Professional advice...teachers esp.

trebmal · June 2011

I have an interview for a job this morning. Which is good, but it's in a town an hour away.

So what would you do? IF I get offered the job, which sounds amazing BTW, I don't know if 120+ miles a DAY on my car is worth it. I am a teacher, so it's not like I'll be pulling in 6 figures a year or anything. Plus I am in KS and we have notoriously bad winters. (Which FH said, "well you just won't go if the weather's that bad. No sense in risking your life") And if it is THAT bad, they'lll call a snow day.

OR Should I just stick around where I am and sub? Practically no miles on my car. Close to home. Esp. if we do get KTFU, we will be doctoring where we live. So I'd have to leave school verrrrrrrrrrry early to get to appointments and such. I just dunno. How will it affect my resume if I have a year of subbing on there instead a year of teaching? Or do I just take the job, IF offered, and suck it up for one school year.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks ladies. you all. I've missed you, too. BOTH of the girls that work for my mom at her cafe quit to move to go to school on the same day (they are going together) so I''ve been driving about 40 miles one way each day to help my mom out and have been so dead tired I haven't been bumping much.

Mjmksb04 · June 2011

How long have you been looking for a position? Does your family need the benefits you would have? If you took this job, even though the commute would stink, I think you would be in a better position to find another position closer to where you live in the future. In this economy, I would do whatever it takes to make a job offer doable. You never know what may happen.

lowkeysbride · June 2011

I agree... right now, any job is good to have! When I started teaching, the phrase I always thought of was "get your foot in the door". That way, you do have teaching experience under your belt, and you would have a better chance of then accepting something that is closer to home. You can do anything for a period of time, as long as you know it's coming to an end. The driving would stink, but getting the experience in teaching would be invaluable for your future endeavors. Altough, it sounds like you're pretty set on not accepting it... in these situations, it's always better to go with your gut!

trebmal · June 2011

Mjmksb04:
How long have you been looking for a position? Does your family need the benefits you would have? If you took this job, even though the commute would stink, I think you would be in a better position to find another position closer to where you live in the future. In this economy, I would do whatever it takes to make a job offer doable. You never know what may happen.

We would be ok with me subbing. I will just go onto FHs insurance when we get married. (Later this summer). However, if we do get KU, then any extra money would be great and it'd be time off when I have the LO that would be just flat NO income. I only found out my last job was cut in May so haven't been looking long. But I resigned my last position last year and got the one I had this school year because they broke a class apart and I got hired late.

trebmal · June 2011

lowkeysbride:
I agree... right now, any job is good to have! When I started teaching, the phrase I always thought of was "get your foot in the door". That way, you do have teaching experience under your belt, and you would have a better chance of then accepting something that is closer to home. You can do anything for a period of time, as long as you know it's coming to an end. The driving would stink, but getting the experience in teaching would be invaluable for your future endeavors. Altough, it sounds like you're pretty set on not accepting it... in these situations, it's always better to go with your gut!

I agree. Thanks so much. And honestly it seems like school years go SOOO fast anyways...

trebmal · June 2011

lowkeysbride:
I agree... right now, any job is good to have! When I started teaching, the phrase I always thought of was "get your foot in the door". That way, you do have teaching experience under your belt, and you would have a better chance of then accepting something that is closer to home. You can do anything for a period of time, as long as you know it's coming to an end. The driving would stink, but getting the experience in teaching would be invaluable for your future endeavors. Altough, it sounds like you're pretty set on not accepting it... in these situations, it's always better to go with your gut!

And I am NOT at all opposed to it, just trying to think of both pros and cons. I drive over for the interview today, so that will give me a feel for what the commute will be like. SOrry if I came across as already having my mind made up.

lowkeysbride · June 2011

It's all good! Hope the drive over today isn't too bad and good luck with the interview... I'm sure you'll be great!

trebmal · June 2011

lowkeysbride:
It's all good! Hope the drive over today isn't too bad and good luck with the interview... I'm sure you'll be great!

Thanks. I KNOW I'll post about it when I get back. LOL...

happilyeverafterxo · June 2011

Hey Treb! First of all, welcome back! I've missed seeing you around the boards!

I am also a teacher, and ironically enough, hubs and I commute about 50 minutes each way to school. We both teach in my hometown, but when hubs and I got married last summer, I moved to HIS hometown which is about 50ish minutes away.

I think that in your case, any job is a good job to have, especially with benefits and a steady paycheck coming in. Plus, it will help you put money away for retirement.

If I were in your shoes and were offered the job I would take it. You can cross all of those "what if" bridges as they come.

I know what you mean about driving. We each have our own car, and we use DHs car for traveling back and forth to school that way we only put the miles on one car, but it is nice because we both work in the same district, the same hours, same schedule and everything. Gas is tough on us. Especially when it was $4 a gallon a few weeks ago.

Make a pro and con list, and talk it over with your DH! Ultimately the decision is yours and you should do what you think is best!

Good luck to you though - sometimes even getting a teaching interview is an accomplishment! Congrats and best wishes!

mandyrei17 · June 2011

Hello! I am a teacher too! I would say go for the job! You have all summer to continue to look for jobs closer to home. Its better to have a back up full time job then back up subbing( I hated subbing!!!!!!) However, you say that you are tired now from driving 40 miles one way which means you could be extra tired driving 60 miles. You will get used to the drive though. I used to work an hour away and its a pain but it becomes routine!

celestialnyte · June 2011

I can understand your plight, being a teacher who currently isn't teaching due to lack of teaching jobs available.

Saying that, I think if it were me, I'd take it if it was offered. In my area (CT) teaching jobs are few and far between to find, what with them combining classrooms and closing schools. I don't know what the job market for teachers are where you live, though.

Teaching for a year or subbing for a year - if I were an employer, I think I'd rather see the year of teaching. And, from what I've heard and seen from my teacher friends, once you get your foot in the door and have a full time job, instead of subbing, you hear more about the openings coming available within the district. So perhaps having the job would enhance your opportunities in the next year or so to move to a school closer to where you live.

Thats just IMHO.

Good luck on your interview!

babiesbabiesbabies · June 2011

If it were me, I would take the job in a heartbeat. Subbing and teaching are not the same thing. Teaching on your resume looks a lot better than subbing, even if it is an hour away.

The way things are here in Texas, jobs are few and far between. There was one job that had 700 applicants! If you got an interview, great for you get in there and shine!

michaela080 · June 2011

I worked at a school that was an hour away for 2 years. It sucked and I should have waited for a job closer, but it was my first job and I was scared to not get one so I just took it. However, with the job market as it is and teachers being cut everywhere, I'm not sure. If you can handle subbing for a little while closer to home, that would at least get your foot in the door of that school district and maybe they would hire you full time after a while. But if you need the money and benefits of a full-time position, you might have to take the far away job.

GettinCrafty · June 2011

Hey Treb, definitely a tough decision. I'm not a teacher, but I work for a nonprofit focused on teachers. I'd be tempted by the far-away job offer, but I might hold out for something closer. I know if I accepted the far-away gig and went in with one foot out the door because I hoped to find a position closer to home the next year, I wouldn't connect with other teachers there...and maybe not even the students or the community. So it might not be a great experience for me or the kids. In an ideal world, I'd want a position in a school I'd like to stay in...

But in the end, both choices are good ones...so you can't really make a "wrong" decision here. Whatever you choose, good luck!

adamstodrake · June 2011

I am in KS also and subbed for the last 2 years. My thought is that it would come down to how badly do I need the job now. If DH's job wasn't so stable, then yeah, I would more than likely take the job. But, for me, DH's job is great and we knew I wanted to SAH eventually, so I just continued to sub until we had DS and then I stayed home with him. As far as subbing not looking as good as a perminate position I don't think they would discount your experience at all. Many many teachers subbed for a long time before they got their jobs. Especially right now. In the districts I subbed for, there are no jobs available. All of my classmates when to much smaller districts and commute or moved for jobs, and I wasn't willing to do that. I knew that once I had a LO, I wanted to be as close to home as possible. To me, a 60 mile drive with a sick kiddo to pick up at daycare or an emergency while you are pregnant wasn't worth it. GL with your decision though, it is a tough call. And of course, good luck with your interview! Even interviews in KS are hard to find right now, so you must be doing something right!

RedsFan · June 2011

Hey Treb! So glad you are back!

I agree that getting a foot in the door is great...but in Ohio we have noticed that once you get in a school you are stuck there. Once you start getting experience it gets harder to think about ever getting hired in another district. I subbed for a year before I started teaching and that is how I got to know my principal so well. He was determined to get me in his building and that was my "foot in the door". I have to say I sometimes miss the flexibility of subbing...it was pretty nice! How did the interview go??

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