Anyone recareer?

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Haynie

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May 20, 2011
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The desire to do something different has been building for quite sometime. Right now I am a teacher, I love teaching but the lack of respect from the world and the administration has pretty much destroyed the profession for me. People say I just burnt out but this year I think it goes beyond that. We have 3.5 more days to go this year (We start pretty early) but all I can think about is having to come back and I dread it. I figure I have one more year in me, unless things change. With that in mind and the fact that I never make a rash life decision, I figured I would start looking at the recareering process now. Problem is I have no idea how to begin.

Anyone here recareer? If so how did you go about?
 
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How many years do you have teaching? I'm finishing up year 21 teaching. Teaching has definitely changed since I started. Thought about changing careers but have been able to stay with it.
 
I certainly DON'T want to lead you in life-changing decisions.

But, one thing occurs to me: What is the problem??
My son's wife is a teacher. She calls parents to tell them their child needs help or discipline and they ignore her, asking, "Is that all you needed, thank you!" (means I don't plan to do a thing).

Public school.

I have several copier customers that are PRIVATE schools, Lutheran or Catholic. Even a couple small rural school districts that rank in the top ten for educational results in Wisconsin (could mean they are the "cream of the crap", but that's another long story). In THOSE school districts and the private settings, the teachers are much happier and they enjoy nearly complete support from parents (my son went to one of these schools---he has done very well in his career).

Perhaps you should LOOK AT other school districts or other school systems. There ARE places that still respect teaching---just getting harder to find.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!!!

Ed
 
15 years teaching, I think.

Ed, Without getting into it I believe in public education with as much vehemence as the NRA believes in the 2nd amendment. Principle keeps me out of the private/charter systems. Maybe I am just burnt out.
 
You may want to look closer.... Honestly, every job has politics and b$ in it (not to sound cynical, lol)... but, if you look close enough, you will be able to see someone in which you made a difference.... it does not have to be a student, it could be a co-worker or even a parent.
Too many people make the mistake of thinking that the "next thing" will make life better...
 
As a fellow teacher, my best advice is:

Re-evaluate in August, and see if you're still dreading teaching...it's a profession that can eat you alive if you're not loving it - but try recharging your batteries over the summer and see what you think then.

This is a tough time of year for teaching! :smile:
 
I'm a big advocate for career changes. That ole, "Life is too short" deal. Lots of upsides and the only down side I can see is if you are throwing away a pension opportunity. I left an engineering job after 15 years on the job. I just couldn't stand 8 hours a day on a drawing board any longer. I had been running a part time woodworking business for years, and I had a lot of backlog. I started a custom wood working business. After 8 years of that, I was burning myself out. 65 to 70 hour weeks, and sales calls after dinner many nights a week. I was approached to go to work at a woodworking magazine, so closed the shop and did a lot of the same kind of work for 40 hours a week and benefits. That only lasted 3 years and then Woodworker's Journal was sold to Rockler. By a nice alignment in the universe, I was making a bedroom set for an upper management guy in HR at my first career business when the magazine folded here. I had to retest in, but got another engineering job at that first company. I just finished putting in another 15 years, and retired on Feb.1 with nearly a full pension. They gave me the original 15 years of service when I was rehired. Sure I could have saved more money by staying there, but I got to do things, go places, and I was the most proud of my whole work career to say I ran a custom woodworking business. The moral of my story is just don't jump without a net.
 
I can relate! I left executive corporate high tech management 3 yrs ago at 57 yrs old and over 35 years in the business. I worked 60-80 hr weeks for years. Now I'm wanting to re-career and change industries completely, but my resume scares potential employers off. They don't believe me when I say that I really want to be busy and challenged again in a new business sector. Even when I tell them that salary isn't a driver for me, but the need to accomplish new achievements is my driver. They look at me like I'm crazy.

So I can't help on where to start, but think 2 or 3 or 4 times about changing careers. I'm still glad I did what I did, but I now realize that age discrimination, although totally illegal, is prominent, alive and practiced by many employers.
 
I have experience helping folks make their own decision. If you want my help, just send me a PM with your phone number and a convenient time to call you. I successful changed careers and helped others do the same (I am not a life coach; I have just done it).

Good luck,

Tony
 
I was forced to re-career last year due to a layoff in 2012. Sounds like your in public schools. Have you thought about adult or technical education. The pay would be much better, and you wouldn't have to put up with the headaches. I was laid off from Dell Inc. after 19 years, in May 2012 while working as a instructional designer/training program manager.

Had no luck in finding a job in my career field. I didn't have the masters degree so working as a instructional designer was out. Had a few interviews trying to get back into computer support, but my age and experience levels kept me getting your not a good fit.

Finally had to fall back on my security experience from over 20 years ago and found a security position in May 2013. Great job, but the pay is not near what I had before.
 
Haynie said:
The desire to do something different has been building for quite sometime. Right now I am a teacher, I love teaching but the lack of respect from the world and the administration has pretty much destroyed the profession for me. People say I just burnt out but this year I think it goes beyond that. We have 3.5 more days to go this year (We start pretty early) but all I can think about is having to come back and I dread it. I figure I have one more year in me, unless things change. With that in mind and the fact that I never make a rash life decision, I figured I would start looking at the recareering process now. Problem is I have no idea how to begin.

Anyone here recareer? If so how did you go about?
Click to expand...

Hi:

I have re-careered twice.

A lesson I learned from a "mentor" a few years ago (1984).

A true professional will NOT "burn out" because he/she will recognize the signs and adapt or modify whatever is needed to compensate. That is not to say that a change is not needed (including possibly a career change), just that you are enough self-aware to realize that something is seriously off-track!

You may be at that point; and if so - good for you to realize it!

Me? ... I was disenchanted with a counseling/therapy career (was doing very well, just became frustrated with the "system."). I still wanted to work with kids, so I went for the youngest and most needy (Early Childhood Education/Child Care centers). 24 yrs later I have no regrets!

Think of what are your passions (NO - not those :eek:). Follow what you care about. You are probably "established" so may be able to weather a reasonable transition time.

For me it was great. I have a business I am very competent in, respected in the local area, and old enough to be more concerned with "quality" than "Quantity" AKA - profit.

Penturning/Woodturning is a great stress reducer for me. I can turn bad blanks into S..T in about 12 seconds and then settle down and work on something nice! This actually is a forgiving hobby!

Sorry for the sermon... best of luck :rolleyes:!
 
I changed careers in the late 80's...landed the new gig based on work I was doing on my own outside of work. Spent a couple decades at the new gig through an ever-changing environment. Stuff I did on my own time kept me competitive (and allowed me to change to completely different things along the way).

If you want to change careers, what job/career do you want? What skills do you need in order to land it? What's your plan for learning any missing skills? How long will the retraining take? Can you retrain while unemployed or do you need to keep teaching while gaining the skills/knowledge you need for that next career?
 
Chevota Guy said:
I can relate! I left executive corporate high tech management 3 yrs ago at 57 yrs old and over 35 years in the business. I worked 60-80 hr weeks for years. Now I'm wanting to re-career and change industries completely, but my resume scares potential employers off. They don't believe me when I say that I really want to be busy and challenged again in a new business sector. Even when I tell them that salary isn't a driver for me, but the need to accomplish new achievements is my driver. They look at me like I'm crazy.

So I can't help on where to start, but think 2 or 3 or 4 times about changing careers. I'm still glad I did what I did, but I now realize that age discrimination, although totally illegal, is prominent, alive and practiced by many employers.
Click to expand...

I can relate to that also... DID not want Administration/Supervision (Please pay me LESS and let me be!). Didn't work. Turned down for some excellent jobs I would have loved and done well in!
 
Last night I told my wife I wanted to be a woodworking, hydroponics farming (legal stuff), bee keeping, professional photographer. :rolleyes:

I got the look. :biggrin:

I am working on a solid plan to recharge this summer. Before we had to move here I was on my way to my PhD and an administrative job (where I want to be) Circumstances here forced me to drop the PhD and give up the administration. I think that is where the frustration is coming from. We were not supposed to be here this long, and I was supposed to pick things back up.
 
That's a hard one Mark. I did after the Navy...that one was easy!! I love medicine, but the level at which I work can lead to burn out in a hurry!! Staying focused has been accomplished thru 1) changing what area of the hospital I work in 2) staying busy at home with stuff that has nothing to do with medical anything!! I'm stabilizing buckeye burl and reloading .40 cal pistol ammo today. Wait 'til tomorrow!!
Life is to short to stay burned out!
 
Amen to what Jim said. I don't know if I'd call it "recareering", but I was burned out BIG TIME with my last job. But, that's exactly all it was...a job until I finished my degree. I earned my bachelors degree in biochemistry but couldn't find suitable work and kept managing a restaurant for decent pay but about 80 hours per week. I hit a point where I'd have rather dug ditches...but I was "over qualified". I couldn't even get a job as a lab technician because of my management experience. I was called about the job I have now and happily accepted before knowing many details (including pay; that's how desparate I became), now it's five years later, I've been promoted 3 times and I'm in a technical sales role...I don't like sales. I've come to realize through this that life is nothing but stepping stones. Try to enjoy every one you land on. Look at the impact you've had on your students and smile. Things will work out. It may be when you're really at a breaking point, but it makes you appreciate the change that much more. Enjoy each step of the way (at least that's what I keep trying to tell myself!) I'm personally holding out for a job with my customer. Is it a career change? Not entirely, but it's not sales!

Sorry for my long post, but keep your head up and your eyes open.
 
You have teaching experience - the world is looking for people who can teach English as a second language. Usually no pension, but its work in a known field in an unknown country. Could be fun.
 
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