Have you changed careers? How was the switch?

[kkwis2]

After being talked at for the past two days and basically being told that everything I do is wrong (though I am a very well respected and well liked in my profession), I am thinking about what else I can do. Of course, I will take time to cool down and consider this decision. I am very much a thinker ~ I don't tend to make knee-jerk decisions. So, I'm just considering.

I am a teacher. It's what I've done for 20 years. I don't know what else I would be qualified for.

I'm not looking to be flamed or to be told that I should be happy that I have a job. I'm just looking for input on what kind of career changes people have made and were you happy with the change.

 

[3CW]

If you're well-respected and well-liked in your profession, it sounds like the person (people?) talking at you is the one with the problem. Maybe you just need a change of employer rather than a whole change of career?

But to answer your original question, I worked retail for 8 years before going back to school for clinical laboratory science (folks that match up blood for transfusions, figure out what bacteria is causing your infection, etc). I always knew I wanted to go back and go into something science-based. Having done it, I couldn't be happier. My work pays more and fits my personality better, and I can't see myself ever wanting to fully retire from it.

 

[dsnydiva2]

I am roughly in the same boat as you. I've been an educator for 10 years & this past year was especially rough, so much so that I've sought employment in another school system at a different grade level. I am hoping this will be the change I need. If not, I also wonder what qualifications I possess with a Masters degree in education.

 

[kkmcan]

It can be hard but if you love teaching maybe change schools or districts. Try that before you give up something you love. It could be hard to get your foot back in the door once you've left so make your decision very carefully. I left teaching to stay home with my kids and never wanted to go back. That career changed a lot in the 14 years I've been home with my kiddos. Now that my kids are teens I sell on ebay and that is considered my job. Maybe not a career but I love it and I had been doing it on and off for years before I decided to give it a go on a permanent basis.

DH left teaching to go into Firefighting but he continued to teach while preparing for his new career and it was super hard for him and for us. He took his EMT class at night. Then when that was over he got into a weekend fire academy and when that was over he was a reserve firefighter on weekends for a dept. It took years before he got hired full time and was able to leave his teaching job. He loves being a fireman and he's been there for 14 years now (yup he got hired the year I resigned... great timing) and has moved up the ranks to Captain. This is his life's passion and our whole family has benefitted from it. It was hard getting used to a firefighter shift schedule and stress of his career but he makes more money than he ever would have as a teacher and he is so happy. He is also the union president for his local and has gotten the opportunity to travel to conferences, meet important people in the IAFF and even went to Israel last year to study their Fire/EMS systems. I don't think he ever dreamed his job could be so fulfilling in so many ways.

His teaching degree wasn't wasted either because you need a bachelor's degree to promote to Captain. Any degree with do. And he's had the position of Academy instructor which was perfect to be able to combine his fire and teaching skills together.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[kymom99]

I am a teacher and have one more year to go until I can retire. I can't wait, however I will probably go a couple years past the minimum. Teaching sure has changed in the 26 years I have been a part of the profession.

That being said, when I was at 14 years, the school district where I taught went through a massive change in administration. I hung in there for 2 years, then I changed to a different district. It was the right thing for me. Think about it.

Once I retire I will try to find a new job, full or part time depending on what it is. So I am kind of where you are, wondering what I might be able to do.

As a side note, the new administrator who ran everyone off from my former district was convicted of embezzling from the school district. Took 10 years for someone to figure it out.

 

[kkwis2]

OP here. Thanks for the responses so far.

I should add that I have been considering leaving my district and/or teaching in general for a couple of years. It's not just because of the meeting I was in. I LOVE teaching and I love the connection I have with my students. As I have said for many years, thankfully 90% of my job is the part I love ~ working with kids. 10% is the part I hate ~ administration trying to tell me how to teach when none of our administrators have more that a couple years of teaching experience themselves.

I am in a fairly specialized field (foreign language) in which there tends to not be many openings in area districts. Unfortunately, our guests yesterday have convinced our curriculum director that this is the direction that we must take. It's fairly complicated, but suffice it to say that I simply don't agree with their ideas. I've never been someone who believes that one way of doing something is the one and only way to get it done. I incorporate methods from many different schools of thought to form a complete program.

Keep the responses coming. I have enjoyed reading them. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

 

[kymom99]

Have you considered a private school?

 

[TIAMOMMA]

OP here. Thanks for the responses so far.

I should add that I have been considering leaving my district and/or teaching in general for a couple of years. It's not just because of the meeting I was in. I LOVE teaching and I love the connection I have with my students. As I have said for many years, thankfully 90% of my job is the part I love ~ working with kids. 10% is the part I hate ~ administration trying to tell me how to teach when none of our administrators have more that a couple years of teaching experience themselves.

I am in a fairly specialized field (foreign language) in which there tends to not be many openings in area districts. Unfortunately, our guests yesterday have convinced our curriculum director that this is the direction that we must take. It's fairly complicated, but suffice it to say that I simply don't agree with their ideas. I've never been someone who believes that one way of doing something is the one and only way to get it done. I incorporate methods from many different schools of thought to form a complete program.

Keep the responses coming. I have enjoyed reading them. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

I would suggest Translation work..business docs, contracts, etc.

 

[kkwis2]

Have you considered a private school?

There is only one private school in our area. They actually hired someone in my field two years ago, and I considered applying. It would have been a HUGE pay cut though (like 1/2 of what I make now) and included middle school which I don't have a license for.

There are several universities/colleges/tech schools around here, so I would consider making a career move there. Again, I'm just not sure what I'm qualified to do. I can't be hired as an instructor as I have a Masters in Education, not in my language which is what they require.

 

[kkwis2]

I would suggest Translation work..business docs, contracts, etc.

Have you done this kind of work?

 

[TIAMOMMA]

Have you done this kind of work?

No, I haven't. I can barely speak my own language, lol. However, being in international logistics I know there is a need. You can always look into it, it seems like something that could easily lend itself to freelance work. Maybe you can dabble in it and see if it's for you as you make some part time money.

 

[pryncess527]

I am a teacher. It's what I've done for 20 years. I don't know what else I would be qualified for.

Have you ever considered trying to move into administration? Would let you draw on your years of experience and even potentially help you create a better environment for other teachers.

 

[pryncess527]

There are several universities/colleges/tech schools around here, so I would consider making a career move there. Again, I'm just not sure what I'm qualified to do. I can't be hired as an instructor as I have a Masters in Education, not in my language which is what they require.

Student services?
I started out my career as a student service assistant and now do academic advising full time. I love it. It does not directly draw on the research I did for my masters, but they did require me to have one, so takes advantage of my degree. I find it so rewarding to work with students as they navigate college, and I would think your years of education experience make you highly qualified for that type of student services work.

 

[kkwis2]

Student services?
I started out my career as a student service assistant and now do academic advising full time. I love it. It does not directly draw on the research I did for my masters, but they did require me to have one, so takes advantage of my degree. I find it so rewarding to work with students as they navigate college, and I would think your years of education experience make you highly qualified for that type of student services work.

This seems like something I would really enjoy. I like building relationships and I like helping my students. May I ask what your masters is in since it isn't directly related to advising? Can you tell me more about what you do?


In regards to your other question, I don't think I would like administration at all. It seems all they get to deal with the crap not the positive side of kids that I get to see (most days anyway!).

 

[pryncess527]

This seems like something I would really enjoy. I like building relationships and I like helping my students. May I ask what your masters is in since it isn't directly related to advising? Can you tell me more about what you do?

My Masters is in Liberal Studies. It's something I did for fun after I already worked here, though it did open the door to a promotion.

I coordinate advising for our department and have about 75 undergraduate advisees that I work with directly. At the minimum, I meet with all of them twice a year to discuss their course selection for the upcoming term. For some, that's about all they want from me, but for others there is a real chance to build a relationship and help guide them through college. I don't hold hands, but I do recognize that they are in a transition period and need some help figuring out how to stand on their own two feet. So, my door is open to whatever crisis comes up!

I also plan our graduation ceremonies, the highlight of my year. I organize new student orientation for the freshman and transfers. I work with students in other departments who are considering a move to my department. Really anything and everything having to do with undergraduate education.

It's really fulfilling work, and I think working with undergrads keeps me young We always hear horror stories about how bratty and entitled the next generation of kids are, and while that may be true for some, I feel really lucky to see the other side. The kids I work with, for the most part, are bright, hard-working and unbelievably appreciative to have someone in their corner they can go to for advice, or just to listen.

And it's also pretty autonomous . . .while I do have to work well with others, my primary work obligations are between me and the students, so I get very little interference from my boss

 

[kkwis2]

pryncess527

Awesome! Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your job sounds like a dream to me! Planning graduation and freshman orientation sounds intimidating, but I'm sure you get the hang of it after a time or two. I totally agree with feeling fortunate to be able to see that not all "kids" are the terribly selfish people that others make them out to be.

Again, thank you taking the time to respond.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

After being talked at for the past two days and basically being told that everything I do is wrong (though I am a very well respected and well liked in my profession), I am thinking about what else I can do. Of course, I will take time to cool down and consider this decision. I am very much a thinker ~ I don't tend to make knee-jerk decisions. So, I'm just considering.

I am a teacher. It's what I've done for 20 years. I don't know what else I would be qualified for.

I'm not looking to be flamed or to be told that I should be happy that I have a job. I'm just looking for input on what kind of career changes people have made and were you happy with the change.

Look into corporate instruction, especially with large international companies, your language skills would be useful. Another option would be if you're willing to teach English as a second language, I know there are countries (Japan and China are ones that I know of) that pay good money to Americans who can come over and teach. I don't know where to look to find these jobs, but it's at least a starting point if you're interested.

If you're truly serious about changing careers, then make sure you get on LinkedIn, update your skills and history, and link in to people you know. My rule of thumb is that if I'm linked to someone, then I'm willing to approach that person for someone else, or I'm willing to approach someone else for that person, so I don't just link in to every headhunter/pimp who wants to connect with me. It would be a good resource, plus, corporate recruiters are using LinkedIn more and more to find people with good histories and skill sets that they're looking for.

 

[ellochka]

I am a native speaker of Russian, and I have used it exactly once in my 13 year career in the US. It was a small consulting project that a former co-worker got me into (their client was a Russian company). And it really was not the language, but rather knowledge of the lifestyle/culture/consumer behavior. My conclusion is that this kind of knowledge does not have a big market.

Here is what does have a market - being able to analyze the numbers. Seems like this is in demand in all industries. If you are mathematically inclined, knowing Excel can get you a lot of doors open.

 

[kkwis2]

Look into corporate instruction, especially with large international companies, your language skills would be useful. Another option would be if you're willing to teach English as a second language, I know there are countries (Japan and China are ones that I know of) that pay good money to Americans who can come over and teach. I don't know where to look to find these jobs, but it's at least a starting point if you're interested.

If you're truly serious about changing careers, then make sure you get on LinkedIn, update your skills and history, and link in to people you know. My rule of thumb is that if I'm linked to someone, then I'm willing to approach that person for someone else, or I'm willing to approach someone else for that person, so I don't just link in to every headhunter/pimp who wants to connect with me. It would be a good resource, plus, corporate recruiters are using LinkedIn more and more to find people with good histories and skill sets that they're looking for.

The LinkedIn is interesting. I have been invited by friends, but I haven't done it since it seems like it's very much for the business world. I will have to do that.

Definitely not looking to go overseas. That's just not in the picture for this time of my life.

 

[kkwis2]

I am a native speaker of Russian, and I have used it exactly once in my 13 year career in the US. It was a small consulting project that a former co-worker got me into (their client was a Russian company). And it really was not the language, but rather knowledge of the lifestyle/culture/consumer behavior. My conclusion is that this kind of knowledge does not have a big market.

Here is what does have a market - being able to analyze the numbers. Seems like this is in demand in all industries. If you are mathematically inclined, knowing Excel can get you a lot of doors open.

I am fairly analytical and have a math minor (teaching math to be exact), so that's a possibility. I agree, especially in the area that I live, that using my language skills may not get me far. It seems translation is so easy to do through the internet now, who needs to pay people?