In a bad place....don't expect you can help

tomorrowschild

Don't know if anyone will have advice, but feel stuck, so I'll share on the off-chance....

I have a good honours degree, plus various professional qiualifications (degree= maths, profession = education) I have been unemployed for 2 years.

I can't find work. I apply for jobs, but can't get an interview. THe only job I have been offered is inapopropriate - they misunderstood my qualifications.

I have been pon numerous government course to help with job-search. They all say that I can't do more than I am doing.

I live in a squalid bed-sit with no hot water ( I boil a kettle to wash if the shower is broken) Council say there is no alternative, I haven't enough points to go on their list.

I have an overdraft and I'm in arrears with my rent.
I have no money. I buy 'value' food from supermarket, and some days have had to skip a meal to put another pound in the electric metre.

How can I get out of this cycle of misery?

dmg24

Hi tm,

This does contradict your other posts this morning. There you state you have have been offered a new job as a Key Skills Tutor but that you are unqualified for it, but here you state that you have a maths degree and professional qualifications in education.

Would it be possible to clarify which of the above is true please?

tomorrowschild

Both posts are true - I don't lie!

I have a degree in maths, then I took my PGCE - secondary years.
This is not considered a relevant Adult Education qualification. I have a City and Guilds 9285 certificate in Adult Education which is now out-dated. I need a Level 4. So, I am unqualified for a KeySkills post, especially one that is mainly Literacy based.

dmg24

I'm sorry tc but with your qualifications you are more than capable of the role that you have been offered (I speak from experience in this area).

I still don't see why you do not want to take the role that has been offered to you.

tomorrowschild

I am absolutely NOT qualified to teach a group of 20+ learners: 1 of whom speaks very little English; 1 speaks English but doesn't read/write it; some of whom are not secure with their alphabet ( and I don't know how to teach reading!)and some of whom already have their GCSEs at grade D - all in one group from 9:00 until 4:00 with no Teaching Assistant.

dmg24

Unless there is something you are not telling us, you are putting obstacles in your way that are not there.

Why do you no longer teach at secondary level? What do you think that other teachers do in this situation?

If you go to any FE college, you will find numerous key skills teachers who are not qualified, either to teach in FE, or to teach at all.

I still don't see why you won't give the job a go.

tomorrowschild

I am not putting obstacles in my way. Nor am I concealing anything.

I qualified in 1994 as a teacher, and only taught in schools for a year. I have applied to school over the past few years, jobs are going to NQTs and those with recent schools experience.

I have applied to 3 local FE colleges - all asked for level 4 qualifications for tutors.

dmg24

You are clearly adamant that you are not going to take this job.

If I had been out of work for so long, I would give anything a chance, and if something like this was offered to me I would be more than willing to give it a go, even if it didn't work out in the long run.

I also cannot believe that you cannot get a job as a Secondary Maths Teacher, even if just on supply. Schools are crying out for teachers in this area.

If you are not willing to give it a go then you need to tell the JCP this. I would expect your benefits to be reviewed as a result. Maybe this will give you the push to get a job.

Zazen999

Hi

What do you think you are qualified to do?

Sorry, it should read

What DO you think you are qualified to do?

duchy

Sounds to me like any job would be better than none-and any job that can add to your skills base even better. Maths supply teaching, private tutoring, TA all add to your resume so you'll look more attractive to prospective employers in the specific field you want to work in-plus supply or a support role in education gives you access to numerous networking opertunities and unadvertised posts.
Borrow my sig if you like-it works

lfc4eva

Can't you go back to Uni/College and get your Cert Ed qualification, this would only take a year to do and if you are actually working towards this qualification then most Further Education colleges would accept you i'm sure.