Entering this profession after leaving a different one?

[Mary Asselmeier]

Hi,

 

I'm wondering how many of you left a different profession to become a school media specialist and what that transition was like for you.  I have a teaching background, so it will not be a huge change for me when I go back.  I have three classes left until my endorsement.  If you were in a different profession, what made you switch?  Any and all thoughts are welcome!

[ann sobol]

Hi Mary,
this was a career change for me. I was formerly in the private sector in computer sales for many years and also worked as a legal librarian before becoming a Library-Media Specialist at the high school level. My guess is it won't be a huge change for you as you were already working in a school setting as a teacher. It was a HUGE change for me going from the private sector to the public sector, working in a school! You will not encounter the culture-shock that I did!! I switched because I was getting burned out - sales is very stressful and not a very creative field! It was becoming mundane. I knew I loved technology, loved helping people, and thought I'd give this career a shot...here I am 8 years later, happy that I made the change!

[bj neary]

I was in real estate property management for 15 years and then I went back to become certified as a Library Media Specialist. I received my MLIS 17 years before but had never taken any teaching classes. It took me 2 years to become certified and luckily I was working 20 hours a week in a high school library as a clerk so I became familiar with what went on in a library in those two years. So the fact that you are a teacher is good because you already know how a school works. I switched to another profession because I was burned out and I am so glad I did! Also, when people complain how easy teachers have it---I am able to say, "I worked in the business world for 15 years and I have never worked as hard being a teacher!"---and guess what---they have nothing more to say. So the teacher bashing stops. I tell them how hard we work and how gratifying it is. This is my 13 year as a library media specialist and it is a great place to be--so jump in and you will love the profession!

[Hope Preston]

I became a librarian after 24 years in the telecom world. I took an early retirement and went to library school. I've been working in an independent school since 2001 (started at 9 hours a week as an assistant, continued through library school, became full time in 2004 and took over the library this year. It has been a wonderful change, and I wouldn't go back to the corporate world for anything. It helps that I have a pension from my first life because my salary is less than half what it was before. My mother was a part-time college librarian and I've volunteered at my town library for more than 20 years so the field was not new to me, school librarianship was, and I love it.

[Nikki Kelly]

Hi Mary,

I was a corporate librarian for almost 10 years then was part of a downsizing. My decision to move to school libraries was a great one and I'm happy to be here. The transition was a challenging one as I was accustomed to working with and helping adults. The biggest adjustment was to get accustomed to instructing kids and all that entails because previously I was working with engineers, scientists, MBAs and doctors (and sometimes they're not easy either). Although I'm always busy here I don't miss the high pressure of project deadlines and $500 Dialog searches.

[Cynthia Oubre]

I have always been fascinated with what would it be like working in a library. I have been an elementary teacher for 13 years. I taught grades 3-5 in a math/science lab, then switched to teaching 5th grade science, my favorite grade and subject. The STRESS of teaching a state assessment subject to kids whose prerequisite skills were not taught and it was left up to me to teach them what they had not been taught (bring them up to speed) as well as my own grade curriculum became too great. An opportunity became available to get my MLS and I jumped on it. I will complete the program in June 2010. This is my 2nd year in the library and I am loving it.

[Carina Pierce]

I taught English for two years right out of college, then left and landed in the insurance industry for 13 years. I entered my endorsement and Master's program last year and was lucky enough to get a job this year part-time in a high school library. The transition has been great for me, and I really do love working with kids again. My family is all in school now, so this schedule certainly works great for me because I am home in the afternoons and have those breaks with them. Those weren't such big priorities when I was new to the profession and had no kids at all. One thing that will be an issue for me for a while due to my experience/seniority (or lack of), as well as the current funding issues for libraries, is the instability of my job. I am in a one-year contract now, and looking for work next year. At 41 I will be the low woman on the totem pole for a long time, so this insecurity will be something I have to deal with every year, I'm guessing. As our positions become fewer, I am less likely to be able to stay in the same place year after year.

Good luck! Carina

[Stephanie Paul]

I was a production department manager for a well-known publisher of science journals. I was in publishing for over 20 years before going back to school for my Masters degree in 2004. I graduated in June 2006 and started working in Sept. 2006. The work environment is still an adjustment for me. I'm comfortable in middle school, but working in education is totally different than having a corporate/business type of job. I miss the flexibility of work hours that I had before, especially for the 8 years that I worked from home. The transition from publishing to library media was pretty smooth for me, so I think I made the right decision. Why did I switch? I was ready to go back to work full-time outside the house, but I wanted to have a similar schedule as my children.