Lecturer and hate my job

TommyG71 · 09-11-2009 12:09pm #1

Hello,

I have being a Lecturer for the past three years. I hate my job, have no interest and have no idea why I left industry for this position.

I feel I need to get out because its seriously affecting my students who don't learn anything because I cant be bothered teaching them. I started giving them some exam questions so they'll all pass.

Problem is there is no work in Software Design where I live and it takes an hour to commute to Dublin which I'm not prepared to do.

Has anyone ever been in this position? If you were not happy in your job would you leave?

shellyboo · 09-11-2009 12:36pm

There are lots of identifying details in your post... be careful, OP, or you might not have a job to lose if your boss sees this

TommyG71 · 09-11-2009 12:40pm

Not sure I understand you?

shellyboo · 09-11-2009 12:44pm

Like, I could probably find out fairly easily from what you've posted there your name and job title... someone who knows your employers could see this post and it could get you in trouble. Wouldn't you get in trouble if your bosses knew you were giving your students exam questions? You have to be careful!

krudler · 09-11-2009 12:44pm

It wont be too hard for your boss, if they ever read this to figure our who you are is what she meant.

ManBurger · 09-11-2009 1:20pm

Sounds like a disgruntled student wrote this post tbh - no lecturer would be so stupid

JonathanAnon · 09-11-2009 1:30pm

Firstly I agree with the above posts. Putting so much information in a posting is gonna allow you to to be easily identified. I would remove the location and college type, just leave it as generic "lecturer".

Secondly, it is always bad to stay in a job that you dont like. You will be unhappy, and will generally not perform to the best of your abilities. However, I work in computing and now is not a good time to be leaving a stable job and trying to work as a programmer. My brother is a programmer and he is just waiting for his company to pull out so that he can get the redundancy.

Is there any way that the college would allow you to teach a different course or perform a different role within the college? I think leaving a stable job in the current climate would be the last option. You may find it very hard to get another job.

Otherwise you could just use your moodle, I mean noodle ;-) That's if I have the right man

Emme · 09-11-2009 2:11pm

ManBurger wrote: »

Sounds like a disgruntled student wrote this post tbh - no lecturer would be so stupid

I agree. No lecturer could be that stupid. Especially if they teach an IT related area and have previously worked in industry. If it is a student and you're not happy either go to the lecturer and tell him or her your complaint or go to your tutor.

TommyG71 · 09-11-2009 2:15pm

Thanks for the tips guys. I have amended my post.

claiva · 09-11-2009 4:44pm

if you don't like your job, appy for jobs that you do like.....

Whats the problem ?

Ok, so you don't want to commute......nobody does, but we all do it coz we have to !!!!

LegacyUser · 09-11-2009 4:49pm

Dare I say, it still may be obvious who you are.... Presumably if your name is Thomas Gxxxxx and were born in 1971!!

TommyG71 · 09-11-2009 5:06pm

Wrong. My surname dosent begin with G. I was born in 1971 though.

Would it be possible to get your views on what I should do about my situation instead of focusing on my identity?

Emme · 09-11-2009 5:45pm

TommyG71 wrote: »

Wrong. My surname dosent begin with G. I was born in 1971 though.

Would it be possible to get your views on what I should do about my situation instead of focusing on my identity?

Brush up on your spelling and punctuation, get a CV together and go to a careers consultant. Otherwise try to take an interest in your students. They deserve someone who has an interest in them and their subject matter - the future looks bleak for them so a bit of enthusiasm on your part would help them.

Cultivate a more positive attitude. You're not bothered teaching your students, you're not bothered with getting a software design job in Dublin because you don't want to do an hour's commute, what do you want?

The people who will continue working through this recession are those who are willing to put in the effort even though the job they have may not be ideal, and those who are willing to commute to wherever they can find work.

JuliusCaesar · 09-11-2009 10:29pm

What do you hate about your job? Don't you like the teaching part? The interaction with students? The research part? The admin? The marking? The exam setting? Are there any bits of your job you do like? What bits of previous jobs did you like?
Do you want a complete change? Can you retrain or learn something different - even by taking a night degree? Why are you so against moving from where you are?
Can you go part-time and do something else the other days - another job/learning/concentrate on hobby or whatever.

Sorry for all the questions, but only you can bring about change.

PS if you are giving your students exam questions, it will come out, and then you'll be up the creek. So don't.

kmick · 10-11-2009 9:22am

An hours drive to Dublin is not the end of the world if you hate your job that much. How do you know you will not be equally as bored?

Vyse · 10-11-2009 12:14pm

kmick wrote: »

How do you know you will not be equally as bored?

Very true point. You'll find that the majority of people are not overjoyed with their jobs. I personally hate mine and find it pointless. Ironic as it seems I've often thought that being a lecturer would be very fulfilling. The grass is always greener and all that....

DaMooseDog · 10-11-2009 2:04pm

I was in this situation a few years ago, didn't like what I was doing (which was software-related at the time). The first advice I can give to you from my experience is not to be too rash about moving into something else - for example while I don't know your exact situation, sometimes there are underlying psychological reasons why people are unhappy in work, rather than the actual work situation itself.

Sometimes only a few small tweaks to your situation can make you much happier - again, that is for you to establish/discover. I made a rather drastic career change, which was still a very positive move overall and I'm much better for it, however my career direction has evolved such that it's not that divorced from what I originally left, so perhaps I could have made the career switch with less effort than it actually took, however every situation is different I guess.

Be proactive, regain a positive attitude first if necessary, then read up on career options and seek advice, but from my experience I wouldn't make any rash decisions right now if feeling negative/blue in general.

simu · 10-11-2009 2:41pm

TommyG71 wrote: »

Hello,

I feel I need to get out because its seriously affecting my students who don't learn anything because I cant be bothered teaching them. I started giving them some exam questions so they'll all pass.

That's just irresponsible and you're letting your students down. Would it kill you to make an effort until you quit or find another job or whatever?

kjl · 10-11-2009 2:50pm

Im in software development too, my company lets me work from home most days. In fact a lot of the developers are doing this now, it saves the company loads.

Giving the students the exam questions is not a bad thing as long as you give them every possible question you can ask.

Personally I think you need to grow up, you're 38 and you sound like a child. I would hate to have you as a lecture, you sound like one of those boring ones that there is no point in going to.

I take it you teach programming, why don't actualy teach someone, instead of just giving them the questions.

for shame sir, for shame.

Lecturer and hate my job

Comments