Holiday jobs in the community

For many young people finding a holiday job before starting university is a way of earning some money and keeping occupied for possibly four or five months. The problem facing a growing number of young people who want to spend their time wisely, saving money for the future is how to find a temporary job when unemployment is high.

Often young people waiting to start on their university journey are unable to drive or even if they have learnt to drive are unable to afford to run a car and so will be reliant on work that is local to them or on a bus or train route. Obviously if work can be found in the local community then transport costs will be reduced or it may be possible to cycle if the work is in the daytime.

The type of employment that may be available could be working in a local café or shop or possible at a local farm helping to pick fruit and vegetables. If you enjoy working with children some local communities run play schemes that require play assistants, a role that is a particularly useful way of gaining experience if you are waiting to start a teacher training course at university. If earning money is not a requirement there are lots of volunteering roles both home and abroad that offer valuable ways to spend this time. Some of these roles will involve having a DBS check carried out by the local authority but if you are looking for a worthwhile way to spend the summer holidays this could be for you

Do you want a better work life balance? Try supply teaching

Many teachers find that although they enjoy teaching they get dissatisfied with the amount of paperwork and data that is required to be produced on a regular basis. Supply teaching could be a viable alternative as it fits in better with family commitments and also gives the flexibility to work the hours that you want to.

It could be the case that a school that you have previously worked in will consider using you as a regular supply teacher. This is excellent as you will know the school routines and staff making the role easier. If this is not an option then there are teaching agencies that will be able to provide supply teaching positions quite easily. Many local authorities will only accept supply teachers who are signed up to an agency, but sometimes smaller schools are more flexible in their approach. Agency work may result in slightly less pay but you may be guaranteed regular work if you want it.

In preparation for being a supply teacher it is sensible to have on hand work that you could set for pupils across the age range that you are prepared to teach as although in most cases the class teacher will set work for the class in emergency call outs it is better to have your own resources to call on.

Could it be time to rethink your career choice?

In years gone by most people stayed in the career or job sector that they went into from school for years, but now If you find that you are no longer getting any job satisfaction from your current career choice many individuals consider a change.

One of the career changes that some choose is to go from working in an engineering role to teaching. If this is a career path that you would like to follow, you will need to have a relevant degree or be working towards one. Primary school teachers usually study for a B Ed degree as the course focuses on developing teaching skills alongside subject knowledge whereas if you are considering a career as a secondary teacher a deeper subject knowledge will be necessary so a BA, BSc or even a one-year PGCE degree after obtaining a degree in your chosen subject is better.

Teaching practice will be part of the course whichever age group you wish to teacher and gives the student a good insight into what the role involves and whether working in a school is for you.

If you decide that you have made the right choice and you are enjoying the new challenges that teaching brings you may want to look at career progression in this field and undertake further training to enable you to seek promotion to head of subject or head teacher.

What does a job as a teaching assistant involve?

A job as a teaching assistant is a much sought-after role as the hours fit in with school times and it is a rewarding career choice but what are the responsibilities of a teaching assistant?

A teaching assistant’s role in a primary school involves different challenges than those found when working in a secondary school. Generally, in a primary school the role involves not only supporting children with their education but also encouraging positive learning behaviour and listening skills. Preparing classroom displays and helping to produce resources for the teacher to use in lessons may also be required. It may be that the role involves working closely with one particular child who requires support to access some areas of the curriculum. In this case you may also be involved in SEND meetings where you will be able to relate progress that has been made.

Teaching assistant posts in a secondary school will still involve working alongside children who need extra help and support, but this may include moving from lesson to lesson with a particular child or providing set curriculum support in a class. This is particularly useful if you have a personal interest in a certain curriculum subject yourself.

The opportunity to build a positive learning relationship with the children you support is one of the reasons why a job as a teaching assistant is popular and so rewarding.

Careers advice for those out of work

If you have found yourself out of work due to the Covid pandemic then you may be able to get financial support of the government. Although lots of people and businesses have been entitled to financial help there are some who have fallen through the net and are unable to get any additional money. These people may be able to claim for Universal credit but it is often not very much and may not be enough for them to live off.

If this is the case then you need to find work and quickly. Competition for jobs is high at present with many people finding themselves in a similar position but as Christmas approaches more and more retail businesses are looking to recruit people. Often this time or year shop assistants and delivery drivers are in need. As many shops are still closed, they may not be looking to take on additional staff this year or may only need them for a few weeks prior to Christmas. Delivery drivers however are in great need at present with more and more people ordering products online. Although the pay may not be great you are often incentivised by bonuses or early finishes for getting your work done quickly.