tell me about your crazy career switch

[Anonymous]

I fear I've completely pigeonholed myself with a PhD in humanities. I currently teach high school and spend my days wishing I were anywhere but there. The idea of making a drastic career move terrifies me, though, especially after all of the years it took to earn the doctorate. Anybody make a crazy switch and never look back?

[Anonymous]

First thing: Ask yourself - 'what can I do with my doctorate right now?'

And then 'where do I want to be?'

When you have an education already, often-times all you need is a certificate in your area of interest to move into that field. So your doctorate is still very useful.

Good example: I had an undergrad in psych. Completely useless. Added a MS in Information Systems, along with some courses in programming (and skills in) and I became (in my company's eyes) a computer professional who also could talk to people.

Have you thought about writing a book about your experiences teaching? About something else you are interested in? Starting a small business on the side so that you are transitioning?

What are you interested in? The key to your career change lies there.

[Anonymous]

I was an English teacher. When we moved here in 2010 I became a communications professional bc there were limited teaching opportunities available. Honestly, I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could afford it, but I always loved teaching. But after three years I've come to terms with my new career and finding ways to enjoy it. It was hard at first because teaching experience doesn't count for much in the corporate world (at least in my experience) so even though I had ten years work experience, I had to come into my new job in a more junior position and work my way up (which I fortunately did very quickly and am now in a mid level position).

What is it specifically that you don't like about teaching? I loved the independence (pre Common Core days) and creativity - I'm not getting a lot of either in my current job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First thing: Ask yourself - 'what can I do with my doctorate right now?'

And then 'where do I want to be?'

When you have an education already, often-times all you need is a certificate in your area of interest to move into that field. So your doctorate is still very useful.

Good example: I had an undergrad in psych. Completely useless. Added a MS in Information Systems, along with some courses in programming (and skills in) and I became (in my company's eyes) a computer professional who also could talk to people.

Have you thought about writing a book about your experiences teaching? About something else you are interested in? Starting a small business on the side so that you are transitioning?

What are you interested in? The key to your career change lies there.

a PHD in humanities? What a waste. If one is going to go that far, WHY should someone not just get their MD so they can have flexibility and actually make have an ROI.

[Anonymous]

I have a phd in a social science and am now a lobbyist making 200K a year. I LOVE my job! (not just for the money but because I think I am improving healthcare).

[Anonymous]

I would just tell her how sorry you are for her loss and that your heart is breaking for her. Also maybe send a note here and there to let her know you are thinking of her. Don't be affraid to mention her childs name or to talk about the loss. Nothing you can say or write will reminder her of ehr loss, she will never stop thinking about it. Do be mindful though that she will likely not want to see your child. The same thing happend to a friend of mine and she could not bear meeting my child who was due at the same time as the one she lost.

Whatever you do, do not say any of the "god has bette plans, all thing happen for a reason or you can have another child" crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just tell her how sorry you are for her loss and that your heart is breaking for her. Also maybe send a note here and there to let her know you are thinking of her. Don't be affraid to mention her childs name or to talk about the loss. Nothing you can say or write will reminder her of ehr loss, she will never stop thinking about it. Do be mindful though that she will likely not want to see your child. The same thing happend to a friend of mine and she could not bear meeting my child who was due at the same time as the one she lost.

Whatever you do, do not say any of the "god has bette plans, all thing happen for a reason or you can have another child" crap.

oops accidentlly posted in the wrong trend...

[Anonymous]

OP - would a better high school be more enjoyable? I don't where you work, but I know that the school and the quality of students can make a huge difference!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First thing: Ask yourself - 'what can I do with my doctorate right now?'

And then 'where do I want to be?'

When you have an education already, often-times all you need is a certificate in your area of interest to move into that field. So your doctorate is still very useful.

Good example: I had an undergrad in psych. Completely useless. Added a MS in Information Systems, along with some courses in programming (and skills in) and I became (in my company's eyes) a computer professional who also could talk to people.

Have you thought about writing a book about your experiences teaching? About something else you are interested in? Starting a small business on the side so that you are transitioning?

What are you interested in? The key to your career change lies there.

a PHD in humanities? What a waste. If one is going to go that far, WHY should someone not just get their MD so they can have flexibility and actually make have an ROI.

This is OP. Thank you for the replies so far. To the above PP, yes, this is exactly what I'm saying. In the time that it took to do the PhD, I could have gone to either law school or med school, and now I would be earning a much better salary, etc. Hindsight is 20-20. Can't take it back, can only move forward.

To the constructive PPs, I'm still on the bottom of the totem pole at the high school (and FWIW, it's a pretty decent high school, well-regarded in the area). Because many people have worked there longer than I have, regardless of educational background, I don't get to teach any advanced courses. The PhD training was ideal for teaching AP or IB courses- it's completely irrelevant to what I actually teach. Because I teach only introductory courses (which most students pass in middle school, leaving only students who really struggle or who don't care in the high school), I deal with behavior / management issues about 75% of the time. The work is not intellectually stimulating at all. I leave with a migraine every other Friday.

As the former English teacher said, I feel that all of this training / experience won't translate to anything in another field. Is it worth it to jump ship entirely and look for an intro-level government job? Or should I appreciate the mom-friendly hours, the built-in vacations, etc. and just suck it up? The idea of spending another 20-30 years in this drudgery is nauseating, but maybe things will improve in the long run?

[Anonymous]

Summers off, winter break, you will move up in rank eventually right? Might be reaching a few of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summers off, winter break, you will move up in rank eventually right? Might be reaching a few of the kids.

You move up if you move into central office.

I've been out of the classroom for 9 years. I am still in education but as a teacher trainer. I love it.

You can 12-months in a central office position - still a teacher but with extra pay.

From there, if you have degree in admin., you can move up to coordinator if you shine in your role. And you can move up from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First thing: Ask yourself - 'what can I do with my doctorate right now?'

And then 'where do I want to be?'

When you have an education already, often-times all you need is a certificate in your area of interest to move into that field. So your doctorate is still very useful.

Good example: I had an undergrad in psych. Completely useless. Added a MS in Information Systems, along with some courses in programming (and skills in) and I became (in my company's eyes) a computer professional who also could talk to people.

Have you thought about writing a book about your experiences teaching? About something else you are interested in? Starting a small business on the side so that you are transitioning?

What are you interested in? The key to your career change lies there.

a PHD in humanities? What a waste. If one is going to go that far, WHY should someone not just get their MD so they can have flexibility and actually make have an ROI.

This is OP. Thank you for the replies so far. To the above PP, yes, this is exactly what I'm saying. In the time that it took to do the PhD, I could have gone to either law school or med school, and now I would be earning a much better salary, etc. Hindsight is 20-20. Can't take it back, can only move forward.

To the constructive PPs, I'm still on the bottom of the totem pole at the high school (and FWIW, it's a pretty decent high school, well-regarded in the area). Because many people have worked there longer than I have, regardless of educational background, I don't get to teach any advanced courses. The PhD training was ideal for teaching AP or IB courses- it's completely irrelevant to what I actually teach. Because I teach only introductory courses (which most students pass in middle school, leaving only students who really struggle or who don't care in the high school), I deal with behavior / management issues about 75% of the time. The work is not intellectually stimulating at all. I leave with a migraine every other Friday.

As the former English teacher said, I feel that all of this training / experience won't translate to anything in another field. Is it worth it to jump ship entirely and look for an intro-level government job? Or should I appreciate the mom-friendly hours, the built-in vacations, etc. and just suck it up? The idea of spending another 20-30 years in this drudgery is nauseating, but maybe things will improve in the long run?

8:21 again. One job you might not have to start at the very bottom with is training/prof development for adults (i.e., for a corporation). You could also look at writing content for a publishing company like Heinneman or Scholastic. What subject do you teach?

[Anonymous]

^ That is certainly an interesting thought. I teach Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Went from a community college to UCLA to Harvard Law School by working my tail off, both in school and to supplement school. Then went into Big Law. Always had my eye on a consulting job--my dream job. Finally broke in. Loved it. Took me 11 years to get there from that community college. Thought I'd do it forever.

Never thought I would marry or have kids. Got married. He wanted kids. Finally I said ok just one. Long story short, realized that in our situation it was better for me to be a SAHM.

Deciding to become a SAHM was the biggest curve ball I have ever thrown. OP, as hard as it was to get where you are, the even harder part is deciding to move away from it. Don't let yourself be chained to that cage that you guilded yourself! Yes it's a sunk cost, but life is short and we only live once. It's very hard to see other opportunities when you've got only one vantage point. But they are out there.

Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

I'm the king of reinventing myself.

Let's see: I started in IT, them moved to project management, then became a freelance cameraman, then worked on the stock exchange, then moved into mortgages, then went into strategic sourcing, then finance.

Yea, I get bored easily.