Employment - where are you?

[JPS]

Hi guys

 

I am thinking about making numerous changes to my work (and personal) life and was interested what you guys thought specifically about your current employment situation.

 

A quick poll please

[DAZZD88]

I'm in a job I'm not happy with so am currently knocking up a CV. At the moment I just want to get out of here and still be able to pay for my car and things.

[siuko]

Can I have an extra choice....

 

Work in a school and would like to win the lottery and travel the world?

[JPS]

Apologies siuko for leaving that one out. I'm going to confidently say that most edugeekers would opt for this given the choice. :-)

[36Degrees]

Option 1 with the proviso of "at the moment". Jumped ship once but ended up using the same ship as a lifeboat so I'm well aware of the pros and cons and that the grass isn't always greener.

[Iain.Faulkner]

I currently work in a school, really enjoy my job and really enjoy working within the school environment. I am looking for the next step up, to network manager, but I am not particularly interested in working in the private sector. I am fortunate in that at the present, I am in no rush and I'm happy to wait for the right school based job to come along.

[irsprint84]

Working in school, 100% love it but very ambitious and will leave within a year I think

[maniac]

Working in an Academy and generally enjoying it - if I wasn't then I wouldn't be here, simple as. The fact I'm enjoying it doesn't stop me applying for other positions to keep my current employer on their toes thou.

[penfold]

Non of the above...at the moment I change between staying where I am and a complete change of job (Non-IT related) if only I knew what else I wanted/could do.

[webman]

I work in a school as a Technician, generally enjoy it, unable to progress with my current employer; but ready to move up and would take the jump outside of education if a position became available with the right conditions.

 

I've looked, applied, and been successful once or twice; but they weren't the right environment for me or couldn't match my current pay.

 

The main factor for me personally, is my location - without moving, I'd have to do a lot of travelling (2 hours per day) if I wanted one the big city-based jobs in Newcastle/Sunderland (of which there are quiet a few of lately). But if I move closer to the city, I'd need the salary to support the higher living costs.

Edited February 10, 2011 by webman

[Rydra]

Similar position to Webman but with a little more urgency to move onwards.

 

Already an NM, so no step up here for me, which means moving to somewhere else. I also feel that in the current economic climate, education IT is unlikely to suit me somewhere else. I want to develop my ICT knowledge and learn new tech, but don't have the knowledge now. Meaning anywhere that takes me likely has old kit, and with no money wont upgrade anytime soon. Anywhere with new kit won't take someone with no experience working with it.

[Soulfish]

Same as Rydra and Webman. I work in a school as a NM and it's generally enjoyable but can be frustrating at times. Unfortunately there's no where else to go, so I'm looking elsewhere for other challenges. I'd be happy to work in education again or privately but it would have to be the right position, at the right time with the right environment and pay for me to move

[GREED]

I work in private sector, and although I like it here, I would like to be working WITH the education establishments more (well, more than I do at the moment!).

[bossman]

Really enjoy working in the school environment after 26 years in industry but then @webman makes me laugh and we have good fun together but I know he is ready to move on to bigger things even though he does get all the freedom to explore different systems and implement ideas.

 

He is an asset to the school and will miss him but will not hold him back but like he has said industry has not offered him the job he requires with the financial package to go.

 

I on the other hand being of a mature age feel this would be the the last position I would like to find myself, cant be bothered with interviews and applying and CVs etc.

 

If I was in a job that I didn't like of course then things would be different, i would probably go to B n Q and stack shelves and help other people with their DIY projects.

 

#lovemyjob

#lovemyteam

[rh91uk]

Working in a school, fustrating at the best of times but love it. Currently an Assistant Network Manager and one more step up!

[AngryTechnician]

Technically I'm working in a school and in the private sector, since I work at an independent.

 

If I were still in a state school, I think I would be a little worried about my general position given the budget cuts and the Education Bill. I don't envy the many here who are having to deal with that.

[jsnetman]

Been a NM in a school for 11 years and for the last 5 years have had itchy feet. There is nowhere for me to go upwards apart from go into private sector, contract or permanent. My life is a little complicated as I married late (48) I'm now 50 and have two very small children (probably not the best thing to do) but hey life is very diverse and I started late. Ideally I would like to go contracting but realise it's a cut throat world out there and ageism especially in the contracting world is rife. But what do I do, wait for the cuts to happen and get made redundant or make an effort now. I have spent the last year getting MCITP certified and think I have some very good and diverse skills that can interest an employer. If all else fails I have a cert ed which I can use to enter the training market, but thats not really where I want to go as I find it a bit boring, would far rather be at a technical level troubleshooting problems.

[TwoZeroAlpha]

Worked in a school for 3 years, enjoyed it, fantastic environment, now in private sector and loving that too. I may return to schools one day but for now the pay is much better here, and the working conditions are pretty good too.

[Norphy]

I've been working in education since 2003 and enjoy it. I'm happy where I am and have no plans to move on. However if the right offer came along I would without hesitation.

[SpuffMonkey]

Wheres the poll option for "Sick of work and waiting to retire" ??

[dave.81]

Private school here so i guess i could tick more than one option. Very happy here and prefer working in schools than business from my experience.

[JoeBloggs]

I did a contract for a year in a Secondary School as Tech/VLE - enjoyed it. In the private sector now, well, a Large Charity. Wouldn't mind a move back to Education with the right post, but also enjoying my current role.

[HC_Netman]

Working in a school and feel the only way my career can progress is to move to the private sector. Training is limited in the school so there is a risk of falling behind and the financial rewards in a school are not in line with the work that we are expected to do.

 

Ideally though I would just win lots of money on the lottery and not work in either - maybe I should actually start buying lottery tickets to improve my chances...

[JPS]

A great deal of feedback and votes, thanks guys. From my stand point, its good to see others that are in school are keen to move into the private sector.

 

I have been there and I enjoyed it (apart from all the travelling) but I was quite happy to return to school. What gets to me now is the quite obvious divide between teaching staff and support staff. Its not the respect issue (which a lot of edugeekers mention from time to time) but the fact we support staff get on and do what is expected and then there is a separate set of rules for teachers. The fact they dont understand that if they fail to do certain tasks it prevents me from doing my job properly. There are numerous other niggles/annoyances but this probably isn't the time and place.

 

Now I can't complain about my salary, but what I can't do is progress any further, unless I was to become an SBM and I'm not that keen. I know from experience that if you are identified as a 'valuable' member of staff, within a private organisation, they will attempt to find you something further up the ladder, the organisational structure is no way near as rigid as in schools, if you know what I mean.

 

So anyway I'm updating the CV, sending it to various people/agencies and crossing my fingers.