

Volunteer once a week when you can get child are cover (so it costs you nothing) at any local schools that do your specialism. It's a way in. Again, some if our teachers got in that way.

Of you apply for actual job, ALWaYS do a school visit! It's the way they get to meet you and size you up. Personality is very important. In fact, you could pop in to schools with your cv and ask if you can meet head teacher for a chat and advice. I have always found heads vey generous with this.

Finally have you considered tutoring? It can be at your home after school or weekends around your own dcs. Can help with bit of money - maybe you could save it up towards the course. Look at first tutors or tutor hunt, both free. I've tutored age 4 up to age 20! Handwriting, basic maths, 11+, dissertation advice, gcse AS A2. It's worth a look.

Good luck it can be tough getting first job but you'll do it!

I think the problem is suggestion after suggestion has been fired at the OP, and when you are feeling really edgy and stressed, that can read as 'you haven't tried!' or as if problems are simplified.

It is a bit like when you're frantically searching for something having someone follow you around saying, 'Now think - where did you last have it?'

The OP is right: she didn't post demanding career advice. She didn't post asking for advice on getting back into teaching after having a baby, or post asking people to read her application letter. Having NOT asked for that advice, I understand why she became distressed and defensive when people were asking about finances. If you're heavily in debt, shame is a strong emotion - I used to work in a bank, and people would whisper and fidget and look away when explaining they 'needed to speak to someone.' I think it's obvious she is ashamed, upset and frantic with worry.

Of course people mean to be kind but I had this on a thread the other day, I explained, nicely, that I wasn't doing something and someone kept insisting that I was. It does get annoying constantly saying the same thing over and over.

I think the suggestions need to stop - if this has been going on for over twelve months, I imagine the OP has tried to work things out!

And who asked about the baby! Since when do application forms require you to list your children and their dates of birth?

I can't advise specifically on getting into teaching, but second what a PP said about getting in touch with Shelter re your housing situation, they are very helpful.

If moving into rented is your only option, check that you are in receipt of any benefits you are entitled to - housing benefit is the obvious one, income support, tax credits etc.

You local Surestart children & family Centre will be able to help you out with the above. They may well also have a Job Centre advisor drop in where you can get advice & support and they may be able to signpost you to free courses on improving your application/interview technique.

Also please investigate whether your 2 yo is entitled to 2 year funding for a nursery place, which might enable you to gain some voluntary experience sooner rather than later. Again Surestart workers or your HV should be able to help you with this.

Best of luck .

Sorry, just read some x posts and 2 after mine - yes YABU because there are other , free ways to get the info/ advice that would be from the course if you are as broke as you are spending £80 doesn't sound sensible it free advice/info is out there. You can't get a job because you aren't experienced compared to others. You've had great advice here about an alternative way of getting it so take the advice, all meant very kindly, and see if it helps. Good luck

I mentioned the baby. Most women tend to explain large chunks of time out of work on application forms as being due to having children. Would have thought this looks better than giving no reason for no work for two years. Is there a better way of explaining gaps in employment? Genuine question as not noticed one in reading applications.

Paynoattention- I agree that the OP is in a tough situation and feeling stressed. However I think sometimes responses go further than the original 'aibu' precisely because people pick up that there is more to the situation. The OP has now clarified that the really urgent issue is that she was a SAHM, her DH then got made redundant and subsequently couldn't earn his previous income and therefore what was a sustainable situation of living on one income has now become untenable. The OPs family cannot afford to live on the dh's income any more and need to make changes. The changed she hoped for was that she could retrain and get a permanent post teaching history without the family having to move. That hasn't happened, so it now makes sense to look at alternatives such as other lines of work, relocating etc. Posters aren't suggesting those things because they aren't listening; they are suggesting them precisely because they are listening, and often with the voice of experience too... Many of us have moved around for jobs, taken temporary contracts On the way to permanent etc

Whether the OP chooses to take up any suggestions is up to her, but I don't see any harm in people talking from experience and offering realistic and supportive advice. If we all thought paying £80 on this course would lead to the OP walking into a permanent history teaching post without having to move house, then we'd all be saying 'go for it, money well spent.' But Id feel really dishonest saying that because I don't think it would. I've seen enough friends going into teaching to know that in the current climate you need more than an excellent application and interview skills. That's the reality at the moment.

Anyway, I hope the OP takes up the suggestion of A level and GCSE tuition because that's something she could realistically do during evenings and weekends from home, between now and summer exams

I don't disagree with any of that janey but I do think that people trying to help was making her feel more and more desperate, because people were making the same suggestion ten times over despite her explaining it wasn't workable for her family.

I think she felt interrogated and put on the spot as in all honesty there were a number of quite aggressive posts, even the helpful ones had a 'brisk' feel to them, often starting with 'Right' or 'OK'. Those same suggestions had often been made already (sometimes numerous times!) by other posters and that IS frustrating!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with advice or suggestions, but I do think when someone says that isn't why they posted, it's generally a good idea to stop.

She has said she's tried to tutor but there was no take up

Payno if the OP is in such a remote area there is no take-up whatsoever of tutoring, then she won't stand much chance of getting a job. There is always tutoring work for experienced teachers, it may be irregular, it may be a pain (if you have to travel) but I used to do it when at home with my children when my husband got home from work. I tutored GCSE English and other subjects.

If she is a history teacher, she can tutor pretty much all the humanities plus English Language to GCSE/A-level, either online or in person, if she's in a grammar area, do 11+ and so on. Even remedial primary stuff.

Tutoring is a massive growth area- but it can be hard to find your way around, you can join an agency, or you can hand out fliers at your local school, advertizing in newspapers is expensive- even advertise on MN! It cannot be possible for there to be no tutoring needed- lots of ordinary people get tutors for their children at both primary and secondary level- and it is something you can do in the evenings to some extent, so can be an 'extra' on top of another wage.

In other words, whatever schools the OP is hoping to be a history teacher at will have some children who require tutoring across the humanities/Eng lit and language for sure. It is just a question of accessing these- like I say, fliers outside the school, talking with local mums, and so on. We never advertise and turn down tutoring opportunities a lot because once people know you are a good tutor, the demand is really there.

Overthemill please read the thread - you've repeated all the stuff the OP has heard ad infinitum and got frustrated about.

OP I do feel for you. History is a particularly hard subject to get into and it's hard to tell when you start training what the job market is like so it can be easy to think you'll walk into a job. I'm sorry but I think you know the other posters are right - I have a friend who is a fab history teacher but he only got his permanent post through a year of supply in different schools, then three terms on supply in his current school. Not all supply is daily work - many are whole or half term posts, but I think you realise by now that that's not going to happen without up to date experience.

Binky the NQT year has to be completed within five years so the OP still has time.

Don't despair - you have QTS now and it's not going to just disappear just yet. As others have said, because the volunteering / daily supply doesn't look like it'll work for you, your options seem to be to shelve it until your youngest is 3, then start volunteering when she's at nursery (15 hours is a lot in a school and could really help your cause), which will hopefully lead to paid work; or take the opportunity, now that you're planning to move anyway, to relocate to somewhere with better transport links. You never know, it might open more doors for your DH too. Even if your DC had to move schools it wouldn't be the end of the world, particularly as they are still young. I can completely understand your reluctance but don't think of it as disrupting their lives and being unfair - it's possible it might be a good move for everyone and surely if both their parents were happier, they would be too.

Of course it's totally up to you and I may have missed something that would affect either of the above, but from what you've said (which is of course all we have to go on, not knowing you or your family) they seems like the most likely options. When I qualified we moved, because it was the only way I could get a job (and I taught a shortage subject). This year we relocated to the other end of the country and DH and I had to live apart for four months, as he hadn't found one yet - luckily it worked out and it's the best thing we ever did, so it can work. Good luck.

Hi op, difficult times. I set up a child minding business when our circumstances massively changed and I needed to make money.

It's very lucrative once you are up and running.

'There is always tutoring work for experienced teachers'

That's the point though, tower. There is a lot of demand for tutoring here, but parents want experienced and knowledgeable tutors familiar with the exam boards and the requirements. They are unlikely to pay good money for an unproved, inexperienced and unknown teacher.

Agree thetallesttower. Tutoring has really taken off in recent years as many parents are desperate to give their child the best possible chance. If the OP has tried that and had no take up, then either she's living so remotely that there just isn't the market. Or (and please don't take this as a personal criticism OP) it's once again, the lack of experience that's the factor

If I were seeking a tutor for my dd or ds, realistically, would I choose an experienced teacher with a proven track record of exam results and in depth knowledge of the exam specs; or would I choose someone who qualified 2 years ago but hasn't got a post yet?

Honest answer: Id go for the experienced teacher. UNLESS the less qualified teacher had that something extra, and could demonstrate to me that they had superb knowledge of exam boards, the curriculum etc AND could form a better relationship with my child and motivate and tutor them better than the first option.

Once again, I'm not saying this to be harsh: just realistic.

At the end of the day it's market forces isn't it? You're worth what someone is prepared to pay you. If the market isn't there for the OP, she needs to make other changes. None of us are owed a job even in the particular field we've got ourselves qualified in and are passionate about. It's wonderful when things fall into place and you do manage to secure work doing what you ideally want to do, but life isn't always like that. I suspect the OPs partner would prefer to be doing his original higher paid job but has had to take whatever he could get after redundancy. Two years is a long time to hold out for a job without being prepared to consider the other options of relocating. Anyway, now the OP has the house on the market seems an ideal time to have the bigger conversation about where to move to, to maximise employment opportunities for both the OP and her partner

Janey, do you think if OP were feeling better about herself, and less stressed (OP - I totally understand the stress, not having a go) then she could put a positive spin on lack of experience? 'Newly qualified with up to date knowledge of current guidance and teaching recommendations for forthcoming changes to the curriculum and exam structure.' That could go down better than some one who has tutored for forty years and has slightly outmoded ideas about what works and doesn't.

A new, keen teacher could really make an impact as a tutor. But OP seems very down on life and her prospects, and that sort of attitude frightens people off, making a vicious circle of rejection. It's really hard (DP had to do it when made redundant) but you have to find a way to psych yourself into a very positive frame of mind and then set up a plan of action, of which getting some experience and some income are key.

A history teacher may be the best equipped to teach general essay structure or revision technique, as history has so many facts and requires such clarity of thought and organisation. Offering a series of six sessions between now and exams periods, as general group workshops for GCSE and A level students, run from OP's home at weekends, so DP has the children, and offered for a fairly low introductory fee could entice a handful of pupils. It's not a solution, it's a stepping stone with low, short term commitment should anything more demanding come up in the mean time, but it gets teaching practise and experience. Word of mouth spreads very fast for good tutors. It would be a start. Starts lead to other stuff, but doing nothing doesn't. You just have to keep plugging away not giving up on all the possibilities.