How people change careers in their 30s?
Long story, short, my 14th year of teaching, and I've loved every bit up until the last few months, and starting to find that the enjoyment really is being sapped out of the profession. Extra admin jobs (ie inputting all behaviour incidents, even minor, on a daily basis, usually at 8.30pm after kids have gone to bed), being told 'how' to teach (ie have to follow crap lessons the Ed Dept have made that don't carter to all students), dealing with behaviour that I just have to shake my head at followed by dealing with parents who refuse to acknowledge their child could make a mistake, could go on. Wife has pulled me up a couple of times for snapping at my own kids over little things (I'm just 'kidded-out' by the end of the day). Just getting over it. The in-class stuff when I get to be myself in the way that I teach, build relationships and watch some kids grow is awesome. The rest, I feel done with. Debating whether to take some LSL for a re-fresh, or take it all and just not return.
Saw an ad for a job I felt I could do quite well, in a different field, but one I'm equally passionate about. A teaching degree clearly wasn't involved or needed, and the degree that was input as a 'desirable' I obviously don't have, but thought my passion for it could take me a long way. Wrote an application, but chickened out and didn't send it. Starting to get a bit of regret at not at least throwing my hat in the ring.
With a mortgage and two kids, re-studying for three-four years doesn't sound all that appealing when I feel I have skills that could be transferable. Just wanted to see if anyone else had changed industries and how they went about it.
Hey Pag, I've helped people do the same thing. I left a secure public service job to go contracting, which I've done for 23 years. I did have a mortgage at the time and purchased a property after a couple of years contracting. It's opened so many doors and opened my eyes to many various industries and the acquisition of many different skills I could never have imagined. It's seriously the best thing I ever did.
The one thing you should remember is that when someone puts an ad up on seek or whatever platform, they always want someone who can meet 100% of their needs. "Mr Ideal Applicant". If you meet 70-80%, throw your hat in the ring. What's the worst that can happen? Other people might only meet 50 or 60%! You just never know. If you don't get the gig, ask for feedback as to why.
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The worst thing you can do is not put in an application. Trust me, went through the same thing last year.
If you get the job, you don't have to take it. If you don't get the job, at least you know one way or the other.
The uncertainty of what could have been because you didn't have a crack is the biggest regret and can gnaw away at you every moment if you're unhappy in your current job.
Being in the same job for a decade, it doesn't hurt to have the practice of an application/interview etc even if nothing comes of it.
gadj makes a good point. Many jobs I haven't applied for because of 1 or 2 criteria I don't think I'd meet, and it's such a stupid way of thinking because sometimes employers will alter the role slightly to accommodate other strengths. All the time I see people getting jobs and you think how the hell did he/she get that job.