Burnt Out Social Worker needs your help
November 11, 2010 11:56 AM Subscribe
Mid-life career change filter: Special (burnt out social worker) snowflake details inside.
If you check my previous ask-me regarding a declining work ethic, you'll see this has been a problem for a long time.
I'm 35 and have had a relatively successful, 13 year, career in social services. I'm "burnt out." I never really understood the significance of that term in the social services field until this past year. But here I am: apathetic with my job fullfillment resting solidly somewhere around negative infinity. I just don't care anymore. I'm no longer helping anyone and in all honesty, I'm probably taking my current position away from someone much more motivated to do it with enthusiasm. I feel frustrated and shameful.
I have never been unemployeed. I've had a job everyday of my life since I was 15. Here's a quick rundown of my resume:
High School - early 20s: retail, retail management, nanny, restuarant hostessing and cocktail waitressing.
early 20s till now: Group home direct care, Group home Management, Case Management for people with persistent mental illness, Homeless shelter management, and Behavior Consultation for behaviorally disturbed kids in therapuetic foster care.
On the side (hobby income): Photography gigs - kids and familes, weddings, portraits. I'm not bad but can't go professional until I have a bit more education regarding lighting systems and flash work.
Skills:
I type fast and well (60 wpm on a good day).
I understand and read people well.
I work well with MS Word and Excel, and have a quick mind for learning software.
I can sell just about anything (I think it's genetic).
I supervise others well (I've been told this by previous employees over the years and I think it's true).
I'm good with a camera in natural light, have an eye for artistic composition and form.
I'm good with kids and crazy people.
Odd skills: I have a good mind for the details of stories (books and films). When I'm watching a movie, I almost habitually deconstruct the director's vision. It's fun and my friends comment on my skill in the area often.
I would like to quit my job as a Christmas present to myself. It's making me miserable. But I'm scared. I don't know what else I could possibly do. I've spent my whole adult life working in this field.
So mefites: What should I pursue? I currently make around 40k and can take a small paycut as trade off for a quality of life adjustment. I'm also willing to spend some time on unemployment benefits if I have to, but I don't know how to go about leaving my job and being able to get unemployment. I'm not likely to "laid off," and if I resign I won't be eligible.
notes: My student loans are currently in a mess and it'll be a year until I can go back to school. My BA is in World Religions.
Sorry for the length of this question. Thanks ahead of time for your reponses.
If you check my previous ask-me regarding a declining work ethic, you'll see this has been a problem for a long time.
I'm 35 and have had a relatively successful, 13 year, career in social services. I'm "burnt out." I never really understood the significance of that term in the social services field until this past year. But here I am: apathetic with my job fullfillment resting solidly somewhere around negative infinity. I just don't care anymore. I'm no longer helping anyone and in all honesty, I'm probably taking my current position away from someone much more motivated to do it with enthusiasm. I feel frustrated and shameful.
I have never been unemployeed. I've had a job everyday of my life since I was 15. Here's a quick rundown of my resume:
High School - early 20s: retail, retail management, nanny, restuarant hostessing and cocktail waitressing.
early 20s till now: Group home direct care, Group home Management, Case Management for people with persistent mental illness, Homeless shelter management, and Behavior Consultation for behaviorally disturbed kids in therapuetic foster care.
On the side (hobby income): Photography gigs - kids and familes, weddings, portraits. I'm not bad but can't go professional until I have a bit more education regarding lighting systems and flash work.
Skills:
I type fast and well (60 wpm on a good day).
I understand and read people well.
I work well with MS Word and Excel, and have a quick mind for learning software.
I can sell just about anything (I think it's genetic).
I supervise others well (I've been told this by previous employees over the years and I think it's true).
I'm good with a camera in natural light, have an eye for artistic composition and form.
I'm good with kids and crazy people.
Odd skills: I have a good mind for the details of stories (books and films). When I'm watching a movie, I almost habitually deconstruct the director's vision. It's fun and my friends comment on my skill in the area often.
I would like to quit my job as a Christmas present to myself. It's making me miserable. But I'm scared. I don't know what else I could possibly do. I've spent my whole adult life working in this field.
So mefites: What should I pursue? I currently make around 40k and can take a small paycut as trade off for a quality of life adjustment. I'm also willing to spend some time on unemployment benefits if I have to, but I don't know how to go about leaving my job and being able to get unemployment. I'm not likely to "laid off," and if I resign I won't be eligible.
notes: My student loans are currently in a mess and it'll be a year until I can go back to school. My BA is in World Religions.
Sorry for the length of this question. Thanks ahead of time for your reponses.
This is less of an immediate tip and more of an entrepreneurial idea, but what about marketing your skills collecting and creating memories, particularly with older people and/or people who are facing illness? I'm thinking about collecting oral histories, general stories, just having pictures and recordings of people's voices. You could make them available in different forms -- transcribed, video, online, a combination photo and text scrapbook, whatever.
In the interim, maybe you should check out a retail gig at a mid-range store of some sort. A local store, a store that sells higher-end items (e.g. furniture, not CDs), maybe a hosting gig at a restaurant.
Or take a civil service exam and see about becoming some sort of administrative assistant (or another job) for the state or local government, a public university or another agency. Yes, this might have some of the bureaucratic crap of your current work, but it sounds like you need a lower-stress source of money where you can leave your work at the office.
posted by Madamina at 12:29 PM on November 11, 2010
In the interim, maybe you should check out a retail gig at a mid-range store of some sort. A local store, a store that sells higher-end items (e.g. furniture, not CDs), maybe a hosting gig at a restaurant.
Or take a civil service exam and see about becoming some sort of administrative assistant (or another job) for the state or local government, a public university or another agency. Yes, this might have some of the bureaucratic crap of your current work, but it sounds like you need a lower-stress source of money where you can leave your work at the office.
posted by Madamina at 12:29 PM on November 11, 2010
Do you belong to an organised religion? My aunt worked in admin for a large church until she went back to school later in life (she's working on a master's in public ethics now).
posted by purlgurly at 12:40 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by purlgurly at 12:40 PM on November 11, 2010
Response by poster: Can you tell us why exactly you are burned out so that something isnt suggested to y ou that will put you in the same position?
A couple of things come into play here, I think.
I'm just tired of the system as a whole - there's not enough resources to really support people in the way they deserve to be supported. The system is kind of fucked and I don't have the energy to fight it anymore. We hire people without the skills to actually follow treatment plans because skilled people won't work for the money we pay direct care staff.
I don't care as much as I used to. To illustrate, I was recently present for a major behavioral incident in one of my residential programs. Two staff were injured and one resident was trying to injure himself. I stepped in to assist, and did so succesfully, but my heart rate didn't even increase. I did it mechanically and without any passion. It didn't used to be like that for me. I can get beat up by my clients and called all kinds of names now I don't even care. I was told once that when you stop crying, you know it's time to get out. I don't think this is good for my soul any longer.
posted by dchrssyr at 12:52 PM on November 11, 2010
A couple of things come into play here, I think.
I'm just tired of the system as a whole - there's not enough resources to really support people in the way they deserve to be supported. The system is kind of fucked and I don't have the energy to fight it anymore. We hire people without the skills to actually follow treatment plans because skilled people won't work for the money we pay direct care staff.
I don't care as much as I used to. To illustrate, I was recently present for a major behavioral incident in one of my residential programs. Two staff were injured and one resident was trying to injure himself. I stepped in to assist, and did so succesfully, but my heart rate didn't even increase. I did it mechanically and without any passion. It didn't used to be like that for me. I can get beat up by my clients and called all kinds of names now I don't even care. I was told once that when you stop crying, you know it's time to get out. I don't think this is good for my soul any longer.
posted by dchrssyr at 12:52 PM on November 11, 2010
Perhaps office manager at a social services/clinical environment? Or perhaps university department? You can get a tuition discount then to increase a skillset? At least you wont be burned out by helping people yet not.
posted by stormpooper at 12:54 PM on November 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by stormpooper at 12:54 PM on November 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe you could ask for a leave of absence? Sounds like you have good reasons to me...
posted by xammerboy at 12:57 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by xammerboy at 12:57 PM on November 11, 2010
Maybe change things up and work with kids in a preschool or something for a while? Teach English abroad?
posted by xammerboy at 12:58 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by xammerboy at 12:58 PM on November 11, 2010
Maybe something administrative? A standard office job for a company that sells some sort of service or product isn't something you'd care about or expect to care about, so that could at least remove the stress of not caring about the social work anymore (or being burned out by being jaded on the amount of good it can actually do, or however you want to phrase it).
I also like the teaching suggestion someone else mentioned. You're responsible and probably very capable of teaching elementary school or something.
posted by J. Wilson at 2:04 PM on November 11, 2010
I also like the teaching suggestion someone else mentioned. You're responsible and probably very capable of teaching elementary school or something.
posted by J. Wilson at 2:04 PM on November 11, 2010
Response by poster: I am a good teacher/trainer. It's a skill I forgot to mention above. How does one go about teaching without a degree in education or the like? Remember, going back to school is not yet an option. Teaching abroad is not an option as I don't really want to relocate or travel extensively right now.
Also, what kind of corporate training positions are there? I like to train job skills to adults and and am a good public speaker.
posted by dchrssyr at 2:15 PM on November 11, 2010
Also, what kind of corporate training positions are there? I like to train job skills to adults and and am a good public speaker.
posted by dchrssyr at 2:15 PM on November 11, 2010
If you're licensed, you could try opening up a private practice, to see what it's like to work directly with people who are motivated enough to change that they are paying you to help them do it.
If you want to consider staying in the field, I've always felt re-energized when I learn a new way of working with people. Most recently, I've been learning about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and it's really given me a whole new way of seeing, understanding, and working. As it happens, Jason Luoma, who's an ACT therapist and teacher that I've heard very good things about, is in Portland.
If you're really convinced that you want out of the social services world, and you're a good teacher with good computer skills, you might consider working for a place that provides computer training. I don't know about Portland, but there are several places here in San Francisco that offer software training programs targeted for corporations. A social worker friend of mine got a gig with one of them and was training office workers on Excel and Word. There are lots of training needs and companies would much rather outsource it than provide it internally. This company gave her a tryout by having her teach a class, and they hired her as a contractor right away. Maybe search for computer training in Portland and see what you come up with.
Another former social worker I know made a big jump to pharmaceutical sales. I couldn't deal with the sales aspect (travel, cold calls), but he's doing very well.
posted by jasper411 at 5:09 PM on November 11, 2010
If you want to consider staying in the field, I've always felt re-energized when I learn a new way of working with people. Most recently, I've been learning about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and it's really given me a whole new way of seeing, understanding, and working. As it happens, Jason Luoma, who's an ACT therapist and teacher that I've heard very good things about, is in Portland.
If you're really convinced that you want out of the social services world, and you're a good teacher with good computer skills, you might consider working for a place that provides computer training. I don't know about Portland, but there are several places here in San Francisco that offer software training programs targeted for corporations. A social worker friend of mine got a gig with one of them and was training office workers on Excel and Word. There are lots of training needs and companies would much rather outsource it than provide it internally. This company gave her a tryout by having her teach a class, and they hired her as a contractor right away. Maybe search for computer training in Portland and see what you come up with.
Another former social worker I know made a big jump to pharmaceutical sales. I couldn't deal with the sales aspect (travel, cold calls), but he's doing very well.
posted by jasper411 at 5:09 PM on November 11, 2010
How does one go about teaching without a degree in education or the like?
If I'm reading this correctly, and I might not be because I didn't read it that carefully, in Oregon you just need to take some tests and don't necessarily need an education degree. Requirements vary by state.
posted by J. Wilson at 6:08 PM on November 11, 2010
If I'm reading this correctly, and I might not be because I didn't read it that carefully, in Oregon you just need to take some tests and don't necessarily need an education degree. Requirements vary by state.
posted by J. Wilson at 6:08 PM on November 11, 2010
You might enjoy my job. I work as a trainer in a hospital. I teach some regulatory stuff, some software, some low-complexity clinical stuff (CPR), some other things. Many trainer/educator jobs in hospitals require a nursing degree, but not all of them. I think my job is pretty similar to being a trainer in a corporate environment. I attend meetings, design, develop and deliver classes, and create computer-based learning modules (in PowerPoint).
It is pretty low stress, aside from the stress I create for myself. NOTHING like what you're dealing with in social services.
I've worked in hospitals for about 10 years mostly in admin roles, and I have a BS in health care administration. Neither of those things were really required for the job - you needed to demonstrate some training experience and have a college degree. Health care experience was a plus. I had never worked as a trainer before, but I did put a section at the top of my resume that described my training experience.
Admin work can be nice too. I've done a fair amount of that. I prefered jobs where I had some of my own work product or supported a department as opposed to being someone's dedicated support person. But if you have a good boss, that can be good, too.
I make in the $45k neighborhood at my current job, but I think my organization and this part of the country is on the lower end of the pay scale. In admin jobs, I was making in the $35-38k range in higher level positions (supporting C-level executives at a hospital).
posted by jeoc at 4:49 PM on November 12, 2010
It is pretty low stress, aside from the stress I create for myself. NOTHING like what you're dealing with in social services.
I've worked in hospitals for about 10 years mostly in admin roles, and I have a BS in health care administration. Neither of those things were really required for the job - you needed to demonstrate some training experience and have a college degree. Health care experience was a plus. I had never worked as a trainer before, but I did put a section at the top of my resume that described my training experience.
Admin work can be nice too. I've done a fair amount of that. I prefered jobs where I had some of my own work product or supported a department as opposed to being someone's dedicated support person. But if you have a good boss, that can be good, too.
I make in the $45k neighborhood at my current job, but I think my organization and this part of the country is on the lower end of the pay scale. In admin jobs, I was making in the $35-38k range in higher level positions (supporting C-level executives at a hospital).
posted by jeoc at 4:49 PM on November 12, 2010
In regards to this: I like to train job skills to adults and and am a good public speaker.
You may want to look into something in the Instrucitonal Design area if you want to construct learning materials and are good with learning new technology.
If that intrigues you, perhaps look into becoming a member of the ASTD (American Society for Training and Deveolpment) to network and build up contacts. There is also a good job posting section of the site as well. A bachelor degree is a requirement for most ID jobs, any past experience in training or faciliating training might also work.
posted by gregjunior at 10:54 AM on November 30, 2010
You may want to look into something in the Instrucitonal Design area if you want to construct learning materials and are good with learning new technology.
If that intrigues you, perhaps look into becoming a member of the ASTD (American Society for Training and Deveolpment) to network and build up contacts. There is also a good job posting section of the site as well. A bachelor degree is a requirement for most ID jobs, any past experience in training or faciliating training might also work.
posted by gregjunior at 10:54 AM on November 30, 2010
*Instructional Design
posted by gregjunior at 10:54 AM on November 30, 2010
posted by gregjunior at 10:54 AM on November 30, 2010
« Older Help me make the best Christmas package ever! | Firefox background tabs won't load properly Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
It looks like you have a lot of skills that would connect well with each other--management experience, people skills, attention to detail, basic office skills, and a creative flair. Maybe start doing some keyword searches on job sites to get a sense of what might be out there. You'd probably be a great candidate for any number of jobs.
posted by slogger at 12:08 PM on November 11, 2010