Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman

Account Executive

Finally decided I should become a Teacher - do I wait until I am fired?

I've known for a couple of years now that sales is not something I want to do forever. I have made good money for a bit, tried my best, but it just does not make me happy. I want to go into elementary education. I likely wouldn't be able to start a program until spring 2022 anyways so here is my questions:

Do I wait to leave my current sales gig until I am fired so I get severance and unemployment or do I quit now and get a part time job until school starts next year because it isn't right to take a company's money unless I am truly invested?

I want to wait until I get fired but idk if that makes me a shitty person...

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28 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Don't forget about health insurance!

Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

oh shit honestly didn't even consider that when posing this question. yikes by me.

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

First thing first: congratulations! I don't think too many people have the guts to actually decide to change like so. Finding something that makes you happy is what this is all about, and if it's not sales that's just fine!

Quick one: are you certain you will be fired, or are you trying to get fired? If you're ready to go, I'd say go and find that part-time job to get back into the whole school environment but if you are being fired and the money helps, I guess you can wait for it to happen.

I'm just curious about the being fired part, it almost sounds like it's inevitable!

slaydie

Big Shot

Account Executive

Totally agree with @alecabral - congratulations on the move. It takes a lot of courage to uproot your career and start fresh!

Has your company fired people before? I thought if companies fire you they don't owe you severance. So you would just get 2 weeks. Is it different where you are?

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Severance depends on reason for firing. If someone is fired for illegal/immoral activity at work or abandoning their position they're not usually eligible for severance. If it's company downsizing or just not a good fit usually they are eligible. I'm in Canada, so results may vary in other countries.

Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

@alecabralthank you! And yeah I am not on a performance improvement plan or anything yet but would not be surprised if one came in September or October. I am by no means a destructive or harmful employee, I just haven't been building my pipeline as much as I really should. and @slaydie maybe they won't give me severance but i know they have for previous employees! Either way, I think I am going to keep going until the PIP comes or im ushered out the door. I will need to be saving as much money as possible if I am going back to school.

jumbojoe19

account executive

i've heard unemployment is supposed to only be available for similar reasons, if your position is dissolved or something like that. but i've also heard that the unemployment office doesn't have the capacity to check. never tested this so do with it what you want

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

That sounds like a plan @Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman ! If I may, just one more word of advice, don't wait too long :). Best of lucks, so happy for you!

slaydie

Big Shot

Account Executive

do it sounds like a good plan @Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman :) Milk it before you head back to school

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

I personally would not be interested in sticking around in a role I have no interest in or sitting on employment for 3/4 of a year so I'd be looking for a new job and quitting as soon as possible. I'd also rather quit on good terms and retain the reference. Even if you don't plan on ever being in sales again, you will need employment references when you apply for teaching roles and having to explain or having your previous manager explain that you were fired for being lazy is not a great foot to start off on...

If you want to be an elementary school teacher, try looking for work that involves working with or supporting children. Even if you can't find a role that involves interacting with kids directly, working for a non-profit or business that supports families/children is still a better idea than a role in a totally unrelated field. Looking for volunteer opportunities that allow you to do the same would be beneficial as well.

lisa

Notable Contributor

Product @ Bravado

This isn't answering your question, but it might be helpful to know that you don't necessarily need to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher. You can try a program like Teach for America or Teaching Fellows that will provide you with an accelerated training program, let you teach in the classroom, and earn a master's in education on the side. This way, you won't have 2 years of zero income ... although teacher salaries are not much more than that :(

Full disclosure: I did TFA in the Bronx from 2009-2011. Hardest job I've ever had, but they have a lot of great teaching instructors and mentors that want you to succeed.

MajorB

WR Lieutenant

This sounds like a better option and will help you decide if this is the career you want to pursue.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

As someone who taught English for a year or so before going to sales, I'm glad you know what you want to do. Do you have teaching credentials/experience teaching?

I ask because how you're treated usually depends on that and the classes you teach. My only advice is don't settle. There's a lot of teaching jobs open rn since many quit when things went south with the pandemic.

Like anything in sales, you can still negotiate with your experience + credentials. I left because I didn't like the way I was treated by the school, but I wish you the best, my friend. Do what makes you happy.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

To me, this is the aspect you should try to sort out for yourself if at all possible.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

I'm just curious about the being fired part, it almost sounds like it's inevitable!

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Wait to get fired.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

This is completely up to you. You know what you can handle. Personally I'd stick it out as long as I could so I wouldn't be without income.

ThomasRCallahanIII

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Get a part time job and sign up to be a sub.

sellingsellssold

Politicker

SDR

If sales isn’t your thing and you don’t enjoy going to work I wouldn’t wait any longer. If you have a teacher job lined up right away I would put in your 2 weeks and enjoy the switch to your new job!

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Start looking and jump ship when you find the position

Mr.Floaty

Politicker

BDR

To plan for this, I sat down with my financial planner and mapped out a plan where I have a 50% drop in salary in 10 years.

Cyberjarre

Politicker

BDR

assume you're here in the US...so It's fucking America you can re-invent your whole life if in 18 months if you want to work for it.

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Wanna.Be.Rick.Spielman

Finally decided I should become a Teacher - do I wait until I am fired?

28 comments

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