My husband surprised me with this last week He wants to take an EMT course this fall and eventually do that for a living. Why it has to happen "SOON", while I'm trying to save so *I* can go back to school and get a job, I don't know... seems like he'd forget a lot in the 4-ish years it will be before I'd be able to work and he could change jobs. I guess it wouldn't be a big deal if I was already working and making a halfway decent salary, but I've been a SAHM for 9 years

Funniest part about this is how much he hated Biology in high school, said he was failing but his Physics teacher kind of bailed him out.... he wants to go from computers to EMT.

So, anyone else go through this? Drastic change of career? Was it a decrease or increase in salary? How did you survive it?

Yes my dh did the same thing I wanted to go back to work or school & he decided out of the blue he was going back to school instead & did it, but it was hard for me. I had to do everything while he went to school all day every day & still worked 60hrs a week not to mention I had a baby the day he started his schooling. But here we are 1yr after graduation hes got a great job now. SO I guess it was worth it I did end up going back to work too but I waited tell the baby was about 7 months old. And his job at the time paid for his schooling so no money out of our pockets. As much as I wanted him to go to school his timing wasnt the best but it has worked out.

__________________
mom of 3 greats girls

Do you think he is just taking the course to see if he wants to be a EMT? That is a huge difference If my DH came home and told me that ..I think I would pass out..lol Networking is a hot career to be in. Everytime I look at the Want Ads I always see acouple of jobs listed

When Dh retired from the military..He stayed in the same career field. We saw a huge difference in the pay scale!! About 12 years ago he was offered a job ...The owner of the company knew everything my dh did and wanted to hire him to fill 2 postions he had open. Of course he would have alot responabities but nothing more than what he was currently doing on base....Even tho it was hard to down the offer..Our main goal at time was to retire from the military. It's a good thing he did that because technologly moves so quickly and he was right up to speed when he left.

__________________
Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

He already thinks he wants the job without having gone through the training - bought one of these already:

SORRY! No links to ebay auctions are allowed



One of his coworkers used to do this and tells him stories about it, I guess that's what got him so interested in it. I have to wonder why that guy changed jobs

This course is $1500, not sure if his employer will pay any of it. They do pay for education but it's supposed to be job-related and has to be approved, he thinks it'll fall under general safety (he does work at a metalworking plant, kind of dangerous there).

I wish ya'll luck getting the company to pay for it. & hope your dh will be happy with his career move..

I'm sure being a EMT can be rewarding .I just don't think I could handle someone dying on me. I think that would be hardest part of the job. I think both type of jobs are in high demand and it will be nice that he has something to fall back on if he ever needed too.

__________________
Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

could he do it on a volunteer basis for a while before he makes the leap? Our city has a huge volunteer rescue squad-maybe if he did that, he could have the best of both worlds.

I have been an RN for 27 years and couldn't be happier with it. I just know that EMT's aren't paid much and the burn-out/turn-over rate is quite high. He needs to rub shoulders with some active EMT's and see if it's really what he is percieving it to be. Volunteering would be a great way without burning any bridges.

My friend became an EMT and then had to go back to school because he couldn't make enough as an EMT to support his family (although he enjoyed it). He does computer support for a company now. Better look into jobs and pay BEFORE he dives head first.

I went from working in marketing for a fortune 500 company to staying at home with my kids. I started my own business and enjoy it but I miss the pay from the old job. Being self employed costs more than people think it does in terms of time and money I do love having more time with my kids though. Flipside is that my DH is not that flexible when it comes to his job. We rely on his income to pay most of the bills so unless he switched to something with a similar pay, we would have to make drastic changes.

good luck

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Has he ever had a CPR class? I'd start with that and then he can see if it overwhelms him (it did me when I took the class!). I took through the local community college; weekend course for $55. Now I'm certified but certainly hope that I never have to use it -- which is perhaps the main thing that I learned from taking the class. There were a lot of EMT's in the class and so maybe a good way to meet them as well?!

No major career changes for me except that I was a teacher and then stayed at home when I had kids... Love my second career but it doesn't pay much $$$ -- of course, neither did teaching.

I have my degree as an EMT but, I stay at home now ......(im in school to be a doctor and raising our kids!) He might just like helping people,it takes a very special person to do that kind of job. I did it for awhile and there is no higher (or lower) feeling like helping people at their absolute lowest moment, I would suggest you be supportive during this time. He might just be looking for a life change......especially if he is not happy at his job. I think you guys will be okay. You guys should research the pay scale between his now job and his future job......maybe you can start saving now for the career change. That might make it a little easier if he does switch. Good Luck

When dh got out of the army, he thought he was going to do his job in the real world, and make a lot of $$ like all his friends did. When that didn't work out, he started going to school and I started teaching. It was such a pay cut for us- esp having to pay for medical out of pocket.

I know a few medics here- most of them have 2 jobs (I know one who is a medic & a fire fighter, and another who is a teacher and medics on the weekends) .

I hope that he does what is best for your family. It would suck for him to do everything, and then him hate it.

Big career change huh? I own a private ambulance company in New Jersey. I will say, I don't know what he is making right now, but around here, the pay is not great. We start ours at 13.00 an hour. I will say that I tell my guys that you have to truly love what you do to be an EMT.

DH was an EMT for this same company for a few years before we got the chance to buy it, and we struggled financially, but he loved his job, and he didn't come home griping, and that was more important to me at that point. lots of overtime was available as well as flexibility as we run a 24/7type of schedule, so our guys can work days/nights or overnights..or a combination. We had one guy who did all of his shifts in a matter of 3 days and had the rest of the week off, or to do overtime.

Also, we don't pay for the course, but in our state, if you join the volunteer squads they will pay for your course out of the training fund. Then he could still take the course and put in a night a week and a weekend a month to volunteer as well as work. Get lots of experience being a volunteer.

__________________
Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**