Teetering on the brink

Cherryfudge

Oh crumbs - what a thing to happen! There was probably some reason you applied, any idea what it was?

And you know, you are allowed to pull out. 'Things have moved on since I applied...' etc.

But well done for getting chosen. They must value your abilities.

dawnybabes

It sounds fab - will you be doing it at home ? Or will you have to leave the house (worried about your poor head in winter 🥺🥺🥺) 

will it bring more responsibilities at work ? Does that mean a pay rise ? 

Can you quickly do your missing exam to pass ? 

EatingBeans

See, my reason for applying was, I was super busy with work a few months back and suddenly everyone going was on about this urgent deadline to apply for this new thing and the only bit I really caught from the guy giving out the information was, “if you are not sure, apply anyway”. So I did! I thought, if in doubt I’ll apply so I have put my name in the ring and kept the door ajar, then when I have more time I’ll go back and work out if I actually want it. So, I literally spent 10 minutes clicking through the form giving as little info/effort as possible and hit submit. I found out afterwards people had spend whole afternoons carefully drafting their applications so when the first cohort had no-one selected the was real uproar. I was like, oh well, I wont bother spending all my time on reading up on it. 

That of course means that when they came back to me and asked if I was still interested I said yes - everyone else was very disappointed not to get it so surely this was a great opportunity right? When they said they were only choosing one person per team I just assumed saying yes would show willing, but I would never actually get it. Now everyone is congratulating me and I’m like, yay, I’m so happy… and in the background desperately searching for info on what I signed up to! Haha. 

I feel so bad for those that put loads of effort into applying. I have to do well now otherwise I will just feel much more guilty. 😬

in_need_of_direction

an additional qualification is easily carried

EatingBeans

dawnybabes said:

It sounds fab - will you be doing it at home ? Or will you have to leave the house (worried about your poor head in winter 🥺🥺🥺) 

will it bring more responsibilities at work ? Does that mean a pay rise ? 

Can you quickly do your missing exam to pass ? 

Aw thanks @dawnybabes     

As far as I can tell it is all online and quite a lot of self study so I think I am good with the impact on the TN. 🤞

I suspect they have plans for using my apprenticeship as an excuse for moving me around a few different projects to get me to go ask questions and then report back to management so they gain an insight into things without having to go ask themselves. I could be wrong, but I very much doubt they are doing it out of the goodness of their heart.  I very much doubt it will result in more money immediately but it should help me the next time I go for a job. 

I really need to just book the exam asap and crack on with revision to ensure I pass it. I use the knowledge every day in my job so it is really just making sure I ready the questions properly. 

I also have another exam outstanding which I have paid for myself. 🤦‍♀️ That one will be tougher as I don’t use the knowledge everyday but it was a goal I set for my annual review so I need to get that done too before it expires! 

hatch_five

They might not be doing it out of the kindness of their heart, but it doesn't cost them anything either. All employers over a certain size have to pay into an employers levy that is a central pot of money. This money is lost to them, unless they draw it down to pay for apprenticeships and other training for their staff, so the apprenticeship doesn't cost them directly. Assuming it is a degree apprenticeship they have signed you up for, they have to give you one day a week or 20% of your time to work on the apprenticeship and it will be in two parts, the degree part and the apprenticeship part with an end point assessment (sorry my job is approving degree apprenticeships!). The thing to be aware of is that it does tie you into your employer for the length of the apprenticeship- if you move jobs or get made redundant then you have to find a replacement employer who is willing to support you on the apprenticeship if you do want to complete the qualification.

Cherryfudge

The fact you 'just went for it' with the application and got the apprenticeship seems to me to mean you and the post could be a good fit. I hope you can find the spec for it so you can check. The WFH element could be a real benefit of course, but if you love your present job, what would you lose by moving away? Is it the skill set, team, convenience or something else?

in_need_of_direction said:

an additional qualification is easily carried

I've never heard it put like that and it's such a nice way of putting it (Mental image of a person tripping lightly along on a spring day with the qualification blowing behind them like a scarf ). I did, however, once miss out on a job because they thought I was over-qualified and I neglected to explain I was looking to make a sideways move. Young and naïve in my case.  

@hatch_five, that's interesting, and new to me. I wonder what my employer has to offer?

EatingBeans

See that is almost the ridiculous thing - I am already way over qualified for the job that I do. I have lots more experience than most in my role, to the point that I’ve been dropped onto projects previously and been asked to manage up because they know I have more experience than the managers. But they just wont promote me! I have applied three times for the next level up and honestly their excuses for not promoting me get more and more ridiculous each time. “Yes, you have all the qualifications and experience needed for the job, and you gave two excellent interviews, but you didn’t mention having any hobbies?” I am not joking! I ask where I can improve and none of the many managers on the panels can point to anything. In fact, a number of the managers came to me as they themselves were leaving and suggested that I look elsewhere for a job, as they know I could earn a lot more money elsewhere. I know that, but I like where I work, so i am still here. 

It is therefore entirely possible that they gave the apprenticeship to me just to ensure I stick around, as like @hatch_five  mentioned, it does get complicated if I try and switch jobs. Apparently it is fine if I stay within my department but outside that they will no longer support it. Fine by me as I am in no rush to leave, despite the fact that I am underpaid. Most employers are not as TN friendly so the flexibility I get goes a long way. 

I suspect they would also disagree on the no cost to them element too. Yes, the app levy means they don’t pay for the course (good spot!), but they do have to pay me whilst I am off doing something other than my day job, and we are already very short of ‘me’s’. 

I am sure it will all work out in the end. Or it wont. Either way, I am not going to die from it. More important things going on for me atm. Like getting the debt down and moving house! 

In that vein, I sold something on eBay today… for £2.50. 🤣

Cherryfudge

In a previous job, I often acted up to a level to which I was qualified, but was never paid for it. Staff thought we should do it because there was a line in the JD about 'any other tasks that are appropriate to the post'. Towards the end, the Union asked me what my job title was, and when I recited it, they said 'It doesn't say shift lead'. In other words I could have refused those shifts, but that was kept quiet as they didn't have enough people willing and able at the right level.

Your situation gives me something of the same feel. I do think they are using you because you're too good to lose, but of course this has the advantage that you can work around the TN where possible and are enjoying work, two things you can't put a financial value on.

Another option might be to reduce your hours and have a day or so freelance, if that's appropriate to your situation, but it would complicate matters and you are doing so well with things that it might not be the best thing for you. After all, I don't think you were looking to move till this came up, were you?

EatingBeans

Oh I have certainly considered moving on, during the three years I have been in this job! This was actually a step down for me when I took the job, so much so that I almost turned it down, but it was just there when I needed it and was the easy option. Technically I never even applied for the role, I just got asked if I would do it and even during that chat it was recognised I was overqualified and I was promised it would just be for 6 months. That 6 months passed and something happened and they promised it would be just another 6months. Then there was a restructuring and the ‘pipeline’ idea was scrapped and all recruitment frozen. So just another 6months… You get the picture. As part of the restructure I was given a new job description and title (we had zero say in this), and to add to this, whilst everyone else that also had my old job (about 10 people) now actually does the new job, I do a completely different job! So now I am called one thing on my job title and literally do a completely different job. Not just a few different tasks, literally a totally different job. The only two new people who were hired to do the same job as me are paid ~£20k more than me! It is pretty insane. But, I like this job more, so I go along with it. I have been in a lot worse positions. This is just blatant cheekiness. 

The thing is my best friend at work (who is the grade below me and was transferred into a different team during the restructure), has had it much worse than me. They have worked her to the bone bless her and also refuse to promote her. Tbf, she is way more vocal about how hard done to she is and has threatened to leave way more forcefully. She holds a lot of knowledge in her head that noone else knows so they have been trying to hold on to her too. Tbh, I think they know that if one of us leaves the other will probably be soon behind. And guess what, they’ve miraculously chosen her for an apprenticeship too! Haha. Seems a bit suspect to me. Only one person to be chosen from each team and just by luck we both get chosen. Hmm 🤔