Life decision question...

5.0snake

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So, my current job is not my dream job by any means, although it has GREAT perks. 5 weeks vacation up front, decent benefits, excellent people to work with.

For my delema, I do not enjoy what I do, sit behind a desk and coordinate global shipments ex the USA. Basically a supply chain coordinator for Ocean Exports. I am the type of person that enjoys moving and shaking and helping others, obviously it sounds like I am in the wrong field.

I have intentions of returning to school (@ someone else's expense-via tuition assistance programs) for special education. If I was to currently change jobs it would reduce my current salary by about 25% (just received a 20% increase today which makes things a bit harder).

So in short, my question to you, would you take more money at a job that you do not enjoy or would you take a job that you enjoy with not as much money. Roughly a 20% difference.

Sorry for the long post but I really could use an un bias opinion!
 

01SVTSnake

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Right now, I would stick with the most income until the economy starts turning around. School is always an option, and won't just vanish with time, but it wont be cheap regardless
 

stlcap5

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Right now, I would stick with the most income until the economy starts turning around. School is always an option, and won't just vanish with time, but it wont be cheap regardless
I have to go with SVT on this one, since the economy does suck right now kinda just deal with it until it gets better and maybe save up some of that money or something idk lol
 

F8LBITEva

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I dont really enjoy my job either but Ive looked and nothing that I could do pays what im making right now. Im gonna try to make as much as I can for as long as I can until a good opportunity comes along or I hit the lotto! So I say make as much as you can while you can.
 

HURTNEM

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So in short, my question to you, would you take more money at a job that you do not enjoy or would you take a job that you enjoy with not as much money. Roughly a 20% difference.

You can't put a price tag on piece of mind! Getting up everyday and doing what you love is PRICELESS. Getting paid to do what you love is damn near cheating! If you're trying to change jobs without having the second job secured I'd say stay put. However, if you have the job you love locked in and there's no missing paychecks then I'd take it in a heartbeat. Money can buy a lot of things, but not "true" happiness. If the job you love will give you the salary that will pay your bills and take care of your obligations you'd be crazy (in my opinion) not to jump on it. Going to work hating what I do everyday for a few extra dollars isn't worth it UNLESS that's the only option I have.

Since you said 20% I'll bring dollars into play. If I had a choice to make 100K doing something I didn't enjoy or make 80K doing what I love, sign me up for the 80K. The enjoyment of loving what I do puts less stress on you, gives you job satisfaction and if the salary gives me enough money to pay all my bills I can't lose. I'm not sure what else there is to shoot for in a career. Just my thoughts!
 

Cookieman00x

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Does the place that you are working at now pay for you to go to school?

The problem I see is you want to go for special ed, and no employer is going to pay for special education classes since its probably not job related. At least thats how the last 2 companies I work for did..

My girfriend worked in special education class for 4 years as a teachers assistant making very little money while going for her masters in special education. She graduated over the summer and with her previous experience under her belt, landed a job in a very good school district working with my best friends girlfriend ( also a special ed. teacher) teaching autistic support.

If you have a passion for something, do it or else you may regret it later.
 

RussZTT

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I honestly don't know anyone that likes their job.
Actually my 2nd job I LOVE. Hoping to quit what im doing now in the next year to do the other FT. I would actually do it for free but can't turn down the nice pay I get with it. :rockon:
 

N2DAMYSTIC

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I'd try to hang in there to get yourself ahead financially. However, it's hard to put a price on happiness. My normal response would be love it or leave it but I realize there is a lot more to it.
 

FISHTAIL

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I'm with Rodney on this one. You spend so much of your life at work it would be a shame to hate what you do everyday. I actually enjoy my job, so I don't mind going in every morning, but I know lots of other people that aren't so fortunate. If you have a chance to leave and do something you'll love, but it'll cost you some pay, I say go for it. The money will come later.
 

mystic04

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Matt i have to go with the other so far ,but then again if you dislike it that much then go to the other job take the cut and go back to school if the other job is going to pay for it if not save,save then take off and finish school.
 

EBBS_03_Cobra

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Ugh.. I HATE my job with a passion, anymore. The manager was fired, and the owner just doesn't know what she's doing. I'm not saying I'm the best employee, but I get paid significantly less than others and do about 2-3 times as much work. I asked for a new position or a pay increase, and I was denied, as my owners comment was, "who will I get to do your job?" :bored: Tempting to say, "Not my ****ing problem, now is it??"

I can't afford to quit until I have a job to replace it, as I now have a truck payment to keep up on (have money saved, but would rather not tap into that if not needed).

Like others have said, keep your job if it's paying you. I have been hard pressed to find ANYTHING. I search almost every day for any job, and keep on applying, and I'm not finding anything (restaurants, sales, retail, stripper, valet, etc. I'm a college student). I was kinda relieved to hear co-workers say they can't find jobs either, cause now I know it's not just me (yeah, half the employees want to leave, but can't).
 

Red Poison

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Well, I currently work in the field you are trying to get into. I am a teacher and have been doing it for 7 years. The money isn't great by no means and if it wasn't for my investments in real estate, I wouldn't have much of what I have now.

Now as far as getting the job that you love, if teaching/helping students with special needs is your passion and you wouldn't feel like you are working while earning a living, then you should jump all over that! $$ is important but its definitely not everything. I truly love teaching... I didn't go to school for it but fell into it and have been doing it ever since. I want out now because I want more $$$! I have very expensive taste, and if working a job I may not love everyday is going to give me the toys that satisfy my every desire, then I'm ok with the dislike I'm sure comes along with everyones job. I went to school looking for a career, and I found that all I wanted was a paycheck. But thats me.

Now as far as getting into education, you don't need to go to school first and get your master's, they will give you the job as long as you have a degree. It can be a degree in underwater basket weaving... they don't care. The turnover rate and shortage of good teachers has been and always will be high unless they start paying those that prepare your and everyone elses offspring to be successful in this world. (We are truly paid pennies for what we do.) But back on topic, teaching in one of those fields that will give you the job without being "highly qualified" as you work towards getting qualified. They will also reimburse you for your grad classes - so you ultimately go to school for free, or at least for fractions of what you would pay on your own.

So, I would look into securing a position now rather than going back to school first. Then you'll be able to leave what you do now quicker... you don't have to wait 2 or 3 years, get a new degree before you start.

Let me know if you have any questions... I think I can steer you in the right directions of getting started. I've worked in 4 different schools, 3 different school districts and states. I'm still don't hold a full certificate in any area of teaching. I'm 2 classes away from getting it, but I just wanted you to see its not as hard as you think.
 

5.0snake

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Very interesting that to be a teacher you do not need a certificate. Maybe I am wrong.

Seems like I might need to clear a few things up.

First, I will not leave my job until I have another job to take as soon as I leave the one I dislike, that would be a stupid move.

Second, My current employer will not pay or help pay for school even if it was in relation to my work.

Third, Im not going to disclose my income, but, I would make close to what I do now by working a full time job in the education field (not class room teaching, but some kind of support position) and supplementing my income with a part time job (one I enjoy very much, took to help add some cash bc I just had my first child) and propelled me to the decision that I am going to make about working.

Fourth, I was offered a "full time" assistant baseball coaches job @ one of the Penn State branch campuses which will help suppliment my income, another passion of mine.

So all in all, I think I am going to be fine as far as income, the thing that needs to happen is get my interview secured and I'll be in like flint.

Thank you for all your help, advise and comments. All were great to read!
:banana:

Well, I currently work in the field you are trying to get into. I am a teacher and have been doing it for 7 years. The money isn't great by no means and if it wasn't for my investments in real estate, I wouldn't have much of what I have now.

Now as far as getting the job that you love, if teaching/helping students with special needs is your passion and you wouldn't feel like you are working while earning a living, then you should jump all over that! $$ is important but its definitely not everything. I truly love teaching... I didn't go to school for it but fell into it and have been doing it ever since. I want out now because I want more $$$! I have very expensive taste, and if working a job I may not love everyday is going to give me the toys that satisfy my every desire, then I'm ok with the dislike I'm sure comes along with everyones job. I went to school looking for a career, and I found that all I wanted was a paycheck. But thats me.

Now as far as getting into education, you don't need to go to school first and get your master's, they will give you the job as long as you have a degree. It can be a degree in underwater basket weaving... they don't care. The turnover rate and shortage of good teachers has been and always will be high unless they start paying those that prepare your and everyone elses offspring to be successful in this world. (We are truly paid pennies for what we do.) But back on topic, teaching in one of those fields that will give you the job without being "highly qualified" as you work towards getting qualified. They will also reimburse you for your grad classes - so you ultimately go to school for free, or at least for fractions of what you would pay on your own.

So, I would look into securing a position now rather than going back to school first. Then you'll be able to leave what you do now quicker... you don't have to wait 2 or 3 years, get a new degree before you start.

Let me know if you have any questions... I think I can steer you in the right directions of getting started. I've worked in 4 different schools, 3 different school districts and states. I'm still don't hold a full certificate in any area of teaching. I'm 2 classes away from getting it, but I just wanted you to see its not as hard as you think.
 

mystic04

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Matt congrations on the baby !!I didn't know.Last thing maybe if you coach baseball for penn state they will let you go to school for free.Most schools have something like that set up for people who work for them . In Pa. you do need a cert in order to teach as a full time regular teacher, as in Math ,english, history.
 

jbanach77

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as said before the economy is really bad atm. granted there is a big shortage of teachers in my area, baltimore, but there just is no monetary value of doing so in the pay check. but for the help of the children and the community it is by far a huge impact. at the same time possibly you could present your scenerio of moving and shaking to your current employer about a mobile type of position. visiting vendors and securing more groups to use your employer. i dunno if it would be a relations or sales job, but you would be impacting your employer and vendor at the same time. not to mention you would be constantly traveling and making deals to benifit both sides.

you have nothing to lose by presenting your case of asking.
 

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