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My old boss told me to quit teaching and try tech support... he was right | Career Switch Diaries - Rigidtalk

My old boss told me to quit teaching and try tech support... he was right

I was a high school history teacher for 6 years in Cleveland and HATED it. My old principal pulled me aside in March 2021 and said I had the patience for tech support, not the classroom. I laughed it off but got laid off that June anyway. Enrolled in a 4 month CompTIA A+ course for $300 and got a help desk job by October. Now I make $48k a year, way less stress, and I actually sleep at night. Has anyone else had a boss or mentor give advice that felt insulting at first but turned out golden?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_burns5mo ago

Flip the script a second here. Maybe your old boss was actually trying to give you a way out without saying you were a bad teacher. I mean, sometimes people in charge see you struggling in a role that just isn't a good fit and they don't want to crush your spirit by saying "you suck at this." Instead they point you toward something your skills are actually good for. It stings at first but it's kinder than letting you keep banging your head against a wall for years. The tech world is full of people who burned out of other careers because they had the wrong job, not wrong skills. Sounds like you found where you fit.

faithf775mo ago

Does your old boss know you ended up thanking him for that push? Cause @river_burns nailed it - he probably saw you spinning your wheels and wanted to hand you a map out without making it hurt worse. Teachers get a raw deal sometimes, told they're failing when really the system's just a bad fit. Your principal had the guts to point at something specific, not just say "you're not cutting it." That takes some skill. Tech support leans on patience and clear thinking, both things history teachers need in spades. Good on you for not letting your pride shut the door.