Looking a new job (support staff) but feel trapped cos of reference procedures

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Currently support staff in a secondary school which is struggling at the moment with no permanent head. Behaviour is awful and I just can’t see it getting better so I wanted to try a switch to primary school admin and have seen a job which I like the look of. The money will be a LOT less which doesn’t bother me too much as my happiness and job satisfaction is more important now (lucky enough to have paid off mortgage thanks to an inheritance).

The application form states that it will definitely seek references before invitation to interview. I am worried about this as my job is unique in that lots of schools are getting rid of my type of post due to budget cuts and while we have very new management in charge (not sure for how long) I don’t want to rock the boat and look uncommitted if they are looking closely at the staffing structure and finances at the moment. It looks even worse if I am willing to go for a huge pay cut.

So I feel trapped. Secretly I hope for a big staff meeting soon with an announcement for voluntary redundancies and I would grab it and then start looking in earnest elsewhere. But obviously I don’t know if that’s likely. Half of me wonders if they are just hoping I will go elsewhere anyway So they can downgrade my post so wouldn’t care about be me looking for other jobs or not at the moment. But this management is all so new they are just getting to grips with the current school set up and the timing is just so awkward as I just don’t know what their view is of my post at the moment.

last time we had a large restructuring for financial reasons (about 3 years ago) we were told of redundancies just before the Easter break which fell in with statutory notice periods etc. So am unsure whether to just wait for a few weeks to get a better idea of what they have planned for the school long term as none of the staff have been told yet.

Argh, it’s all a mess and I don’t know what to do for the best!

If money isn't critical, I'd apply for every job you like the look of, and stop worrying about what your current school might think. What's the worst that can happen if you start applying? Surely it's worth it to get the job you want?

What’s the worst that can happen? That I don’t get any job offers but have to take lots of interview days off and cause school a headache. Also that they start micromanaging I suppose. Or trying to make my life to awkward that I just hand my notice in with noting to go to.

Dunno. I guess it might be a leap of faith. Been there a long time and do need to work. It just feels illogical to go for worse-paid jobs for same number of hours.

I think you can request that references are not taken up until you are offered the job? You could at least enquire before making an application.

Is there someone else you can give as a reference...the previous head? Others who have already left but can vouch for your work?

I’ll email and ask. Although we have to tell the head if we need to be offsite for ANY reason at the moment, so if I got an interview I’m not sure how I’d get round that one!

Ah well....there are ways and means, I suppose.

Op, I have seen this for quite a few school jobs & it’s bloody ridiculous. They want to get references before interview & one of the referees has to be your current / most recent employer.
Surely they know what a difficult position this would put people in at their job? Not too bad if you get the new job but bloody awkward if you don’t!

Yes I think it might be easier to blag if you’re a teacher as usually they seem to move for a TLR position or because it’s nearer to home. Howver I am now looking for lower paid jobs further away from home than my current schoool so really very difficult to try and blag that it’s for other reasons than “I just hate this place” 😂