You're NOT hired... again! To think that getting a job is demoralising

TiddlyToes21 · 2023-05-10T16:08:14+00:00

My temporary teaching contract ends in a couple of months and I'm in the midst of sending out applications and going to interviews. So far, no luck! I'm an experienced teacher on m6 but doesn't help that I can only teach part time as I have two young children. I'm in a bit of a panic about potentially not having a job after the summer as I feel quite demoralised that I haven't had any job offers yet. I'm trying so hard to put as much into my interviews as I can (I don't mean being OTT). It's just draining to put loads of effort in and get nowhere. In a few cases, it's come to light afterwards, that schools have gone for known candidates who they probably had the job lined up for anyway. How many interviews did it take you to get your job? Can it be a totally demoralising process? What am I doing wrong?

mdh2020 · 10/05/2023 17:14

Are you tailoring your applications to each specific post/ school? You shouldn’t send out generic applications. If you are going for interviews you should be getting feedback. If not, ask for it. If you are getting interviews then you are half way there. Can you ask your current HT to give you a practice interview and some feedback? I know it can be demoralising. I didn’t get one job because ‘I was older than the HoD’ and another because ‘it wasn’t my turn’. The right post will turn up.

ThrallsWife · 10/05/2023 17:59

What key stages do you teach? What area?

Original poster

TiddlyToes21 · 10/05/2023 18:07

ThrallsWife · 10/05/2023 17:59

What key stages do you teach? What area?

@ThrallsWife Primary in the Thurrock area of Essex. Most experience in EYFS and KS1 but have taught KS2 too in more recent years.

OP posts:

ThrallsWife · 10/05/2023 18:13

Maybe someone here can help out. I'm secondary-based and loads of schools here are continuously readvertising for the same posts because they don't get any applications.

BluebellBlueballs · 10/05/2023 18:17

I hear you OP. Not a teacher but I have 20+ years experience in a professional occupation and I've been struggling to secure a new role since Jan.

So far I've had around 7 first stage interviews and 3 finals. Came a close 2nd on the final stages. Currently at final stage for a dream job, with interview on Friday and it feels like I don't dare get my hopes up just to be pipped again.
Yeah it really sucks. It was never this hard when I was younger, could always secure a role in a month tops.

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2023 18:35

I think it is much harder to secure a part time job as a teacher. Are you only applying for pt roles? It might be worth approaching schools with ft jobs advertised and see if they are interested.

I think being M6 and only on a temporary contract might be making it tricky too, are you showing your value as an experienced teacher? I'm UP3 and it's expected that more experienced teachers would take on some kind of addional role and make some whole school contributions. That is much harder to do if you are pt. Things like working with trainees, mentoring eqts, leading some cpd, running clubs and trips, leading on literacy, or gifted and talented etc.

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2023 18:36

I also meant to ask what feedback have you been given after interview? You are clearly good enough on paper to get an interview.

postwarbulge · 10/05/2023 18:58

Being on UPS 3 does not help, either. Ten years ago, after being 'helped off the bus' in the company of quite a few older teachers at my school, I tried getting another teaching job. Forget it!

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 10/05/2023 19:19

It is the most demoralising process, worse even than crap dating because at least with that you can partly blame the men for being shit.

I know you're supposed to tailor your CV and letter to each job but that takes ages, is tiring, and then you just get ignored most of the time anyway.

When I was last jobhunting, I found the jobs I was applying for mostly fell into three categories so I drafted a CV and letter for each one and tweaked them just a bit where necessary. It depends on the industry and the sorts of roles you're going for, but sometimes I actually think there is something to be said for the scattergun approach. Sacrificing a bit of application quality for quantity, just getting yourself in to as many inboxes as possible. Not always. But sometimes.

But yes, it's shite. I feel for anyone who has to go through it. I'm not 100% delighted where I am now but I can't face all that shite again right now.

BunnyMum2000 · 10/05/2023 19:20

BluebellBlueballs · 10/05/2023 18:17

I hear you OP. Not a teacher but I have 20+ years experience in a professional occupation and I've been struggling to secure a new role since Jan.

So far I've had around 7 first stage interviews and 3 finals. Came a close 2nd on the final stages. Currently at final stage for a dream job, with interview on Friday and it feels like I don't dare get my hopes up just to be pipped again.
Yeah it really sucks. It was never this hard when I was younger, could always secure a role in a month tops.

Same!

I got a big fat No today from a role I interviewed for last week (got to 2nd interview stage)
Its very demoralising :-(

So glass of wine - and back to the job search tonight.

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2023 19:30

postwarbulge · 10/05/2023 18:58

Being on UPS 3 does not help, either. Ten years ago, after being 'helped off the bus' in the company of quite a few older teachers at my school, I tried getting another teaching job. Forget it!

Yes, I agree that it doesn't help. I was just saying that at the top of the main scale and UPS you have to be doing above and beyond. You are judged differently to someone m1 to m4.

Nothinglefttogiv · 10/05/2023 19:49

TiddlyToes21 · 10/05/2023 18:07

@ThrallsWife Primary in the Thurrock area of Essex. Most experience in EYFS and KS1 but have taught KS2 too in more recent years.

Show quote history

If you were closer to me (30 mins drive on a good day, realistically 1hr+) we'd snap you up for a 2 day/week job share!

Original poster

TiddlyToes21 · 10/05/2023 20:25

@WonderingWanda @mdh2020
Feedback so far has been things like not experienced enough (but that was for an alternative provision school), not being able to start before September and the most common reason has been, opting for someone who can do full time.

As well as part time jobs, I have been going for jobs that are full time but will accept part time applications.

OP posts:

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 10/05/2023 20:27

Being part time will always put you at a disadvantage in the job market, sadly. Most jobs are full time and even if they accept applications for part time, they're more likely to go with a fu timer.

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2023 20:30

@TiddlyToes21 it really sounds like it's just bad tining with that feed back then. I know it's so demoralising but it's not because you aren't good enough. I know it will be a pain to not be employed over the summer but if you are free from a contract in September then you will be in a position to get in there quick for any unfilled posts.

What about writing to schools who aren't advertising but that you'd consider working for. Let them know you are available and looking for a position, it's around now that schools are juggling their timetables and they may well need someone part time and flexible. Worth a shot.

Original poster

TiddlyToes21 · 10/05/2023 20:32

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2023 19:30

Yes, I agree that it doesn't help. I was just saying that at the top of the main scale and UPS you have to be doing above and beyond. You are judged differently to someone m1 to m4.

Show quote history

@WonderingWanda I hadn't thought about this.

I got my qts in 2012 and taught full time until going on maternity leave with my first child in 2018. I then returned part time but then covid happened. I was in a difficult position by the end of 2020 as I was really ill during my second pregnancy and so resigned. I then stuck to tutoring and after my second child was born, I did supply for a while. My original school then asked to come back part time on a temporary contract. So I haven't gone through the interview process for years and due to having children, going part time, covid, etc, I feel a bit out of the loop tbh.

OP posts:

Original poster

TiddlyToes21 · 10/05/2023 20:35

I've realised that this is why women who go part time after having children, don't often move jobs, well in teaching that is. If I hadn't of resigned in 2020, maybe things would have been different but it just didn't work out that way.

OP posts:

Enncee · 10/05/2023 20:40

I advertised for a role that was literally my old job but in a different area. I could do everything they were asking and fulfilled all of their essential and desirable criteria. It was a zero hours contract and quite a niche role (you need certain qualifications and training to be able to do it so not one just anyone could apply for either) so I didn't think it would be that popular - didn't even get an interview as other candidates more closely met the criteria. 😂

Enncee · 10/05/2023 20:40

I advertised for a role that was literally my old job but in a different area. I could do everything they were asking and fulfilled all of their essential and desirable criteria. It was a zero hours contract and quite a niche role (you need certain qualifications and training to be able to do it so not one just anyone could apply for either) so I didn't think it would be that popular - didn't even get an interview as other candidates more closely met the criteria. 😂

Applied - not advertised!

BluebellBlueballs · 11/05/2023 10:54

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 10/05/2023 19:19

It is the most demoralising process, worse even than crap dating because at least with that you can partly blame the men for being shit.

I know you're supposed to tailor your CV and letter to each job but that takes ages, is tiring, and then you just get ignored most of the time anyway.

When I was last jobhunting, I found the jobs I was applying for mostly fell into three categories so I drafted a CV and letter for each one and tweaked them just a bit where necessary. It depends on the industry and the sorts of roles you're going for, but sometimes I actually think there is something to be said for the scattergun approach. Sacrificing a bit of application quality for quantity, just getting yourself in to as many inboxes as possible. Not always. But sometimes.

But yes, it's shite. I feel for anyone who has to go through it. I'm not 100% delighted where I am now but I can't face all that shite again right now.

I do the scattergun.... I know the type of work I'm looking for and I've sufficiently massaged my CV to bring those elements out so I don't see the point of tailoring it further. If I don't have what they want, they are probably not offering the kind of work I want. Besides you do get ignored most of the time anyway so I'd rather save my energy for the interviews.

I was speaking to my brother today who has been in a stable job for 13 years but due to a failed marriage, back on the dating scene and we were both saying how glad we were that we were not the other - both are shite!

I honestly don't know if it's me or the outside world but it was neve r this hard even 10 years ago to get a job. I've aged a bit but also working at a more senior level where you'd expect slightly older candidates (i'm mid 40s so not excatly ancient!) but employers seem so fussy these days and it's completely objectifying being made to parade in the beauty contest that is the interview treadmill, particularly in my industry where at least 2 stages are normal, after which they usually say no.

However as I am desperately unhappy in my current role I have no option but to continue

Neededanewuserhandle · 11/05/2023 11:45

YANBU

goodkidsmaadhouse · 11/05/2023 12:17

I hear you OP! Also completely agree with @BluebellBlueballs that things feel way harder than they did a decade ago. When I was young, inexperienced and a bit of an idiot I had no problem securing jobs 😂

90stalgia · 11/05/2023 12:23

Not teaching, but corporate world - three interviews where I was unsuccessful and before that, at least 5 applications where I wasn't shortlisted at all.

Original poster

TiddlyToes21 · 11/05/2023 18:52

I'm feeling almost unemployable in teaching, which sounds a bit dramatic probably but that's how I'm feeling at present. Considering there's meant to be a teacher shortage too.

I'm wondering whether I should go for LSA roles or maybe another kind of job entirely. I just need a 2 day job (2.5 tops).

OP posts:

postwarbulge · 16/05/2023 14:16

I was a secondary school chemistry teacher who could offer full-time. I had over thirty years of experience and spent frustrating three years trying to get another job before i saw the writing on the wall and gave up. Even at this time of a supposed shortage of teachers, nothing has changed and schools will not look at older candidates, even supply agencies are too picky