Krytie TV Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I have recently begun to consider the prospect of going back to school. The problem with this is that due to many life complications and yes, failures on my part, I have only been in the working world since 2004. I have an M.Ed (Human Development) plus 45 credits and all this equals out to my financial prospects being absolutely crap without working 2 full time jobs just to earn less than I should be with one. I struggle with just accepting my fate and doing the best with what I have to see where it takes me and going back to school to get a degree that I can actually use, even if it only marginally increases my earning potential (because I fear the day will come when I burn out from what it is I'm qualified to do currently and be in a tough spot). Going back to school, though a step in a positive direction, would represent a complete failure on my part and force me to admit that I absolutely wasted 4 years of grad school and TOUSANDS of dollars. I'm tired of school and if I had a choice would not want to return. I do enjoy helping people and like having a small impact on people's lives, but unfortunately, my career is not kind enough to me. Does anyone have any personal experience that they can relay or other pearls of wisdom? For those unaware, I'm 33 years old, significantly in debt (but it's being addressed), and have amassed student loans that would make a lawyer blush. I hope someone can help me arrive at an answer that works for me. Link to post Share on other sites
Sifu Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Got the T-shirt - in XXXL, yet. 1 PhD, 1 OMD, a slew of other diplomas on the wall. Worked in my field since before I went to school for it. Was doing quite well when I lived in the big cities, but after moving out to the sticks the calling for what I do fell off like a rock. Not unexpectedly, I might add. But marriage blinds you sometimes... Hate to admit it, but when a former lady friend called them "your useless degrees", she might very well have been right. I'm lucky in that I only need to do a few classes a year to stay current. I love the work - indeed, I feel it's my life's work - but since 3 years ago I had to buy a service business and work it hard to stay solvent. So now here I am at an age when I'm supposed to be coasting (by what society says, anyway - I don't much buy into their opinions), but I'm working my butt off. But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I think you might have hit on the magic phrase in your post - "accepting your fate". Fate, destiny, call it what you will - if we can accept and be happy with who and what we are, everything else is small change compared to that. Granted it's the acceptance that's so difficult... Do you NEED to stay in your field? Do you WANT to? Don't make the mistake of chasing something you really don't want to catch, just for the sake of "fulfilling your potential" and "using your degree". That's the one thing I've always had an argument about concerning higher ed - it's become a jobs program, instead of being the all-round liberal education it was originally designed to be. Now you have to know exactly what and who you're going to be 4-10 years down the line. I'm sorry - even the Psychic Friends Network doesn't know THAT much... Life throws curves at us. How we handle them tells us, and others, far more about us than any career path we might follow during a specific time. We let ourselves be defined by what we do and what we're worth, rather than who we really are and how we treat others. BTW - I've got about 16 years on you and I'm still slugging away, but like I said it's my Way - it would be foolish to fight it. And I might be an idiot, but I'm no fool. Link to post Share on other sites
DutchGuy Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Going back to school would mean more expences, more debt. Maybe you'll even stop work for your scholing? Plus, you don't want to go to school, so there's low motivation. I'd count my losses and work hard to get out of debt, maybe you could go to school when your financial situation is better. Link to post Share on other sites
allina Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm not sure what your degrees are in and what they can be applied for but I would try to make them work for you. As a holder of a post grad degree you will be a desirable candidate to many employers. I'm sure that if you put effort in to a search you can find something (maybe not something you originally planned on doing) that you will enjoy and that will make some sort of use of your degrees/knowledge. What you describe is part of the reason why I fear going to school for any sort of post-grad degree. I have a BA in English lit which I enjoyed getting but will probably never use. I somehow got a decent paying job because I have some sort of degree but I have no clue what I really want to do *sigh* Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Kryt, have you considered some form of career as a Human Resources Director? I would guess that you have most of the qualifications to get you there, already. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Kryt, have you considered some form of career as a Human Resources Director? I would guess that you have most of the qualifications to get you there, already. Director of HR??? Hardly. HR Generalist, possibly. Krytie - have you asked yourself what you want to DO? I mean, really DO? I don't think you can decide your next steps without answering that question... Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Director of HR??? Hardly. HR Generalist, possibly. Krytie - have you asked yourself what you want to DO? I mean, really DO? I don't think you can decide your next steps without answering that question... Okay. I don't know enough of the HR industry to comment on what courses Kryt has and what he might need to get somewhere. My assumption was that he would need to work up the ladder towards being a Director of any kind, since it would be his end-goal. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Krytie TV Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm not sure what your degrees are in and what they can be applied for but I would try to make them work for you. As a holder of a post grad degree you will be a desirable candidate to many employers. I'm sure that if you put effort in to a search you can find something (maybe not something you originally planned on doing) that you will enjoy and that will make some sort of use of your degrees/knowledge. Nope, I'm pigeon holed. I am maxed out where I'm at already. All I would have to look forward to is mediocre salary increases yearly with the possibility of management in the (perhaps distant) future. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Krytie TV Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Okay. I don't know enough of the HR industry to comment on what courses Kryt has and what he might need to get somewhere. My assumption was that he would need to work up the ladder towards being a Director of any kind, since it would be his end-goal. Yeah, something of that magnitude would require its own focused graduate degree. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Krytie TV Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Krytie - have you asked yourself what you want to DO? I mean, really DO? I don't think you can decide your next steps without answering that question... I'll be honest with you Star, and I don't know if I've ever heard anyone else say this, but I truly don't know and don't care what I do. I can't really say I have any career passions apart from owning particular forms of businesses in the future. Seriously, work means very little to me. All I want is to make a decent living financially so that I can enjoy life for what it is without having to open a line of credit to take my dog to the vet. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Have you seen this from the Labour Relations Board? http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos021.htm Link to post Share on other sites
IpAncA Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Can you with your degree go into academics? Link to post Share on other sites
jerbear Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 For HR generalists... I would suggest an SHRM certification for PHR or SPHR. Also going back to school for a marginal increase in pay is not really worth it. Honestly, I went thru that and right now my career path has changed but also went back a few steps and years for me. I would suggest if you do decide to go back to school, take your tests again and aim for a "better school" or one that is focused to that career path. If you want to own a few businesses, have you attended a Small Business Association to get an idea of how and what drives you. You might get some ideas and funding methods. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 For HR generalists... I would suggest an SHRM certification for PHR or SPHR. I was just gonna say that. Link to post Share on other sites
Green Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Just look for a new job. Even if your not qualified just apply if you like the pay scale. Would you be happy with something in the 75,000$ because that should be fairly easy. Link to post Share on other sites
IpAncA Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Just look for a new job. Even if your not qualified just apply if you like the pay scale. Would you be happy with something in the 75,000$ because that should be fairly easy. Shoot, sign me up. I want 75 grand a year. I can live comfortable then. Link to post Share on other sites
jerbear Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 HR Generalist make about 35 to 50k starting depending on experience. SPHR requires 5+ years and PHR about 2-3. Link to post Share on other sites
Green Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 its pretty doable if you have a masters and your willing to work hard. Link to post Share on other sites
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