New Career with a Childhood and Youth Studies degree- where to start

[countydurhamlass]

hi, not sure where to put this.

i am currently working in an office where there are rules for some and rules for other depending whether or not you run around after the boss like her lap dog. i am not one of those people so for the last eight years i have had to fight for everything, my wage increase, my reduced hours, time off. I was working to a qualification in order to get a promotion but as i can do the job without them giving me the promotion and a bigger pay increase then they say the job is no longer available (it is as i am doing it unofficially in my work load). i have taken the plunge and started a degree in childhood and youth studies - a whole new career change. i will graduate in about a year to eighteen months and have decided to start looking at my options.

Not sure what i want to do but i know i want to work with children and young people with special needs. i am keeping an eye out on the local authority's website for job vacancies as well as the NHS, Probation and the Police. Not sure where else to look. Should i be sending out lots of CVs now to various places in the hope that they offer me a trainee position? I am willing to accept a trainee position because it would probably not be much of a wage drop given my wage is rubbish now in my current job.

Anyone else done something similar and can point me in the right direction?

thanks

hi, have just retrained as well, just finished Early Years Professional Status (waiting for the results), combining early childhood studies with the professional qualification. I have found it quite difficult to find suitable jobs that are well paid. I am working as a trainee in order to complete my qualification in a preschool but am finding that it is a very established team and my role upon qualifying has never been decided properly. I do not feel that if I stay there I will progress (or earn) as I feel I should. I saw a job at ALDI that was offering more pay!!

A lot of the children's centres are being sold in my area but I have just applied for a job at the charity which is taking it over. I am also considering going into teaching, applying also for teaching assistant jobs in the short term in order to get the experience (and to find a supporting school) needed to do the 12month Graduate Teacher Programme. If you wanted to get into teaching you could work as a TA while you finish your degree and see if the school will put you through a Graduate Teacher Programme once you have finished.

Be aware that there are huge public sector cuts due (again) which affects people working in early childhood and youth sectors. A lot of youth workers who were on my degree course were made redundant last year as services were cut, it may well be that many are cut again.

Sorry, this is a really long post but I do understand how you feel and good luck!

p.s. I have noticed a lot of support staff for special schools vacancies - in my area these seem to be advertised in the local press and many seem to need support staff.

thanks for your reply, will have a look in the local newspapers