Stuck between a Rock and a Hard Place - Male Educator Career
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:26 am
Hi there,
This might a long post but it might be good of me to get it off my chest. I worked at my first childcare center after competing my Cert III in Children's Services in 2013. I worked there for three and half years as a long term casual. Over the time I had suffered issues of bullying and problems from the place since I had started. The place had a reputation for not having the best of staff members and a culture of ignoring bullying issues and sweeping it under the carpet so to speak. In the end I was let go due to 'under-performing at work' and I feel this was due to the bullying issues that were never addressed and I had seen a revolving door of staff coming and going because of this. I stayed longer than I should have because I couldn't really leave the children and it was hard for me to leave them since I looked after them since they were babies and now were in the pre-school room. It was heartbreaking that I couldn't get to say goodbye to them.
Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place due to this being my first childcare job and not having any references due to being let go when I go to job interviews which I feel is hurting my chances of getting another job. I don't know how to explain what happened without being seen as a bad former employee. I'm pretty lost at the moment and I'm 32 years old. After years of battling depression in my 20's I decided to do childcare as I enjoy being with children and giving them a good education. Now I feel I'm stuck with no where to go in the childcare industry anymore.
I don't know what to do
This might a long post but it might be good of me to get it off my chest. I worked at my first childcare center after competing my Cert III in Children's Services in 2013. I worked there for three and half years as a long term casual. Over the time I had suffered issues of bullying and problems from the place since I had started. The place had a reputation for not having the best of staff members and a culture of ignoring bullying issues and sweeping it under the carpet so to speak. In the end I was let go due to 'under-performing at work' and I feel this was due to the bullying issues that were never addressed and I had seen a revolving door of staff coming and going because of this. I stayed longer than I should have because I couldn't really leave the children and it was hard for me to leave them since I looked after them since they were babies and now were in the pre-school room. It was heartbreaking that I couldn't get to say goodbye to them.
Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place due to this being my first childcare job and not having any references due to being let go when I go to job interviews which I feel is hurting my chances of getting another job. I don't know how to explain what happened without being seen as a bad former employee. I'm pretty lost at the moment and I'm 32 years old. After years of battling depression in my 20's I decided to do childcare as I enjoy being with children and giving them a good education. Now I feel I'm stuck with no where to go in the childcare industry anymore.
I don't know what to do