Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
In this situation, should I be paid, or is it volunteering?
Hi ladies,
Here's the background to my situation (sorry for the length, wanted to give all the details so as to be clear): I'm unemployed, having fairly recently moved to a new city. I had contacted a school I was interested in working at, and was told they didn't have any current positions in my field (related to teaching), but they were planning on perhaps opening up one for Sept. The principal nonetheless invited me to their professional development day a week later. I went, had a blast, enjoyed the team spirit a lot, and asked if I could observe a colleague as I am new to the types of children who are at this school. We had set up a day and I had emailed in my resume saying, "Well, just in case a position is definite, here's mine, because you guys are great". Lo and behold, before the observation day they did post an official full time position for September 2011 (deadline was the end of Feb.). So I went for the observations in the middle of Feb., and had a very informal interview with the principal. She tells me that there is also the possibility of my replacing a staff member who is leaving on sick leave in the next few weeks, and she will call me if she needs me.
I haven't heard anything since mid-Feb, but last night the principal calls me out of the blue and asks if I can go in to help the teacher whose class I observed last month. Clearly I didn't want to say no, as I'm not sure where I stand with either job situation (the one in Sept. and the more recent replacement). I do love the school and kids, but I'm also participating in a job workshop which is clearly helpful for the future, so I had to cancel that. I did the day at school, and was asked to come back tomorrow. But I don't have a clue if this is supposed to be paid work. The assistant I am replacing was paid, but the parents who replaced her earlier this week were clearly not. I don't have the credentials to be an assistant, but I do have similar certification a few levels higher (let's say the assistant has a diploma, I have a Master's in a specific but related area). I am pretty sure that legally, the classroom needs an assistant with an ECE diploma, which I obviously don't have. I know I should have clarified the compensation aspect last night before going today, but I honestly didn't want to disrupt the status quo, and wanted to appear as flexible as possible so as not to harm my chances of a job (or two).
Questions: do you think I should be paid for today and tomorrow, based on the above? As I said, I do love it, but I'm also supposed to be looking for work as money is very tight.
If so, how do I approach the principal (or even, 'should I at all?') and ask for compensation? And/or, how do you ask about the two other jobs she mentioned? I assume (which I shouldn't) I might still be in the running if she is asking me to come in to help, but it would suck if I wasn't being considered and they were just using me as backup.
Sorry for the ridiculous length.
Re: In this situation, should I be paid, or is it volunteering?
I would never have shown up without clarifying.
I would see the principal ASAP and ask what the deal is.
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
Which they wouldn't.
Every job I've ever had got my Social Security card and info on day #1 before starting. So I don't think it looks good for you getting paid.
28/100
LittleL 8/10/07
Baby E 11/27/10
Check out my makeup and reading blog:
Books and Beauty
I thought they might ask for my SS and other info on day one (i.e. today), but I couldn't exactly show up to see if they did, and then when they didn't ask for it, just declare, "Well, it's not paid, so I'm going home".
Bit of a catch 22.
So I'll assume it's not paid. I'm okay with that, since it's only 2 days and makes me look okay anyway. I will most certainly clarify the 'actual' jobs tomorrow though. Thanks so much for clarifying, everyone!