Career challenges

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I'm contending with extreme boredom.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If someone tried to run that BS by me I would promptly respond 'And how much more money does that get me?'

It doesn't get you more money but it does avoid the inevitable pigeonholing if you do the same thing too long.

And, of course, it helps you expand your skillset.

Edited May 4, 2010 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Here's a question.

For reasons that I don't wish to go into, the job that I currently do while perfectly fine and with a good income has very few mental challenges.

If I was still in the UK at this point I would have started training to become a magistrate, this is a voluntary position in the UK and serves a useful service while providing a challenging and interesting environment. Is there anything equivelant that I could get involved in in the US?

What does a magistrate do?

I'm contending with extreme boredom.

What do you plan to do about it?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'd like to one day teach Math, but getting my credentials is going to be put on hold for now as we're looking to get my wife into a dental hygienist program.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'd like to one day teach Math, but getting my credentials is going to be put on hold for now as we're looking to get my wife into a dental hygienist program.

Why can't you do both?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why can't you do both?

If it's possible, I certainly will try. We're also looking to moving to Arizona where the cost of living is considerably less.

[Peikko 1,575]

What does a magistrate do?

What do you plan to do about it?

Magistrates adjudicate simple offenses and misdemeanors and evaluate whether a case is too complex for the magistarte court and whether it should be sent to a higher court with a judge and jury. It's an unpaid, voluntary position and only requires one to attend court session on a part time basis - normally once or twice a week.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

What do you plan to do about it?

Good question. Perhaps grad school.

The main (self-imposed) problem is that I'm a freelancer and find it difficult to turn down work. So I get into a cycle where I'm swamped with work and don't devote much time to looking for something else, much less preparing for a different career. Of course, I'm also very indecisive, and what I think I might want to pursue changes daily. But I am seriously thinking about library school. I'd be the third librarian in my immediate family. *geek snort*

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We're also looking to moving to Arizona where the cost of living is considerably less.

Go for it!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Magistrates adjudicate simple offenses and misdemeanors and evaluate whether a case is too complex for the magistarte court and whether it should be sent to a higher court with a judge and jury. It's an unpaid, voluntary position and only requires one to attend court session on a part time basis - normally once or twice a week.

Interesting. Sounds like fun.

I'm also very indecisive, and what I think I might want to pursue changes daily.

Sounds familiar.....................

[PhiLandShiR 18]

It doesn't get you more money but it does avoid the inevitable pigeonholing if you do the same thing too long.

And, of course, it helps you expand your skillset.

Maybe... or you can avoid it by moving on to another company. Enough people do that and maybe they will learn its bad policy...

My skill set gets expanded when I get paid to expand it. I don't work cause its fun, I work cause I get paid to.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Maybe... or you can avoid it by moving on to another company. Enough people do that and maybe they will learn its bad policy...

My skill set gets expanded when I get paid to expand it. I don't work cause its fun, I work cause I get paid to.

I understand and agree. But it may be worth it to expand your skillset for the same pay in the short term so you can move on to another company at a significantly higher pay rate in the long term.

[Peikko 1,575]

Interesting. Sounds like fun.

Sounds familiar.....................

I know, I would really like to do something like that and was actually hoping someone might have some suggestions. My priorities are that it is something that would provide a useful service, provide some intellectual stimulation and not take up an inordinate amount of my spare time - beyond a training period. I am quite happy to undergo periods of intensive training but once trained I would prefer it if I only had to volunteer a portion of my spare time.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I know, I would really like to do something like that and was actually hoping someone might have some suggestions. My priorities are that it is something that would provide a useful service, provide some intellectual stimulation and not take up an inordinate amount of my spare time - beyond a training period. I am quite happy to undergo periods of intensive training but once trained I would prefer it if I only had to volunteer a portion of my spare time.

Political organizations are always looking for volunteers with financial experience to do budget work and negotiate with vendors.

[Dan J 277]

Here's a question.

For reasons that I don't wish to go into, the job that I currently do while perfectly fine and with a good income has very few mental challenges.

If I was still in the UK at this point I would have started training to become a magistrate, this is a voluntary position in the UK and serves a useful service while providing a challenging and interesting environment. Is there anything equivelant that I could get involved in in the US?

I think becoming a mediator in a non-profit org, that provides community mediation services, would probably be the closest thing the US has to a magistrate. There are lower level judges, but those positions are often full time (and elected offices in some places).