Today, I learned that being highly qualified, wildly experienced, and possessing the patience of a caffeinated saint still doesn't count for much if you haven’t ticked the magic box that reads:
“Been here long enough to be considered serious.”
Apparently, time served in your current role trumps actual ability to do the job, which is a relief, really, because now I know what to do with all my qualifications: use them to build a small fort and hide in it until the required probationary moon cycle has passed.
Don’t get me wrong — I get it. Rules are rules. But when you're a mature student (translation: running on caffeine, ambition, and the tired you can’t nap your way out of), being told “No, not yet, you haven't been here long enough” feels a little like being grounded… for being too competent.
It’s like turning up to a bake-off with a three-tier Victoria sponge, only to be told,
“Lovely cake, but we only judge fairy cakes made on the premises.”
Oh, okay then. I’ll just eat my own cake and stare longingly at the job board.
But here’s the twist (because there’s always a twist, otherwise we’d spiral):
Maybe… just maybe… this is a blessing in disguise.
Yes, I said it. Maybe this little career hiccup — this beautifully wrapped parcel of professional rejection — is the universe’s way of whispering,
“Oi, focus on your degree, will you? You’ve got dreams to chase, papers to write, and a whole generation of neurodivergent Picassos waiting for you.”
Because that’s the actual goal, right?
To become a Special Needs Art Teacher Extraordinaire in FE — helping learners express themselves with glitter, glue, and unapologetic creativity, all while navigating the occasional flying paintbrush and existential crisis.
So while I lick my mildly bruised ego and remind myself not to storm HR with a scroll of my qualifications like Gandalf at a staff meeting, I’m going to breathe, refocus, and trust that my time is coming. Probably just not this Tuesday.
To anyone else out there being told they’re not “long enough in the building” to dream big — hang in there. We may be stuck at the bottom of the ladder, but we’re wearing better shoes and carrying the kind of experience you can’t fake.
Besides, we’re mature students. We’ve done harder things — like figuring out Microsoft Teams without swearing. Mostly.
Until next time, stay caffeinated, stay hopeful, and never let them dull your sparkle (or your CV).
Yours in eternal probation,
A Frustrated Future FE Art Queen