Whats a better career: Sales or being an elementary teacher?
November 17th, 2008
I was granted two offers yesterday: A teaching position for an elementary school K-8. And a career working for a big company selling advertisements for exotic cars like Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, and Bentleys. The sales package is 30k permanent base plus commission. Teaching is 36k a year plus pension and benefits. Sales is a always a grind. No sales job is fun. Must meet quotas and deadlines. Sell, sell, sell. Go to trade shows in Las Vegas. Some travel is required which I dont like. Constant deadlines. I could make 60k a year maybe more. But I dislike telephones and office cubicles. Teaching is more related to my interests. Summers off, writing, research, independence, instructing others—but the pay is low. However, I get a pension after 20 years. Working for govt. is good. Im a male(39 y.o.) So I will retire at 59 with pension. But dealing with occasional bratty kids, time constraints, and politics. I hate making career decisions. Whats your opinion?
I was in a similar position, although in my area, the teaching market is absolutely flooded with candidates and there are no FT teaching jobs. Since I couldn't find a teaching job right out of college, I went into sales for the money. They pay was about $10 grand better than an entry level teacher, but the job was repetitive, I was under constant stress to hit my quotas, and I was burned out after two years. I was eventually "let go" and am now just getting off of unemployment (I was let go in August.) I found myself to be back where I started. I am now a subtitute teacher and I love it! I hope to get a FT teaching position next year (since I am getting to know teachers, principals, etc.) If teaching is your passion- do it! Sales is stressful and has a high turnover rate- for a reason! When you are a teacher you have a real career and can climb up the salary ladder. Sales jobs are always great- at first. Not worth it in the long run. Go for the teaching job.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:12 am
I was in a similar position, although in my area, the teaching market is absolutely flooded with candidates and there are no FT teaching jobs. Since I couldn't find a teaching job right out of college, I went into sales for the money. They pay was about $10 grand better than an entry level teacher, but the job was repetitive, I was under constant stress to hit my quotas, and I was burned out after two years. I was eventually "let go" and am now just getting off of unemployment (I was let go in August.) I found myself to be back where I started. I am now a subtitute teacher and I love it! I hope to get a FT teaching position next year (since I am getting to know teachers, principals, etc.) If teaching is your passion- do it! Sales is stressful and has a high turnover rate- for a reason! When you are a teacher you have a real career and can climb up the salary ladder. Sales jobs are always great- at first. Not worth it in the long run. Go for the teaching job.
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Experience
October 13th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
teach…………..you sound like you hate the other job already
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October 13th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
It's hard to say because I don't personally know you, but I would feel that a job in sales would be more gratifying. Do you LIKE the busy sales grind? If so, go for it and enjoy. If you dont enjoy that, then taking that job will make you stressed. You have to do whats best for you. At 39, I'm sure you know what situations you work best in. Best of luck!
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October 17th, 2007 at 9:02 am
You are correct about Sales chum, it is a grind, after some thirty years in the area of selling. I say this to you choose the teaching job,
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as above