We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Applying for a maternity cover post?

Options
I am in my early 30s and currently work as a technician in a school. There are things I love about the job (helping the kids, nice colleagues, pension) and things I don't enjoy (constantly tidying up, low pay, can be boring/unfufilling when I'm not working with the kids). For the past 2 years I have been doing a little bit of teaching alongside my main job but that is going to come to an end in the summer due to school finances. I couldn't afford to do a PGCE so for the past year I have been studying for the further education city and guilds certificate so I have some sort of teaching qualification.
I have just seen a suitable role advertised at a different school for a teacher in my specialism but it is only a years maternity cover contract and I'm not sure whether to take it. I have a mortgage with my husband and I need to work. Should I risk it? It seems like the perfect job and I am qualified but am I opening myself up to financial trouble after a year (or possibly sooner if the lady on maternity leave decides to come back sooner). There are very few jobs that come up in my specialism in my area. Thanks!

Comments

  • Crazy_Jamie
    Crazy_Jamie Posts: 2,246 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mademe wrote: »
    I am in my early 30s and currently work as a technician in a school. There are things I love about the job (helping the kids, nice colleagues, pension) and things I don't enjoy (constantly tidying up, low pay, can be boring/unfufilling when I'm not working with the kids). For the past 2 years I have been doing a little bit of teaching alongside my main job but that is going to come to an end in the summer due to school finances. I couldn't afford to do a PGCE so for the past year I have been studying for the further education city and guilds certificate so I have some sort of teaching qualification.
    I have just seen a suitable role advertised at a different school for a teacher in my specialism but it is only a years maternity cover contract and I'm not sure whether to take it. I have a mortgage with my husband and I need to work. Should I risk it? It seems like the perfect job and I am qualified but am I opening myself up to financial trouble after a year (or possibly sooner if the lady on maternity leave decides to come back sooner). There are very few jobs that come up in my specialism in my area. Thanks!
    This might be what tips it from my perspective. The only other question I would have is how easy it would be to fall back into a similar role to the one that you're in now if you're not able to easily move on when the other contract ends. Ultimately any move to a different job is a risk to one degree or another. The question is whether the risk is worth taking. All the factors that you've mentioned come into consideration, you just have to balance them. To my mind, if opportunities to move into a role like that are limited and this one seems suitable, the starting should be that it's worth going for unless there are glaring reasons (financial or otherwise) why it's too much of a risk. It is only for a year, but it's also worth bearing in mind that even if you aren't kept on by the same school (which is always possible; a lot changes in a year), you'll have that year on your CV, which will surely be beneficial going forwards. You know more about your personal and professional circumstances than anyone on this site, but from what you've said it sounds to me like a job worth going for.
    "MIND IF I USE YOUR PHONE? IF WORD GETS OUT THAT
    I'M MISSING FIVE HUNDRED GIRLS WILL KILL THEMSELVES."
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,690 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I would say apply - you might not get offered it, which would be a disappointment, but would stop you second guessing yourself. And if you do get offered it then you have that much longer to really consider if you can accept it. Assuming that it is a step up in salary from your current role, could you save all the difference to tide you over any gap at the end?
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,271 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    One other thing to add to all of the above, is that if you get this job and there's nothing to move on to at the end of it, there is always supply work, which gives more experience!
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Zeni
    Zeni Posts: 424 Forumite
    Tough one, I've done two maternity covers in the past and its always hard working knowing that your time will come to an end. The only thing I would say is I was informed before how long my contract was so I knew when it would end and the person wouldn't just come back suddenly which allowed to me plan and secure another job. Is there a big pay difference? I.e If you were at the end of the maternity cover left without a job would you have made enough extra to cover you if you took a few months to find another job. Also remember experience is always valuable and especially getting in with different schools - once they know you and what you can do there more likely to find another post or recommend you to other schools.
    Swagbuckling since Aug 2016 - Earnings so far.. £55.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 256.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.