Problems at work? Need advice? Our agony uncle – and readers – have the answer
• Need help? Email Jeremy at dear.jeremy@theguardian.com outlining your dilemma
I'm not sure if teaching is for me. Should I quit in my first year?
I graduated from my PGCE in July and managed to land my first six-month post. I had a few wobbles during the course and came close to dropping out last Christmas. However, my parents and my tutor, both brilliant and supportive, convinced me to persevere.
I was so pleased to get my first real job. I have never had any illusions about teaching being easy, but was certain it was what I wanted to do. However, I am starting to think it is not the career for me. I have been told the NQT (newly qualified teacher) year is the hardest, and that it gets a little easier with time – but I'm not sure I could stay teaching for, say, the next 40 years. I am trying to stick at it for now to see if it gets any better.
I was told throughout my PGCE that I am a good teacher and have well-planned lessons, but I don't enjoy it. My parents want me to keep trying as they don't want me to struggle financially. It isn't a badly paid job, but I sometimes think I'd rather be in a job that pays less and be happy. I have found myself wondering if I could do the recruitment side of agency work, as a background in education can be advantageous. I know every job has its stresses, but I don't think I can handle the pressures of teaching.
Jeremy says
I can quite understand your parents not wanting you to struggle financially, but – particularly at the start of a career – money shouldn't be the dominant consideration. It can all too easily become a trap from which it becomes increasingly difficult to escape. Job satisfaction really is more important than anything else: for work-life balance, for personal pride, for advancement, and ultimately – more often than not – for material reward. You're more likely to be good at work you enjoy.
In saying this, I am not encouraging you to abandon teaching; it's too soon. Most tough jobs present new recruits with a mini-mountain to climb. Despair can set in and the temptation to quit can be strong. But don't forget that most tough jobs have another characteristic: once you have a little breakthrough, once you experience a couple of small successes, your mood can be utterly transformed. The very fact you feared you were failing makes turning that corner all the more triumphant.
I can't know, of course, and neither can you, that you will experience such a revelatory moment, but I'd hate to think you battled through your PGCE and fought to keep yourself going through your NQT year, only to deny yourself that chance of breaking through to sunshine. You were certain you wanted to be a teacher. You can't be certain, yet, that you were wrong.
Readers say
• Complete your NQT year – don't quit this. If you then quit, you can always come back to teaching at a later date.
If you quit your NQT now you can't do this and will have to do your training and NQT year all over again.
You don't know what the future holds. d4drgene
• I don't know how the stresses compare to teaching, but there is a lot of pressure in recruitment. You are a salesperson selling your agency's services to companies, or jobs to potential applicants. Is this what you want to do all day every day? SpursSupporter
I was overlooked for a post and wonder if I can lodge an appeal?
In April 2012 I applied for the internal position of operations director. I was interviewed, along with another internal candidate, and was not successful.
In June 2012 we had a new managing director. He told me that (our now ex) non-executive director, who had sat on the interview panel, had told him that I performed and scored far better at the interview than the other applicant, and should have been offered the role. However, post-interview, a new criterion was added that was given such a high weighting the decision swung the other way. He also told me the ex-non-exec would deny the story if ever challenged.
I suspect another member of the interview panel was also persuaded against his better judgment and that it may be possible for me to get him to corroborate the story.
In the past couple of weeks the successful applicant has been demoted to another role because he was not able to do the job.
The role would have almost doubled my salary, so I have lost out quite considerably financially. Do I have any right of appeal, or could I raise a grievance after so much time has elapsed? Does the company have any obligation to retain the interview and decision material, and can I see it on request?
Jeremy says
There is usually more than one way to seek justice – and the most aggressive is not always the most successful.
The version of events as relayed by your new managing director may or may not be accurate. He was himself relying on an account provided by the non-executive director, who has already made it clear he wouldn't stand by the story if challenged.
If you appeal – if you start demanding records of the interviews and the subsequent discussion, and even suggest compensation – you shouldn't expect willing collaboration. It is clear that several people made a mistake and they chose the wrong person. But that is not an offence. They will already be regretting having made it and wouldn't thank you for turning it into an investigation. Besides which, your "evidence" could easily be made to seem very threadbare and open to challenge.
You would be far better advised to forget your rancour at having been in your view) unfairly deprived of that promotion. The man who was appointed has now been demoted; the position of operations director is presumably open again, and you must surely be a candidate.
So, without recrimination, have a word with your new managing director, who wasn't party to the last decision. Don't go on about your grievances; simply express your belief that you could do the job well and ask that you be seriously considered.
After one embarrassing mistake they should welcome a candidate as well-qualified and as familiar as you. But if you insist on raking over the past, they might well have second thoughts.
Readers say
• If you have evidence I am sure you could probably start a grievance procedure, but to what end? If you win you'll have set yourself against a number of people. If the position is up for interview reapply, but perhaps ask what this extra criterion is and how you can demonstrate you have the skills to tick this box this time round. ID9458826
• If I was in your position I would look elsewhere for a role and wage of the calibre of the job for which you were passed over. Taking legal action against your current employer will be time consuming and costly, with no guaranteed outcome. Clearly they don't appreciate your talents, which other companies will. Edimus9981
For Jeremy's and readers' advice on a work issue, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that Jeremy is unable to answer questions of a legal or contractual nature or to reply personally.
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