For some strange reason which I can't fully explain, trying to find a teaching job here in Australia has been nearly impossible. I mean, it's not like I'm unqualified for the position- I have been a classroom teacher for over four years and have a master's degree. I have applied to numerous schools over the past few months, and have gotten no response. I suspect I may be encountering some nationality issues, which I obviously can't control. Meanwhile, doing substitute teaching isn't paying the bills either, as work has been very erratic (a short first term and numerous holidays in the last few weeks). If I could get work every day I would be fine, but that hasn't been the case.
So what is a girl to do? I have given myself a July deadline to find full-time teaching work. If that doesn't happen, then I will be looking for a new career. In the meantime, thanks to my friend Fran I have gotten myself a part-time job at the University of Melbourne. I am working three days a week as an administrative assistant for the Economic Design Network (EDN) in the Department of Economics. The EDN is kind of an economic think tank with participating members from universities throughout the world. I am helping to maintain their website and organize conferences and workshops. I should be working there for the next 4 - 6 weeks, depending on when they hire a permanent person for the position (if the job was full time I would probably apply for it). Since I only work part-time it allows me to be available for substitute teaching jobs at the end of the week. And I continue to apply to schools in the hope that someone will snatch me up.
3 comments:
Hang in there cous!
It seems to me that there is a lot of us now, at our age, being forced to re-think our job choices, after seeking the career path we wanted, and working hard for it - we are now being found wanting. I have a lot of friends in the position right now. After the ordeal of getting qualified, and starting up our careers, there is nothing satisfactory out there for us at this point. We should be moving onwards and upwards, but we seem to be needing to start again.
Where is this career ladder of the past generation?? What are we supposed to do now!!??
Are we looking in the wrong places? Are our expectations too high?
Do we now all have to re-think what we want to be when we grow up? And if that's a yes, can we be bothered re-training and starting again!!??
I have had my quarter-life crisis - is this our mid-life??
You'll figure it out, mate. Something will come along and answer all these questions, right?
Well, the big difference for me is that I went and moved myself half way around the world. If I had stayed put I wouldn't be having employment issues (underpaid, yes, but still working). I guess I should expect some challenges- after all, Melbourne has the most educated taxi cab force in the nation. Let's hope I'm not going to be added to that statistic.
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