View Full Version : Whoo-hoo... Leave or Sit it out? Family discussions..
As we all know, I am currently working in a field that I was not "schooled" for. Although for some reason I can do (backed up by supervisors recognitions and a few dinky "awards") other peoples' jobs here better than them... Anyways, I recently got a call to go to two interviews for two seperate jobs in my field that I have degrees for.
So, to stay or to go?
Regardless, I'll have to pray about it. But here's my delimma:
I am married, my wife's whole adulthood is established along with some great friends here. If we move, both of us are going to an unknown area.
Finances... we don't have them. The move would literally break us until my first paycheck. We would both be leaving "decent" jobs. I won't know the payscale they may offer until I actually sit down with them...
I am on track to get on a salaried/benefits position with my current job.
My current job is SOOOOO much easier than a teaching job with what will be a comparable salary and fewer hours. (A band director, in case you didn't know, will work a constant 60-80 hours a week for the full academic year, but only gets paid for 40. It just comes with the job. Yes they get unpaid summers, but they earn the time off. Please support your local Arts teachers.)
There are other things, such as the playing opportunites I've established here even though they are non paying, etc...
So you're thoughts. If you're family was going to move?...
Is the bottom line: How much money will they offer?
Just wanted to get some of your thoughts, thanks folks.
Sister, cousin, and aunt are teachers...so here it goes with my $0.03
Unless it is full tenure at a Ivy League university, they won't pay you enough to put up with the political bullshit you'll have to deal with. You will have to move based on a love of teaching.
Entry level music teacher, new tenure? $40k-$45k is the median for all teachers. I'd have to guess unless there is some backend to this (e.g. special district financing for some reason) then $40k would be a top-end. Music programs are the first thing being cut these days....so.....
You would be better off taking a ICE job in Japan, in all honesty. Pay is about the same or more, and you'd actually get something out of it besides the paycheck.
Music programs are the first thing being cut these days....so.....
Rgr, I know all about the salary schedules and etc for teachers. As I do love music and teaching, the salary isn't the "biggest" consideration I have. Your quote above is a major concern, as most teachers are on a contract and (depending on state) the probationary first year is an "at-will" position.... I don't know, thoughts, thoughts...
Any other people?
I feel like I want to stay here cause it'd be the "safe" move... but if I don't go, I feel like I may lose an open door and an opportunity to be involved with my passion (outside of firearms).
If finances end up being ~equal go with what you love. Being happy with your work will give you dividends that are priceless in your general well being and life. That's what I hear at least...lol
jerrymrc
07-08-2010, 15:11
Questions. Is the field your in now provide long term benefits and retirement? I know most school jobs provide this. Do you see yourself being able to put up with the grind to get there.
Not knowing the pot you may jump into would make me very uneasy in today's world. Not having the finances to back you up should this be the job from hell......
It better be a big pay raise with an equal or lower cost of living to make the jump. It also sounds like there will be no support system in your new location as well.
Just some things to think about. I have thought about moving and taking a large paying job when I retire for a few years and in my field I will be able to do that but not until the permanent $$$ start coming.
ChunkyMonkey
07-08-2010, 15:18
I am on track to get on a salaried/benefits position with my current job.
Backed by....
I am married, my wife's whole adulthood is established along with some great friends here. If we move, both of us are going to an unknown area.
Should give you the answer. Follow the force, luke..err bear.
Lol,... Just admit it. You don't want me to leave...
MB888, thxs for making me feel stupid, but I do appreciate it.
JerryMrC. - Thanks, points taken.
iamhunter
07-08-2010, 15:37
Just throwing this out there bear,
but no-one who was ever truly successful and/or happy go that way by "playing it safe".
A safe life is often a mediocre one.
ChunkyMonkey
07-08-2010, 15:37
Lol,... Just admit it. You don't want me to leave...
MB888, thxs for making me feel stupid, but I do appreciate it.
JerryMrC. - Thanks, points taken.
I dont mean to make anyone feel stupid. Going into the unknown and being broke are two worst case scenario that I would avoid.
hurley842002
07-08-2010, 15:51
Going into the unknown and being broke are two worst case scenario that I would avoid.
^^^^ This. On the flip side however, knowing what most school districts and teachers have come to these days, every young person deserves to have a teacher that isn't a Liberal nut job (I have to assume you aren't, lol), and has a passion for firearms.
[Beer]
Just throwing this out there bear,
but no-one who was ever truly successful and/or happy go that way by "playing it safe".
A safe life is often a mediocre one.
True... But playing it would've been not getting married. I love my marriage, so I do take risks every now and then. But in this case, as much as I've love to go for it, I currently feel... like it would be stupid to "go for my dreams".
I dont mean to make anyone feel stupid. Going into the unknown and being broke are two worst case scenario that I would avoid.
Well, I have the broke part down pretty well, HAHA.
On the flip side however, knowing what most school districts and teachers have come to these days, every young person deserves to have a teacher that isn't a Liberal nut job (I have to assume you aren't, lol), and has a passion for firearms.
I hope I'm not a liberal nut job... and I do like my guns!
SA Friday
07-08-2010, 16:02
Sometimes it's easier to strip away all the garbage and look at the issue as black and white as possible. The way I see it, you have only two choices: Big risk for big reward, and little to no risk for stability.
So, the real question is; are you and your wife willing to shoulder the risk? That's a simple yes or no, and you can go from there.
Byte Stryke
07-08-2010, 16:04
There are allot of very good points here with allot of good advice.
One problem,
That's THEIR lives, this is yours.
Money, no money, tenure no tenure. none of these things will bring you happiness.
You do what your heart tells you to do.
Your friends will be here to back you up.
Best wishes.
StagLefty
07-08-2010, 16:58
There are allot of very good points here with allot of good advice.
One problem,
That's THEIR lives, this is yours.
Money, no money, tenure no tenure. none of these things will bring you happiness.
You do what your heart tells you to do.
Your friends will be here to back you up.
Best wishes.
I second this one ^
Backed by....
Should give you the answer. Follow the force, luke..err bear.
what he said!
you are on track here, you can do your music stuff on the side, maybe eventually they will turn into paying gigs for some decent money on the side. you will have a happier misses as the home, more stability here and work less for the same money.
I vote STAY
bellavite1
07-08-2010, 18:02
I have met some male pornstars (besides female ones, of course) at the AVN in Vegas.
They were so burned out and tired of their job...
The point being, even the best and more fun job in the end ends up being ...a job.
A job should only be what you need to do to get the means to do what you really like, on your own terms and schedule.
Just my two...
Great-Kazoo
07-08-2010, 19:06
good news is 2 openings for what you wanted to be.
Bad news. When the budget AXE falls, a band teacher is cut quicker than foreskin at a Bris'.
good friend was the school's band teacher, before the official notice of budget cuts was made public, he was unemployed. First round cuts He went part time.
...You will have a happier misses as the home, more stability here...I vote STAY
Happy Woman is the forefront of my thoughts... good point.
I have met some male pornstars...
AHAHAHAH!!! Great way to open up!! HAHAH. [Beer]
good news is 2 openings for what you wanted to be.
Bad news. When the budget AXE falls, a band teacher is cut quicker than foreskin at a Bris'.
Rgr, I just wish society valued what I can do... but we can't have everything!
So, I'm going to call teh folks and submit my resume, etc. We'll see what happens, I can always decline right?
iamhunter
07-09-2010, 10:37
I have met some male pornstars (besides female ones, of course) at the AVN in Vegas.
They were so burned out and tired of their job...
The point being, even the best and more fun job in the end ends up being ...a job.
A job should only be what you need to do to get the means to do what you really like, on your own terms and schedule.
Just my two...
Yah, I call BS. I've known plenty of people, myself included, who love their jobs and look forward to working at them everyday.
I wouldn't dream being a porn star would be even REMOTELY fulfilling.
And if you're the kind of person who thinks that would be the "best and most fun job", then you probably have some bigger things out of whack than just an unhappy job situation.
Seamonkey
07-09-2010, 23:21
BigBear,
My vote is for you to follow your passion as long as you can pay the bills and the wife is happy.
Colorado Luckydog
07-10-2010, 06:28
If I could get my family out of this metroplex, I'd be gone.
If it's not absolutely necessary, don't incur the cost of a move and/or take on the task of your wife having to find another job.
Stay where you're at and do what it takes to pay off your debts as fast as possible.
BuffCyclist
07-10-2010, 09:59
I was recently in a similar situation. I graduated from college May of 2009 and had been looking for work ever since, sending out 3-5 applications per day. I got an interview at an observatory here in New Mexico, the same one that I actually did some research at a few years back. I love Colorado and wish I was still living there, and at the same time I was about to be offered the job at a company in Denver that I would have been making twice what I am now easily, so I could still be living in Colorado. But looking back, I'm glad I didn't pass up this opportunity to work in my field.
In less than 1 weeks time from being given the full job offer down here, I found a house and moved everything. I just finished my 4th full week on the job and will be getting my FIRST paycheck on Tuesday/Wednesday (they have a military style pay system, 1st and 15th no matter what). I haven't had money to do anything, one of my credit cards is maxed out and I have maybe $50 in the bank. Having never missed a credit card payment in my 6 years of having CC's, I'm torturing myself about how to come up with the money quickly. I budget very well naturally, but know that with the steady income I'll be able to pay everything off soon.
However, even though I don't have benefits yet (hired on as a temp because two of us were hired with the same job posting) I was guaranteed the upgrade to permanent employee status in September by the director of the observatory. That still wasn't enough to dissuade me from taking the job.
But, even without benefits, even without having money in my pocket at the moment, even without friends down here and living in a town of 750 people, I absolutely LOVE my life. I live at 9000 feet, drive 30 minutes through the mountains daily to get to work and I see elk, deer, turkeys and black bears almost daily. Do I miss my friends in Colorado? Yes! Would I give up my job, in my dream field, at the most famous observatory in the world, for anything? HELL NO!
I love what I do so much that I still can't believe they're paying me to do what I do. THAT is what it is all about! If you can manage a month or two with little cash flow, getting back on your feet, it will be worth it assuming you KNOW that it is the field you want to be in.
The unknown is scary, especially moving away from the life you've built in Colorado. And trust me, I know. In the end though, it's what your heart tells you, what the response to your prayers tells you, and last but not least, it's what your family says to you.
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