Would you rather work as a GP receptionist or a teaching assistant?

[Whitefeather13]

I have had two job offers and I cannot decide which one to accept.

A receptionist at a doctors surgery or a Teaching Assistant at a small village primary school.

Do you have experience in either? Which would you rather?

AIBU - GP surgery
YANBU - Teaching assistant

Thank you!

TA

But I guess you don't get paid during the hols??

I used to be a primary school teacher and now work on the reception desk at a health care setting (not quite GP but comparable).
The customers are SO much more polite than the children were at school.

You know that children have parents, right?

I am amazed at the people sating TA. I am assuming 90% of them have never worked in a school....

Yes I’m probably thinking of what people told me a few years ago, didn’t realise had changed so much. It sounds a lot of hard work and responsibility for the pay (22k a year average apparently) when can earn the same in many much more chilled jobs can walk straight into plus many more employers offer work to fit around childcare now (plus much more availability of wrap around childcare) so suppose not surprising

Which has more opportunities for career progression?

There's no salary in this world that would entice me to be a TA so I'd go GP receptionist

I think being a TA must be the most boring job in the world!

I put GP but then changed when saw that your post about having small children, you need holidays covered then. However it depends on the situation as well, are any of them to cover maternity leave or to work with a specific child?

Id never do the receptionist one. Face to face with the general public, after many years in customer facing roles, my face would get me fired.

TA. But I'm a teacher and hate medical establishments, so it would be a bit of a no-brainer .

As a gp who worked in same practice for 20y I have had abuse from patients who can’t get they want but my goodness the receptionists have it to a whole different level. They also have so much to remember and days are long/late.

the jobs are so different go with what you would enjoy

TA

Everyone hates Gp receptionists😂

I don't have any experience of teaching but my mother is a recently retired doctors receptionist, and after seeing the toll it had on her, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I think it depends on what kind of person who are and whether you generally like children. Only you know that.

For me it would be TA all day every day. But I like children, absolutely hate healthcare settings, and would value having the school holidays off.

TA. I've been one for the last 7 years and love it.

22k would be before pro rata I'm on 13k a year for 30hrs a week

I wouldn't work at ur kids school.I did that for a year and it wasn't ideal as you can't be impartial if anything happens.

They both have the capacity to be pretty horrendous, but I think I'd rather work with kids.

I used to be a dental receptionist and it was thankless, and that was in a very naice practice. People are complete pricks if they don't get what they want, and you're "just" the receptionist - not the important medical person - so you take all the shit. I reckon a GP surgery is worse than a dentists.

You'd probably get paid more than a TA though.

😯

TA in reception - hard work but some of the children seem to think I’m a minor celebrity which makes trips out fun!
Seriously it is hard, but never ever boring. And so rewarding.

In this case I’d definitely take the TA job. I loved being a TA. You are often closer to the kids than the teacher and can actually leave at home time. But I also love kids.

They always seem miserable

Really? But kids are hilarious and it’s so rewarding. Plus I love lessons, especially in primary.

GP receptionist.
I'm a TA and it isn't a happy place to be, plus the pay is shite.

Also don't think that a small village school will be easier, my role now is far harder/busier/stressful than when I worked in a larger primary.