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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Dead end job/no career prospects

21 replies

Asvan · 17/10/2019 22:01

Hi everyone.

I am 35 and have three children, aged 4, 8 and 10. For the last ten years, I chose to work part time as a teaching assistant and concentrate on bringing my children up. I live in a small town where jobs are hard to come by. My husband works in the nearest city, an hours drive from where we live. We don't have any family or friends that we can rely on so I do all the school runs etc.

My youngest DC started full time school last month and since then I have really started thinking about what I want out of my life in terms of a career. I was very academic and got great results at GCSE, A Level and degree level, but I've never known what I wanted to do. Up until now, I was happy with being a teaching assistant but I really feel like I could really be doing so much more. Whilst I love the job that I do, there is absolutely no career progression.

I have looked at maybe doing a PGCE or some other training but I'm drawing a blank. I would ideally like to continue working in a school but in a role that is more suited to my level of qualifications. I don't want to have the workload of a teacher and I need to do something that allows me to do my kids school rounds.

Can anyone suggest any career ideas? Or training courses? Which will allow me to progress into a better position.

I'm really beginning to feel a bit disheartened and I don't want to have any regrets when I'm older.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

Asvan · 18/10/2019 12:49

Can anyone help me?

OP posts:

AfterSomeAdvice1234 · 18/10/2019 13:15

What is your field of study/interest?

LeggyLinda · 18/10/2019 13:19

Sadly, it can be difficult starting a new career that fits around child school times. What were you doing prior to being a TA? Is that something you could revisit? What area was your degree in? What do you enjoy? These answers may help you choose a pathway.

Have you thought about approaching a college? Still in education sector, but often have a wider range of roles. Many have welfare officers and admission departments that can be covered as part of a job share or part time/flex work.

acabria · 18/10/2019 13:19

What's keeping you in the small town? Why not move and eliminate your DHs commute and provide more work/study opportunities for you.

Caribbeanescape · 18/10/2019 13:24

I was in a similar situation OP, mainly a SAHM but I taught music from home which fitted around the children. A few things changed at home, and I worked full time in an office job with low pay for my skills and qualifications, and no real chances of progression. I am now training as a Speech and Language Therapist, and I am older than you. Would that be an option?

CmdrCressidaDuck · 18/10/2019 13:26

Well, anything specialist is going to require requalifying and taking on a burden of responsibility which is going to extend outside school hours. (Why are you tied to the schoolrun? Couldn't your children do after-school club?) You could try for school administration/office work but that isn't particularly well paid or challenging either. You can't really have it both ways, either you're willing to work longer days for more challenge and pay, or you stay where you are more or less.

Dave234234 · 18/10/2019 15:35

Look at a school business manager. Normally found in bigger schools but might be a good fit if you want to stay in a school but not teach

Original poster

Asvan · 18/10/2019 15:59

What qualifications would you need to be a school business manager?

I have also thought about becoming a speech and language therapist. More advice on this would also be welcome.

My degree is in history and sociology and before I became a mum I worked as a Benefits Officer at my local council. This was a job which I really enjoyed but had to leave as we moved for my husbands job.

We are currently not in a position to move anywhere else as we simply can't afford to. House prices in nearby cities are just sky high.

Unfortunately I am tied to school hours because my kids go to evening dance/swimming classes several times a week.

OP posts:

MT2017 · 18/10/2019 16:16

I would go and speak to your business manager and tell them you would be interested in other roles.

If you're good at your current job and reliable, they would be mad not to consider you for other roles within the school.

Good luck!

Original poster

Asvan · 18/10/2019 16:23

The problem is I work in a very small school and there is only one business manager and two admin staff and they have been in their jobs for many years. I can't see any new jobs coming up any time soon.

I have applied for these kinds of jobs elsewhere at the local college and the hospital but I never hear anything back. I don't even get an interview. I assume it's because there are too many people applying and most of them must have recent experience in that field.

Are there any courses I could do that would help me secure a job as a school business support officer?

OP posts:

Dave234234 · 18/10/2019 16:49

I would recommend the short free courses from the open university in general office skills - finance, HR etc. There is enough there to be a generalist. There is a SBM qualification but mention you would like to do it in an application form and you would probably need to be in the job to do it if that makes sense.

Also become a school governor, either as staff governor or co opted into a different school, will give you loads of experience and training opportunities to develop

haplessharpie · 18/10/2019 17:10

I did an undergrad in psychology, did teacher training, taught for 2 years and then applied for head of pastoral care in a secondary school. It definitely opened up my career options - I did this for 3 years and I am now in the middle of a clinical psychology with a view to become an academic/lecturer in a few years.

I suppose it's what you're interested in - do you want a better job or do you want a career (which, in my view, you should have a passion for?)

Original poster

Asvan · 19/10/2019 15:54

Thanks for all the replies.

In an ideal world I would love to work in some kind of pastoral/welfare/counsellor role at school.

I have also always liked the idea of being a speech and language therapist but the nearest university that offers this course is miles away plus I can't afford it.

OP posts:

MojoMoon · 19/10/2019 16:56

If you are adamant you cannot move to a larger place with more job and study opportunities PLUS also adamant can only work school hours....then there are not many career building opportunities for you.

Might as well be honest about it.
There really aren't many school hour jobs out there.

How do other people manage it?
Paid childcare.
A husband who does his share of pick up and drop offs
Living somewhere that might mean a smaller house but better economic opportunities.

GrimalkinsCrone · 19/10/2019 17:01

I’ve got several friends that are self-employed teachers, but they focus on languages and music. Have you got any other marketable skills that you could turn into a self-employed career?

RedskyLastNight · 19/10/2019 17:14

You need to be realistic as a PP has said. You either need to move somewhere where there are more opportunities, or drop your requirements for school days only. Many people in your situation start off working full time until they get established and then make a flexible working request to swap to hours that they prefer. It would be extremely unusual to walk into a perfect part time job (well, in terms of hours, I guess you are already in the perfect part time job).

You can't just say a full time job is not possible because your children have after school swimming and dance. You need to think a bit more creatively - can you and your husband share drop offs and pickups? Can you change their classes to the weekend? Can you pay someone to take them (or swap favours)?

Pastoral/welfare type roles at DC's school are all full time.

CookieDoughKid · 19/10/2019 17:17

If you're bound by school hours, then there is no such thing as career progressing job. Period.

Offredismysister · 19/10/2019 17:19

What about family support or designated safeguarding lead roles in schools?

CookieDoughKid · 19/10/2019 17:19

Any career progressing jobs will have high workload and possibly long hours to start with. It's not compatible I'm afraid so you'll have to sacrifice school runs. You can't have both.

quincejamplease · 19/10/2019 17:23

Do you not drive or something? Is that why you're limiting yourself solely to work and study options within your own town? (On top of the restrictions you're choosing to place on hours and availability).

People can make suggestions, but we're not magicians.

Switcher33 · 19/10/2019 17:33

Are there any civil service departments with offices near you? Just that you said you enjoyed being a benefits officer in the past, and the civil service is usually pretty good for offering part time hours.

Unfortunately though I agree with others you do have quite a lot of restrictions which make it challenging to have a 'career' rather than a 'job'.

Would your husband have been able to have a career without you doing childcare to allow him to work full time with a commute?

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