Science teachers, please help !

[Twink]

Hopefully one of you will see this. I'm about to apply for a part-time job as a science technician at a local secondary school and would love to hear what your 'ideal' tech would be like.

It will be my first attempt to re-enter the job market after 5 years at home so am feeling pretty nervous. Any advice welcome !

I didn't see this first time around, but in my old school the department couldn't run without our techs. They were fantastic!! Good luck in your new job Twink.
(we don't have any now at my spec school )

Thank you all, bit scary after 5 years of glueing & sticking and discussing Bob the Builder storylines but I know I will be able to do it once I can find stuff & stop getting lost.

Mumsnet is so fab, where else could I have gone to get help like this ?!

Congratulations, Twink!

Just thought I'd add to this now I'm over halfway to half-term & have just had my first 'proper' payslip since restarting work.

After 2 weeks I felt like I'd been there years, from a good point of view ! I'm mixing chemicals like I'd been doing it all my life (CLEAPS recipes are tops !)

Don't laugh, but I'm beginning to understand a lot of what I did in 'O' level chemistry now (although through the A level lessons).

We've got an expanded 6th form this year so organising chemistry practicals for 23 students that need stacks of kit is quite a challenge but not half as bad as trying to get it all clean & dried afterwards (do any prep rooms have enough space ?)

Thanks for all the info, it was definitely the right move for me at this point in my family's evolution - see, even biology has made a bit of an impact !

That is so brill Twink well done

I'm really pleased it's all going so well for you. Brilliant!

You probably already know this, but I think that the Association for Science Education has a technicians section - for more info/support/training.
Have fun!