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Schooling for DH...HELP!!



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OutATowner




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 8:03 am
I'm sure this is common but we are stuck. DH is currently in kollel. He needs to start working soon. He wants to get a degree/certification of some sort. WHERE DO WE START? He thought he had a BA through a program he did but it's worth nothing in the real world. He wants to go into "social work" but is disillusioned as to what it really is. He thinks you get an MSW then get a job to sit down and shmooze with people about their problems. An older family friend who is in the field does not thik it is for him either. He hates numbers.
Not so interested in Speech, OT, etc. URG! My parents even suggested that we could live with them for a year while he goes to school so we don't have to pay rent/utilities. (I have 2 kids).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
ps. We live out of town but he can travel into Lakewood if necessary for a course. I know it's not always possible but if he could stay in a Jewish environment for as long as possible that would be ideal.
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tovasara




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 10:15 am
Why not have him take some sort of civil service exam to get a job with the government. These are usually secure jobs that they train you for and they come with benefits, usually generous vacation time, pensions, etc.
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Dolly Welsh




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 11:21 am
Athletic? Good with his hands? Tools? Airconditioning repair? HVAC?

Plants? Garden / landscaping service? Certified plant specialist, arborist, horticulturist, landscaper?

Medical aide? Emergency Medical Technician? Physical Therapist? Male nurse? Geriatric specialist?

Court appointed graphologist (handwriting expert)?

Court stenographer?

Look at the want ads at the back of Hamodia newspaper and see what people are asking for.

There are some numbers at play in almost everything a man is going to do. Some people are more afraid of numbers than of snakes. This can be overcome, with gradual exposure. Most "numbers" are utterly basic arithmetic, a few proportions. Summarizable on one page.

In deepest private, he could refresh basic arithmetic and get past this fear. He must never, ever mention to anybody that he hates numbers.

And he can stop hating them. They have their own innocence, their own integrity, their own holiness and purity. G-d likes good record-keeping, accurate paying of debts, stuff like that. Numbers have their place in his studies.
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OutATowner




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 11:31 am
Thanks for your replies!
Civil Service sounds like something we could research. I tried looking online but my computer said the links contained viruses, so I will try again later. We sat down and made a list of random jobs. What was not
crossed off was physical therapy, travel agent (though I don't know anything about the actual job), and possibly OT.
I feel bad, he always wanted to go into SW but it's just not practical for him. I suggested Pharmacy tech, medical aide, etc. but he doesn't want to go into the medical field just to be an assistant. I'm trying to be patient and understanding. If I could, I would go to school but one of us has to make a decent salary and kollel isn't going to cut it. I think we are going to look into PT. He is good with elderly people and I think he would be great. Are there any frum programs or all male? Because that could cause some uncomfortable situations.
Thanks again!
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MaBelleVie




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 11:48 am
There are no all male PT programs. If he will be uncomfortable working with females, he should not go into PT at all. Also, there are a number of math courses that are prerequisites for PT school, including precalculus. Can he pull those? He will need a very strong head for science. Also, you do realize you are looking at about 6 years minimum of schooling, right?
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cm




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 11:51 am
You mentioned Lakewood so I assume you are in the US. The community college system is a very good way to prepare for a career in little time and at minimal cost, compared to for-profit career training. Browsing through a college catalog may be a good starting point.

Dolly Welsh's ideas are all good - start with his interests and strengths, and see what he may be able to do. Before launching into a course, he should certainly talk to as many people as possible in that field to find out what it's really like. If he "must" make a certain income for your family to survive, take that into consideration, but keep in mind that some lower-paying jobs may come with good benefits that make it worthwhile.

There are licensed clinical social workers who work as therapists. If he is serious about counseling as a career, he could find a few and - once again - find out what it's really like. I know a few in private practice; not a good way to get benefits but could be a good path for an entrepreneur, or as a sideline in addition to a "real job."

Hope that helps!

P.S. I just saw your more recent post - we were typing at the same time:

PT now requires a doctorate, according to my own therapist. It's a big commitment - might be great for him, but do some research first.

Some "assistant" jobs are careers in their own right, such as paralegals, physician assistants, dental hygienists, nursing. What about medical technology/therapy (respiratory, dialysis, ultrasound, etc)?

Is he interested in hands-on work like plumbing, or something more cerebral? Indoor work or outdoor? Is he interested in business? Does he have a sales personality?

AYLOR about whether all-male training is required. What about work situations? Is your husband willing to touch female patients?
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Dolly Welsh




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 1:24 pm
No attitude about "assistant" title. We will be reading Avos in two days, and one of the Avos was a sandalmaker. He measured people's sweaty feet.

The title 'assisstant' will disappear into the interesting and useful reality of doing it, and the money.

He can work his way up to Chief Thing from Assistant Thing, but he has to learn the trade first, and start lower.
Use google, and read many pages in google, to get people's anecdotes about what really goes on in these trades and professions.

Some of them are quite well paid if you work hard -better than fancier sounding things.

This is just a gig. It doesn't define him. Torah study defines our men.
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OutATowner




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 2:48 pm
Well, we ruled out PT.
I tried convincing him that an assistant position is not a bad thing. It's not because of his ego, I just think he wants to feel like he is finally doing something...does that make sense? He wants to prove that he could do something...I can't explain it. Especially if we are going to live by my parents for a bit he wants to feel that its for something worthwhile (he gets along very well with them) I think it's fine but he doesn't.
He has been speaking to a lot of people about it. Some discouraged him from SW altogether, a few professionals told him he "has" to move to Brooklyn to get a job in crisis counseling or substance abuse- not happening. He corresponded with a few schools and did research but each ended in a dead end
I still have to look at the civil service site, I saw something about drug abuse.
So, my next question is...Substance Abuse Counselor? Courses in Lakewood? He will do his research with his people but if anyone knows anything about it...
Thanks again!
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MaBelleVie




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 3:10 pm
Whatever you decide, for your own benefit, please do a lot of research. Find out what the realistic job options are, whether there are frequent job openings in your area, and how much the starting salary in your area is. Don't rely on what you read online or what someone in California told you. Speak to someone in your area who has a job in that field, and get the nitty gritty details down before you commit to anything.
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Sherri




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 4:06 pm
Would he see a career counselor? The couple hundred dollars might be a worthwhile investment.
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octopus




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Aug 11 2011, 4:32 pm
male special ed teachers are always in hot demand. especially in the yeshivas. does your dh have a bachelors? because 18 credits into the masters program you can start working.
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