“There’s no easy job” … but help me find one

[Anonymous]

This might be too left field and weird, bit I recently became CPR certified. There’s a huge demand for instructors and there are established companies that will send you out to teach CPR or you could strike out on your own and freelance.

[Anonymous]

Maybe something like working for a research company. I make around mid-60s and have good benefits. The company I work for, as well as many others, do research into different education topics. With your background, this would be a good fit. I work 40 hours a week and the work isn’t very difficult but it’s interesting.

[Anonymous]

First of all, you said you’re eating granola bars in the bathroom because you don’t think you can eat in front of the kids. Clarify that! We can eat and drink in front of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe something like working for a research company. I make around mid-60s and have good benefits. The company I work for, as well as many others, do research into different education topics. With your background, this would be a good fit. I work 40 hours a week and the work isn’t very difficult but it’s interesting.

NP here. Can you name an example of the kind of company you’re talking about?

[Anonymous]

All of the problems you have in your current job would also be problems in nursing, OP. You know that, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the problems you have in your current job would also be problems in nursing, OP. You know that, right?

I would want to be a nurse in the sense of getting an associates degree and being an LPN or something. I've read and heard it's not nearly as hard as travel nurse or getting the full BSN etc. but maybe that's not true? It seems more appealing than what I am doing now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the problems you have in your current job would also be problems in nursing, OP. You know that, right?

I would want to be a nurse in the sense of getting an associates degree and being an LPN or something. I've read and heard it's not nearly as hard as travel nurse or getting the full BSN etc. but maybe that's not true? It seems more appealing than what I am doing now...

Also it seems like LPN salary is way higher than what I make as a teacher.

[Anonymous]

OP, I may be wrong but I thought LPNs almost exclusively staff nursing homes. I ask because I’ve had a lifelong dream to become a nurse and have done some cursory research to this end. I’ve talked to several nurses (I’m in healthcare administration) and most all discourage me from “just” becoming an LPN and to go straight for the RN. I have a B.S. in an unrelated field.

Still, I’m undaunted and may still get on the LPN/more vocational track and go from there. Also, nursing that I’m considering isn’t an easy job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you explain what you don’t like about your current job? Not sure what you are hoping to change.

I guess the things I don't like add up to feeling almost inhuman:

-not being able to go to the bathroom for hours (because you can't leave kids alone and there isn't a second adult)

-being massively underpaid-- I calculated by hours worked and if I break it down by hour, Starbucks and other wage workers make more than I do.

-being disrespected by students, parents, admin. Of course some are lovely, but the bad apples are... bad.

-having to skip meals or choke down a granola bar in the bathroom because of being pulled into subbing and having no lunch time. The reason for eating in the bathroom is because I don't think we are supposed to eat in front of students / in the classroom.

I guess I'd like to be able to drink water and go to the bathroom. And maybe make a little more than what amounts to about $17/hour. Summers off are nice, but I often end up working or doing classes so I don't actually take summer break.

That's the nature of the beast with a salaried job...yea, most of us work 40+/week and if you break it down by hour, yea, Starbucks does pay more, but....do they give other perks (like the entire summer, all holidays, etc).

Just be careful what you wish for...

But if you want your Saud "easy job" and you're so convinced Starbucks pays more hourly than go work there

Bus drivers too, make $22+ /hr, including bonus and CDL training.
Another "easy" job Op.

My issue is that I went through 6 years of school and paid tuition to get paid at this rate. Starbucks doesn’t require a masters degree.

Are you OP? The vast majority of of jobs in the US teaching children don't require a masters degree either. So you have a masters degree and are 'uncertified'? You were unaware that teaching is a low-paying profession? Look I'm on your side here that teachers and day care workers should earn more but something about your situation is not adding up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some ideas I had:

MSW to go into counseling or other social work

MLIS for library work or doing information systems work for organizations

Associates degree or Masters to go into nursing

But… apart from maybe library work (which seems to be a dying field) these options seem like they may be even harder than teaching.

I’m 50 and getting my MSW. Honestly, it’s amazing. I absolutely love the coursework and my classmates. Cannot recommend it enough. It’s not just a pathway for those interested in counseling. You can work in schools, hospitals, VAs. You can work on programs, research and advocacy for social Justice issues. Research too. I just took a course on neuroscience. It is life changing. If money is not an issue, your soul will be satisfied pursuing this path I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some ideas I had:

MSW to go into counseling or other social work

MLIS for library work or doing information systems work for organizations

Associates degree or Masters to go into nursing

But… apart from maybe library work (which seems to be a dying field) these options seem like they may be even harder than teaching.

I'm a teacher, so I get being exhausted by teaching and wanting a change.

But you can't possibly think that either social work or nursing would be an improvement. Both are traditionally female occupations, which means they're overworked and underpaid. Both have to deal with lots of urgency, and lots of bureaucracy and potentially heart breaking situations. In short, they're too much like teaching to be the break you want!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some ideas I had:

MSW to go into counseling or other social work

MLIS for library work or doing information systems work for organizations

Associates degree or Masters to go into nursing

But… apart from maybe library work (which seems to be a dying field) these options seem like they may be even harder than teaching.

I’m 50 and getting my MSW. Honestly, it’s amazing. I absolutely love the coursework and my classmates. Cannot recommend it enough. It’s not just a pathway for those interested in counseling. You can work in schools, hospitals, VAs. You can work on programs, research and advocacy for social Justice issues. Research too. I just took a course on neuroscience. It is life changing. If money is not an issue, your soul will be satisfied pursuing this path I promise.

I know someone who makes $250K with an MSW she is a therapist in private practice in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the problems you have in your current job would also be problems in nursing, OP. You know that, right?

I would want to be a nurse in the sense of getting an associates degree and being an LPN or something. I've read and heard it's not nearly as hard as travel nurse or getting the full BSN etc. but maybe that's not true? It seems more appealing than what I am doing now...

Also it seems like LPN salary is way higher than what I make as a teacher.

I think you’re confusing LPN with RN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you explain what you don’t like about your current job? Not sure what you are hoping to change.

I guess the things I don't like add up to feeling almost inhuman:

-not being able to go to the bathroom for hours (because you can't leave kids alone and there isn't a second adult)

-being massively underpaid-- I calculated by hours worked and if I break it down by hour, Starbucks and other wage workers make more than I do.

-being disrespected by students, parents, admin. Of course some are lovely, but the bad apples are... bad.

-having to skip meals or choke down a granola bar in the bathroom because of being pulled into subbing and having no lunch time. The reason for eating in the bathroom is because I don't think we are supposed to eat in front of students / in the classroom.

I guess I'd like to be able to drink water and go to the bathroom. And maybe make a little more than what amounts to about $17/hour. Summers off are nice, but I often end up working or doing classes so I don't actually take summer break.

That's the nature of the beast with a salaried job...yea, most of us work 40+/week and if you break it down by hour, yea, Starbucks does pay more, but....do they give other perks (like the entire summer, all holidays, etc).

Just be careful what you wish for...

But if you want your Saud "easy job" and you're so convinced Starbucks pays more hourly than go work there

Bus drivers too, make $22+ /hr, including bonus and CDL training.
Another "easy" job Op.

My issue is that I went through 6 years of school and paid tuition to get paid at this rate. Starbucks doesn’t require a masters degree.

Are you OP? The vast majority of of jobs in the US teaching children don't require a masters degree either. So you have a masters degree and are 'uncertified'? You were unaware that teaching is a low-paying profession? Look I'm on your side here that teachers and day care workers should earn more but something about your situation is not adding up.

DP. I can see how this would happen. If OP has a masters degree and then went into private school teaching, she could be uncertified and making a very low salary.

OP, maybe what you need is a new school, not a new career. I was burned out to the point of crying on my way to work each day when I was working in a public school. (The days were as you describe, and they ended with hours of planning for the next day.) I quit and found a job in a private school that is the PERFECT fit: understanding and helpful administration, more planning time, and a reasonable workload. I also get paid almost equal to my old public school salary. (We do have to be certified at our school, though, so you may want to look at certification to increase your options.) Now is a great time to switch schools. With the teaching shortages, there are openings all over the place so you can really shop around for a good feel.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t there many different kinds of jobs in social work? Not all of them would be terrible and crushing, right?