Leaving school...

[Crispin]

So i've been working at my school for two years now, and recently I've gotten tired with the awful pay, being treated like a 2nd rate member of staff, lack of management, accountability etc... basically the stuff all of us have to deal with!

 

So I applied for an ICT technician job at my local borough council. To my utter shock I got an interview. Two weeks time in fact.

 

All of a sudden I'm absolutely terrified of leaving! I'm worried I've been institutionalized but I can't turn down an extra £300 in the pocket every month..can I? Now it's unlikely I'll get it, i'm sure there's a lot of competition so I'm not too worried.

 

Would any of you turn down an extra £300 a month for basically the same job your doing? Perhaps adding a 20min drive either way? And not to mention the uncertainty of changing jobs?

 

Not really been in this position before.

[AngryTechnician]

It sounds like a very good opportunity and I recommend you go for it full steam ahead. If you're undecided about leaving, remember you can always turn any job offer down. When I interviewed for my current job I wasn't sure if I actually wanted it or not, and when they called to offer it to me I asked them if I could think about it overnight, as I still hadn't made my mind up. I ended up taking it and it was a great move in the end.

[jcollings]

Yep - I'd turn it down potentially if that was all I was going for. I have done in the past in fact. Sometimes it's true to say there is more to life than money.

 

It would depend on a range of things to me

1) How unhappy I was in my current post

2) What opportunities exist in the new post for development career progression etc

3) Would I be any happier overall

 

For me (and I'm very lucky where I work) I love the variety of school life, not just in IT terms but the drama, the residentials, working with the kids etc and I know somewhere like a council would bore me to death. It really depends on the whole package IMHO not just the money.

 

When I was contemplating a move once a good friend said to consider if I was running away from something or running towards something cos if all you're doing is running away from something chances are it might not be a whole lot better. If it's something you really want to do and you're runnning towards it then it will probably work out ok.

 

Just my 2p worth you understand.

[Crispin]

The problem is my wage. I live on my own, which means rent, bills, car etc... all makes me incredibly poor.

 

I think I'm only about £30 a week better off than being on jobseekers!

 

So really, it's all about money. That £300 will make the difference between me being poor and relatively comfortable.

 

As for career prospects I'm sure there would be more than I'm currently offered. ie. None.

[pbyers]

Go for it, you’ll only wonder –WHAT IF- later on

[mossj]

How much extra £££ would you spend on the 20 mins each way, every day...

 

You may find monies wise your no better off... but maybe better career prospects. Go for the interview see if you like the place/people/benifits and then consider if you would actually take it or not.

 

Even if you don't you get the job it will show your current employers that if you don't get treated right you are prepered to leave.

 

p.s I left the school (my first 'proper' full time job) after 2 years, and went to my current employers.. Felt pretty nervous when I walked in, but I haven't regreted it yet.....

Edited March 24, 2010 by mossj

[torledo]

Would any of you turn down an extra £300 a month for basically the same job your doing? Perhaps adding a 20min drive either way? And not to mention the uncertainty of changing jobs?

 

Not really been in this position before.

 

i do have that fear of the unknown, even when considering applying for jobs which pay far more than i'm currently earning.....which seems strange to me. As i've not even been asked for interview sometimes and already i'm suddenly stressing about what i'd do if they offered me this job that hundreds have probably applied for.

 

i think it's because i'm reasonably comfortably off where i am. Don't have to travel much, better than decent pay, and the job duties are agreeable.

 

i'm perhaps too much in a comfort zone. I definitely think you can get into that position if your not careful. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at an extra 300 quid a month, but it would have to be atleast that to make me think about leaving, and even then i might feel where i could be moving on to might not be worth the pay increase.

 

you can progress careerwise by moving around organsiations, some people have progressed by moving in and out of different industries.....so i certinaly wouldn't consider career prospects within the org your applying to as the be all and end all. The experience you can gain merely from doing the job you applied for for a couple of years could allow you to progress to higher pay in a different org subsequently. Plus there's a few hundred extra quid in take home pay to make you feel less like a pauper.

[ButterflyMoon]

Go for if only for the interview experience. You may get there and find it is exactly what your looking for and they think you are who they want. It is a win win situation go enjoy the interview and see what they offer. Good luck it is all good

[witch]

The most important thing is the job - initially don't consider the money. Does the job look interesting? HONESTLY do you think you could do it?

If the answers are YES then go for the interview.

I changed jobs last year and I was terrified at first, but it was worth it - and that was for no more money!

[elsiegee40]

The most important thing is the job - initially don't consider the money. Does the job look interesting? HONESTLY do you think you could do it?

If the answers are YES then go for the interview.

 

What witch said

 

Go for it and if you like the sound of the job, don't let your entirely natural fear of change put you off!

 

Good luck!

[Crispin]

Good advice, thanks all.

 

We shall see how it goes on the day

 

If I don't get it I think it'll still spur me on to keep looking!

[tech_guy]

Go for it, mate. Best of luck on the day.

[MatthewL]

Go for it, for £300 its worth that extra 20 minutes in the car.

[rad]

@Crispin - If I am right, would that be Maldon BC? If so I went for a job interview there years ago for a similar role. Can't remember much about what the job involved but do remember its a position with 5 other people.

 

If you want more info PM me.

[azrael78]

Go for it mate - the doubts are only natural... and at least in the BC you may have progression and be able to possibly 'transfer' to other council depts later if you so wished.

 

Az

[tommej]

Will the £300 cover petrol/tyres? You might actually be losing out.

 

Change is good though!

[Jamo]

Go for it, for £300 its worth that extra 20 minutes in the car.

 

If its a job with better responsibility/ more progression/ better social opportunities then its worth it regardless. Plus 20 mins extra each way wouldn't break the bank, I drive 37 miles each way and I still have a good amount to live on

 

Always looking for more but hey!

[Crispin]

My car does 50mpg easily so the drive isn't too much of a bother. £5 a day I reckon, if that.

So still worth it I reckon...

[Jamo]

Since I have been driving a lot I have started to listen to radio 4 while I drive in the morning. Now my gf thinks im sad lol

[stariq]

go for it mate - if you get it; its a bonus if not; interview experiance and hopefully some feedback

[dwhyte85]

Have to agree with Witch, if the job appeals for more than just money then go for it. £300.00 is a lot of money but if it is going to give you meltdown from learning loads of new systems with the worry of probation period and economic climate - you might not have such a great time.

 

Personally I'm headstrong and would just go for it, but the adult in me is trying to say be sensible and weigh up pros and cons

[bertster]

Go for it, for £300 its worth that extra 20 minutes in the car.

 

Its actually 40mins a day extra travelling (Over 3 hours extra traveling a week), time, petrol, motoring costs etc for £300.... Not worth doing for that amount imo.

 

However if your interested in the prospects, challenge, experience, training etc that a new job can bring then yes its worth it.

 

My experience is that the money is not the important bit, rather what the job can offer you and what you can bring to the job. You'll soon get used to spending the extra money...

[Domino]

You really need to look at it,

 

If you were scanning job pages - you're obviously not totally happy where you are

 

In my experience, schools have little to no promotion/pay grade scale for support staff - bigger, more business like organisations do

 

They'll also however have a lot more red tape, policies and staff to work around, so less working freedom - at least initially. But they'll like have a better IT budget ( = toys :-) )

 

basically, as others have said - pros and cons. Definitely interview, check it out and make your mind up based on more than cash

[tommej]

You never know if you mention you have an interview your current employer may off you more cash to stay

[CAM]

Go for the interview, shot myself in the foot recently in the same situation by not going for one. If you don't want the job, don't accept but at the end of the day you have interview practice and most importantly, options. Maybe build a contact or two, I met a Network Manager at another school who did a past interview before working in education and it got us talking!