desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 (edited) Our plan is for me to return to work in approximately 2 years. I will be the main breadwinner. We will be debt-free, solar powered, vehicles paid, mortgage free. We only have to pay for food and water, and life maintenance type stuff. I'm not sure of numbers, but we wouldn't need much. I have worked in childcare, but I don't want to do that. I have worked in the medical field, but I have no certifications or anything. I HATED nursing, but I'd be willing to go back into something medical related. Maybe. I cannot do office work. I'm not cut out for it. I will be miserable. I went back to school for Behavioral Sciences. I am qualified as a Behavioral Health Tech. This was my plan, but I'm not sure this is what I want to do. I would work in a residential facility of some kind. I want shift work. 12s would be ideal. I do not want a 9-5, being away from my kids for 5 days a week. I don't want to do a masters or any more college, but I would be happy to do some vocational training, certifications, something. I will need to get my certifications updated if I go into medical/psychiatric field. I can't physically do EMT/Paramedic work anymore, so I think that's out. I could maybe do medical escort work (which I did in the past). But I'm afraid there would be lifting, and I would definitely be injured. I'm thinking about hiring on with a home health/medical staffing company. At least to get my feet wet. I haven't worked in a LONG time. Ugh. I just don't know what to do. Edited August 25, 2017 by desertstrawberry5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLife Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 (edited) How about an in-home sitter for the elderly? ETA: I'm sure there is a professional name for this, but cannot think of it at the moment. Edited August 25, 2017 by MyLife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 (edited) How about an in-home sitter for the elderly? ETA: I'm sure their is a professional name for this, but cannot think of it at the moment. Caregiver or carer is the term depending on where you are. This is likely where the staffing company would put me. At least today, this is where I;m thinking I want to go. Just short term to get some fresh work experience and my certifications and trainings updated. I have spoken with some people, and they were warm and welcoming. They have a residential facility (for adolescents I think) which would be wonderful, but they also do in-home placements. Edited August 25, 2017 by desertstrawberry5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Home health often involves significant physical work, so be careful about your limitations there. Many patients require occasional if not routine lifting/helping to bathe/change clothes/diapers/etc. Some even require help getting in and out of bed. It's also horribly underpaid. When I hired aides through an agency, I paid $21/hr and the aides got $9/hr with pretty much zero benefits. I hired a private-pay person for $15/hr with benefits . . . That cost me about the same as the agency, but was MUCH better for her. So, I'd definitely look into wages where you live before embarking on this career. The worst thing, IMHO, was/is that super experienced and skillful folks (like the woman I hired private pay) get almost no raises over the years through agencies. She's worked for the same agency for over a decade, and was making maybe a dollar or two over our state's minimum wage . . . with nearly zero benefits. Very depressing, IMHO, and it leads to folks working HUGE overtime hours, or, like my private-pay aide, working for multiple employers. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Behavioral tech is a $30k salary where I live, BCBA is more in the lines of $50-60k. Does BCBA work interest you? IME, having your home paid off is lovely, but there are still home maintenance costs (new roof, new HVAC, etc.). Having your vehicles paid off is lovely for a time, but then there is a need for replacement. I think your idea of shift work, guaranteed/steady hours, and corporate health insurance is lovely. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Home health often involves significant physical work, so be careful about your limitations there. Many patients require occasional if not routine lifting/helping to bathe/change clothes/diapers/etc. Some even require help getting in and out of bed. It's also horribly underpaid. When I hired aides through an agency, I paid $21/hr and the aides got $9/hr with pretty much zero benefits. I hired a private-pay person for $15/hr with benefits . . . That cost me about the same as the agency, but was MUCH better for her. So, I'd definitely look into wages where you live before embarking on this career. The worst thing, IMHO, was/is that super experienced and skillful folks (like the woman I hired private pay) get almost no raises over the years through agencies. She's worked for the same agency for over a decade, and was making maybe a dollar or two over our state's minimum wage . . . with nearly zero benefits. Very depressing, IMHO, and it leads to folks working HUGE overtime hours, or, like my private-pay aide, working for multiple employers. All valid concerns. I hadn't considered that I would have to do lifting here as well. That's a no. The pay is low, but better than I've had in the past (sadly). I would definitely not do this long term. It's not a sustainable long term career IMO, which is why there's such a high turnover and high demand. Which makes it an easy starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I don't know how much those things pay but I would definitely keep in mind that paid vehicles doesn't mean you wouldn't need to get a new one or have some major expense later. So in other words, I agree with removing childcare from the list. Wouldn't pay much. For the in home health stuff, yes, it can require physical work. My mom has a homecare person come twice a week for a few hours to give my dad a break. She requires people to lift her. She is physically very weak and has had trouble gaining weight (has Parkinson's). I do not know what they pay, but the cost of having them is not cheap. I might consider not taking on main breadwinner status in lieu of working school hours or such if that's doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Behavioral tech is a $30k salary where I live, BCBA is more in the lines of $50-60k. Does BCBA work interest you? IME, having your home paid off is lovely, but there are still home maintenance costs (new roof, new HVAC, etc.). Having your vehicles paid off is lovely for a time, but then there is a need for replacement. I think your idea of shift work, guaranteed/steady hours, and corporate health insurance is lovely. I do have some training in BCBA, but I'm not certified. I haven't seen openings here, but where we were before, they required a masters, which I don't have. I don't love the idea, but I would consider it. We are having all of that work done on the house now, which of course won't last forever, but should last a long time. We buy our vehicles at auction. I'm watching three for tomorrow, minivans comparable to the one I have now going for $55 to $2500. They won't last long, but If I can get a year or two of use out of a $100 vehicle, it's good. We don't really even need health insurance, as we have VA benefits. I would prefer it, but if I can't get it, nbd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Is having health insurance benefits a concern? If so, that might influence the type of careers to look at. Hospital type jobs such as X-ray tech, ultrasound tech, etc. would likely include insurance. Two lower paying ways to get into a hospital would be pletobomist and pharmacy tech. At least here, both can be done with on the job training, although there are also tech college routes. At hospitals, both of these jobs can be done in long shifts rather than 9-5. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 I guess that my biggest stopping point is that I feel lukewarm about all of my options. I just don't know that I'm looking in the right field. But I don't have a burning passion for anything. :sad: I don't want a job that I dread and hate, and then bring all that misery home with me. But what can I not feel that way about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Since you have some medical experience and it sounds like some EMT experience, what about being a dispatcher or 911 operator? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Is having health insurance benefits a concern? If so, that might influence the type of careers to look at. Hospital type jobs such as X-ray tech, ultrasound tech, etc. would likely include insurance. Two lower paying ways to get into a hospital would be pletobomist and pharmacy tech. At least here, both can be done with on the job training, although there are also tech college routes. At hospitals, both of these jobs can be done in long shifts rather than 9-5. Oooh, I loved phlebotomy. Good idea. I would like pharm tech, too. I haven't looked into that program yet. No, we don't need health insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Since you have some medical experience and it sounds like some EMT experience, what about being a dispatcher or 911 operator? Ooh, I would like to do 911. I worked a help line, too. While it is stressful, I have more maturity now, and I generally liked it. Good suggestions. Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I guess that my biggest stopping point is that I feel lukewarm about all of my options. I just don't know that I'm looking in the right field. But I don't have a burning passion for anything. :sad: I don't want a job that I dread and hate, and then bring all that misery home with me. But what can I not feel that way about?Have you taken any career interest tests? I would guess that most people have jobs that fall somewhere in the middle between a burning passion and dread/hate. It's overall fine, but they don't absolutely love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 I don't know how much those things pay but I would definitely keep in mind that paid vehicles doesn't mean you wouldn't need to get a new one or have some major expense later. So in other words, I agree with removing childcare from the list. Wouldn't pay much. For the in home health stuff, yes, it can require physical work. My mom has a homecare person come twice a week for a few hours to give my dad a break. She requires people to lift her. She is physically very weak and has had trouble gaining weight (has Parkinson's). I do not know what they pay, but the cost of having them is not cheap. I might consider not taking on main breadwinner status in lieu of working school hours or such if that's doable. We have substantial savings and D will still be bringing in some income. We should be alright with not a lot of $$. He's basically just retiring early. What does the bolded mean? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Have you taken any career interest tests? I would guess that most people have jobs that fall somewhere in the middle between a burning passion and dread/hate. It's overall fine, but they don't absolutely love it. Not in a long time. I have worked in all of the fields that I scored well in, and, you know, I guess I'm kind of done with those. I will take some see where they lead me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Oooh, I loved phlebotomy. Good idea. I would like pharm tech, too. I haven't looked into that program yet. No, we don't need health insurance. You might check and see if your local hospital has any sort of career exploration or job shadowing program. My husband did this when he was considering a job change and now works at the same hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 911 operator? (Suggesting because our center is hiring, and now dd wishes she was 18.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 We have substantial savings and D will still be bringing in some income. We should be alright with not a lot of $$. He's basically just retiring early. What does the bolded mean? I meant that if you could find something with shorter hours like those you'd find in a school, you may be able to get FT status, but see your kids more than 9-5 jobs (or at least be home earlier in the afternoon). And I said maybe not consider yourself main breadwinner (if you both worked then you'd have less pressure to earn big $) because school jobs notoriously don't pay a whole lot. I could be off in my thinking. I interviewed for an assistant teacher job this summer and their hours were like 6:45-3 or something like that but I do think some are more like 7:30-3. The pay was ridiculously low, though. Of course that was a job for someone without a teaching certificate so that's to be expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I guess that my biggest stopping point is that I feel lukewarm about all of my options. I just don't know that I'm looking in the right field. But I don't have a burning passion for anything. :sad: I don't want a job that I dread and hate, and then bring all that misery home with me. But what can I not feel that way about? Do you have any hobbies that you could turn into a homebased business? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 What about something completely new? Like just take a class or two, maybe on-line or through a local CC or nearby city in something completely different from anything you have tried before, even if it doesn't immediately sound appealing. Maybe digital arts or something. It could lead to something else which might lead to something else and you could end up with something you really enjoy that wasn't ever even on your radar. Taking that first step into something new may also give you some inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Child Life maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 What about working at a hospital in admissions or something. They always have people in the middle of the night so you should be able to get shift work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ealp2009 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Ultrasound techs or radiology techs make a good amount of money and it is an associates degree. And it is usually shift work. Although there maybe call. So you should investigate where you would want to be employed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertstrawberry5 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Do you have any hobbies that you could turn into a homebased business? I have done this twice. IME it's not enough to live on at all. It takes a long time to turn a profit. I would do it as a side job, but I'd still need something. And yes I probably will do it again. But that's not what I'm taking about now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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