What is your job?

[clowe74]

I am a supply teaching assistant. Qualified 4 years ago but never managed to find a *proper* position so do supply which is good as the money is ok but bad in that I can go months with no work which after all the latest school cuts I havnt been in for ages. Am currently applying for another job in the school my kids all went to, DD has a year left there, but am really not sure its what I want to do anymore down to my other job.

Job number 2 is in a brand new multi million pound youth centre that has just opened in our town. Officially I am part of the play team and we put on play sessions for families through the school holidays doing archery, canoeing, bmx, high ropes etc etc etc but in reallity you can do anything in there from paperwork to running the kitchen. I love it so much but it is only holiday work at the moment. It is such a good place, good atmosphere, fab people to work with incuding my best mate and you get to meet so many people. Downside is that at the moment its not many hours and I will never be rich working there but its great.

[Mrs Flowers]

I am a teacher. I originally did a psychology/linguistics degree and did some admin jobs and was a recruitment consultant briefly but wasn't happy in any other those roles so had a rethink about what mattered to me in a job. I had always been told I was 'good with kids' and found them fascinating, wanted a rewarding, interesting, busy job and hated being in an office with a ringing phone. I retrained 9 yrs ago, qualified with a PGCE for ages 3-8.

Have had 2 jobs. First for 3 years I taught aged 4-7. Second I was promoted to a Year Leader (manager) and in charge of mathematics for the school. Just under 2 yrs later I had DD and returned PT covering teachers' illness/courses etc in the same school. I have also had a brief stint one year as class teacher in a job share, which I'm temporarily doing now covering a mat leave for half a term.

I'm pretty happy in my career choice, although I find being part time (getting everything done in my PT hours) and stepping back from my management role hard at times. I've been doing some uni study, 1/3 of a masters, to keep my knowledge up to date and to improve my skills as a teacher. It has also kept me in the loop at work and involved me with other teachers and year groups more (although a lot in my own time!).

[sersha]

I worked in publishing for 10 years (in editorial, marketing, prepress and production depts). Now I freelance from home doing catalogues, books and any other print material for the companies that I used to work with, so I'm basically a typesetter who can do editing and design. I love working from home and for myself, I just wish I could do more of it, but I haven't the faintest clue how to get more work!

[donna-j]

If you find out Sersha, let me know! I am actually quite busy now, but not doing the creative stuff I love (am doing a lot of journal editing, which is good as it is bread and butter work, but I'd rather edit layout-driven texts).

ETA: where did you work? PM me if you like. I think you are local-ish to me.