Issues with new job

[Rosesara]

Hi everyone

I'm looking for some advice please.

I started a completely new role about four months ago after working in special education for many years, having gained alot of experience working with children with challeninging behaviour. I progressed quite far within the schools I worked in (as far as support
Staff can) I left because I moved house and I was finding the commute long and was going in the opposite direction of my dc school.

The new role itself is really easy and not the challenge I thought it wouldd be, but my new colleagues (same role) keep fijding fault with my work (really trivial stuff) and checking up on me unnecessarily, questioning my diary etc.They have been told to stop this by the MD but continue to do so. It appears they have all been making out the role is really difficult but it isn't- there is very little to do and I suspect on the days we work from home they don't do anything at all, so they are worried that I've been kean and proactive!

I was also told I could wfh as much as I like but this isn't the case we have to do four days in the office.

I'm missing working in a busy school environment, the challenging behaviour and the holidays! I feel guilty I've given up the holidays with my dc.

I've seen a couple of school jobs, I really like the look of, should I apply? I'm still in my probation period. Should I put this role on any application forms I do?

My new boss is a really nice guy and been very pleased with my work so far, I feel terribly guilty even considering this!

I'd go back to school work if you are unhappy. I've had to quit and move on as I can't afford to be a TA anymore and I don't want to teach but will miss the school environment.

Be wary of the liklihood that school are likely to go through redundancies over the next couple of years and support is always the first to go. The cost of supply teachers, wage increases and energy increases over the last few years will have put lots of schools in a financial hole.

Thank you. I couldn't afford to be a T.A, the money is so poor, its such a shame.

I've been lucky and had quite high paying grades previously.

The role I like the look of is for a home school link worker.

I feel really bad, I had high hopes for this job, and it is easy, but I just prefer the challenge of working within special education.

I could have written the OP a month ago! I had been in my new job for a matter of weeks and knew it wasn't working out (no challenge, slow and also too far removed from my previous school admin roles - very different from how it was presented to me beforehand).

I started applying for more suitable jobs and decided to include that job on my applications. It did cause a little discussion during an interview. How could they be sure I would stay with them for longer? I was able to truthfully and satisfactorily explain the situation (but at the time thought I should just have left it off the application). I did get the new job.

How does your prior employment history look? If it shows a commitment to your previous roles, then having one short one won't be bad.

Thanks!

Previously I worked for the same trust for seven years, 5.5 years at one school, then transferred over to another school in special measures that the trust had taken on, with a handful of colleagues with the task to turn it around. I don't think that's too bad...

Before working in schools, I had been on maternity leave. It was a change of direction for me as before dc I had worked for the same company for nine years in financial services.

If I do jump ship my new boss will be so disappointed.. I'm worried she might give a bad reference. I can't really leave it off application form as it asks for a reference from your current employer.

They can't give bad references, from what I understand from previous MN threads (as I have no HR experience) lots of references are just the dates that you worked and would you employ again.

It happens all the time. How are you supposed to know from one maybe two hours speaking to someone what a place or job will be like ?

Im in a similar situation been somewhere 4 months and just not what I expected, so I'm putting the feelers out for a new role. I've just been really honest in interviews as if they think 'well it's like that here too' then I don't want to work for them either!

I think the general advice is the odd job hop in an otherwise stable career is alright but avoid getting too many on the ole cv. I just paper over the cracks after a few years anyway as no one looks back that far when referencing. I'm a terrible job hopper!

This is a myth, an employer can absolutely give a bad reference, but it must be accurate. They can’t lie.