Alright....Mutt's had enough crap.....Serious Career Advice Requested

[Muttling]

Greetings all,

Those who know me will know that I've been job hopping for the last 2 years (not out of choice.) I'm currently employed by the City of Nashville and they're talking budget cuts/ lay offs. I'm the new kid on the block and will be one of the first on the chopping block. I'm really sick of this game.


I'm looking to make a major career jump, but don't know what's required. My first thought is going back to school and becoming a high school science teacher. I've got a heck of a strong background in engineering for it, but I want to know what would be required to make the jump over to education. How much class room time are we talking about?


I'd LOVE to continue the technical side of what I've done for 15 years, but the business is SOOOOOOO freaking ugly and it just keeps gettng worse. I want to do something I like and not have to worry about proffit margins.

[Pernelf]

I know in Texas they have emergency certification for teaching. You can teach while working on the actual certificate. (At least that's what my neighbor who worked for the school district said)

[jgoodrich71]

yeah, the teacher thing is always attractive. Check around, many states are so short on teachers, they will hire someone like you to teach math or science, and pay for you to go back to get your teaching certificate.

On another note, I know my business has slowed a bit lately, but I am being asked by others if I know anyone looking for a job in the environmental side. Are you looking to get out of this, and try something else?

[VoidRaven]

I know your pain Mutt. I sort of delivered an ultimatum to my employer today....find some way to advance/promote me or I'm leaving at the first offer I get.

Well, ok, it wasn't said like that....but that is what was implied.

You could consider teaching college and work on getting your Ed degree while doing that. Heck, you could probably be a TA (teaching assistant) and get PAID to go back to school and not have to pay for the schooling. Not a bad deal eh? Look into it.

[dinoman]

My first thought if you're still not quite sure if you'd like to go into teaching or not, and/or not sure what kind of work is involved maybe you could talk to some local HS science teachers and see if you can sit in for a few days. I know of several teachers that always jumped at the chance to have somebody sit in and help with some of the course work.

[The Grim Reefer]

Make sure you can afford what will probably be a pay cut before you decide

[dc]

Well your still pretty young, it might be rewarding for you. I think this is something Kahuna Tuna did, he likes it maybe he'll jump in.

[Sk8r]

Computers can pay well, in some areas.
A teaching certificate varies according to the state, but is about 20 hours...and a great deal of tolerance. It's no way to get rich quick. Have you thought about teaching at a junior college, if your degree is above a bachelors'? I used to teach a few hours at the local jr college with an MA. If you have a special skill this can work. You might even teach at a technical institute without a certificate---which mostly certifies you know teenagers.
A technical company of some sort that wants somebody on THEIR staff that's worked on the 'city' side of things. etc.

[Muttling]

I appreciate all the advices I've been given. We've got the full spectrum and it includes a man who's in my profession.


I'm leaning heavily towards getting the crap outa of this field and doing teaching, but the question of money is a serious issue. All of the items have been noted above and I do appreciate the input. I don't knoow where I'm going to wind up, but I will wind up somewhere.......sigh




Pray for me.

[mfp1016]

I suggest finding a job with a municipality. Do you have a PE? I myself am the region engineer for the natural gas co in socal. It is a very relaxed position.

[Kahuna Tuna]

Howdy Mutt, just about two years ago I decided to make a huge change in my life and go into teaching. I had a lot of different jobs and some of them paid pretty well but at some point in each one of them I came to realize it just wasn't very personally rewarding. My wife is a long time teacher and I was always envious of the pride and satisfaction that she felt from being a positive influence in the lives of children. I guess the main thing for me was that most folks measure success in terms of money, advancements, prestige, ect. and thats not a bad thing but it was never what I was all about. I know that at the end of one's life people often ask themselves if they made a difference. Good teachers don't even have to ask themselves that question, they touch lives on a daily basis.

So I decided to go for it. I'm an old fart but that really isn't a hinderence in this profession, in fact it has some great advantages in that you can really give kids some very unique insight they simply cant get from a 22 year old fresh out of college. I teach high school history and coach soccer and I am having the time of my life. The job isn't easy, in fact its the hardest thing I have ever done but the rewards are just tremendous. I just had a mother of one of my kids call me the other day and tell me what a positive influence I am having in her son's life. Its moments like those that make all of the work and hassles of the job worth it.

I just had a conservation with another parent who stated that she couldn't ever be a teacher because she would be dealing with kids who haven't been raised with the same morals and ethics and had little respect for anyone else. I told her it was those kinds of kids that I enjoy working with the most because I could possibly be the only real positive force in their lives and could be the one person who can really make a difference to them.

Teaching isn't for everyone. The pay is pretty average at best, the amount of time off seems attractive until you realize you spend most of your holidays getting caught up and the Summer's getting ready for the time when school starts again, but if you love kids there isn't a better profession in the universe.

I would advise you to look into a college with a great teaching credential program and talk to them. Each states requirements are different and it is definately easier in some states than in others. I found a great program that had me up and running in about 10 months and I was able to keep working for all but the last 14 weeks (student teaching). I even found grant money that is going to pay off my college loans as long as I stay in the profession for a few years. This has been the best decision I have ever made professionally and now is an excellent time to go into teaching since most areas are projecting a pretty significant teacher shortage in the next decade or so. For what its worth I think you would make an excellent teacher, a sick sense of humor goes a long way in the classroom.

[The Grim Reefer]

All hail the Tuna, You're alright my friend.

Mutt, don't know what you level of experience or education is but trade school or votech schools (if they have them in Tennessee) might be an option as far as teaching goes where you wouldn't have to go back to school yourself.

[aLittletank]

Originally posted by Muttling
I want to do something I like and not have to worry about proffit margins.

we are always looking for new recruits

[JayS]

I don't know if any of your technical skills would transfer to the oil and gas market. We as a industry are having a huge shortage of people from engineers to acountants. Sign on bonuses and/or stock options are the norn here now. But you probably don't want to make a move to Houston.

[kfisc]

Can I make a plug for becoming a therapist? It's extremely rewarding- I work with kids and families at really nice CT clinic, doing substance abuse and trauma work; all sorts of things in between- among the many upsides is it just gets more amazing every day seeing people turn their lives around; it does take time though, about 3-4 years post master's to get licensed in most states, but man! That time flew past.

In any event, prayers and good luck to you- it gets better!!!

[uscgbeachbum]

Mutt...I'm a coastal engineer for Applied Technology and Mgmt. While most of our income is from waterside projects we do a lot of environmental and civil engineering. Take a look at my company's website www.appliedtm.com and let me know if it interests you. You can find the employment opportunities section here http://www.appliedtm.com/careers/openings.htm It will obviously mean relocating, but it may just be the change you are looking for. PM me if you are interested and we can discuss.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

No, I want to hire him!

But you're basically saying you're not interested in civil/environmental consulting, right?

[Sloth]

I'm not out to burst bubbles or anything, but you know that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. You have to take that into consideration. Teachers deal with a LOT of crap, from angry parents to insane office politics. My parents were both elementary school teachers and my mom quit after 30 years because of the stress. Granted, her school was in a bad part of town and getting worse through the years.

[Kahuna Tuna]

Teachers deal with a LOT of crap, from angry parents to insane office politics.

Very true. I have found they if you let angry parents vent you can eliminate many of these kinds of problems but as we speak I'm afraid I'm on a collision course with a parent. Politics is bad everywhere and education is no exception, I just keep my head down and my mouth shut and find joy in my students.

My parents were both elementary school teachers and my mom quit after 30 years because of the stress.

One of the best things about going into this profession as an older person is the fact I can retire after 20 years, I think 30 years or more is an awfully long time to do anything.

[GSMguy]

if you teach at a private school you wont need a teaching certificate.

[Altpers0na]

i always thought that the foremost requirement for being a high school teacher was a psychotic break..

once you get that out of the way, im sure it can be highly rewarding.

[VoidRaven]

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
But you're basically saying you're not interested in civil/environmental consulting, right?

I wouldn't mind consulting! But I'm not an engineer or computer genius. But I can navigate governments!

[Muttling]

I'm pretty much over the consulting thing. I've tried getting in with municipalities, but the problem is that my real expertise is in environmental clean up and not utilities. I've been working municiple for almost a year now and I like the technical side, but my skills are more mid level than senior and they don't have a lot of patience with that aspect.

I greatly appreciate all the offers for help in landing a job, but moving is not an option as I'm not leaving my son.

Tennessee has an alternate licensing program that would allow me to get licensed pretty quickly and I've talked to a principle nearby who gave me a lot of good insight. He suggested doing some substitute teaching and some student teaching (after I get into a program) as quickly as possible so I can get a feel for the job. The opportunities sound pretty promissing, we'll see.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I can't blame you for wanting out of the consulting world one single bit. If teaching paid three times what it typically does, there's no question in my mind that I'd make the same jump you're considering. IMHO it is an occupation that can be extremely rewarding on the personal level. Instead of spending your time at a desk looking at drawings of sewer pipes, you'll be changing the lives of young kids. You'll get summers off and tons of built-in vacation time each year, plus typically very good retirement pensions.

Subbing is a wonderful way to break into the world - besides seeing if you like it, it'll give you some insight into what the schools in your area are like. It'll also get those schools used to you, so when your resume crosses their desk for a job opening, they'll recognize your name.

I can also anecdotally provide evidence to suggest that TN is hurting for teachers. At all the teaching job conferences here in NY, there are ALWAYS tons of recruiters from TN trying to talk recent grads into moving down there.

[hogpark7430]

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