Leaving the next year is my life up to a boneyard poll

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

As I’ve discussed a little bit year I just graduated from UConn with my MA in Education Leadership and have been pursuing school administration opportunities this summer.
After about 15 rejections I was finally offered a position!
…50 minutes away
…for $15k less than my teacher pay for the upcoming year
Things to consider…
-Wife and I just bought a house so relocation is not in the cards.
-House was top of budget and cutting the pay that much would make things very very tight …perhaps…
-this position is in a private school so I wouldn’t be paying union dues or contributing to the pension fund which together take a big chunk of my check each week. Without seeing a check from this new place my guess is my take home may be about the same.
-me being on the road for 2 hours a day is not ideal for my wife or toddler.
-this job would likely be just for a year to have an administrative position on my resume.

 

[LIuconn]

Which path puts you on a more lucrative trajectory in 2-5 years?

 

[HooperScooper]

To further your career many times you have to make some sacrifices. For only a year you can handle those sacrifices. Hopefully it's just a step up the ladder for a year and you have something better next year.

 

[husky429]

CT retirement board is 8.25% of your salary. What are your union dues? Should be able to figure out your take home pay.

With your wife's income you should be able to look at state/federal income brackets and check itout.

Consider talking to your advisor about how much a year in this would help your job prospects next year? I think he's on vacation though until next week, lol.

 

[UofCT]

As I’ve discussed a little bit year I just graduated from UConn with my MA in Education Leadership and have been pursuing school administration opportunities this summer.
After about 15 rejections I was finally offered a position!
…50 minutes away
…for $15k less than my teacher pay for the upcoming year
Things to consider…
-Wife and I just bought a house so relocation is not in the cards.
-House was top of budget and cutting the pay that much would make things very very tight …perhaps…
-this position is in a private school so I wouldn’t be paying union dues or contributing to the pension fund which together take a big chunk of my check each week. Without seeing a check from this new place my guess is my take home may be about the same.
-me being on the road for 2 hours a day is not ideal for my wife or toddler.
-this job would likely be just for a year to have an administrative position on my resume.

A 50-minute commute is not bad. Living in Stamford and commuting to NYC I would pray for a 50-min commute.

$15K is tough but perhaps you could make it up over the summer when school is out of session. Side hustles

 

[krinklecut]

You're not paying union dues but you won't be in a union. You won't be paying into a pension but you won't get a pension.

 

[TRest]

A 50-minute commute is not bad. Living in Stamford and commuting to NYC I would pray for a 50-min commute.

$15K is tough but perhaps you could make it up over the summer when school is out of session. Side hustles

Consider if the 50 minute commute is at all times, during rush hour, is it highway only, etc. Some commutes can double based on circumstances.

 

[Get a Job]

I would give up many thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours per day with my toddler. Just my 2 cents, as everyone's situation is different.

 

[CL82]

Have you looked into the backgrounds of people who currently occupy the positions that you want? Did any of them start out in a private school? Do you have any common acquaintances who can make an introduction so you can get their sense of the value of the position you were looking at?

What happened to the guy before you? If he left for another job where did he go? Any common acquaintances with him?

If you decide that this position isn’t worth a pay cut, or at least as big a pay cut, don’t turn it down, counter offer. Express your interest and enthusiasm in the opportunity but explain that the numbers don’t work for you. If they like you, ther could be movement.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Consider if the 50 minute commute is at all times, during rush hour, is it highway only, etc. Some commutes can double based on circumstances.

44 to the quiet corner. I’ll be the only person the road

 

[CL82]

I would give up many thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours per day with my toddler. Just my 2 cents, as everyone's situation is different.

It’s great that you understand that now. Most people don’t figure it out until their kids have graduated from college.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

How far away is your teaching position?

 

[TheChamps990411]

I would give up many thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours per day with my toddler. Just my 2 cents, as everyone's situation is different.

Id give up thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours away from my toddler

 

[Huskygrad88]

Have you looked into the backgrounds of people who currently occupy the positions that you want? Did any of them start out in a private school? Do you have any common acquaintances who can make an introduction so you can get their sense of the value of the position you were looking at?

What happened to the guy before you? If he left for another job where did he go? Any common acquaintances with him?

If you decide that this position isn’t worth a pay cut, or at least as big a pay cut, don’t turn it down, counter offer. Express your interest and enthusiasm in the opportunity but explain that the numbers don’t work for you. If they like you, ther could be movement.

This. Lay it out there honestly/sincerely. You want the job but cannot make it work. Be prepared for what number will make it work though. If they come up five grand…are you in?

 

[dannyHAM]

CTRB Pension is very strong. Good foundation for retirement. Will new school offer a pension (if so probably no where near as strong), or will it be a 403b type plan. If your plan is to go there for a year, and then come back into CTRB then it might be a good play. Higher Income = higher percentage payout later on.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

You're not paying union dues but you won't be in a union. You won't be paying into a pension but you won't get a pension.

It would just be for a year, two max. One fewer years putting into the pension isn’t much a dealbreaker for me. Job does offer 401k after a year

 

[Adios]

Id give up thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours away from my toddler

Having kids is an honor. I have none because of life circumstances.

 

[M.S.G.]

I changed my vote to stay.

For the past handful of years I had a 45 minute commute from MA into CT to teach at a great school.

It wore me down more than you can ever imagine - factor in coaching hoops at a different school in the winter (luckily on way home). No real strain on marriage, but it definitely didn't help!

New job is a 17 minute commute, so the full daily commute is shorter than one way of my last...

Makes a HUGE difference. That's why I changed my vote to stay, you can't take a pay cut, just continue to build your resume and touch it up with admin experience and the next carrousel will be your reward.

 

[Get a Job]

Id give up thousands of dollars in income for 2 extra hours away from my toddler

I can see that if you spend all day, every day with him or her. Otherwise, you have a black heart.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Quiet corner private school huh? We talking Putnam Science? Can you push recruits to UConn?

 

[M.S.G.]

44 to the quiet corner. I’ll be the only person the road

If the school is Rectory, I vote a HARD no.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Quiet corner private school huh? We talking Putnam Science? Can you push recruits to UConn?

Lol not exactly

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

If the school is Rectory, I vote a HARD no.

Not there either.

 

[auror]

There are a lot of studies that show how much long commutes cause unhappiness. They're legitimately one of the biggest decreases in happiness.

Long commute + worse pay = a no for me dog. Keep applying for elsewhere and stay patient for another year if need be.

 

[SubbaBub]

Which path puts you on a more lucrative trajectory in 2-5 years?

This. There is also the union/non-union aspect.

50 min is not impossible though 15k is a hit when you are starting out.

Ask yourself how long it would take you to make that up if all goes according to plan and how the environments and expectations stack up between the two.

Is this a one year detour or a shot in the dark.

 

[Fishy]

As I’ve discussed a little bit year I just graduated from UConn with my MA in Education Leadership and have been pursuing school administration opportunities this summer.
After about 15 rejections I was finally offered a position!
…50 minutes away
…for $15k less than my teacher pay for the upcoming year
Things to consider…
-Wife and I just bought a house so relocation is not in the cards.
-House was top of budget and cutting the pay that much would make things very very tight …perhaps…
-this position is in a private school so I wouldn’t be paying union dues or contributing to the pension fund which together take a big chunk of my check each week. Without seeing a check from this new place my guess is my take home may be about the same.
-me being on the road for 2 hours a day is not ideal for my wife or toddler.
-this job would likely be just for a year to have an administrative position on my resume.

Teach.

Opportunities will come.

Also, in response to the “50 minutes is not that long”….I have commuted one hour each way for about 25 years. That time is simply lost and it is significant.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Teach.

Opportunities will come.

Also, in response to the “50 minutes is not that long”….I have commuted one hour each way for about 25 years. That time is simply lost and it is significant.

True. And this isn’t exactly like a…dream job…
It still does feel like another year of teacher on my resume is useless.

how did none of you Jabronies ask if this was my dream job?

 

[Greedo]

I switched jobs last year (teaching) to a school that had a 50-60 minute commute, knowing this summer my family would move closer (which we did). The commute was miserable and I was always tired, which made the time I did have with my family far less enjoyable. To me it’s not worth it. There will be a bunch of admin jobs at public schools open again next year. It won’t hurt you in any way to wait it out another year. It also gets you one year closer to retirement by staying in the public school system.

Edit to add: ask your admin if there are any leadership roles you can take on this year to build your resume.

 

[TRest]

True. And this isn’t exactly like a…dream job…
It still does feel like another year of teacher on my resume is useless.

how did none of you Jabronies ask if this was my dream job?

Dream jobs are in Maryland.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Is the private school aware that your interest in the job is just temporary? If so, then I'd take the job: you'd get the experience and since they know you are just there for a year, and they'd be happy to have you in the interim, which increases the odds of getting a great recommendation or two for your next resume.

If not, then I'd stay. Private schools are really touchy about staff retention. For example, at my school, we are asked in January to let the school know if we are considering teaching somewhere else the following year. That might be the same at the new school and it would be really hard to secure a heartfelt recommendation from the school if you leave on awkward terms with the fact that you are really only using the school for experience on your resume.

For example, after years of teaching my friend took her first administration job at a tiny private school in NJ. They were desperate to have her join the team and are thankful out of their butts that she's still there after three years. When taking the job, she wasn't sure if she wanted to stay, but she did enjoy the freedom of knowing that the school felt super lucky to have her join on when they were in a major bind to fill the position. If that's the case, I'd definitely take the job.