Teachers - how bad is this for your career?

[flowergirl24]

To cut a long story short, I've just gone back to work after a 4 year career break from teaching to raise children. I'm in my first term at a new school and I think it has been a mistake. I miss being with the children too much. Technically we can afford for me to be at home. If I hand my notice in at 31st October, then leave at Christmas, does this look really bad on my CV?

I'm just picturing the next interview questions if I want to return at a later date when the children are a bit older "So you took 4 years off, then went back for one term and left"??

Is this career suicide? I'd really appreciate some honest advice.

Just don't put it on!

Seriously, if you are applying out of county, I wouldn't bother. If the school is local and people know you, just be up front and honest. If the HT is funny about it, then it's not the school for you!

Sorry to jump on your thread flowergirl but how hard was it to get a teaching job after a 4 year break? I am considering coming out of the classroom for a few years while my two youngest are small and this is something I worry about.

In response to your op surely if you could explain why you were now ready to return to work when you finally decided to (for example children being old enough to go to afterschool club etc without being too exhausted) you could justify your decision.

Thanks for your reply Yummi, but surely they have access to all the tax info etc when I give them my NI number?

If I do decide to quit, I wasn't planning on hushing it up, but I just wondered how bad it might look to potential employers?

At the moment, that is the only reason that I'm staying in the job.

You could always do a term or two in supply when you went back, so you had a different reference to give.

I wouldn't worry about it to be honest - and I would sell it as a positive at interview that you didn't feel you could give the post everything you wanted to, but that you were now in a much better position to do so.

MercuryRising, it honestly was not as hard as I thought it would be. I had two interviews (the first job went to a superb NQT who was much cheaper than me) and this would probably have happened whether I'd had a break or not, then at the second interview I got the job.

The only thing I didn't realise, though, was that once you come out it is harder to get part time, and easier in you are already in a full time job to negotiate a part time position, if you see what I mean. However, I'm on part time now, so its doable.

Also, the years I took off were the best thing I did - I don't regret them at all.

I would imagine it won’t look great but I don’t think it’s career suicide either. Ignore the person who said don’t put it on your cv - I would explain it clearly on your application and the next time you visit a prospective school, otherwise I think you’ll find it tricky to get through to interviews. Or you might need to get back in through supply work or volunteering. You’re only 6 weeks in to what’s quite a big adjustment - are you sure you can’t stick it out a bit longer?

Don’t put it on ....they won’t have any access to your tax info that’s confidential

Hi op
You will have to put it on any future applications as there can't be any gaps in your employment history and if you miss it out you will be lying by omission which is not a good idea.
However, I wouldn't have thought there would be any problems applying for future jobs. You can just say that the children were too little and needed you.

I don't put a job on my cv that lasted a month after returning after 4 years looking after our child. I left as it was shockingly horrible in so many ways. No futre employer ever knew about this job. I phoned my referees and just explained briefly why I left and if they wouldn't mind future references.

I don’t think it would be awful. However, I’d try and stick it out if I were you. This is the worst term in teaching (full time year 6 teacher here with 3 small children) and I’d quit right now and I love my job!
Part time teaching roles are difficult to get so I’d sit right and see if your feelings change. A term (and a half term for the decision in your case) isn’t long enough to get youR head round being back in work at all

Oh and I just explained the gap as looking after my child for four years. Many Employers understand this. Many don't of course but it's not unheard of.

If you do leave you must put it on your next application. I would give a genuine explanation for it. It is what it is. I went back after a nearly 5 year gap and nearly gave up again before Christmas. But I settled back into it after that.

I've also gone back after 6 years off and have found it tough this term. I don't really have the choice as we need the money now but I could easily see myself dreaming of leaving if I didn't. That said, it is getting easier. It's always hard to start back at a new school anyway. If I were you I'd try and stick it out for the year and see how you feel. It might knock your confidence if nothing else to leave. Depends how miserable it makes you though as your mental health is important. How old are your children? Will things actually improve in a few years or will you always feel this way?

I agree that this is the worst term if you work in a school. Have you considered flexible working? You’d have to tough it out to the 26 week mark, but at that point you could request say 3 days per week. If not if you are going, say now so the school can recruit in a timely manner. You don’t have to wait until Oct 31st and they can get their ad up before half term.

Children are 3 and 15 months. Dealing with significant behaviour issues during the day which is exhausting. But, yes, I know I should stick it out. I just think I should put my small ones first at the moment.