Job Discussion Forums

[Otterman Ollie]

I am just coming up to my first decade in the same teaching position, working in prep classes at university level. I 'm thinking that I may have become a bit stale and complacent and need a new outlook, the difficulty is although the powers at be are not my favourite people most of the kids are great and the money is ok. Finding something better just on those two points is gonna be hard if not impossible without moving away, even then it may not change things. who was it who sang" do I stay or do I go now?

[johnslat]

Jimmy Durante, maybe?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY-zmJ1VCQI

Regards,
John

[fladude]

Who can say dude.... who can say?

[denise]

The Clash.

Answers will vary, as it's a very personal issue, but I'm in that same position now, too... except I already came to the conclusion that is was time to move on.

I'm giving up:
* the best salary & benefits package I've ever had
* low cost of living, so that even after sending home half of my salary every month I can do pretty much whatever I want
* potentially my favorite hobby/sport--won't likely be able to afford it once I leave
* easy expat life
* LOTS of opportunities at work to get non-teaching experience: materials design, program coordination, etc

I'm gaining:
* the feeling of finally being "home"

On the surface it would seem like the two sides are woefully imbalanced, but they're not. Being home, for me, after all this time, outweighs everything else.

So figure out how important the things that you'd be giving up really are, and how important what you'd be gaining is.

Or you could always just toss a coin! Good luck.

d

[mozzar]

The same place or the same position? Could happily stay in the same place my whole life, but not the same position - would want to move up the hierarchy.

[hollysuel]

I was in the same place two years ago and finally decided to return to the states after 11 years. I have not regretted my decision although it hasn't always been easy. As Denise said--it really is a personal decision. This really wasn't something that I would have said I would do three years ago as I owned a home and had a great life in Finland, but am glad now that I did.

[Glenski]

I know people who have stayed in the same uni position for 5 years and then felt the challenge of that environment was gone, so they found another uni job. I also know people who stayed for 30 years and then retired from that one job.

Ask yourself what challenges exist in the job environment, and what it will take to overcome them. Too much? Leave or accept it and continue on with relative ease. If you feel you are becoming complacent, ask yourself why. That is, have you actually been researching what others do, going to conferences/workshops, making presentations/posters or writing articles/books/etc.?

[Otterman Ollie]

Thanks for the replies, yeah I would like to move up or get involved in materials or even testing or curriculmn development, but it seems to be off limits to ENS so unless someone dies or leaves that chance is not really on the cards . So maybe I'll just grin and bank it!

[MotherF]

What Glenski said.

I've been at the same job for 13 years now, only working 11 though as I had one year and two six-month stints off. Having those sabbaticals really helped keep from getting burnt out, but mostly its that the challenges have continued to come up here. I get to work on curriculum and materials development, go to conferences and workshops, and even spearheaded the hosting of a conference.

[fladude]

[Captain_Fil]

If you're tired of it, you've probably been there too long.

[naturegirl321]

It varies person to person, but I'd say after a decade, you should be able to find a job with higher pay than you have now. And moving isn't that bad, it's nice when everything is new.

[basiltherat]

I'd suggest leaving on good terms; giving them plenty of notice.

Say, for example, you have an offer of something 'completely different' elsewhere and you'd like to take a year or two away but you'd like to return at some point (as far as you are concerned, just in case things don''t turn out as nicely as you thought).

I did this in syria when I left for 6 months to do a stint in Kazakhstan. Returned to Syria to do another couple of years. It really depends on the approach you make and how accommodating they are and how satisfactorily you've done the work and how much they need you (if you've been there 10 years, they can't have much to complain about, surely). Try mentioning the idea (in a casual, half-kidding sorta way) during a light moment and see how they react.

best
basil

[danydan]

I was in the same position and left my best job (in terms of package) after a decade. I may never get the salary that I was getting again, but I regretted that I stayed there for that long. Change is good.

As others mentioned, leave in good terms so you have a chance to return if you needed to.

[Trebek]

4 years. No more no less. This is your answer.