u/GlumNewspaper5015

Edit/update because I don't think I explained the situation very well in my original post

I completely understand why everyone is saying “WHY would you leave a $120K stable job for a $38/hr 6month contract?” here is my breakdown:

My current job:

• $120K salary
• 5 days/week in the office
• ~40 miles round trip every day, which ends up being roughly 2 hours of driving per day
• Medical insurance isn’t great. If I want better coverage, I’d be paying around $300/month.
• I work for a small school district and wear A LOT of hats. I’m essentially the only HR person AND the executive assistant. also emergency worker if something happens
• I support leadership with pretty much everything HR-related, while also handling their administrative needs.
• When my predecessor retired, I basically had to build the HR function from the ground up documentation, tracking systems, processes, etc. There was no one in the district to train me, so I had to reach out to neighboring districts and figure a lot of it out myself.
• I’m entering my 3rd year in school district HR and I’m already extremely burnt out
• A lot of my time is spent putting out fires created by leadership. Our superintendent is also retiring soon, and honestly, it feels like she’s mentally checked out already.
• Most of my coworkers are either nearing retirement or already planning for it. There’s very little energy or motivation around me, and I’m finding myself dreading work more and more.

So yes, pay is good.That is honestly the biggest thing keeping me there.

But I’m 30F, and I don’t see myself wanting to spend the next 10+ years in this environment. I’m much more interested in innovation, technology, and being around people who are excited about what they’re building and doing.

===

A recruiter reached out to me about a 6month contract position at Salesforce for ~$40/hr**.** It would be 3 days/week in the office in Sf.

Financially, I KNOW this is a huge step backward. I’m not pretending otherwise. I’d be taking a significant pay cut, and there is no guarantee the contract gets extended or turns into a full-time position.

But there are some things that make this opportunity particularly interesting to me:

• I’ve been applying to full-time tech roles for MONTHS and getting rejected because I don’t have direct tech experience.
• This could potentially be my first real entry point into the tech industry.
• I’d be working at a major tech company and could start building actual tech-industry experience and a network.
• I’d be in San Francisco, where my partner lives, so it would also give us the opportunity to finally live together
• I’d hopefully be around more people my age who are ambitious and actually excited about their careers.
• Most importantly, it feels like there could be a path forward from this that I simply don't see in my current role.

And I know someone is probably going to say--“Just keep applying until you get a fulltime tech job**.”** ive been!That’s part of why this opportunity caught my attention. I’m having a hard time getting someone to give me that first opportunity because I don’t have direct tech experience.

I’m also confident in my ability to work hard and make myself valuable once I’m somewhere. I’ve had to build an HR function essentially from scratch with very little support, so I’m not afraid of figuring things out or taking on a lot of responsibility.

Would you take a significant financial step backward for 6 months if it potentially gave you a way into the career/industry you actually want to be in?

Or am I completely crazy for even considering this? 😅

Update — I am currently HR Program Analyst and an Executive Assistant .. this contract opportunity is for recruiting .. I heard recruiting may be an easier route to enter tech.. I think I just really need help setting up goals for what I’m doing career wise. I don’t feel good in my current job. My parents also don’t have a good retirement plan so I feel like I need to be making good money to also support them.. I am their retirement plan!

I (30F in SF) feel frustrated that I didn't do more professionally in my 20s, and I'm trying to figure out what my next move should be.
I went to a pretty good school but didn't really network or build meaningful prof connections. Part of that was because I genuinely had no idea what I wanted to do after college
I graduated with a psych degree, then completed a post-bacc in pre-health. During COVID, I worked in healthcare and quickly realized it wasn't the right fit for me. I needed an exit so I accepted a health office position with a school district. From there, I was promoted into HR and eventually took another HR role at a different district. Now I'm essentially running HR by myself… I’m the sole person and there aren’t other positions to learn/get promoted to
Lately, I can't shake the feeling that I took a path that doesn't have much room for growth. You know that SpongeBob meme where Squidward is looking out the window watching SpongeBob and Patrick have fun? That's how I feel! I see people I vaguely knew from college working in solid tech roles with interesting career paths, while I feel like I somehow ended up in a career cul-de-sac
I've tried reaching out to people on LinkedIn, attending networking events, and putting myself out there, but nothing has really led anywhere. I'm also 1st gen, and my parents worked blue-collar jobs, so I didn't grow up with professional networks or people who could make intros

I'm trying to be productive instead of just venting. For people who have successfully pivoted into tech (or another industry), what actually worked?
How did you build a network when you didn't already have one?
Did a master's degree actually help, or was it more about experience and relationships?
How do you meet people who are willing to genuinely vouch for you if you don't already know them personally?

I’m an HR professional in the SF Bay Area, and I’m trying to understand what is preventing me from moving from public education into a larger private sector or tech company.

I have worked in 2 school districts. At my previous district, I initially spent about two years running a school health office. Although the setting was healthcare related, what I enjoyed most was the operational side: building tracking systems, organizing information, improving workflows, using technology and making sure the office ran efficiently.i was later promoted into HR and I am now a director assistant and HR Analyst at another district. I essentially operate as an HR department of one while also supporting leadership and governing trustees.

I have implemented new systems, digitized manual processes and reduced onboarding time through workflow improvements and automation. I have tried to make those accomplishments clear on my resume rather than describing my experience as basic school administration. I also removed gov working and made it more tech jargon

At this point, I feel completely maxed out.

There is no larger HR team to learn from, no real internal path for advancement and limited exposure to modern enterprise systems. I am also realizing that the work I enjoy most is the backend side of HR: systems, data, reporting, process improvement and creating organized workflows. I am less interested in recruiting, constant employee interruptions or becoming an employee-relations person.

I have been applying to positions for a while now and I am struggling to gain traction and am starting to wonder whether employers see “school district” and assume my experience is too administrative or not transferable.

Also debating whether I need a master’s degree, an HR certification or more technical training

If you have any suggestions please let me know. I’m just itching to get out..!

I'm looking for some career advice from people who've worked in both public sector and tech (preferably)
I currently work in a small school district in the Bay Area and honestly I'm feeling pretty burned out.
My position is a merge of HR, operations, and executive support. I'm essentially a department of one. I handle hiring, onboarding, workers comp, leaves, policies, employee issues, benefits, HR systems, records, board support, executive support, compliance, reporting, and whatever operational problem comes up that day.
A lot of the work feels like trying to solve big organizational problems with limited budgets, outdated systems, and constantly changing policies and regulations. A lot of coworkers stay stuck in an outdated process and don’t adapt.

I'm currently in the process of digitizing years of paper-based HR processes and replacing filing cabinets with actual systems and workflows.
My job can be inefficient, scrappy, exhausting, and sometimes frustrating, especially since I work alone.
many of my coworkers are nearing retirement, there is a lot of institutional knowledge to preserve, and it feels like there's an increasing amount of responsibility being placed on fewer people.
Lately I've been applying to People Operations, HR Operations, HRIS, and systems focused jobs in tech, but I've had very little success. Part of me wonders if companies see "school district" on my resume and assume the experience isn't relevant.
For those who have made the jump from government/public sector to tech:
Is tech actually better?
I’m feeling worried that I’m digging myself into a deeper hole and I won’t be able to get out of the government job label

Would love some insights thank you.

I recently joined a school district as the sole HR person. One thing I've enjoyed is that the role has felt somewhat startup-like..I inherited a largely manual function and have been implementing systems, digitizing processes, and building things from the ground up.
Recently, I learned that three administrators are expected to retire within 2 years. However, the district is also trying to reduce administrative positions, so it doesn't sound like those roles will necessarily be replaced. I think two may get merged..
As someone who just started, I'm wondering whether this is an opportunity to gain experience and visibility, or a sign that I'll simply inherit more responsibilities without a clear path for advancement.
Long-term, I'm interested in HR Operations and People Ops in tech because I enjoy the systems, process improvement, and technology side of HR more than traditional HR work.
If you were in my position, would you stay and see how things unfold, or start looking for roles that offer a more defined growth path?

I’m (30F) feeling really stuck in my career and could use some advice.
I work in HR for a school district where I handle a wide range of responsibilities (honestly, most of it on my own), so I know I’ve built strong, transferable skills. I’ve been trying to move into tech (HR/People Ops or similar roles), but I haven’t gotten any traction at all no responses so far.
I have a background in science/research. I initially was aiming for the medical route then decided not to pursue it during COVID. I needed a job and a district promoted me to HR. I feel sooo stuck/alone and most of the time feel like Toby!It’s starting to feel like I’m either being filtered out or not positioning my experience the right way. I’m also feeling pretty burned out from all the red tape and ready for a more fast-paced, intellectually engaging environment.
Any advice would be great. Thanks!

I’m feeling like squidward when his life started to feel boring and too repetitive and lacked social stimulus. Maybe I need a reef blower

I (30F) am born and raised in the Bay Area yet feel so lonely and I STILL have difficulties finding my niche. I am from a different cultural background than from the majority of people I meet which could be the reason since my habits seem a bit different. But just want to know how did you find your circle? What do you do when you’re not working?

I (30F) work as a solo HR specialist for a small school district and I’ve been feeling pretty isolated/uninspired. I handle everything myself, and while I’ve learned a lot, the long hours and lack of a team have been tough.

I’ve been curious about HR roles in tech especially since friends in that space seem to have more collaboration, growth opportunities, and exposure to new ideas. But I’m wondering if I might be idealizing it from the outside.

Hows it like working in a tech company?

Is it realistic to transition from a school district HR role into tech?

I’ve been applying for a while now but haven’t had responses.