How the fuck do I get a job?

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

Just had another rejection, after a second interview that went really well. Crying now so please be a bit gentle (am not on AIBU for that reason). Also this might be long, sorry.

I am trying to get back into full time work. I used to be a teacher, got up to head of department but lost the love for it / got fed up with all the shit behaviour and long hours, so didn't go back after my second mat leave.

Had a couple of years off completely then started working for a further ed company; job title was quality manager but essentially I was there to try to get them through Ofsted. I understood that I was meant to be helping them to improve their practice so they would be compliant, came to realise they wanted me to find ways to trick them through Ofsted without really changing anything. Despite being on nearly double what I'd earned as a teacher, I wasn't happy with the level of dishonesty & deceit I was being asked to take part in and I decided to leave after 18months ish.

Was without work for around 8 months and then managed to get a very part time job (under 8hrs a week) with a branch of the local council.

I desperately need to get back to full time work. NOT TEACHING. We are on debt and struggling and it's not fair on my DH to have to shoulder all financial responsibility. But I have been applying and interviewing for months and I'm getting nowhere.

Essentially it's breaking down in one of three ways:

1. Applying for jobs at the top end of the salary/ responsibility / seniority that I've held in the past = not getting them as not enough experience. Fair enough tbh.

1. Applying for midling level jobs in terms of salary and responsibilities. Getting though to final stage interviews, but losing out to someone with more direct experience or just not scoring quite as highly as another candidate.

1. Applying for jobs at the bottom end of salary and responsibilities. £25k jobs. Not getting because they think I will get bored or want more money or want to move on too quickly. This was the case for the one I got rejected for today, even though I'd said very clearly in the interview that I was happy with the offered salary as I was moving into a sector I haven't worked in before and I was really enthusiastic about the role and the company (genuinely so).

What the hell do I do? It feels like a can't get a job no matter what I do. I have too much experience or not enough. I don't have enough qualifications or I have too many. I'm forty years old and I'm shitting myself that I am never going to be able to get another career. I can't go back to teaching, it fucked my mental health and left me suicidal, I'm still on and off antidepressants now, years later.

I just don't know what to do from here.

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

Fucking formatted I typed 1, 2, 3 I swear. Though I've been crying for hours so admittedly my vision is now blurry.

[KalaMush]

In my area there's lots of demand for tutoring - could that work for you?

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

I'm really not interested in doing anything to do with teaching or education anymore, and honestly I've been out of the game for too long now to be a decent tutor.

I just want a job - 9-5 or thereabouts, in an office. Doing something that has nothing to do with schools, pupils, exams, Ofsted, any of it.

[Stickyricepudding]

https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-samsung-rvo1&source=android-browser&q=programme+manager+university#fpstate=tlexp&htiq=programme%20manager%20university. Try university academic programme manager roles or job in the charity sector:

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/

[HoggyDunlop]

Have you considered the nonprofit sector? Look on charityjob.co.uk there are sometimes education related charities that would appreciate your teaching background. Even if not, in my experience nonprofits tend to view people more holistically rather than requiring set experience/time served. Good luck!

[Redlarge]

Agency work 💯

[DelurkingAJ]

Can you find the right temp agency? I say the right one because I had a bit of a bind many years ago where I couldn’t PROVE my computing or admin skills as I had no experience (but had just finished a STEM PhD) and a very small agency (who looked at my CV rather than just asking how many admin jobs I’d done before) took me on and kept me very busy.

[HoggyDunlop]

Well snap @Stickyricepudding 😅

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

@Stickyricepudding

https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-samsung-rvo1&source=android-browser&q=programme+manager+university#fpstate=tlexp&htiq=programme%20manager%20university. Try university academic programme manager roles or job in the charity sector:

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/

I have applied for these types of jobs. I don't get them - I don't have direct experience of the university sector and I don't have project management qualifications.

[Swoopy]

Civil service.

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

I'm signed up with a recruitment agency - I actually signed up with four but only one ever got back to me after I registered, sent in my CV and followed up with specific emails to the individual staff. This latest job rejection was for a job through the agency.

I'm terrified of temping as I can't afford to have my two kids in wrap around care on a full time basis and then not have any work that week / fortnight / month. The only options I have for before and after school care need to be permanently booked and paid half-termly so I can't see how I could balance the books if I have to pay out for childcare but I only have the chance of getting any work (especially as I'm spectacularly failing at getting any work at the moment). Also I would have to leave my current job, and although that only brings in about £470 a month if we lost that, and had to pay out for childcare, and I didn't get much temping work that month we would not be able to pay out mortgage and bills.

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

@Swoopy

Civil service.

Tried. Failed. Didn't score highly enough on delivering at pace in the interview.

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

I'm sorry I know I'm being very negative. It's been a bad day.

[Stickyricepudding]

You don't have to have experience of the university sector, you do have very transferable skills that would work well in this type of role. Maybe apply for a programme officer role first to learn the ropes. It's basically an operations management role in the higher education sector.

[TimesChangeAgain]

It’s tough out there! I’m interviewing at the moment and have had rejections, it’s a bit soul destroying isn’t it.

Honestly I think the trick is you have to keep going for your option 2, and it’s just a numbers game, eventually you’ll go for the job that doesn’t have an applicant who pips you to it.

Your number 3 option - that’s what I did a couple of years ago. I found universities and civil service good for not judging me applying “down”, whereas private companies were more wary.

One of my friends did a course with Adventures After Teaching, found it really good and has gone on to a very successful job. Might be worth a look.

The other option is retraining. Salesforce? Government funded data camps?

[Tel12]

If you are getting the interviews but not the job it may be a good idea to look at your interview technique. Have a look at books, online tutorials etc. Do some research on the organisation, plan your questions etc. Do as much prep for each and every interview. Try not to appear desperate, temp/agency work is always good on your CV, plus jobs often go from temp to permanent. There's a job out there, you just need to keep going until you land it.

[HoggyDunlop]

Don't give up op. Not sure if you saw my post but there's lots on charityjob.co.uk like this one you'd most likely meet the person spec for. Worth a look?

[TizerorFizz]

I would try an agency. Why not? Nothing to lose. You need to see what your skills can get you snd up skill if necessary. You don’t want what you are qualified to do and I guess employers are spotting this. All those leaving teaching must be doing something else. What are they doing? There might also be an issue with your witk record. You just left a job with nothing to replace it.

[NCForQuestions]

Look at the Civil Service Jobs website. Most jobs are 9-5, Mon-Fri.

I have worked with ex teachers, bankers, police, a florist, all sorts of previous roles. They tend to be a good employer for people returning to the workplace.

Only problem is that it's slow recruitment and can take months off application to appointment...

Have you considered temping agencies? For any role at all - admin etc - if you're available every day?

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

@TizerorFizz

I would try an agency. Why not? Nothing to lose. You need to see what your skills can get you snd up skill if necessary. You don’t want what you are qualified to do and I guess employers are spotting this. All those leaving teaching must be doing something else. What are they doing? There might also be an issue with your witk record. You just left a job with nothing to replace it.

I left because I was being asked to be actively complicit in defrauding two government agencies.

[TimesChangeAgain]

@CaptainCarrotsBigSword

Tried. Failed. Didn't score highly enough on delivering at pace in the interview.

Im an ex civil servant. The trick is to learn how to do civil service interviews. You didn’t score high enough on DAP, so now you know that, you review what you said at interview and you strengthen your example for the next time.

I know it’s tough, but you just can’t give up and say you failed. You didn’t get that civil service job, ok, so now apply for another ten. Hard work, absolutely, but that’s how to get a job.

[Thoraxia]

I would consider the tutoring.

Op i have similar issue ive been a sahp for 10y. And tried to get back to the same company.
I didnt even get ab interview!! Pretty shocked as its entry level job really. Ive alevel maths, 4 alevels a degree. When i applied for jobs in my 20s within the company i always got an interview. So can only conclude its my age, also 40+

[Overthebow]

What’s your degree in? Could you look at doing something with that? I also agree it’s likely your interview technique if you’re getting the interviews.

[TizerorFizz]

@CaptainCarrotsBigSword Really? How was that entirely down to you and not SLT? Could you not have negotiated within the role. However you look at, an employer will see you moved on and someone critical of their employer.

[NotFashionable]

For Civil Service google ‘success profiles behaviours’ and it tells you what they mark against. I’m in the Civil Service and a lot of my hires are ex-teachers as they have a great work ethic and work well under pressure. Every Civil Service interview will be with different teams and no one can see your previous interviews or applications etc. Wishing you all the best for future interviews.