Career changers: Will more schooling help? (apply, degrees, application, applications)

[TeaJay]

I am a teacher with 14 years experience. I am planning to leave after the next school year. (If I don't leave, I will probably be fired, but that's another tale. But I am looking at this as a necessity, even though it was something I thought I wanted to do anyway.)

My question is: I don't know what I am qualified for. Teaching is the only "real" job I've ever had as I began right out of grad school at 24. I am thinking about starting an associates' degree in marketing or communications. Would this benefit me? I feel like I am qualified for nothing. I have two masters' degrees, both education-related and know I will get excellent references from my prinicipal and asst. principal and have good evaluations. But that's about all I have.

[skeet09]

An associate's degree in marketing or communications would be like a step back. If you want to go into those fields, it's best to do a graduate certificate of some kind in that field.
You could also work for a company like this ETS Home that is education related but not working directly with the students.

[MrRational]

the secret about actually being hired is having "skill sets"
ideally several of them and some ability to cross apply the hard skills
along with the "human engineering" aspect too

single tracking and similar specialization is all well and good
(whether it's from experience of schooling)
but if it doesn't include the practical applications of it as well...
the recruiter or boss will keep looking for that

there are just too many people with skills and abilities to do X
to justify the time and expense needed to teach or train a noob to do X

you might be able to gain that exposure to learn X once in place
but to be hired? you have to show that you can do W first

[jasper12]

No, don't go back to school. Re-market yourself...you have a great skill set, you could do customer service, you may start at a lower rate of pay, to get in...but with your education, and experience, you will move up fast, to supervising, or training...or you could be an admin assistant...there are lots of things you can do...

[tigger865]

Look for corporate training positions. They will look for individuals with teaching experience. Bonus will be you will be teaching adults who actually want to learn.

[Hemlock140]

Marketing and communications are jobs that were the first to suffer layoffs back in 2008 or so, and will likely be the last to recover. Not a good chioce for you. Ask and recent college graduate with a bachelor
or advanced degree in either.

While it's an employer's market, related experience is far more important than another degree, especially if only an AA. I still feel like teachers are overworked and underpaid, and that's why many of them have a second job. The other advantage to that 2nd job besides the $ is getting other experience. Teacing doesn't necesarily translate to corporate training, where knowledge of the business, and skills in writing procedures and manuals, preparing Powerpoint presentations or even video production are needed.

Sorry I can't be more encouraging but it's tough out there these days.

[iamrollinglow]

Career changers: Will more schooling help?

Not necessarily, especially in today's economic conditions.

I know too many people who returned to school in the past year thinking that it will add to their skill set or look better on their resume. Each person I know who has returned to school tells me that their classes are full of others who have also returned to school thinking the same thing. What a lot of people don't understand is that with all these people returning to school at the same time, it only over saturates the workforce and at the same time, they will be competing with one another after they gained their newly acquired skills.

[mermaid825]

How about getting certified in a specialized field of education (I'm assuming you're not already)-- literacy specialist, ESL, special ed, etc..?

[Guineas]

When I was in medical school there were several former teachers in my class. One was Teach for America I think. They were in their late 20s and early 30s, and had families.

If you think you're too old for medical school (I'm assuming so since you are 38), PA (physician assistant) school is always a good option for the career changer. Instead of at least 7 years of school and residency training for an MD, a PA can start earning a good paycheck ($70-80k) with just 3 years of schooling since they don't do a residency. And unlike nursing, there are fewer people going into the field since it's pretty rigorous (you take medical school classes as a PA).

Don't do an associates degree. That's a waste of your time and money.

[jasper12]

I went from education to healthcare without any problems, I did not even need to get another degree. Something to think about...start low in the totem pole in a hospital, doing admin work, get noticed...and work your way up.