Switching careers in your 40s or older

[MeanDean]

I'm 37 and this will be my last year teaching. I've taught 7th grade science or math for my entire career and this year I finally decided I'm not doing it anymore. Every year the students are more disrespectful and apathetic and it's just not worth it. Also sitting through 2 hours of incredibly patronizing and insulting PD every other week hasn't helped.

What is PD? Professional Development? And what specifically are the subjects covered.

I just remember some of the really stupid mandatory training we had to do in the government/military. Anytime there was some kind of scandal making national news the knee jerk response was to subject everyone to mandatory annual training on the topic. They never went away, just more and more piled on and accumulating to the point it felt like they didn't care about your job performance as long as they could check all the mandatory training boxes.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

For @wxman1 and @dahliaclone. The NWS wants you!

View attachment 112155

Yes! And then we could have individualized CF forecasts

 

[cmjh10]

My problem is I’m bored and feel like the management is terrible at my current employer. I’m a little nervous about moving on because I know I’m high on the list of good employees, but with this upcoming economic downturn, I really think I need to get into something more recession proof.

 

[madguy30]

What is PD? Professional Development? And what specifically are the subjects covered.

I just remember some of the really stupid mandatory training we had to do in the government/military. Anytime there was some kind of scandal making national news the knee jerk response was to subject everyone to mandatory annual training on the topic. They never went away, just more and more piled on and accumulating to the point it felt like they didn't care about your job performance as long as they could check all the mandatory training boxes.

In my experience PD centers around shiny new curriculums or teaching strategy concepts that are used for two years before being trashed for the next new thing. At times it's centered around societal situations but is all communicated with baked in buzz words and layers of information that feels like their only purpose is to confuse.

Also stuff about classroom management guised in giving teachers another 'hat' of being a therapist or psychologist or family liasion and basically saying if anything happens it's the teachers' fault for not providing these services on their own.

I've had principals that are more friends to the students than someone providing boundaries and have seen students tattle to the principal because the teacher provided boundaries.

I'll stop there.

Fwiw I've experienced similar things in the corporate world, just done a little differently.

 

[Jayshellberg]

Has anyone said '**** it I hate my career' that you have had for 20+ years and switched to something completely different? How did you do it and what sort of career did you switch to? I'm really not wanting to go back to school for a new degree at this point in my life but I am getting really burned out with the stress of corporate ****.

Can’t tell you the number of times I had the same feeling during my 32-year banking career. However, I never had the courage to do something completely new as I had to support my wife and two kids. Plus, my salary and benefits were pretty good and I wasn’t convinced that I could do better elsewhere. I wouldn‘t say I “hated” my job, but certainly didn’t “love” it either.

You sound like you have excellent communication, teaching, and public relation skills. Such skills translate across a wide variety of industries and jobs. If you like your firm, but not your job, you could consider doing something completely different within the organization. I witnessed numerous individuals do the exact same thing during my career and it reinvigorated them. If fact, I got a new position after 20 years at my job, giving me the energy to go another 12 years. If that is not a solution, you may want to work with a recruiter to get your name out there, if you haven’t already done so. Given our current employment situation, companies are starving for good people with strong work ethics. Even if you don’t have the exact skills they are looking for, they will train you if you have the aptitude and the desire to be there for the long-term. I wish you the best.

 

[JM4CY]

Hopefully planning on retirement late 50s maybe worst case 62.
I'd like that last 10 years to be something completely different than what I went to school for.

I told you at Easter that 10 years of selling brake pads is not going to allow you to meet your retirement goals. Let it go, man.

 

[Cybone]

My girlfriend is a teacher at a large school district in eastern Iowa. Based on what she tells me, it is the most corrupt, mismanaged and misguided district I have ever heard. She hates teaching, she has her masters in Administration and is trying to get out if the district and into something closer to DSM. She applies and never gets calls.

She has a student at one of the high schools threaten to “shoot up the place” on several occasions. He’s threatened teachers and staff alike with violence. Two pressed charges and the principal has retaliated against them.

I don’t blame people abandoning the profession. Leadership and lack of parenting allows the “inmates to run the asylum”. She wants out of teaching, but doesn’t know how or what else she could do and make anywhere near what she makes now.

 

[MeanDean]

In my experience PD centers around shiny new curriculums or teaching strategy concepts that are used for two years before being trashed for the next new thing. At times it's centered around societal situations but is all communicated with baked in buzz words and layers of information that feels like their only purpose is to confuse.

Also stuff about classroom management guised in giving teachers another 'hat' of being a therapist or psychologist or family liasion and basically saying if anything happens it's the teachers' fault for not providing these services on their own.

I've had principals that are more friends to the students than someone providing boundaries and have seen students tattle to the principal because the teacher provided boundaries.

I'll stop there.

Fwiw I've experienced similar things in the corporate world, just done a little differently.

Sounds similar to the same stuff we had. Flavor of the Day stuff:

Customer service (Everyone is everyone's customer) This in a place where literally NO outside money ever comes into the equation!

Just in Time

Kaizen/Lean

So many more and I'm glad I've forgotten so many of them after 12 years out of the work force.

We had new base commanders every 2 years and every one of them had to effort something new and different to put on their resumes to show how they made our base so so much better - so they 'd have a chance to move up in rank.

We honestly often just went through the motions and waited them out when the stuff was just too dumb.

 

[madguy30]

Sounds similar to the same stuff we had. Flavor of the Day stuff:

Customer service (Everyone is everyone's customer) This in a place where literally NO outside money ever comes into the equation!

Just in Time

Kaizen/Lean

So many more and I'm glad I've forgotten so many of them after 12 years out of the work force.

We had new base commanders every 2 years and every one of them had to effort something new and different to put on their resumes to show how they made our base so so much better - so they 'd have a chance to move up in rank.

We honestly often just went through the motions and waited them out when the stuff was just too dumb.

Sounds about right.

I have a few co-workers that drink the new/shiny kool-aid that only make it worse.

Any A>>>>B practical ideas get weird looks and brushed aside.

 

[Gonzo]

My girlfriend is a teacher at a large school district in eastern Iowa. Based on what she tells me, it is the most corrupt, mismanaged and misguided district I have ever heard. She hates teaching, she has her masters in Administration and is trying to get out if the district and into something closer to DSM. She applies and never gets calls.

She has a student at one of the high schools threaten to “shoot up the place” on several occasions. He’s threatened teachers and staff alike with violence. Two pressed charges and the principal has retaliated against them.

I don’t blame people abandoning the profession. Leadership and lack of parenting allows the “inmates to run the asylum”. She wants out of teaching, but doesn’t know how or what else she could do and make anywhere near what she makes now.

I've heard that WDSM Valley district is focused on hiring/filling teaching positions with those who have <5 years experience so they don't have to fork out as much in teacher salaries. Not sure if your wife is looking for admin positions, but if it's teaching positions that might be why. Not sure if other districts are doing the same.

 

[KnappShack]

Sounds similar to the same stuff we had. Flavor of the Day stuff:

Customer service (Everyone is everyone's customer) This in a place where literally NO outside money ever comes into the equation!

Just in Time

Kaizen/Lean

So many more and I'm glad I've forgotten so many of them after 12 years out of the work force.

We had new base commanders every 2 years and every one of them had to effort something new and different to put on their resumes to show how they made our base so so much better - so they 'd have a chance to move up in rank.

We honestly often just went through the motions and waited them out when the stuff was just too dumb.

This is the management style that came on since I've been at my place.

I keep telling management that I don't put tires on a Toyota. My role is very ad hoc and flexible. Some standard product, but it doesn't fit that management style all that well vs other roles.

I challenge management to eliminate yearly reviews too. If they really believe in their management philosophy then a yearly review isn't necessary.

 

[andybernard]

Have you thought about switching districts? I understand the teacher burn out factor, because I know I am burnt out and glad to be retiring after this year. Like others have said, I still enjoy the teaching, being around most of the kids, but the lack of respect, total apathy and laziness is out of control.

Good luck in the future, like that you are going to sub, but for me, May 26th will be the last day I ever set foot back in the classroom, no subbing, no going part time for the money. Just finish up and be done.

I did think about switching districts and was offered a job in Gilbert (which is considered one of, if not "the" top district in the state for teachers) back in 2020, but then Covid happened and moving the family was going to be extremely tough. I'm in a fairly high-rated district in most respects, which makes me fear how bad it is everywhere else.

Congrats on the retirement, I'm extremely jealous!

 

[diaclone]

About 10 years ago I left my 30 year corporate job (I had the right age and number of years to actually "retire.") I had no idea what I was going to to do. Having a pension to tap into later was a good thing and I could take the risk. When I told a good friend/co-worker that I was leaving, she asked me what I was going to do. I told her that I didn't know, and she replied something around "maybe you'll do a cocktail" of things. That resonated with me.

The first thing I did was tutor little kids. That did two things for me -helped me detox from the career job and make a difference for those kids. When a kid asks you if she "can come home and stay with you" it's humbling and heartbreaking and rewarding all at the same time.

I've worked at a couple of non-profits, some insurance corporations and an e-retailer. I've learned more at each place. I was a member of a team that re-wrote a national exam.I've also got involved in local politics and have got to know young organizers from all over the country.

I'm contracting with a corp now. The people are good, but they're not as skilled or knowledgeble as they think they are and in some cases just downright incompetent. I've learn to just let alot go..... ;-))

I finally figured out that it's all about creating a life you want. I sometimes think that maybe I should have stayed at my career job for the money, but I would have never had the richness that I experienced by the path I took.

 

[madguy30]

I did think about switching districts and was offered a job in Gilbert (which is considered one of, if not "the" top district in the state for teachers) back in 2020, but then Covid happened and moving the family was going to be extremely tough. I'm in a fairly high-rated district in most respects, which makes me fear how bad it is everywhere else.

Congrats on the retirement, I'm extremely jealous!

I think the lack of support, behavioral stuff etc is a thing no matter the district or school.

Perhaps communication is better at smaller districts at least with less layers below the top.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

I did think about switching districts and was offered a job in Gilbert (which is considered one of, if not "the" top district in the state for teachers) back in 2020, but then Covid happened and moving the family was going to be extremely tough. I'm in a fairly high-rated district in most respects, which makes me fear how bad it is everywhere else.

Congrats on the retirement, I'm extremely jealous!

Thanks, our daughter teaches in Gilbert, has been there 10 years, and loves the district, they live in N. Ames, easy 10-minute drive to work at most. Has her master's and makes mid 70's as a lead lower elementary teacher.
Great parents in the district, lots of money in N. Ames and they want their kids to go to a smaller school, that is growing like crazy.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

 

[Peter]

I seem to be in the opposite boat to most of you. Really love my job (non profit) but the pay is low and made worse by inflation. Wanting to transfer into a higher paying field even if it’s something I hate to help take care of my family. Bad idea?

 

[CYdTracked]

You could get a job as a project manager in the tech field. From my experience you don't have to know a darn thing. Sitting on a call at this moment listening to the PM say Uhm, over and over again

There seems to be the a low bar to qualify as PM for a lot of companies I hear. I have to support the results/fall out of a lot of IT projects and it amazes me how much lack of testing or getting input from people that will use or support it during the planning and implementation phases. Then when someone speaks up about what a mess the roll out has been the PM and people involved with the project act like they had no clue what was happening or downplay the problems all for the sake of hitting some deadlines and analytics goals tied to their project. We have people that are application owners that dont know crap about their application so it seems more like someone had to be named the owner regardless if they actually know anything about it.

Not even going down the road of the problems some of the outsourcing that goes on too. Cheaper labor doesn't always equate to better results or having people with half the skills and abilities of the people that were laid off that they replaced.

 

[dahliaclone]

I seem to be in the opposite boat to most of you. Really love my job (non profit) but the pay is low and made worse by inflation. Wanting to transfer into a higher paying field even if it’s something I hate to help take care of my family. Bad idea?

I think it all depends on each person and the job. If it's a legit 9-5 job where you're not working extra and the company is good the benefits and pay are awesome. I'm just seeing more and more incompetence within corporations where my retainer is X a month with a detailed list of what I do for them in my job description and it always turns into asking way more for my paygrade and hours put it. Big salaries are great. I'm just now to the point while the money is good, stressing out over 'what sh!tstorm am I walking into tomorrow...' every night just isn't worth. Completely stressing so often about a JOB. Shouldn't be that way.

 

[06_CY]

Having direct reports is the worst. I left that about 12 years ago when I had 15 direct reports and will never go back to that again. It's f*cking awful.

How much flexibility do you have to branch off and start your own house? I've been in the marketing/ad/branding/comms game most of my career and know many colleagues who have left the agency world to start their own thing and it's worked well. Not as much on the PR side, so that could be more challenging.

I enjoy working with my direct reports but have had up to 13, which is quite a chore. Currently have 7 full-time, which is quite manageable and a good group.

I actually hate working with a peer on my team. That is the one pinch-point that has me contemplating a change.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

There seems to be the a low bar to qualify as PM for a lot of companies I hear. I have to support the results/fall out of a lot of IT projects and it amazes me how much lack of testing or getting input from people that will use or support it during the planning and implementation phases. Then when someone speaks up about what a mess the roll out has been the PM and people involved with the project act like they had no clue what was happening or downplay the problems all for the sake of hitting some deadlines and analytics goals tied to their project. We have people that are application owners that dont know crap about their application so it seems more like someone had to be named the owner regardless if they actually know anything about it.

Not even going down the road of the problems some of the outsourcing that goes on too. Cheaper labor doesn't always equate to better results or having people with half the skills and abilities of the people that were laid off that they replaced.

This current project (which I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs) when they did the first mock I got an invite on Friday asking me if I was ready for Monday. I replied back "what is this?"
I had never been invited to a meeting and had no idea this was a thing. Not that I'm asking for more meetings but it would be nice if I invited to a meeting that was actually important.