Who else is job hunting right now?

[MushyMushy]

Maybe we can form a little support group!

I have my teaching degree, but there are no jobs within 100 miles of me except for subbing (which I strongly dislike and the pay is low with no benefits or stability, plus the schools around here are notorious for not hiring their subs!). So I've begun to look for different jobs in earnest.

Wow, it's a jungle out there! Our paper only has about 2 columns of jobs in the classified, and it's usually for servers, cooks, drivers, etc. Then there are health care jobs a plenty, but I have no interest in working in that field. Most of the women in my family worked in health care and I just had to be the outcast.

I've got some applications put in a few different areas, but there are no bites yet. How are the rest of you doing? I'm just going to keep plugging along with the subbing for now. At least I love being around the kids!

 

[RangerPooh]

understand the lack of teaching poitions right now. I earned my Master's degree back in 2008 but have been certified to teach since 2007. I was initially certified in Washington state, but they are so saturated that they weren't hiring (except in certain fields in places that I just didn't want to be). We moved to Michigan last year for DHs job and that's a state that is definately not hiring. I learned that unless you went to school and did your student teaching locally they weren't interested in you. Plus anyone with a few college classes can sub, so subbing jobs were hard to get. This spring and summer I began applying (once again) to jobs up and down the eastern seaboard and finally landed a positionin Maryland, a state that is hiring to some extent.

Anyways I'm not sure what career fields are hiring, but I was about to return to my undergrad course of study; Environmental Science, as there are some jobs there. Well if you're willing to relocate. Hopefully something will come soon.

 

[Meriweather]

Go Cougs!!

DD is a Coug alum and also a teacher with a masters. Living in AZ now. No jobs, even the sub rosters are closed.
She has applied to everything she can think of. Every morning starts with job search. She is very discouraged. And out of money. No husband to help her....so we are. A strain since we are paying 2 mortgages and trying to sell this house in WA, but what are you to do??

Good lcuk everyone.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I lost my job in February. Data entry and product technical support for a local window-and-door wholesaler. Data entry seems to be a "dead" job now, so I've been applying for administrative assistant positions, with at least a $5/hour pay cut. Despite the Dept. of Labor "resume professionals" insisting that my resume is "spectacular," I don't even get called for interviews. I did just have an interview on Friday for a part-time reading tutor for my town's elementary schools...only 19 3/4 hours per week, at a $4/hour difference from my previous job (I was also full time, 40+ hours per week), and no benefits. I guess it's something...

I have returned to school through WIA; I'm pursuing an accounting assistant certificate. I have an Excel class on Tuesday afternoons and Financial Accounting on Wednesday nights. Next semester, I need to take Managerial Accounting and an elective, hopefully Human Resources Management, and I'll "graduate" in May. I was lucky in that the school accepted 2 classes that I took when I attended 15 years ago. It certainly feels strange to be in school again...with classmates half my age!

 

[yoopermom]

Another unemployed MI teacher here I was laid off five years ago when my school librarian job was eliminated. Went back and got my sp.ed. certification, taught this past year, and was just laid off again. So now I'm being a SAHM on unemployment, because it literally doesn't "pay" for me to sub or work a minimum wage job. DS is a freshmen, or we'd move in a heartbeat.

I'm really working on figuring out some volunteer work that will fulfill me AND look good on my resume for if and when the economy ever picks up.

Terri

 

[wdwgirl03]

OK, glad I am not the only teacher here looking for a job! It is beyond frustrating. My problem though seems to be lack of experience...I finished student teaching in Jan. of 2008 and have subbed ever since. I was lucky though last year since I sort of fell into a subbing job that ended up turning into something long-term and then I subbed at the same school pretty much every day for the remainder of the year.

Good luck to everyone looking!

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm kicking myself for going into teaching when I did! Granted, it's something I truly want to do with my life, but at the time I made the decision I kept hearing about how many people would be retiring when I'd graduate at all these different schools.

Yeah. They all retired my last year of school. If I don't laugh, I'll cry.

Any time a job opens up, there are literally 300 applicants for each position. It's unbelievable.

We want to move, but we need to try to hang on where we are for now. We've only had our house for 2 years and we'll lose way too much money to sell it now, plus our daughter is in 8th grade. We want to try to stick around here at least until she graduates.

I'm sorry for all the rest of you in the same position.

 

[IDoDis]

Seems like there are teaching jobs out here that new teachers are being placed in. Last year the interns and short-term teachers I know (were hired after the beginning of the year) were given pink slips at the end of the year as there was supposedly a hiring freeze. Everyone one of them that I know has found a teaching job here. I'm talking about 20 or so people. There are also openings listed on the school district's website. I don't know how updated the listings are though.

I just checked the district website and there are

30 listings for elementary teachers
7 listings for middle school teachers
6 listings for high school teachers

37 listings for special ed teachers (all grade levels)

 

[crazelion]

I know school district is desperate for math and science teachers.

I know when finished my certified teachers track. I was suppose to had been the computer teacher and end up teaching Pre-K.

 

[gm]

Come to Houston, Klein Tx in particular, so many schools are opening. Good housing prices and great schools. kleinisd

 

[yoopermom]

I do know that there are teaching jobs in different parts of the country, but many teachers looking for jobs are women who can't move due to their husband's job, housing decline, etc. It's a shame, because some really good teachers may NEVER actually get the chance TO teach....

Terri

 

[barkley]

dh tried for over a year to find work when we moved here but the industry he was in has figured out they can get freebie interns from the colleges and universities who mistakenly believe that by doing free internships they will have the inside track to jobs upon graduation (NOT-they will just be shown the door as the next group of eager, misled freebie interns are clammoring to get in the door).

he's gone back to school to get his masters and a teaching credential. i know it seems like odd timing but he's in a program that the districts are already understaffed in, the gov and the state superintendant of education are creating a greater need for (added highschool grad requirements), and is transferable to adult education (we've seen plenty of opening for adult educators in the field but he needs a masters to qualify). we're hoping by the time he finishes there will be some good job opportunities (and given that the program he's in stopped accepting new admissions a year ago so the only grads for the foreseeable future will be those in it he might have a bit better chance).

curious (though dh is'nt in this situation but i know some of his fellow students are)-for those who have gotten recent degrees in teaching through the programs where portions of the student loans are forgiven if one teaches in certain "title" districts-how are these loans handled when there are no openings in any districts around the geographical areas where people attended college? (do they do some kind of deferral until job openings exist?).

 

[MushyMushy]

If you guys aren't finding teaching jobs, what other types of jobs are you applying for? I'm also looking for a technical writing position -- it's something I'd thought about doing before I got my teaching degree. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping something opens up at my husband's company!

Other than that, I've been applying in the social services. They require degrees in social work, psychology OR education, so why not. One of them was for an instructor to go into the homes in my area.

Barkley, as far as I know, you just keep paying on the loan like usual until you get the title 1 position. I suppose you could get a deferral (or is it a forebearance? I can't remember the difference). There are different things you could do when you can't find a job.

A friend of mine found out the hard way that you don't get the loan forgiven when you consolidate the loans. This was several years ago, so things might have changed since then. Something to look into!

 

[RUDisney]

I'm in IT. I was out of work for 14 months because I complained about my abusive boss. Because he was a man, I was fired. He couldn't possibly have been doing what I said he was even though I had witnesses to many of his abuses. I was at that job for 20 years.

I couldn't find anything around here in IT, specifically, so I took a consulting job when it came around. It was a 6 month contract and I was out of work again on June 30th because the powers in Harrisburg can't pass a budget. The state wanted to extend our contract, but without money, they couldn't.

So, at this stage of the game, I've learned that my unemployment benefits could have been extended more if I'd remained unemployed, but because I didn't work during the first 4 of the last 5 quarters, I'm out of luck.

I had an interview 2 weeks ago to be the CIO of our county, but I was told that the process would take some time. The interview was 2 hours, and I feel confident that the HR Director liked everything I had to say. We'll see.

They used to have a separate section for jobs in our Sunday paper, but it is down to a few entries in the house and car section now.

The way I look at it, everything happens for a reason and something wonderful will come along.

For now, kids are going to start taking their SATs. Do you feel qualified to post slips in the grocery stores/Walmart/Target, etc., to tutor kids in SAT preparation? How about tutoring on the side for now? It keeps you "in the game" and gives you some extra money.

I've also taken to ebaying. The money I make from cleaning out closets and the attic puts some extra money in our coffers each week.

 

[RUDisney]

If you guys aren't finding teaching jobs, what other types of jobs are you applying for? I'm also looking for a technical writing position -- it's something I'd thought about doing before I got my teaching degree. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping something opens up at my husband's company!

Other than that, I've been applying in the social services. They require degrees in social work, psychology OR education, so why not. One of them was for an instructor to go into the homes in my area.

Barkley, as far as I know, you just keep paying on the loan like usual until you get the title 1 position. I suppose you could get a deferral (or is it a forebearance? I can't remember the difference). There are different things you could do when you can't find a job.

A friend of mine found out the hard way that you don't get the loan forgiven when you consolidate the loans. This was several years ago, so things might have changed since then. Something to look into!

Don't limit yourself to just your DH's company. Post your resume on www.monster.com so headhunters can find that you're interested in tech writing. I've gotten calls for that type of job. Many times you can even negotiate working from home with that job with only a limited amount of travel, if any.

 

[Lisa_M]

DH is still working his part time hours and collecting unemployment for his missing hours which is helping. He looks every day (and I look for him too), but there isn't much and sometimes nothing at all out there. 1 interview since the end of June. He is not in the teaching field, but I feel that his field might be becoming obselete.

My sister graduated in May 2008 with a teaching degree, still no permanent position and still living with my parents. She has been day to day subbing and tutoring during summer school. It is so hard to get a job in a school. I really feel for her. She has been saying she wanted to be a teacher since she was like 4 or 5. She has applied at every district in the area including inner city districts and still no bites.

 

[LMulligan]

I am a career changer who just finished an M.S.Ed. program in New York City. Apparently, I graduated just in time for a hiring freeze.

Right now, I am looking for anything as my student loans are kicking in.

Good luck everyone!!!

 

[yoopermom]

LMulligan, if you have a federal student loan, call them up and see about postponing your payment based on lack of job. I was told I could do it X amount of times (now I can't remember!). Doesn't hurt to throw yourself on their mercy. What I also did was keep 2K of the last student loan payment that I really didn't need from my last semester. When I do finally have to start paying it back, I figure I'll start with that, and hope to have a job before it runs out...

Hugsto everyone...
Terri

 

[barkley]

If you guys aren't finding teaching jobs, what other types of jobs are you applying for? I'm also looking for a technical writing position -- it's something I'd thought about doing before I got my teaching degree. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping something opens up at my husband's company!

Other than that, I've been applying in the social services. They require degrees in social work, psychology OR education, so why not. One of them was for an instructor to go into the homes in my area.

Barkley, as far as I know, you just keep paying on the loan like usual until you get the title 1 position. I suppose you could get a deferral (or is it a forebearance? I can't remember the difference). There are different things you could do when you can't find a job.

A friend of mine found out the hard way that you don't get the loan forgiven when you consolidate the loans. This was several years ago, so things might have changed since then. Something to look into!

if you're looking into social service consider looking into jobs that might be titled 'eligibility worker' or 'benefits tech'. they often don't require a degree (just so many units of college) and many of the staff i supervised were former teachers (as i was). they often require that a person has processed 'confidential' information which most teachers have no problem meeting the criteria for because of the nature of school records.

it's often considered an entry level position but the pay is'nt bad, the benefits can be great AND it's a foot in the door to social services which can be what you need to get hired into the actual teaching type jobs (staff development departments in allot of social services agencies will only hire from within their own ranks or someone that has some work experience in the field).

a side benefit (esp. if you already have a degree) is if you find you like working in the field is the opportunity to get an msw on your employer's dime (there are programs where you get your entire education paid for while you continue to receive your salary in exchange for working school breaks and obligating yourself to working for the agency for so many years post grad).

 

[MushyMushy]

My son has 2 interviews this week! He graduated from high school in May and hasn't had a nibble, but all of a sudden he has 2. One for Walmart and one for Sheetz.

At least it's something! Now he can save up to buy a car and hopefully look for something in his field (welding).

Now if we can just get some nibbles for me!