Job Dilemma

GobbledyGook

Thought my plans for the next year were all sorted, but now another option been thrown into the mix.

Here's the situation -

I hate my job currently. I work within learning support in schools. Basically I go in and work one-to-one with kids who need a bit of help. The work I love. The cutbacks, increasing number of kids, lack of staff and lack of support from school staff and parents has sucked all of the enjoyment out of it.

My original plan was to stay in my job until my son started school then (hopefully) go to university.

However because I'm growing to hate my job I decided to resign effective from the end of the term. After the summer I'll look to spend more time with the children and also pick up some voluntary experience with the view of going to uni in September coming when J starts nursery.

Finance wise not working is going to make things tighter, but it's doable because of the position my divorce left us in.


Now though my boss has offered me a part time role. He's guaranteed 3 days, term time and is promising that I'll be given a 'realistic' number of children to work with. In return he wants a commitment of at least 6 months in the role. It's tempting, but they are the same bosses who promised me that when I took a promotion 18 monthsish ago that it was a job that could be done on a school-hours type contract when it turned out to be a full-time 8-6 year round job.

I really don't know what to do. Taking the offered job would mean no break in my CV, but would still give me 2 days a week extra with my son at home and more time on those days with the girls. It would give a wee bit of extra money for niceties. But the changes of ending up still hating it in 6 months is there.

What would you do?

Sambucus_Nigra

He can't ask for a 6 month commitment in a role. Unless he is going to give you and hold you to a 6 month notice period.

cottonhead

I would give it a go if you think the extra experience if worth it. However would that mean delaying uni for another whole year ? Even though a year would fly past. I think I would be tempted to take it. The experience would look good on the CV and also benefit you and once you start uni I guess you will hae less money so make the most of having a bit extra and treat yourself too.

McKneff

I can only speak from my own experience

What are your priorities

Further education or you and your children having quality time.

You can still go to University in 5/10 years time.

You will never get this 'early' time with your children ever again.

GobbledyGook

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

He can't ask for a 6 month commitment in a role. Unless he is going to give you and hold you to a 6 month notice period.

He would as well. I had a 3 month notice period when I handed my notice in and I'm surprised he didn't work it out in minutes he was so picky about it.


My cousin has just pointed out to me that if I practically half my hours they are not going to get someone into replace me (they haven't replaced someone who left last year) so how can he guarantee less stress when the team will be half a person down.


McKneff - I do agree with you to an extent. However, my finances will change massively when my son starts high school. That is the point that my ex husband (quite rightly) expects me to be fending for myself financially. So the earlier I went to university the better a position we'll be in then.


I think I'll stick with resigning. He can't make that guarantee. He just can't. He'd give me a 6 month notice period and that'd mean a miserable 6 months. Too big a risk.

I just wish life wasn't so complicated - although I imagine we all would. My life used to be very simple, how I'd love that back again.

Sambucus_Nigra

GobbledyGook wrote: »

He would as well. I had a 3 month notice period when I handed my notice in and I'm surprised he didn't work it out in minutes he was so picky about it.

Well if he does, says thanks but no thanks.

ognum

I would suggest you say that you would be happy to give a six month commitment but want your needs written into the contract or you can't commit to their needs

GobbledyGook

The more I'm thinking the more likely I am to just finish up when I'm due to and leave it at that.

It has just thrown me being offered something at a time when I know people are finding jobs hard to come by.

Even if my contract stated the terms that I wanted (which they wouldn't do - it's a standard contract everyone gets, they'd just change the notice period) that wouldn't mean very much. At the moment we're meant to work 9am to 3pm with an hour for lunch/breaks through the day. We're lucky if we get our 20 minutes and although they say "Oh well just stick to your contract" it's incredibly hard to say "No I can't see these children" when you know they really need the help.

I'm just scared about not having an actual job. Even when I only worked 1 day a week I've pretty much always had a job bar a few months just after we moved a couple of times.