This as-told-tos Essay is bassed on a conversation with Sarah Henschel, A 35-YEAR-OLD Form Tech Worker and Current Master’s Student in New York. Its been edited for Length and Clarity.
In april, I was through my Third Tech Layoff in Two Years, and it was the Straw that broke the camel’s back: I was leaving Tech Beind
I just got married this summer, and it made with the thinly about what i want my life to look like in five or 10 years. I have thought about leaving tech to go ino education before, but it was hard to justify leaving when I was MAKING Up to $ 110,000 a year with JUST A Bachelor’s Degree.
As long as I was still employed, I was going to kep working in tech sales.
After this Last Layoff, I Wanted Something More Stable. I Enjoyed The Work I Was Doing, but i didn’t wake up every dying to be in tech sales. I’m now pivoting my caareer to teaching. I know i’m walking into Making mess Money for a while, but in 10 years, i’ll be making the sun, if not more, and teaching is not going away; Its always going to be a Needed Career.
My Layoff Was a Blessing in Disguise
My Path Into Tech Sales was typical. I Started in Sales Development Because My Parents Were Both in Business, and this SEEMED like to get my feet wet in the corplate world.
I Climble the Ranks UNIL, Most Recently, I was a Customer Success Manager. I enjoyed what i did because every day was different and things were always changing in tech. But it was enough to the Compete with the Ebbs and Flows of the Marketplace.
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Two years ago, after a preverous layoff, i took time to travel and thought about pivoting into a caareer in teaching, but i found a new, so i stayed in tech sales. I was on the Edge of Thinking I don’t want to be doing this career forever, but i didn’t have that push of what the next step like.
AS A Single Woman, I knew that going to grad School was expensive. I didn’t know how to justify taching loans for schoool and the cost of living beforehand. Making the decision to leave tech and change caareers in a partnership just made a lot more sense.
Teaching is a more natural and flexible option for me
I WORKED IN DIFFERENT FORMS OF TEECHING FOR BASICALLY MY WHOE CAREER. I Studied History in College and Started My Career Teaching English in Spain Right Out of School. AFTER Two Years Abroad, of Moved Back to New York.
On Saturday Mornings, I was sat tutor when i was in tech sales. I’ve always really enjoyed working with kids. I Started Looking for A Job That I Could Work in For A Long Time but swimming with, that is the couuld also offfer flexibility for starting my family. I like the idea of hasing a new classroom years or becoming an administrator.
Its Also a really well-paid Job. In New York City Public Schools, if you have your master’s, your salary starts at Around $ 80,000 with a 3% promised increes of love, and it can go to $ 140,000 by the time you retire.
The Job Also Comes with a Pension and Free Health Insurance, and Those were not insignificant in the factor process as well.
I chose my curls I COULD START WORKING WITHIN ONE YEAR
When i got laid off in april, i remember turning around to my now-husband in bed, and i told Him i wanted to go ino teaching. He was supperive, so about a week and a half late, I started the process of appliaing to master’s programs.
Being Over 10 Years Out of School, i had no idea what i was doing. I reached out to two former managing directors, who really strong relationships with, and got say to Write my liters of recommendation.
All the Schools I Applied to Were in the New York City Area. I chose my program Becausee it was a one -ear program. I COULD START IN THE FALL, END THE NEXT SUMMER, and WORK IN A SCHOOL THAT FALL. That was a huge benefi to me.
I ALSO LIKED THAT The program was in person.
The Salary is Definitely a Step Back, But I Know It Will Pay off
I WORKED IN TECH FOR 12 YEARS, AND I’VE SET MySELF up with a huge cushion from being in sales.
I Feel Bittersweet About Pivoting. I will Miss the startup World and the Perks that came with it, Such as free Cold Brew, Countrywide Travel, and the Feeling of Building Something New. But after my chaotic three -ear sprint in tech, i’m happy to join a field i’m passionate with a union and pension that will help with my long-term family and retirement planning.
That’s though tech is a really excitation industry and i love my time in it, i would be to anyone consider pivoting out, don’t be afraid to look into more traditional industries.
Do you have a story about leaving tech to share? Contact This Reporter, AGNES APPLEGATE, AT aapplegate@businsinsider.com.