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Original poster

New year new job(hunt)

27 replies

BeatricetheBeautious · 30/12/2023 11:06

Is anyone else determined to find a new job in the New Year?

I do a higher level admin job in a school and it is getting to be way too much! So much stress for very mediocre pay (but I obviously get all the school holidays off)!

I have no idea where to begin, but begin I shall. May need to do some training in my spare (ha!) time.

Feeling v motivated (but that's because I am well rested I think)

OP posts:
Turkeyhen · 30/12/2023 17:52

Me too - although I’m in a very different situation to yours (I’m way older and returning after a gap). Feeling quite excited about it! What direction are you thinking of taking?

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 30/12/2023 18:33

Oh I'm not particularly young! I am forty!

I am a bit flummoxed as to what to do next tbh... I've done admin for so long. I've also done work like TA / LSA, which I loved but the pay was terrible.

My job is vaguely related to HR and staffing, so I'm wondering if that is the direction I should be taking

OP posts:
HidingFromDD · 30/12/2023 18:55

Why don’t you have a look at some hr qualifications you could do while still working. Not my area so couldn’t advise but I’m sure others could. Then look for hr admin jobs with opportunities for progression. Other options could be office manager type roles but not sure the pay would be better and you’d lose the holidays

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 30/12/2023 18:57

Yes, I was thinking along the same lines! I think it's CIPD I would need, but I'm not really sure.

OP posts:
MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 30/12/2023 18:57

Turkeyhen · 30/12/2023 17:52

Me too - although I’m in a very different situation to yours (I’m way older and returning after a gap). Feeling quite excited about it! What direction are you thinking of taking?

Same here (agency keeps emailing me with JOBS FOR THE NEW YEAR!!) GOing back to temping after an extended sabbatical.

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 18:59

Yes, I just sent off a job application half an hour ago and will send off another one later this evening. They are v similar so the covering letter shouldn’t take too much tweaking.

OP have you thought of admin type role in academia? Have a look on jobs.ac.uk. Good luck 🤞

Oblomov23 · 30/12/2023 19:17

I have to. Lost my job on Christmas Eve, unfair dismissal, sham redundancy, after 3 years. So sad. Still leaves me jobless.

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 19:24

@Oblomov23 that’s such shitty timing. Did you have any idea it might be coming? Are you in an industry with a bit more life to it than so many others currently? Good luck.

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 30/12/2023 19:27

I'm really sorry to hear that @Oblomov23! That's absolutely awful to make you redundant on Christmas eve! Fingers crossed for you 🤞

Thanks @LadyWithLapdog, I hadn't thought of that but there are a few good unis near me, including Oxford, so will take a look at that!

OP posts:
LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 19:29

@BeatricetheBeautious good luck. Salaries are not amazing but there are other advantages.

Happyme2024 · 30/12/2023 19:33

Literally the same!!! So much stress for not much pay. I already have my CIPD but have been out of that field for a while.

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 31/12/2023 10:36

It's awful isn't it @Happyme2024? I feel as if there are huge burdens of responsibility placed on me for pretty poor pay. But then, I think when I work out my hourly rate it's OK. It's the school holidays which make it lower pay I suppose, which is fair enough. But still trying to find a way out!

How did you do your CIPD if you don't mind telling me? I am looking at online courses, but not sure if they're taken very seriously?

OP posts:
Happyme2024 · 31/12/2023 10:49

I know, it's such a tricky one, isn't it. I think I just need more money now and need to build some sort of career. I think all jobs are stressful but I'd like to be paid for that stress! I've also realised that I have a lot of responsibility but no power, which is frustrating.

I got my CIPD through doing a part time postgraduate diploma at a university, so it's equivalent to level 7. I'm not sure that would be feasible for me to do today.

Sundaefraise · 31/12/2023 10:58

Very similar situation. High level of responsibility in school admin, but need more money to make ends meet. Having the school holidays is lovely but I can’t afford the unpaid time any more. I’ve been looking for 6 months, got down to the final two once. Hoping next year is the year! Good luck to you op.

ReadtheReviews · 31/12/2023 11:02

I've been going for interviews I'm overqualified for, (was a teacher) and for the first time in life, not getting them. Not even hearing back from.some. I want to take a step back to have more family time and finding it very very hard to get something! There are a lot of jobs out there but a hell of a lot of applicants. The ones I didn't get told me they hired someone who had done the same role in their last job!

Feliciacat · 31/12/2023 11:03

Online courses are taken seriously if they’re with reputable companies. ICS Learn is good for CIPD among other professional courses. I’ve got level 3 and plan to start level 5 this week coming.

I’m between jobs as I quit my public sector job in November. I was basically a secretary rather than an HR professional and there was zero room for progression. Others had been working at entry level for a decade so it was true about no progression opportunities. I’m not above being a secretary but it’s not what I wanted to do. If I’d stayed where I was then I would have had X years of HR experience on my CV but I wouldn’t actually have had HR experience.

Definitely look into online CIPD; most places have New Year discounts. I know ICS Learn and MOL are good. I’d say level 3 is only worth doing if you have no HR experience, otherwise go to level 5. Level 7 is really for would be HRBPs or directors so only do level 7 if that’s your level.

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 31/12/2023 11:10

Thanks - I will look into online CIPD courses and also some other possible roles.

The long job searches with tonnes of applicants, some of whom are already doing the exact same job does fill me with dread. It reminds me of when I was looking for work after uni in 2008 when there was just nothing available or if there was there were so many applicants. It might be worth me looking for areas where there are skills gaps and training in those areas while still working...

Bit of a dodgy question, but it's anonymous so here goes....do you think that when people who work in schools with the word "manager" in their title are looking for work, it puts some employers off? I am thinking about changing my title to something vague like Administrator 😬. I think "manager" looks off putting when applying for assistant roles, like I might be a takeover queen

OP posts:
Feliciacat · 31/12/2023 11:14

They’ll probably think you’re overqualified or will use the role as a stepping stone to better things. So maybe re-wording your job title could be a good idea. It depends what level you’re applying for.

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 31/12/2023 11:20

OK, thanks. I think I will keep it for some applications but change it for others

OP posts:
Happyme2024 · 31/12/2023 11:22

Your workplace will only confirm your title on your reference, I would have thought.

Good luck to us all and having a massive shock to the system when we have to work all of August 😂(but at least we'll be able to afford a holiday when we do get annual leave).

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 31/12/2023 11:25

True @Happyme2024, but hopefully by then, I'll have been super charming and impressive at interview 😂, so maybe they won't mind... or maybe I should just be honest and explain in my cover letter why I'm applying for entry level in a new field.

Yes, that will be a shock if I manage to get out! However, my summer holidays are extremely hard work anyway with small dcs. It is lovely, but it isn't really a rest!

OP posts:
Happyme2024 · 31/12/2023 11:35

You're right- most of the time I've dreaded the holidays as its a long time to entertain dc and it's a bit lonely as most people are at work.

I'm just planning on saying that my dc are older and I no longer need TTO. It's not strictly true but sounds good. Also that I can now concentrate on my career.

We really struggle to recruit to TTO roles now as I think people just can't afford it anymore.

Original poster
BeatricetheBeautious · 31/12/2023 11:54

We've been quite lucky recruiting for non-teaching roles at my school. We've always had a few credible candidates recently! Teachers, supply or otherwise, are another story!

OP posts:
Guttedme · 01/01/2024 00:40

Yeah looking, don’t like the prospects.

A customer service job with a salary 25k+ advertised locally has now had 100+ applications in 3 days. Not liking those chances. Another job solely work from home full-time for 1 yr covering maternity leave for even less of a salary at £20,700 equally reckons the interest is high for their job.

Feliciacat · 01/01/2024 03:37

@Guttedme please bear in mind that many of those 100+ applications are from people who ‘have to’ apply to a certain amount of jobs to keep their benefits. This is such a thing! I’ve applied to jobs with 100+ applicants and got interviews (came second place in one). Don’t let it put you off; it’s a skewed number.