Monday, June 13, 2022

By Sarah Page

The concept of a dream job is obsolete…

I have a dream contribution.

I have no criticisms of those who strive to obtain a certain position with a choice company. I am not attacking you. I request that you assume positive intentions while I reframe the idea of a “dream job”.

A dream job is a destination.

For our post-WWII (grand)parents, happiness was a destination. It was marriage, kids and property. A good husband found a good job at a good company and dutifully served an omniscient boss.

(Though I have no concept of how any work got done without a computer.)

He offered his wife and children stability, predictability and reliability. Once he arrived at that job, he was expected to placidly maintain a 9-to-5 for 40 years. He didn’t have to like it but he had to do it. If he could somehow acquire a stable job that gave him purpose, that was a dream.

I am not saying our lives today are better. I am not saying our lives today are worse. I am saying our lives today are different.

Humans are evolving, and with us, so is our work. Remote work allows for the fluidity of diverse part-time roles in multiple settings. We are no longer looking to arrive at the destination of a single dream job to have and to hold until retirement parts us. Our work, and the ways in which we serve others, is a journey.

Being a classroom teacher was my dream job. I proudly achieved that dream for 12 years. I struggled. I failed. I learned. I grew. I accomplished. I outgrew. I needed a change.

The vapidness of the pandemic was my catalyst for a change; however, the power and opportunity of Distance Learning’s blank canvas was my inspiration.

After creating content for the district-wide AVID program that reached over 500 students, I wondered “how many more students can I reach if I work in EdTech”? I started looking for possible positions and became elated with the idea of what I could contribute to a larger audience through private industry.

As I look for a job in an EdTech company, I don’t have a dream job or company. My dream contribution is to be a member of our now global society of educators who are revolutionizing our school systems.

What’s your dream contribution?

#edtech #dreamjob #dreamcontribution

Sunday, May 22, 2022

By Sarah Page

I'm enjoying the job hunt...

Even benefiting from it.

It’s a learning process.

Other than the "kill" of actually finding a position, here are my top reasons why I dig being on the job prowl...

(Disclaimer: I’m not saying this because I have the financial luxury of long term unemployment. I foolishly squandered the fortune I made in my decade of public ed. Ya know, in all my free time. I have neither a trust fund nor a wealthy spouse to lean on. Hell, I don’t even have a poor spouse to lean on. I need both a purpose and a paycheck.)

1. Self-Discovery: Previously, the private sector was a thorny jungle that’s bizarrely balanced between barren and bustling, with lions, tigers and Python. I spent this school year “just browsing” EdTech companies and careers. It reminded me of why I majored in PR. I love writing, designing, event planning, community building, leading, learning, problem solving and, most of all, being challenged. Now, I'm energized by how I could be part of our global society of educators that is rewriting our school systems.

2. Marketing: It’s the ultimate marketing campaign because I’m learning how to market myself. I built a website (sarah-page.com), improved my InDesign skills, discovered Canva and revisited my love of writing. Now, when I walk into a budding business, I ponder how I could help them blossom. How are they already marketing themselves? How are they reaching their target audience? How could I do more? I’m charged by the idea that I could have full time employment helping a company expand and better serving their target audience.

3. Problem Solving: I didn’t realize how competitive the EdTech market was until I started my search. It’s a jungle out there. Thousands of seemingly identical candidates reach for the same positions. I’ve applied for a few jobs with no response. I'm not going to hit my head against the wall just doing the same thing. I have to analyze how to make myself standout. I question my process daily. How is everyone else doing this and how can I do it better?

4. Expanding My Network: I’ve spent the last decade collaborating only with the teachers at my school. I’m not complaining; they’re brilliant. However, after just a few months on LinkedIn, I’ve connected with international educators, employers, entrepreneurs and authors.

In June 2021, I made the decision that this school year would be my last in the classroom. A year later, I’m a stronger candidate. I have a better idea of what I can contribute to a company's climate. Instead of looking for anyone who will take me, I want to find my place in the EdTech ecosystem.