The same old career issue

[spotty_dog]

It's starting to get to me. How did you handle translating your life across the chasm of a big long-distance move?

I've been working at a crappy dead-end job for three and a half years because it pays the bills and helps with tuition for DH. But now the reality of my situation is smacking me in the face. In about 5 months we will be moving, and I have a resume that won't get me anywhere I want to go, a college degree that is 5 years out of date, and a handful of half-hearted ideas for future education that are more or less viable depending on where the match sends us.

Is it correct to assume that most people (who didn't have kids at home to care for) either began applying for new jobs in the same field after the match, or else applied to begin or continue an educational pursuit?

The educational programs I'd be interested in will mostly require some pre-requisites or tests that I'd have to study for, and anyway their application deadlines tend to be in January, so I don't even know if I could enroll for the Fall. If I couldn't I guess I'd get another dead-end job and...I can see my resentment for the medical lifestyle growing all of a sudden.

I don't know why this just became real to me but I'd love some input about what the rest of y'all did about it. In the meantime I'm going to go scan some job classifieds in the top 3 or 4 cities we might be going to.

and

It is hard to keep a career going when you have these bizarre, artificial time breaks to contend with.

Something to keep in mind with degree or certificate programs -- what is the amount of time between finishing the program and potentially moving. If you have less than a year between the end of a program and moving, it can make things tricky for finding work. Not impossible or a reason to not pursue an educational interest, but something to consider.

[planet]

Big, big *sigh*

Alison,

This issue was actually part of what figured in to our going ahead and having children when we did. I chose to be a full time mom though, with little intention of returning to the 'formal' workplace. I don't know if you plan on returning to work after having children or even if you are still talking about having them during your dh's intern year. I don't know what kind of work you are looking for either, but it might be less stressful to wait until the match is over (like THAT isn't stressful enough, eh?) to start sending out the resume. Also, it does sound like you made the med school years a heck of a lot nicer financially (Boy, he'd better appreciate YOU) so maybe you could take the first year of his 3 or 4 committed years off and study for/apply to a program(s) you like or decide what next then?

[spotty_dog]

You've hit the nail on the head. Depending on the timeline, I might not even complete a degree program by the end of three years, let alone get any work experience in the field afterward. My genius idea *was* to have some babies and raise 'em during residency, then worry about pursuing a career and the related education once we settle in our permanent location.

But babies don't always come on schedule, and maybe intern year really ISN'T a good time to have them, and maybe my husband isn't as ready for them as I thought he was. So I need a workable plan.

I'm doing research as we speak for the school option. Finding programs, requirements, deadlines, fees, tuition costs for two or three institutions in two or three fields in each of three or four cities. Sigh. It's complicated, and expensive, and I wish I were more motivated to get the process underway -- or at least to whittle it down to one field of interest.

The work option just makes me want to puke. I can't do secretarial work for another three years. I just can't.

A good thing about residency as employment is that you get benefits, specifically health care, and that takes some pressure off of you to find a position that provides it. That might open up some other options for you?

I forgot to mention about degree programs -- I remember you have mentioned teaching certificate or degree in the past. Some of the teachers here can address this better but I think there can be "transfer" issues between states for teaching certificates. Sometimes you might have to take additional classes. (My college roomie had this happen when she moved a few states away).

[spotty_dog]

A good thing about residency as employment is that you get benefits, specifically health care, and that takes some pressure off of you to find a position that provides it. That might open up some other options for you?

Yeah, realizing that we could count on his employment for the moving expenses tax break, and for health insurance, was a HUGE load off of me. And I'm definitely considering "low level" positions if I do look for work -- I loved being a veterinary assistant, even for $9/hr and no bene's.

I forgot to mention about degree programs -- I remember you have mentioned teaching certificate or degree in the past. Some of the teachers here can address this better but I think there can be "transfer" issues between states for teaching certificates. Sometimes you might have to take additional classes. (My college roomie had this happen when she moved a few states away).

Hrm. Definitely a consideration, though it looks like there's not SO many hoops to jump through to get licensed in OR (which is where we'd like to end up). Also, as it currently stands each potential city offers a different field that I'd be interested in -- and most of the teacher education stuff that I am looking at is in Portland, so it wouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for letting me talk some of this out. I already feel a little better and more in control.

[Vishenka69]

Alison, I totally understand where you're coming from. I agree that once your DH starts working with a paycheck and benefits, it'll take a lot of stress off you in terms of being the sole provider. Since you're used to living on one income, you'll be able to take some time to find the right job or school for you without a big adjustment ( in terms of money). When I was looking for a new job, my DH stressed that I should make the final choice very carefully and that we can afford for me to be picky. His intern salary and my unemployment were still more than what we were used to. It took me 6 months to find my current job but I'm finally happy with my choice. Now I wish I also used the time off to study for GMAT or GRE, but oh well, can't fix that now.

Re: The same old career issue

The educational programs I'd be interested in will mostly require some pre-requisites or tests that I'd have to study for, and anyway their application deadlines tend to be in January, so I don't even know if I could enroll for the Fall. If I couldn't I guess I'd get another dead-end job and...I can see my resentment for the medical lifestyle growing all of a sudden.

Alison, I say take a month off and study for the tests and explore your options. I quit my job to move in with my fiance who is a M2 and decided on graduate school because the job market where we are was so weak. While it is tight financially, I am confident in my choice because I didn't want to be in a dead-end job just paying the bills. I can focus on myself again and think about my ideal job. And frankly, we're in New Orleans so the job market now is almost nonexistant, so I am really happy I choice school over employment at this point. Good luck!

[Gwendolyn]

*Sigh*

I can really relate. I don't have any great advice other than what has been said. I can offer some encouragement. Once you know where you are going, you can be more focused and feel more in control.

When we moved here I did not have a job yet. I was looking for work at day cares to earn income while being close to ds. Once I was on the ground, things got even better. I was able to find some work that was close enough to my career aspirations be worth it and flexible for ds.

I teach teacher prep classes at the university here. If you already have a degree, it should only take a year to get certified. If you already have an ed degree or certification, in most states you should be able to get a provisional certification while you fulfill the requirements. Oregon has fairly open reciprocal licensing.

Good luck! It will get better the more you know