Most difficult profession in the world?

I got my MA from a Finnish university and BA from a British one. On top of that I am a trained history and citizenship teacher. At the moment it feels like my chosen profession is the hardest, or one of the hardest ones, in the world. And I am not talking about the job itself. I am talking about the process of finding a job.

After graduation I sent quite a few applications to history teacher jobs in Finland. I was never asked for an interview. Out of a blue I go a job, on temporary basis and I loved my job. I did apply for my job at the end of third year while I was on maternity leave but I did not get a look at as I did not have quilification to teach a third subject. Or at least that is I how I felt about it. It seems one needs to have qualificiation to teach several subjects, most often religion or philosophy, to be considered a good candidate. Especially if one is looking to find emploment in small school where there are not enough students to warrant having own teacher for history or religion. And they are linkined to each other these two subjects.

Even if advert asks for ability to teach in English I have so far not been even given an interview. Granted most graduates in Finland are good in English, but how many of them have got a degree from a English univiersity? That is not good enough or important enough. One needs to have had a foot in the door previously. Been in the school previously to teach for a short term. Great in general, but sometimes I can not help but feel sad and miffed on behalf of all the applicants who spend time in writing their application and the place has been most often been already thought to be given to the person already there. I have four kids and I can not be selfish and decide to move my kids around the country after every academic year just so that I can get a job. It is not fair on them. Why is it necessary to publicly advertise for a job that most often goes to the person already doing the job on temporary basis? It wastes time for everyone. One problem cuold be that too many history teachers are trained, though universities must know there are no where near enough jobs available for graduates. We are found in the unemployed column.

Perhaps my chances are trashed due to the grade in my degree certificate. I have been told by one teacher that she is shocked that with my grades I have been given the job. No one sees what has happened behind the grade and my grades do not say anything about my ability to teach. If I fill my gaps in personal time it shows nowhere.  I have had life beyond my studies. The grade I have been given from a university is based on teaching it offers that is aimed at making researchers, or that argument has been made against it (and I to certain extent aggree). I have never wanted to gain a PhD in anything. I do not feel I am smart enough, but my final thesis has been graded the same way as smart future PhD students write.

There is the paradox for employers wanting experience. How do you get any if you can not a get a job?

As finding a job in Finland seems impossible without good lottery win like luck (I think I have exhausted my good luck for having got pregnant four times and having deliver four healthy kids) I have started applying for jobs in the UK.

First hurdle was getting my qualifications regognised. It was relatively easy to apply for Qualified Teacher Status. I am not sure how much that will help though. I have had experience in teaching history and citizenship. In Finland the government sees no need in sending people to schools and sit in lessons assessing teachers work. All teachers are different and different methods give them the chance to teach the best way they can. How can you asses teaching? Grades students get? I gain more pleasure in aiding poorly performing student to better him or herself than making sure the top student remains in top level. What if your class is more full of those poorly performing students than the top ones? It is impossible for you to be considered a good teacher.

I have filled many a form for UK schools. One I recently decided was not for me. It had a table or two actually asking to mark the grades your students have got in exam so and so or how you have fared in assesments. I had none of those and doubt if the fact I come from Finland would have done me any favours. It seems getting a job in the UK is impossible if you come from a country where teachers are trusted to teach to the best of their abilities and not judged for the bad they happened to have. Sometimes I do wonder if UK is the best place for me to teach, but then again I am sure I am not a bad teacher, just my kind and different to my collegue. I am not perfect but I am far from bad.

The year 2015 is not very old, but I have already been rejected without an interview several times. From two countries. Not a one interview. In Finland due to whatever and in UK perhaps due to lack of assesments and the unwillingnes to use technology such as skype. As unemployed I have no chance in flying to an interview. Should I be offered the job I am more than willing to pop in and introduce myself knowing that perhaps live we both aggree mistake has been made and the job is not best for me.

Though you might think I am bitter and given up that is far from truth. I keep applying for jobs and studying general theology. One day I get a job somewhere and I get to earn my keep.

Feel free to comment and slap me around for being stupid and whinging.