Is there something else out there? Help me dream up an alternative plan
July 6, 2013 10:22 PM Subscribe
Mefites please provide all the wonderful or interesting or a life changing alternative if my current plans of obtaining regular employment fail. Are their programs that allow a couple to go as a unit and also match our skill set?
I feel like I have wracked my brain to come up with some way to make my life unfold in the way I plan it to. I know a lot is uncontrollable but if I don’t have a teaching job by September I would like a dream plan for the 2013-2014 year.
Snowflake details:
I have finished my teaching credential year. Ideally teach for 2 years in CA and clear my credential.
• Single Subject Art Credential (prefer teaching 6th-12th) at a private well known bay area college.
• BA in Studio Arts from a UC.
• Some debt from year at private school.
• I am 23 (but I look younger to some people)
• I have high level fine art skills – traditional and otherwise- I can teach these skills effectively
• History of academic success (Does 4.0’s even matter anymore in a world asking for yrs. Of experience?)
• I have a high user tech background – can teach this to adult or kids.
• I’m not good at picking up languages
Partner and I have been together for 6 years – long distance for 3.5yrs. - have yet to have the opportunity to live together because of money and employment.
• My partner has a BA in Economics from a CA state school
• Has worked at Starbucks as a Barista for a year now.
• Worked at a Tiki bar for 3 years before that (Head Bar Back)
• Boy scout camp/Park and Rec. counselor before that
• No debt.
• Is 25
• Auditory – could be adept at picking up languages.
I feel like it’s time for me to move out, own a used car, and move in with the man I have loved for so long/continue our future. We currently both live at home and have wonderful supportive families. We are happy and healthy but ready to be out of young adult limbo.
All in all – it’s been a good year – I finished a really intense grad studies/student teaching/ and working also. But it’s feeling kind of down to the wire for figuring life stuff out.
Well meaning adults in our lives’ have suggested we go abroad. This seems to be the go to advice because they say it’s “fun, you’re young, and free of ties” when we express our lack of living wage job. They seem to regret not going abroad or it’s become “the thing to do.” Starbucks will not transfer a replaceable barista abroad (also pays only minimum wage.) I’m not particularly interested in teaching English.
Realistic backup Plan: I do not find employment – I substitute for about 100 dollars a day and live at home. My partner continues to work at Starbucks – our life together does not progress in adult status and we get by.
None of this is “end of world” if things don’t work out… then we will make do like we always have. I just keep feeling like I’m not considering all the options.
Is there any program or any type of employment that in some form:
• Potentially pays minimally/provides a place to live
o OR Pays better – no provided housing
• Preferably not manual labor intensive (for me)
• International or domestic travel
• Good work/ teaching/providing things that people need/training?
• Can go as an established couple (apply separately is ok)
• Can live together as a unit.
• Learn skills (broad: we both love learning new things)
• 6 months - 1 year commitment
Is there such a thing? Or is this too specific a thing and doesn’t exist?
I'm open to ideas not attached to a abroad program. Ex. "my friend did ____ in ____ country, and it was interesting"
I know of WWOOFing and Work/Peace Corps. These very large organizations are not for me personally.(unless you think otherwise/know more about ^) I’ve also read previous questions about teaching abroad and about studying abroad… neither had the range of opportunities and included going somewhere as a couple.
I feel like I have wracked my brain to come up with some way to make my life unfold in the way I plan it to. I know a lot is uncontrollable but if I don’t have a teaching job by September I would like a dream plan for the 2013-2014 year.
Snowflake details:
I have finished my teaching credential year. Ideally teach for 2 years in CA and clear my credential.
• Single Subject Art Credential (prefer teaching 6th-12th) at a private well known bay area college.
• BA in Studio Arts from a UC.
• Some debt from year at private school.
• I am 23 (but I look younger to some people)
• I have high level fine art skills – traditional and otherwise- I can teach these skills effectively
• History of academic success (Does 4.0’s even matter anymore in a world asking for yrs. Of experience?)
• I have a high user tech background – can teach this to adult or kids.
• I’m not good at picking up languages
Partner and I have been together for 6 years – long distance for 3.5yrs. - have yet to have the opportunity to live together because of money and employment.
• My partner has a BA in Economics from a CA state school
• Has worked at Starbucks as a Barista for a year now.
• Worked at a Tiki bar for 3 years before that (Head Bar Back)
• Boy scout camp/Park and Rec. counselor before that
• No debt.
• Is 25
• Auditory – could be adept at picking up languages.
I feel like it’s time for me to move out, own a used car, and move in with the man I have loved for so long/continue our future. We currently both live at home and have wonderful supportive families. We are happy and healthy but ready to be out of young adult limbo.
All in all – it’s been a good year – I finished a really intense grad studies/student teaching/ and working also. But it’s feeling kind of down to the wire for figuring life stuff out.
Well meaning adults in our lives’ have suggested we go abroad. This seems to be the go to advice because they say it’s “fun, you’re young, and free of ties” when we express our lack of living wage job. They seem to regret not going abroad or it’s become “the thing to do.” Starbucks will not transfer a replaceable barista abroad (also pays only minimum wage.) I’m not particularly interested in teaching English.
Realistic backup Plan: I do not find employment – I substitute for about 100 dollars a day and live at home. My partner continues to work at Starbucks – our life together does not progress in adult status and we get by.
None of this is “end of world” if things don’t work out… then we will make do like we always have. I just keep feeling like I’m not considering all the options.
Is there any program or any type of employment that in some form:
• Potentially pays minimally/provides a place to live
o OR Pays better – no provided housing
• Preferably not manual labor intensive (for me)
• International or domestic travel
• Good work/ teaching/providing things that people need/training?
• Can go as an established couple (apply separately is ok)
• Can live together as a unit.
• Learn skills (broad: we both love learning new things)
• 6 months - 1 year commitment
Is there such a thing? Or is this too specific a thing and doesn’t exist?
I'm open to ideas not attached to a abroad program. Ex. "my friend did ____ in ____ country, and it was interesting"
I know of WWOOFing and Work/Peace Corps. These very large organizations are not for me personally.(unless you think otherwise/know more about ^) I’ve also read previous questions about teaching abroad and about studying abroad… neither had the range of opportunities and included going somewhere as a couple.
The way all my friends went abroad back when they were your age was to go to London, get a job bartending, save money, and use it to travel around Europe. Often they managed to find a pub that would let them live in the rooms above the pub for minimal cost. Alternatively, working on reception or cleaning at youth hostels around Europe often included accommodation. I don't think any of them were partnered at that stage, but it's not inconceivable you could both find employment at the same pub or hostel (or at nearby locations in a big city).
It's possible that is too manual-labour intensive for you, and it's also possible that the availability of bartending or hostel jobs has dried up since the early 2000s when my friends were all doing this.
If you don't end up travelling, but your partner can keep working at Starbucks and you can pick up enough sub work, I don't see why you shouldn't/couldn't move out of your respective parents' place on those wages. Do you live somewhere with a very high cost of living? Or are your expectations of the standard of living too high to match what is usual for your age group's first out-of-family-home experience? (E.g. you might need to have room-mates, your apartment will probably be cramped and under-maintained, maybe in an inconvenient location, you will probably have to pay attention to what food is on sale at the grocery shop every week and cook based on that - maybe a lot of beans and rice, you might not be able to afford much in the way of technology, entertainment, etc.) Even then, you'll probably find that the increased freedom and togetherness makes up for all the other deprivations!
posted by lollusc at 11:40 PM on July 6, 2013
It's possible that is too manual-labour intensive for you, and it's also possible that the availability of bartending or hostel jobs has dried up since the early 2000s when my friends were all doing this.
If you don't end up travelling, but your partner can keep working at Starbucks and you can pick up enough sub work, I don't see why you shouldn't/couldn't move out of your respective parents' place on those wages. Do you live somewhere with a very high cost of living? Or are your expectations of the standard of living too high to match what is usual for your age group's first out-of-family-home experience? (E.g. you might need to have room-mates, your apartment will probably be cramped and under-maintained, maybe in an inconvenient location, you will probably have to pay attention to what food is on sale at the grocery shop every week and cook based on that - maybe a lot of beans and rice, you might not be able to afford much in the way of technology, entertainment, etc.) Even then, you'll probably find that the increased freedom and togetherness makes up for all the other deprivations!
posted by lollusc at 11:40 PM on July 6, 2013
Are you looking outside your current city for employment? If one of you finds a (better-paying-than-Starbucks) job elsewhere, they could support the other until the other person found a job. There's also the Teach for America program, which places you in a city where you teach middle-school kids. Or Peace Corps, of course, which can place couples.
posted by FiveSecondRule at 12:10 AM on July 7, 2013
posted by FiveSecondRule at 12:10 AM on July 7, 2013
I don't have a lot of info at my fingertips but I have friends who once they finished their degrees got jobs teaching English in Japan and Korea respectively for a year. One liked it so much they stayed for three years. I looked into at one time myself. There are good many agencies and or groups that help with placement some good some bad so you do have to do your research.
The basic requirements are usually to have a BA, in anything though I expect having any sort of teaching type degree would be a bonus. Many also require a certification like TEFL or TOSEL certification which is easy enough to do online.
The reports they gave about it were great. The one who went to Japan was placed in a school with accomodations provided for nominal rent compared to local rents, which can be pricey. She also had ample time off to do other things and see the country. Though the salaries aren't super high compared to cost of living there they both saved money as they only needed to provided the basics for themselves. The guy that went to Korea ended up getting a higher paying job teaching more then just English and paid off a good part of his loan. Knowing the native language is not a requirement at all but they both learned quite a bit just by being there. Both also ended up doing a lot of private tutoring on the side as well.
Just googling 'teaching English abroad' or 'teaching English (country) will get you started. There's a lot of info out there.
posted by Jalliah at 3:24 AM on July 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
The basic requirements are usually to have a BA, in anything though I expect having any sort of teaching type degree would be a bonus. Many also require a certification like TEFL or TOSEL certification which is easy enough to do online.
The reports they gave about it were great. The one who went to Japan was placed in a school with accomodations provided for nominal rent compared to local rents, which can be pricey. She also had ample time off to do other things and see the country. Though the salaries aren't super high compared to cost of living there they both saved money as they only needed to provided the basics for themselves. The guy that went to Korea ended up getting a higher paying job teaching more then just English and paid off a good part of his loan. Knowing the native language is not a requirement at all but they both learned quite a bit just by being there. Both also ended up doing a lot of private tutoring on the side as well.
Just googling 'teaching English abroad' or 'teaching English (country) will get you started. There's a lot of info out there.
posted by Jalliah at 3:24 AM on July 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
One field where youth and inexperience are often positive qualifications, along with a non-STEM BA/BS degree, is sales. A lot of companies, or at least their sales managers, prefer hiring young and inexperienced people for new sales positions, for a couple of reasons. First, they avoid getting competitors cast off personnel, who the sales managers may feel have picked up bad habits or attitudes in previous sales jobs. Second, by hiring newcomers, they avoid any potential legal entanglements that may come from hiring ex-employees of competitors, and they are never putting customers in the questionable ethical position of switching suppliers strictly on the basis of loyalty to a particular person/sales rep. Finally, they often feel that a young first line sales force projects a fresh and enthusiastic image for the company.
If you join a company with a good sales training program, and show that you'll work hard and have initiative, promotion to sales management, or sales training positions can be pretty rapid. Non-retail sales jobs usually pay pretty well, and the experience you get in selling is usually important enough to future business success, that you rarely find C-suite people (CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, etc.) of major U.S. companies without it in their backgrounds. Moreover, there are usually good perks to the job, for people who like to travel, such as expense accounts, and being able to keep frequent flier miles for personal use, and getting to attend industry conventions and trade fairs, even if only to work your employer's booth.
Check the bigger online job boards like Monster.com for industrial, pharmaceutical/medical or B2B sales positions, or register with temp agencies for temp-to-hire opportunities in sales (which more and more companies seem to be using, as a means of try-before-they-buy in bringing on new sales reps. They'd rather pay the temp-to-hire conversion fee, after seeing what you can do on a 90 day or six month temporary assignment, than deal with the churn of hiring lots of prospects, and only keeping the best few of any group.).
posted by paulsc at 6:26 AM on July 7, 2013
If you join a company with a good sales training program, and show that you'll work hard and have initiative, promotion to sales management, or sales training positions can be pretty rapid. Non-retail sales jobs usually pay pretty well, and the experience you get in selling is usually important enough to future business success, that you rarely find C-suite people (CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, etc.) of major U.S. companies without it in their backgrounds. Moreover, there are usually good perks to the job, for people who like to travel, such as expense accounts, and being able to keep frequent flier miles for personal use, and getting to attend industry conventions and trade fairs, even if only to work your employer's booth.
Check the bigger online job boards like Monster.com for industrial, pharmaceutical/medical or B2B sales positions, or register with temp agencies for temp-to-hire opportunities in sales (which more and more companies seem to be using, as a means of try-before-they-buy in bringing on new sales reps. They'd rather pay the temp-to-hire conversion fee, after seeing what you can do on a 90 day or six month temporary assignment, than deal with the churn of hiring lots of prospects, and only keeping the best few of any group.).
posted by paulsc at 6:26 AM on July 7, 2013
You could teach in an international school. Many require certification; some don't. You could teach art; a BA in Econ might qualify your SO to teach math.
Check out Transitions Abroad for other ideas.
posted by seemoreglass at 7:30 AM on July 7, 2013
Check out Transitions Abroad for other ideas.
posted by seemoreglass at 7:30 AM on July 7, 2013
Response by poster: Clarifying: SO isn't picky. Would like a career in analysis but isn't interested in a masters. Really likes supporting positions, helping people, and talking. Loves numbers.
Yes, we are looking for employment in the greater bay area. (We live in the little "Island" off of Oakland) It's were both of our families live. - And it's true we could probably swing Oakland rent in East Oakland... just not sure if I want to do that when I have a current good thing with my family.
We want to be in the bay area for life, but I've been considering a 1 year away or so with the idea to come back and hoping employment will be better. Currently applying without a serious connection means no communication from the company at all.
Also, thank you everyone. Already I have a lot to think about.
posted by mariecheri at 10:12 AM on July 7, 2013
Yes, we are looking for employment in the greater bay area. (We live in the little "Island" off of Oakland) It's were both of our families live. - And it's true we could probably swing Oakland rent in East Oakland... just not sure if I want to do that when I have a current good thing with my family.
We want to be in the bay area for life, but I've been considering a 1 year away or so with the idea to come back and hoping employment will be better. Currently applying without a serious connection means no communication from the company at all.
Also, thank you everyone. Already I have a lot to think about.
posted by mariecheri at 10:12 AM on July 7, 2013
Just thought I'd add.
If you're at all interested in doing a year away in another country for the adventure and learning experience my strong advice is to do it before you get settled in something more permanent. It is one of those 'dream travel' type things and the more you get settled the harder it becomes to do. It's something I wish I had done before I ended up in a decent place with monthly bills to pay. I ended up not doing it because I was stuck with a car payment and had an apartment that was so nice and cheap that I felt like I would have to start over when I got back.
20 years later it's still something I think about but pretty much can't. Mortgage payment, animals to look after etc will do that. A year away somewhere would be fabulous but now it's down to looking at doing something for a month and leaving my husband behind to look after everything. :)
posted by Jalliah at 12:37 PM on July 7, 2013
If you're at all interested in doing a year away in another country for the adventure and learning experience my strong advice is to do it before you get settled in something more permanent. It is one of those 'dream travel' type things and the more you get settled the harder it becomes to do. It's something I wish I had done before I ended up in a decent place with monthly bills to pay. I ended up not doing it because I was stuck with a car payment and had an apartment that was so nice and cheap that I felt like I would have to start over when I got back.
20 years later it's still something I think about but pretty much can't. Mortgage payment, animals to look after etc will do that. A year away somewhere would be fabulous but now it's down to looking at doing something for a month and leaving my husband behind to look after everything. :)
posted by Jalliah at 12:37 PM on July 7, 2013
I have a friend who has found a job she likes teaching in London, England. It's in a rough area, and they just can't get enough local teachers. She was hired through an agency, and has been there on a two year visa. She lives with roommates and has enough money to travel on her holidays.
Seems to me that he could find work after you get established.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 7:44 AM on July 8, 2013
Seems to me that he could find work after you get established.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 7:44 AM on July 8, 2013
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posted by Dansaman at 10:39 PM on July 6, 2013