Looking for a job

[brad1]

Don't you hate it?

I just filled out my 31st job application today.

 

I left my last teaching position because of the incredibly poor working conditions I was dealing with every day.

And the fact that I had a principal that did not know what she was doing. In my 27 years of teaching I have never dealt with so

much stress. My colleague, a 30 year old female teacher who had an adjoining room with me, actually had a stroke last year and was out for 2 months.

She was only 30! She was thin, with good blood pressure, and had no history in her family of strokes.

I just had to leave, or I was going to go crazy.

 

When you're 56 and looking for employment, it can be scary. So I am a little anxious. 31 applications, and I have only had 3 interviews. I have a 4th scheduled for Monday. And school starts in just a few weeks!

 

Anyway...thought I would see if anyone else is in the same boat.

And more importantly, I just want to ask for prayers from those who say them.

I am of the belief that this will help.

 

I do think I will find something. I always do.

Thanks everyone. :)

[LP Trad Pro II]

Don't you hate it?

I just filled out my 31st job application today.

 

I left my last teaching position because of the incredibly poor working conditions I was dealing with every day.

And the fact that I had a principal that did not know what she was doing. In my 27 years of teaching I have never dealt with so

much stress. My colleague, a 30 year old female teacher who had an adjoining room with me, actually had a stroke last year and was out for 2 months.

She was only 30! She was thin, with good blood pressure, and had no history in her family of strokes.

I just had to leave, or I was going to go crazy.

 

When you're 56 and looking for employment, it can be scary. So I am a little anxious. 31 applications, and I have only had 3 interviews. I have a 4th scheduled for Monday. And school starts in just a few weeks!

 

Anyway...thought I would see if anyone else is in the same boat.

And more importantly, I just want to ask for prayers from those who say them.

I am of the belief that this will help.

 

I do think I will find something. I always do.

Thanks everyone. :)

Yes I do, but my rule is I never leave a job before I have a new one.

[IanHenry]

Good luck with the job hunt Brad. I took early retirement from teaching a few years ago here in the U.K. I'd become totally disillusioned with the job, it seemed to me that the paperwork had become more important than the kids!

Is it the same in the U.S with the paperwork and what's the retirement age for teachers in the U.S?

 

 

Regards,

Ian

[brad1]

Good luck with the job hunt Brad. I took early retirement from teaching a few years ago here in the U.K. I'd become totally disillusioned with the job, it seemed to me that the paperwork had become more important than the kids!

Is it the same in the U.S with the paperwork and what's the retirement age for teachers in the U.S?

 

 

Regards,

Ian

Yes, absolutley! Paperwork.

I am a Special Education teacher, and we have a lot more paperwork than the average teacher.

A LOT more!

 

There really is no official retirement age. Here in California we have our own teacher retirement system in which we contribute to.

I could retire now if I wanted. However, I wouldn't be making very much each month. Not enough to live on.

So I have a few more years left. I will probably retire around 65 or so. It just depends, on a lot of other factors.

 

The paperwork gets worse each year also. When I started an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)for students consisted of about 10 pages.

Now it is no less than 30! And these are very important legal documents that teachers must have for each of their students on their case load. And this is often 28-30 kids.

And yeah, I do feel like the paperwork is more important than teaching the students. They don't seem to care what I do in the classroom.

But if I make a mistake on a document I can get in a lot of trouble.

Seems backward doesn't it? :unsure:

[brad1]

Yes I do, but my rule is I never leave a job before I have a new one.

That was my rule too.

But I now have a new rule.

 

Never leave a job until I have a new one, unless it is harming my physical and/or mental health.

Then I'm outa there. :)

[LP Trad Pro II]

That was my rule too.

But I now have a new rule.

 

Never leave a job until I have a new one, unless it is harming my physical and/or mental health.

Then I'm outa there. :)

I understand, but along with buying guitars I also like to eat, and have a roof over my head, and have a car to get me places. Believe me my wife before I got the job I have now, has heard her share of me b-itching about the jobs I've had since I retired from the Coast Guard in 2011.

[american cheez]

1st off, good luck with the job hunt. i always hated them. it's why i LOVE working out of a hiring hall. no more hunting for a job, and no more negotiating my wage/bennies.

i realize most teachers don't have that option, but it sure would be better for you if you did.

tbo, i sometimes wonder why people choose to be teachers at all these days. i sure couldn't put up with some of the nonsense that goes on in schools these days. especially considering the cost of the education that qualifies you to do it, and the lack of respect you often get from nearly every angle. when i was a schoolboy, i towed the line or my parents gave me what for. nowadays, kids don't hold up their end of it, and parents often blame the teacher.

[IanHenry]

AC, in my case most of the kids I taught were great, they get a lot of bad press, but I always found if you treat them with respect you get the same back. Like I said, the kids are ok, it's the idiots running the show who are the problem!

 

 

Ian

[Retired]

Yes, absolutley! Paperwork.

I am a Special Education teacher, and we have a lot more paperwork than the average teacher.

A LOT more!

 

There really is no official retirement age. Here in California we have our own teacher retirement system in which we contribute to.

I could retire now if I wanted. However, I wouldn't be making very much each month. Not enough to live on.

So I have a few more years left. I will probably retire around 65 or so. It just depends, on a lot of other factors.

 

The paperwork gets worse each year also. When I started an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)for students consisted of about 10 pages.

Now it is no less than 30! And these are very important legal documents that teachers must have for each of their students on their case load. And this is often 28-30 kids.

And yeah, I do feel like the paperwork is more important than teaching the students. They don't seem to care what I do in the classroom.

But if I make a mistake on a document I can get in a lot of trouble.

Seems backward doesn't it? :unsure:

Myself, I went through lots of jobs in the early years, places shutting down or just hated the management. Never left a job either till I already had another one lined up. When I heard about the Railroad, I stuck with that one till retirement. Anyway, my wife was a school too and she ended up in Special Ed. She loved it at first but hated it in the end. She went through 3 boss's and the last 2 never did their parts either. She ended up doing 3 peoples jobs every day and at times would come home crying. She took a buyout and retired with me at 60. Funny though, as much as she hated the job, when she left, several people noticed all the hard work she put in all those years and she won the Terri Schrager Foundation award. Thats $10,000.00 for those who might not know and then Deb about cried on stage at her retirement when she found out and they asked me to present to her a bouquet of flowers. Suddenly, it was all worth it.

[Rabs]

Ahh man don't...

 

I have been made redundant like 8 or 9 times in the last 20 years or so. I cant even remember any more.. So like every two years I was out of work.. Sometimes for a year.. It got to the point with me where looking for work made me feel physically sick.... The last time I was looking for work I was applying for jobs for about two years... Horrid. It generally just makes you feel unwanted and worthless.

 

I haven't even tried to look for work for like the last 5 or 6 years but may have to again soon.. I am absolutely dreading it :(

[Hall]

Take early retirement, start a band and become a wealthy star in 90 days! Seriously Brad,could you take early Cal. teacher retirement and try doing something else less stressful to you?

[brad1]

Take early retirement, start a band and become a wealthy star in 90 days! Seriously Brad,could you take early Cal. teacher retirement and try doing something else less stressful to you?

I could. And I have thought about it.

But I've been teaching for 27 years and don't know what else I could do and maintain the same lifestyle.

No chance of becoming a star of anything. Besides I never really wanted to be a rock star, really, in the first place.

Wealth and fame have never interested me that much.

Maybe that's why I became a teacher.

 

Things will completely change when my Mom is no longer around.

There is a trust for my brother and I that will go to us when my Mom passes.

My Dad passed 3 years ago and set this up a long time ago.

I believe there is probably enough money for me to retire right away if I wanted to.

My Mom is 82 next week. And I hope she lives to be 102!

So I gotta keep on working.

 

But that is a good suggestion. And something I may look into.

Perhaps I could find some part time teaching job, and supplement my income as a drummer

in a band on the side. :)

[tx-ogre]

I wish you the best of luck in your search Brad.

[Black Dog]

Well, I hope you find something that works for you. Few things suck more than going to a job you hate. The problem is, as you stated, the further along in your career the harder it is to change paths and replace your current income,

 

Good luck!

['Scales]

"Have the tragedies of our times become more, or have our forbearance levels dropped more?" SSM.

Great question IMO.

 

Bless those who give their energies to assisting special needs kids.

[Big Bill]

Myself, I went through lots of jobs in the early years, places shutting down or just hated the management. Never left a job either till I already had another one lined up. When I heard about the Railroad, I stuck with that one till retirement. Anyway, my wife was a school too and she ended up in Special Ed. She loved it at first but hated it in the end. She went through 3 boss's and the last 2 never did their parts either. She ended up doing 3 peoples jobs every day and at times would come home crying. She took a buyout and retired with me at 60. Funny though, as much as she hated the job, when she left, several people noticed all the hard work she put in all those years and she won the Terri Schrager Foundation award. Thats $10,000.00 for those who might not know and then Deb about cried on stage at her retirement when she found out and they asked me to present to her a bouquet of flowers. Suddenly, it was all worth it.

 

My youngest boy has autism and goes to a special ed school. I see first hand what those teachers go through and I know I could never do what they do. Takes a very special and talented person to teach those kids. God bless your wife, she earned that award.

[badbluesplayer]

God bless anybody who's a teacher. [thumbup]

[jvi]

stop worrying and think how lucky you are to have something to fall back on-many dont-also California needs needs needs fire fighters and more every day or, Canada needs teachers....

[Cougar]

...In my 27 years of teaching...

 

Anybody who's been teaching for 27 years has my utmost respect and best wishes for a new enjoyable position!

 

When you're 56 and looking for employment, it can be scary.....

Been there, and I sent out a lot more than 31 resumes. After taking a couple of lousy jobs that I up and quit before too long, I interviewed for a legal assistant position with this attorney at a small law office. He said "You've probably seen some age discrimination." Uh, yeah. Apparently I was the only applicant who could spell. He took a chance and hired me. I worked there about 10 years before retiring a couple weeks ago. He begged me to stay. But he understood since he was my same age. I only worked on a few of the total cases at any one time, and I enjoyed writing motions and oppositions, "arguing" with the bad guys. But the boss has to manage all of the cases. Talk about stress. I don't know how he does it.

 

Anyway... best thoughts for ya, Brad. With your experience, something will be turning up.

[fortyearspickn]

When our kids were in Elementary and Middle school - our circle of friends included 3 or 4 teachers. They all were in agreement about a couple of things. They saw a dramatic change in the values and work ethics of kids coming to them. The kids were becoming outrageously unruly. Second, the paperwork was mounting - as you noted. Third, and worst. Administrators were forcing them to 'pass' kids who were not showing basic skills. In effect, they not only had to administer tests - they then had to justify giving kids the grades they earned on those tests if the kids failed. Sort of the opposite of 'leave no child behind'.

And then, of course, came The New Math. It seems to have all started going downhill when the US Department of Education inserted themselves in the State Educational systems by using taxpayer money.

As far as the job search - don't worry, There will be a scramble in a couple of weeks as it settles down and you'll find something.

I picked a thankless career (Hospital Finance) and was laid off 4 times in my 38 years. Each time I found something better. You will too!

[brad1]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has posted here. Thanks for

all the positive and nice things you have written.

It really does help me feel a little better! :)

 

I'll keep you guys posted on when I get a new job. :)

[kidblast]

I am not in the same boat, but I could be,, any day.. At 62,, what are my chances? I'm an IT specialist, I've done so many things, and reinvented myself so many times, I can even tell you where I've been or what I've done at any given point over the last 40+ years..

 

so now, at 62.. right.. good luck.. They are hiring very much junior people.. and No they don't know wtf they are doing, but they don't want to pay some dork like me what I'm worth in the open market to do what I do... Keep the fires burning and make sure we're looking ahead, and covered for any contingency, know every thing, have all the answers.... and on and on and on.

 

 

but nothing lasts forever and eventually time to move on.. I believe that eventually all things DO work out..

 

it sometimes takes patience, and time and faith..

 

you'll be ok.. trust, have faith.

[fortyearspickn]

I am not in the same boat, but I could be,, any day.. At 62,, what are my chances? I'm an IT specialist, I've done so many things, and reinvented myself so many times, I can even tell you where I've been or what I've done at any given point over the last 40+ years..

 

so now, at 62.. right.. good luck.. They are hiring very much junior people.. and No they don't know wtf they are doing, but they don't want to pay some dork like me what I'm worth in the open market to do what I do... Keep the fires burning and make sure we're looking ahead, and covered for any contingency, know every thing, have all the answers.... and on and on and on.

 

 

but nothing lasts forever and eventually time to move on.. I believe that eventually all things DO work out..

 

it sometimes takes patience, and time and faith..

 

you'll be ok.. trust, have faith.

 

I feel your pain. They keep us around to train the new fodder. Senior management assumes what you learn in 40 years can be taught in 40 hours. Younger workers, right out of school, have been led to believe that they should be promoted in their first year. When you tell them it aint happening - they decide you are holding them back. the bold ones go above your head to complain. I was 65 when I retired. When I woke up the next morning, I felt like I was 50 again.

[01GT eibach]

The thing about looking for a job is that the job you will get will feel like it just dropped out of the sky when nothing else was happening. I have been there, too, and I get it. One day, things are bleak as can be. The next day, you're deciding how much to allocate in the company's 401k. Hang in there!

[Retired]

Senior management assumes what you learn in 40 years can be taught in 40 hours. I was 65 when I retired. When I woke up the next morning, I felt like I was 50 again.

Isn't that the truth. It took us about 20 years to learn all we learned, theres thousands of stuff and management at the BN thought we could teach it all to apprentices in 3 months. Then they released them on their own. Then wrote them up every time they screwed up. I felt so thrilled the day I retired at 60, full pension and don't miss it. Less then a year the body seemed to heal from all the stuff we went through and I went back to others retirement parties. The comments the retirees get, "Wow: You look so much younger."

 

 

Good luck on the next job hunt Brad.