23/03/2025
What I've learnt as a neurodivergent educator-job seeker 😆
Looking for work can be a real psych game! I'm currently looking for part-time permanent or casual work as an early childhood educator or teacher (see regulation 242) at a local high-quality long day care or preschool service. Since late February, I've made a real effort to search the web, and the streets for suitable workplaces. However, here's my lessons:
One/ if the company I want to apply to has red flags, then that's a no go. I recently had an interaction with a company I thought would be a good fit. But I found out they don't seem interested in work-life balance because part-time jobs are rare with them, and they don't employ casuals. I wouldn't pursue opportunities with this company anymore.
Two/ from the documentary on Four Corners: Childcare Crisis, many of the parents of children questioned what is real anymore. How can you trust testimonials and websites to give you the truth and information?
It could be made up, because the best thing would be to do a "walk in" and see what's really going on (like parents can do when they visit their child's long day care/preschool). But that's not an option when it comes sussing out what's going to be on my blacklist (no go's), and my good list (could pursue). It's true I'm a lot more vigilant and paranoid about the sector. But I have good reason.
Three/ I've hit burn-out more times than I can count. Between marketing and editing my CV and LI, applying for job ads, doing several expressions of interest applications, and scouring the streets to see if there are any local services nearby, it's no wonder job-seeking can be exhausting, physically and emotionally. I'm not forgetting self-care in this journey. I know it's important, even though it's "only" job-seeking-specific burn-out.
Four/ I thought networking with a male friend-educator-jobseeker to see what jobs are available would be easy. But he lives further from me, so trying to suss out the best workplaces isn't exactly a team activity. My plan of action to get jobs is different from his. My plan involves a heavy focus on expression of interest (EOI) because where I live are typically only full-time roles advertised. I can't do full-time because of my degree studies, unless it was a thirty-hour week spread across four days (Monday to Thursday).
Five/ I need an actual back-up plan because I've left the early childhood sector so many times in the past. Perhaps, I'd end up in law or marketing if my attempt in re-entering early childhood goes really sour. My last job, which was a casual position with a "big brand" in one particular long day care service two and a half years' ago was a position I'd quit (and I thought back then I would never work in early childhood ever again). It was due to a low-quality workplace and environments for children, plus I believed I was bullied out by the director. Also, I just couldn't support educators who many had mental health issues at the time because I'm not a fully-fledged therapist. I shouldn't be obligated to act like one. I made a lot of changes at the service, but I didn't feel valued or accepted by most staff.
♡ But what are your tips to job search, especially for those neurodivergent educators "trying to make it?"
♡ And, for those working in the sector, what do you say to people that think we're just playing with children all day?
Leave a comment below or direct message me. Just please no spam, scams, or the like. I've been getting heaps of those lately (especially Facebook and Instagram).
Credits: image courtesy of some E cards. Words of the post are my own.
Susannah-Mariee 🦋
