Should I take the gamble?

glitterball00

It's crunch time tomorrow and I'm in need of some advise (I should have wrote this thread before, but never mind!).
Basically I'm in a full time job (that is based on funding but is definitely guaranteed for the next 3 yrs).

Last week I went to an interview and have been offered a job as an NVQ assessor. However this is pretty much self employed. The person that interviewed me basically said my wages will be dependent on my students and how well I can motivate them to complete their NVQ. Every time they pass a certain section of their NVQ, I will get paid. Obviously I will come across learners that aren't committed and will drag their feet, therefore some months my wages will dip. There is earning potential for a minimum of £25,000 pa (and that isn't even full time). Thats a massive difference from my current wage. With it being self employed, I'd have to pay for my mileage, and although one of places I'd need to visit is literally a 5 min drive from me, another is 30 min drive. My interviewer mentioned that my students might cancel on me whilst I am on my way to them, which as you can imagine, can not only be frustrating, but obviously mileage wasted and wages effected (unless you can ensure they catch up the week later!).

There is massive flexibility too. Depending on how I gather my students, I'm not forced to work full time.

The disadvantages are - once the students I have waiting for me now complete their NVQ, my worry is will this company who is employing me be able to find other companies willing to pay out to put their employee's on NVQ training. Especially with how the economy is at the minute. Also, would I be lucky enough to get my students as close as they are now.

My other worry is maternity. I am still fairly young, and am looking to start a family in the next year. I don't want to worry about not having enough money to tide us over.
We have also recently got a mortgage so that is another committment that I need to keep on top of.

This job would not only pay a lot more money and allow me to do a lot more things that I only dream of, but I would finally be able to put my degree to good use, and it would open a lot more windows for me in the future if things weren't working out.

Ideas?!

Thanks in advance!

Emmzi

sounds very similar to me to a "train to be a riving instructor" job ie. 1% of people make the maximum earnings and the rest scrape through or chuck it in.

Who would be paying for your training and why isn't it full time employed?

Stability is important for families...

hcb42

I have a friend who did it - it didnt work out.

dont know the whys etc...but she isnt there now.

Annisele

I'd be concerned about it being "pretty much" self employed. Self employment isn't something that comes in "pretty much"; you're either employed or you're not.

I'd also be concerned about there being "potential" for a "minimum" of £25k pa - potential figures are usually given for expected or maximum earnings, not minimum.

As Emmzi asked, why is this role self employed rather than full time employed? Is it perhaps to chuck the risk of non-paying/non-existent students only some hapless assessor?

kittykat100

Ok, I was a NVQ assessor, for a National Training Provider, which was a full time employed job.

During the last few years, funding criteria for NVQs has shrunk dramatically. You also need to do apprenticeships with learners which is a nightmare to get them to do.

A few years ago the government was throwing money to get people through level 2 NVQs and virtually anybody could do one completely government funded. Now a days unless you are a 16-18 year old you can forget it and you have to have pay for it yourself or get your company to pay for it.

1. We are in a recession and one of the first things to go is funding for training/qualifications.
2. Finding companies to pay for this are very rare.. I know because in the last few months of assessing I had to try and convince companies to do this (without much successs)
3. Learners are notoriously lazy and you are under time constraints to get it finished in time for timely completion.
4. It's not just a case of visiting the learners, there is a lot of paperwork to do (usually out of working hours when you get home)
5. It is a highly pressured job.

I could go on but I think you get the message.
I wish you luck though. If assessing is a route you wish to do I would opt for a training provider that pays you a proper wage. 2 years ago I was on 19K with a car/laptop/phone/bupa included and 5 weeks holidays.

Kittyx

Emmzi

by the way - NVQ assessing? Nothing at all like teaching. Just in case that is your dream job...

glitterball00

Thanks for all your replies..
When I say 'pretty much self employed' I did mean self employed but the wages came through the training provider to me.
Regarding the money - I was told I could earn a minimum of £25,000 based on 25 students. If I wanted to earn extra, then I ask for more students.
I am aware of the funding issue and that NVQ's are ceasing by 2014, however another qualification will replace this.
Teaching is not something that I am looking to go into...

kittykat100

Am not sure of the industry you are in but if it is 25 learners, that is a nice number.

I had a caseload of 40-45 which was heavy going.
Q. Will you be doing straight NVQ's or will you be doing Apprenticeships?

The apprenticeships would include the key skills and technical certs. If it is just the NVQ you would be laughing as potentially would only take 3-4 months to complete. But the keyskills are a bit of a bug bear for most learners.

Kittyx

Cherry_Bomb

If it was me I wouldn't take the gamble. I understand the perks of this other job such as the freedom and the potential to earn better money but what if It doesn't work out that way?
Is the grass really always greener?

I'd stick where you are for now.

glitterball00

I can imagine that amount was heavy going! There is the option for me to have that amount if I would like it but any clients/areas offered to me I can refuse if I don't want them.

(The NVQ's are in health & social care) so by the sounds of it they are mainly based in care homes.

I've just looked at the payment schedule I've been provided and it states apprenticeships payments, and incs things such as communications, numeracy and Tech Cert. I'm confused now, are they not the same?

kittykat100

On a level 2 apprenticeship they will need to do

Level 1 Application of Number - will include an online test and manual work the learner as to include
Level 1 Communication - as above

Learners can be exempt from the above if the they have Grade C GSE in English/Maths within the last 5 years.

Technical Certificates which are a multiple choice computer based test.. based on the units in the NVQ. Depending on which apprenticeship they are doing will depend on the units they need to take.

NVQ which is the assesment part of the qualifiation.

Kittyx