career change a good or bad move?

Spend a few dollars to see a therapist/counselor.

What you are going to get here is a bunch of advice from people who do not know you. It will be worthless and a waste of your time. A counselor can help you reflect to see what your likes and interests are.

On one level I would say get out of teaching because (and you will think you are still doing a great job as a teacher) you are not going the kids you teach any favors.

What is your family situation and general load of responsibility? Married? Kids? Provide us more information in that respect.

I changed careers at age 28. Went from insurance salesman to CPA. It took just over two years and was a brutal process. Lots of 15 hour days working full time and school/studying at nights. I was younger than you and had few responsibilities outside of working on the career move. Even such, it was very hard.

What will the change be in potential earnings? What would the new career be and path to get there?

I would think about the potential financial and time expenditures you would have to make for this before making a move. Based on what you've said, I would probably stick and just enjoy all of the free time you have as a teacher. Don't take this the wrong way, but at age 36 it's pretty late for a move, and you may not have the stamina or desire to pull it off.

Live-in girlfriend but no kids and she is only 27 so don't plan for marriage/kids for another couple years. Plan would be to go back on the sub list and work 20 hours a week while taking night classes and self study. I am yearning for a more technical/engaging and creative career and have narrowed it down to a few options.

luv2run wrote:

Spend a few dollars to see a therapist/counselor.

Therapists tell you exactly what you want to hear. After all, you pay them right? Is it ever a surprise they give you advice that agrees with what you already said?

In this case, I say think about the career change. You really only live once. You don't want to wonder what if 40 years from now. Find something you truly love to do and make a career of it.

First of all, great job getting the girl 9 years younger! I assume she would be supportive of all this, which you will need. Hopefully she can take some of the household duties off your plate like making food etc so you could study. 2 busy people can make for a crappy environment.

You didn't provide financial details, or info about how long this could all take, so it's hard to say what I would do if I were you. It certainly sounds doable though. If you had 3 kids I would probably say different....

Also, think about the idea of coming in as the low man on the totem pole at age 38-39. If it is a field where all of your work peers will be 23, you might feel quite out of place. Hopefully this wouldn't be the case.

I was 29 starting the new career, and it was a little weird being all around 23 year olds because they were in a different place in life. Tack on ten years and I really wouldn't have wanted to do that.

Thanks - she is a keeper and very supportive. Her career is basically life long for her so she is quite settled. I'm the one who is all over the place!Financially it would be a concern going back to school for another 3 or 4 years but for a year of school or part-time work and study I'll be fine. Essentially it's now or never as kids aren't here yet but they're definitely at the tail end of a 5 year plan.

monkey lover wrote:

I'm 36 and have worked as a teacher for the past 6 years.

It is a stable and moderately paying career that I can stomach but definitely don't wake up excited for.

Over the last few years I've thought "meh - I'll just be a work to live guy" but the mundane nature of the role has made me question this lately (not saying teaching is boring on the whole but to me, personally, it is)

So - at the ripe age of 36 - do I put in what is likely going to be a mammoth and stressful effort over a number of years to change careers or do I just keep what I have and work on expanding and enjoying my life outside the classroom?

You are the envy of millions and you want to leave teaching? "You better think twice about leaving me behind make up your mind about what you want to you you you know it ain't easy---"

Daisy Dillman Band

Seriously as a former struggling teacher of 30 years and three BST's and many, many heartbreaks...if you are a talented teacher get into loving the kids you teach and actually helping people. There is no better job on earth!!!

What is a BST? I disagree it's the best job on earth and also that "many envy it". It's a fairly easy job to get.

Anonymous by choice again wrote:

Seriously as a former struggling teacher of 30 years and three BST's and many, many heartbreaks...if you are a talented teacher get into loving the kids you teach and actually helping people. There is no better job on earth!!!

The grass isn't always greener. At 36 I wouldn't switch just because you don't like your job. Most people get into a funk after 5+ years of doing the same thing. Just remember, you won't find another job that gives you 3 months of summer vacation every year.

I guess my advice is that if you leave, make sure you're leaving to move towards something your dream job), not away from something (your current job).

Hmm - I think that's poor advice. Sounds like "Don't take any risks because you might fail - just stay with the blah status quo"Just because a job has good vacation is not good reason to keep it (welfare has 12 months vacation!)

Hmmm..... wrote:

The grass isn't always greener. At 36 I wouldn't switch just because you don't like your job. Most people get into a funk after 5+ years of doing the same thing. Just remember, you won't find another job that gives you 3 months of summer vacation every year.

I guess my advice is that if you leave, make sure you're leaving to move towards something your dream job), not away from something (your current job).