Please help me think of a new career for DH!

[harleyquinn]

Hi!

DH has his certification to teach Art K-12, but there are no jobs (even subbing) in our area right now, and there haven't been for the last 2 years since he graduated.

We are really desperate for something for him to do for the rest of his life. He will not go back to school to get another degree without securing a job first. He loves working with people (especially kids/teens) and would rather not have a desk job or wear suits, but at this point we're up for any suggestions.

As a librarian, I've tried to find things for him that way, but the BA positions are very hard to get.

He needs something full time with benefits. If it utilizes his artistic side it would be great too.

Right now he's working full time in retail as he has for the last 10 years.

Please give me some ideas!! Let me know if you need more info.

 

[mickeyboat]

Hi!
Please give me some ideas!! Let me know if you need more info.

Hmmm. How about working at an art gallery running a childrens' program? We have a gallery in our town that does all sorts of art programs where the kids are taught different techniques. They run day camps in the summer, too.

How about a town recreation department? He could create and administer art programs for children.

We have a cartoon school in our town. Maybe he could look into something like that.

Good luck. I remember a thread you posted not too long ago where he had an opportunity. I guess it fell through. Sorry.

Denae

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Can he try and secure a position teaching an elementary grade or other Academics, like Math, History, etc..at a middle or high school? How TA's at colleges? Tutoring? Lots of good money there, no benefits of course.

I would say start applying out of your area. We moved from St. Louis to Texas because opportunity is less. Sometimes you have to make radical choices to get where you want to be.

Something has to give and both of you need to figure out the best course of action based on what you know so far.
Not easy, but you will both figure it out sooner or later.

 

[golfgal]

I thought he found an art job this past fall. Did that not work out?

What about a job in marketing? Artistic skills are needed for many marketing jobs. There is a woman that does lovely pencil sketches of what ever, kids mostly, maybe he could do something like that? I have to agree that with all the budget cuts, art teachers are some of the first to get cut making jobs hard to find.

It gets to the point, though, that you are either going to have to go back to school for training for something else or suck it up and get a desk job and do your art on the side (painting wall murals for people's homes for example--there is a lady in our town that does that along with other creative painting jobs and does very well).

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I don't know much about it, but what about an activities director with an adult day center or an assisted living center. It's not kids, but they are springing up everywhere and it would be hand-on, interactive and different all the time. And it could be very creative, I would think.

Just a thought.

 

[mommytotwo]

How about a counselor?

 

[Chicago526]

Hmmm. How about working at an art gallery running a childrens' program? We have a gallery in our town that does all sorts of art programs where the kids are taught different techniques. They run day camps in the summer, too.

How about a town recreation department? He could create and administer art programs for children.

We have a cartoon school in our town. Maybe he could look into something like that.

Good luck. I remember a thread you posted not too long ago where he had an opportunity. I guess it fell through. Sorry.

Denae

Parks and Recreations programs were the first thing I thought of. The mueseum/art gallery idea is a great one too! Moonlighting at and art and crafts store or seasonal work at childrens day and/or summer camp could get some income flowing in while you wait for something premenant, and he may be able to make some contacts at the same time.

 

[lorisnuts]

try looking at juvenile corrections facilities. Around here they can always use teachers. my dh works nights at a residential juvenile drug & alcohol treatment center. They are always shorthanded.

 

[DawnCt1]

Can he try and secure a position teaching an elementary grade or other Academics, like Math, History, etc..at a middle or high school? How TA's at colleges? Tutoring? Lots of good money there, no benefits of course.

I would say start applying out of your area. We moved from St. Louis to Texas because opportunity is less. Sometimes you have to make radical choices to get where you want to be.

.

I agree with both of your points. Sometimes you have to go where the jobs are, even if it means moving. I think he should return to college and secure a teaching certification in math or science. There is definately a need for math and science teachers. It may take him a couple of more years but how long will it take him to get a job if he does nothing?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Hmmm. How about working at an art gallery running a childrens' program? We have a gallery in our town that does all sorts of art programs where the kids are taught different techniques. They run day camps in the summer, too.

Something like that crossed my mind as well. Is there a children's museum in your town? Or maybe teaching an adult education class for a local community college?

Or (and this may really be thinking outside the box) what about advertising or marketing? Yeah, it may involve a desk and a suit, but would definitely allow him to utilize his creativity.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

Here is a somewhat off the wall suggestion - Project Management.

I'm currently taking evening classes for Project Management at a university, and the classes are a series which lead to a certificate and the goal of taking the PMP (Project Management Professional) exam, which can be a sought-after thing.

The reason I am suggesting it is that the real requirement of a Project Manager is not necessarily expertise in a particular field, it is dealing with people, and you said your DH likes dealing with people.

My current instructor is a project manager of the Information Technology department of a large city hospital, but his previous career was a high school English teacher, not technology.

Project Management is not necessarily a "desk job". Many consulting firms hire project managers and companies use the consulting firms to bring in project managers to manage projects so you can be exposed to a variety of situations, working with different companies and different people.

Anyway, just a thought...

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks everyone!

He did receive a teacher aide position last fall, but he left the company after only two days after discovering their deplorable working practices. It was a charter school. The funny thing was that this weekend a huge 3 part newspaper story came out about the company that ran the school about how horrible it is. I was kinda mad that he didn't stick with that job for the experience, but I guess he was right.

So since then, he's tried everything. Right now he's taking a class to renew his provisional liscence.

The first thing I thought of was parks/recreation! Unfortunatly the positions are almost always part time and pay very very little (less than his retail job). We keep looking there though.

He just sent in resumes to every art gallery, art school, and a lot of marketing places. We keep our eyes open in that area too.

He's teaching a class at a juvenile correctional facility this friday , not getting paid, but... I'll have to see if I can get some addresses and things for other ones, so he can check that route.

He just started sending things to assisted living facilities. There seem to be a bunch of program coordinator positions in that area.

We really, really don't want to move. We love it here and the cost of living is low. Plus his mom died about two months ago, and we've been keeping an eye on his father. It would be really tough to leave now.

I think for us to stay here, he might have to go completely outside what he wants to do. I just can't think enough outside the box.

I'm afraid we'll struggle through a couple more dissapointing years and then give up and leave. We really want to start a family soon too.

 

[HaleyB]

What about graphic design?

Or statrt up an after school care that does art enrichment.

Summer art camps. I know an art teacher that does this and she makes a ton of money doing it. She gets $150 a child for a half day week long program, and offers extended care for working parents for another $120. She spends about $30 a kid on supplies and they do great projects.

Develop a school program and get some flyers made (We paid some guy $800 for a half day program where all he did was read a book and use puppets and sing silly songs, and everyone thought he was great!)

 

[harleyquinn]

Here is a somewhat off the wall suggestion - Project Management.

I'm currently taking evening classes for Project Management at a university, and the classes are a series which lead to a certificate and the goal of taking the PMP (Project Management Professional) exam, which can be a sought-after thing.

The reason I am suggesting it is that the real requirement of a Project Manager is not necessarily expertise in a particular field, it is dealing with people, and you said your DH likes dealing with people.

My current instructor is a project manager of the Information Technology department of a large city hospital, but his previous career was a high school English teacher, not technology.

Project Management is not necessarily a "desk job". Many consulting firms hire project managers and companies use the consulting firms to bring in project managers to manage projects so you can be exposed to a variety of situations, working with different companies and different people.

Anyway, just a thought...

That's sounds interesting! I'll check it out.

A bunch of you posted while I was typing

He doesn't want to teach anything besides Art, though I think I'll talk to him about Science. His grandfather teaches Biology.

He does teach adult ed programs for a few local cities.

Everything that he likes is very part time, no benefits, ect.

I think my biggest problem right now is that he makes up reasons not to do things for everything I think of. His dad is exactly the same way. I keep thinking that if it was me, I would have given up on teaching and turned to A, B or C. I keep saying wow, if I wasn't a librarian that would be a cool career.

I've even said that he should just get a part time job doing something he really likes, and he can be a stay at home dad. The thing stopping us from that are my health insurance benefits, which jump from $40 a month to $365 for adding just him, no to mention kids.

Anyway, keep the out of the box suggestions coming!!!

 

[kydisneyfans]

I graduated with a BS in finance from Akron in 97 and searched for jobs in the Canton/Akron/Cleveland area for 2 years before securing something outside of my degree. I then took a buyout and interviewed for 48 jobs, the icing on the cake was the time I interviewed for a management job, asked what my chances were, and was told there was 1 job open and over 600 people applied.

We decided to look elsewhere and within 2 weeks I had landed a job making nearly double in Kentucky. My wife landed 2 jobs on the first interviews and had to choose which to take on her first day in KY.

In a nutshell-Cleveland is not the place to be when job hunting-you likely will need to move elsewhere.

 

[harleyquinn]

Summer art camps. I know an art teacher that does this and she makes a ton of money doing it. She gets $150 a child for a half day week long program, and offers extended care for working parents for another $120. She spends about $30 a kid on supplies and they do great projects.

I take it she has her own company? Is it through a local city or something?

That sounds really really interesting. DH would love to have a business doing something like that. And there is a great need for it in our community due to the loss of all the art teachers.

 

[harleyquinn]

I graduated with a BS in finance from Akron in 97 and searched for jobs in the Canton/Akron/Cleveland area for 2 years before securing something outside of my degree. I then took a buyout and interviewed for 48 jobs, the icing on the cake was the time I interviewed for a management job, asked what my chances were, and was told there was 1 job open and over 600 people applied.

We decided to look elsewhere and within 2 weeks I had landed a job making nearly double in Kentucky. My wife landed 2 jobs on the first interviews and had to choose which to take on her first day in KY.

In a nutshell-Cleveland is not the place to be when job hunting-you likely will need to move elsewhere.

That's what I'm afraid of. All the teachers I know are moving south. This out of the box-new career search is my last ditch effort. I have a feeling we will be moving soon so we can start a family. But how much does it suck that we have to move away from our family to start our own?!

 

[harleyquinn]

Any other ideas?

 

[lorisnuts]

checkout this website... https://statejobs.ohio.gov/applicant/index.asp
it is all the state available jobs in ohio. they occassionally have teacher positions listed. sorry didn't mention it earlier. i forgot all about it.

 

[SDFgirl]

I graduated with a BS in finance from Akron in 97 and searched for jobs in the Canton/Akron/Cleveland area for 2 years before securing something outside of my degree. I then took a buyout and interviewed for 48 jobs, the icing on the cake was the time I interviewed for a management job, asked what my chances were, and was told there was 1 job open and over 600 people applied.

We decided to look elsewhere and within 2 weeks I had landed a job making nearly double in Kentucky. My wife landed 2 jobs on the first interviews and had to choose which to take on her first day in KY.

In a nutshell-Cleveland is not the place to be when job hunting-you likely will need to move elsewhere.

I was just going to say the same thing about Kentucky. I'm an Arts and Humanities Teacher for elementary school - I teach Art, Drama, Dance and Music. Over Christmas I know of at least 3 jobs like mine that were open here in Louisville.