I just noticed this post. Here's a thought. Does your school, or school district (don't know how big your outfit is) have an IT department where this type of job is on offer? You might try getting in there if you can. I'm a pc tech in a medium/small district I guess. 12 schools. My day is usually completely varied. A mixture of help desk calls, field troubleshooting, installation what have you.

For example. Today, I started off on the help desk with a few calls from folks who couldn't remember their passwords or had lost network connectivity. Basic stuff. Then I had to go to one of our schools where a teacher had an apparent problem with her smart board, which turned out to be that her projector bulb had blown. Had to get with the librarian who deals with such supplies to see if they had any in stock. Nope. Got it on order and will return to install when it arrives. Then had to attend a construction site meeting at another school where we are building a gymnasium and liase with the architects and builders to make sure the project is proceeding as planned and our computer conduits and network points are being properly installed. Then back to the office to find the Superintendents secretary was supposed to get a new double monitor setup so had to assemble that for her. Another school needed new access cards for some staff members so programmed those and delivered them to the school. Then off to another school to where a teacher had a dreadful mess of cables that needed sorting thru to get her document camera set up with her laptop and working with the newly installed smart board. Then back to the office for a leisurely afternoon nap (not really of course ) which turned out not be as more folks had help desk calls in for password resets. Then a couple of principals needed their voice mail pin's reset as they'd forgotten them. Then a teacher showed up to take delivery of her laptop which we issued and instructed on the use and made sure she could log in to it ok. Then an administrator brought her laptop in because she couldn't get any internet access. Turned her wireless button on for her and sent her on her way and then finally - another administrator showed up looking for a laptop to use for a presentation that had a DVD drive in it. Most of ours don't so had to scrounge one up for her, make sure she could log in to it and the DVD would play etc.

No cabling tasks as such today but I often have to do Cat5 cabling as well when required.

Reason my day is so varied is we are a small department (only three tech's between 12 schools for example) The money's not great and there are certainly times I've wondered why the hell I put up with the crap that goes down in schools.

But truth be told I enjoy the job for the most part and am happy to be here.

If you can find such a position in schools, even if you have to start at the bottom it might be a good foot in the door.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

On a related note, my wife got an e-mail today from DPS stating that Denver Public Schools is looking for 800 new teachers for next year and is offering bonuses to anyone who can find one!

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Marijuana bonus?

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

The $140,000-a-Year Welding Job - WSJ


............Instead, he attended Texas State Technical College in Waco, and received a two-year degree in welding. In 2013, his first full year as a welder, his income was about $130,000, more than triple the average annual wages for welders in the U.S. In 2014, Mr. Friend’s income rose to about $140,000.

You are doing it Hatttersguy. The problem is too find the time to do your enjoyable past times as you are finding out already. This ideal that you get more time as you get older did not really seem to pan out that well in reality for me.

There always seems to be a list of things you have to get to. You do adjust to some extent I suppose. One problem I have isolated a long time ago is everything you own does or will need some attention at some point.

Keeping down the total amount of acquisitions over the years might help. I am now well aware of why most people eventually downsize.