Should I leave min wage job?

[Drumstick38]

I'm qualified as a teacher but haven't managed to secure an NQT position.
I worked as a Cover Supervisor for a year on £17.5k which did not suit me at all, the children just do not respect you in the same way when you aren't their regular teacher, and I wasn't good enough at the behaviour management.

I currently work in a care home which I do enjoy, but it's minimum wage. I do nights and it's still minimum wage, no increments, same if it's Christmas, New Year etc, £8.91 regardless.
I combine this with a day on supply (£55 net).
I get paid weekly and yearly i think I'm on £17800 based on 37 hours per week.

I'm 31 now and I know that if i want to have a decent home, car etc. That I need to be on better money.

I share a very small studio with my partner which is nice, but it would be good to have a bigger place eventually.

It's a shame as I love the residents I work with. I know there are homes which pay a better salary and an enhanced rate for nights.

I've had no luck with teaching jobs sadly, just haven't been selected. I've applied for a HLTA role at 24k and yet to hear back, and keep applying for teaching roles.

What would you do in this circumstance? Partner is on min wage too, I'd like to buy a house, have about 2k in the bank, would like driving lessons too but can't afford much.

I can do long term supply roles but there's no holiday pay, and I imagine it'd be hard to get a mortgage on a supply agency contract?
Has anybody been able to have decent accomodation/ a mortgage and decent quality of life on min wage here?

How long ago did you complete your teaching degree? Would you still like to teach?

If not, would you retrain as a nurse?

It was 5 years ago so not even sure I'd still be able to do NQT?
I would yes, I think the Cover Supervisor job just put me off but hopefully if I had my own classes it would be different.
Yes I would consider that, my Mum suggested it too. Not sure if I'd be entitled to a bursary? Don't think I can afford to go without a wage for a while.

If you want to teach then I would do a long term role. Foot in the door and all thwt. But you need that NQT year asap, threshold be your focus.

Speak to your local college/ uni. They will have a careers advisor who can help you with bursary info. You will be eligible for a student loan.

Yeah I could look into long term supply roles for September, it just puts me off that there's no pay during holidays, even though I'm supposed to have "holiday pay" in my hourly/daily rate.

Have a look into nursing associate roles. They are paid on the job learning to be a band 4 nursing associate. Alot of them have a year/18 months top up to full nursing degree at the end. It's seen as the paid way into nursing these days, a little more like it was in the olden days. Most hospitals have these courses starting yearly/biannualy now

Would you consider FE teaching, or teaching in a prison? I taught in a prison for 8 years and it was rewarding, fun and incredibly interesting. It isn't for everyone, and its not as well-paid as teaching in school, but it might turn out to be just your thing.

Just wondering what sort of teacher you are primary or secondary? Are you being too fussy as to what you apply for in order to get your qualified teacher status? Are you restricted to one location?

Try civil service jobs website or council roles. If you can get in then you can work your way up.

Im secondary but happy to apply for primary too.
Thanks for those suggestions I'll definitely look into them.

@Drumstick38

I can do long term supply roles but there's no holiday pay, and I imagine it'd be hard to get a mortgage on a supply agency contract? Has anybody been able to have decent accomodation/ a mortgage and decent quality of life on min wage here?

It’s not hard to get a mortgage on a contractor role, There are specialist mortgage brokers who deal in contract workers, I used one several times when I was an IT contractor and it was no more difficult than getting a normal mortgage,you don’t generally need accounts just a consistent contracting history for at least 12 months, mortgages levels are based on your hourly/daily rate

Absolutely you should leave this job if there are better paid jobs you could get! Start applying to other places ASAP.

I've been in your exact same position, I worked in a private care home while I was a nursing student. I was quite attached to the residents and got comfortable there even though working conditions were pretty crap. I was getting paid €9.50 an hour (minimum wage here in Ireland at the time) and doing 2 x 12 hour shifts every single weekend.

Eventually I saw sense and switched to doing agency work as a HCA in the hospital for much better wages (€14 an hour, double time Sundays and 25% extra at nights) plus far more flexibility in my working hours! I have no idea why I stuck it out in that care home for so long now!!

I would stop applying for teacher roles and start applying for TA jobs with the view that you WILL be a teacher in 12-18 months. You’re having the same problem I had although I’m an OT. I didn’t work straight from uni so no-one was interested. I had to complete return to practice before I could get an OT gig and even then it’s been hard. You’ll get there, just think strategically 💕

Could you contact the careers centre at your old uni? I work at a uni and our careers service is available to all graduates, no matter how long it's been since they graduated. They help with getting into industry and continue to help former students who want more senior roles. Our reputation depends on our students having long successful careers and it's in the interests of our current students to have older graduates in management positions where they do the hiring.