I was dumped for being on a zero-hour contract.

[zerohourperson]

Hello,
I'm 26 and I'm a teacher who graduated 2 years ago and I have struggled to find a permanent job in the North West. So, I have been on supply which I love! The only thing I don't like is the inconsistency. I get good reviews from schools and I am regularly asked back to schools I have been to.

I am applying for permanent jobs and I have an interview next week. To be honest, with the amount of people applying for teaching jobs, having my own class feels a lifetime away. There always seems to be someone else who is a 'better fit' and the schools I regularly supply at are never hiring.

I have been busier than I expected despite covid, however at the same time there are some slower weeks than others and I do feel anxious sometimes. For example, no work today but I spend my time applying for jobs and doing some continuous provision and I start a masters in January as I felt, with covid, now would be the perfect time to start an online-masters.

Boyfriend is also on a zero hours contract but in factory work. I have noticed he has been quieter with me lately but didn't think much of it.
We don't live together but he rang me this morning for our usual good morning phone call and he was being really short with me. After I asked what was wrong, he told me he isn't happy and one of the main reasons is that we're both on zero-hour contracts and he doesn't know how we will ever get our own house and he would rather at least one of us have a permanent job.

I have savings (around £4000) and I am quite careful with money and i have made these savings up with supply. When I started supply after being a student, I had -£900 in my bank account.

Anyway, of course his reason for breaking up with me may be absolute rubbish and it could be something else, but he basically said that because we're both zero-hour contracts it won't work.

I am trying so hard to find a permanent job and better myself with CPD and learning, I feel an absolute failure now :( I have been crying all morning.

This has turned into a huge factory bashing Thread. Not everyone is ambitious in life. People work in factories for different reasons, fitting round school hours. It’s not all minimum wage, dead end jobs like people are implying. Some people are just happy to be employed. I’m finding this thread quite belittling to tell you the truth.

He’s a douche, you sound great. Keep going with your plan and you will meet someone better. You are very young still. Next!!

It's either a complete bullshit excuse that he just cooked up to break up OR he has certain life expectations and he was hoping by now you'd be able to bankroll them.

He doesn't want a partner,he wants someone to look after him and pull his half of the cart too.

I know it hurts but thank fuck it happened and you haven't wasted even more time and eventually money on him.

You're young,you have good career and job opportunities ahead of you. You've barely started,you're not a failure.

It was so cruel of him to make you feel like that.

Just be careful as I suspect this one will come crawling back when he doesn’t find a long queue of gorgeous billionairesses seeking their very own cocklodger...

@zerohourperson I know you're hurting, and it can be difficult to see clearly when you're in pain, but read back your own words:

"After I asked what was wrong, he told me he isn't happy and one of the main reasons is that we're both on zero-hour contracts and he doesn't know how we will ever get our own house and he would rather at least one of us have a permanent job."

Now, let me tell you what I really read:

"After I asked what was wrong, he told me he was worried he wouldn't be able to sponge off me for the rest of our lives, and he didn't know how we would ever get a mortgage in both of our names with me paying 100% of the bills and him accruing 50% of the rights, and he would rather I man up because he can't be bothered doing so. In short, he admitted he was only with me for the easy financial ride, and I dodged a bullet."

StrawberryPlum the OP's boyfriend is highly ambitious though, and he works in a factory!

He only wants a woman with a full time, permanent job who will be able to provide the security and finance to enable him to buy a house!

You've definitely had a lucky escape.

I definitely recommend teaching abroad, I lived in Asia for 8 years until 2017 and taught at various international schools. It's a nice lifestyle, I saved so much money because most of my expenses were paid for.

Out of all my Brit colleagues, none of them ever want to teach in the UK again! Go for it, OP. You might even meet a nice male teacher too 🙂.

@Strawberryplum

This has turned into a huge factory bashing Thread. Not everyone is ambitious in life. People work in factories for different reasons, fitting round school hours. It’s not all minimum wage, dead end jobs like people are implying. Some people are just happy to be employed. I’m finding this thread quite belittling to tell you the truth.

I agree with the fact you can have a good job in a factory. But if you are on a zero hours contract you are much less likely to be in one of those good jobs.

You can do so much better than him @zerohourperson

Forgot to say, both DH and I are in full time permanent employment. I doubt we will ever own because we can’t afford to get on the property ladder.

Use this opportunity. You have a new start.