School or Job?
 

I was notified today that I am one of a dozen students who have been accepted into Graduate program. It’s a two year boot camp; if you complete it, you get an MFA degree and are able to teach among other things.

I graduated from college as an undergrad a year and a half ago. I had a very difficult time finding a full-time job. I went on two interviews and things just weren’t going my way. As a student, I interned for a very big company ; they offered me a part time gig (couple days a week) after graduation. While working part time, I decided I may as well go back to school since I wasn’t able to land my dream job. I studied for the GRE’s, and eventually submitted my application.

Approximately six months ago, someone quit, and the company asked me to work five days a week instead of two. The work I was doing was a dream come true, and I really learned a lot. The company decided not to replace the person who quit, but instead allow people like myself and a few others to share the hours. I was told that nothing is guaranteed, but eventually I may get a chance to work full-time. I was just glad to be working, and doing what I loved.

Within the last two months, I have been working on a part time basis. I have been told that I will know before the end of the summer whether the company plans to offer me a full time position or not.

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Graduate program officials have given me two weeks to let them know whether I am accepting my seat in the program. At work, the people who will make the decision whether to hire me or not have not told me one way or the other. Should I call my boss and tell him what I just told you? I never told anyone at work that I applied for Graduate School. I am not sure what I should do.

There will always be jobs and other jobs on the horizon and education helps open those doors (granted, so does the networking one gets from working).

By "boot camp" I assume it is intense and leaves little room for a part-time position, let alone a full time job. How are you doing financially? Will you be able to do such a program without subsidizing your income?

In my opinion, the schooling is more important. It seems to be more of an opportunity that would be hard to replace as opposed to the job. And, who knows, maybe with your advanced degree you’ll be more valuable to the current job after two years. I’d go for the sure thing: the already excepted graduate program.

there's always a job in the future, there may not always be school.

I took the path that seemed less travelled which was take the job and stopped school. I have not ever looked back, and it put me head and shoulders ahead of everyone else, but that was just dumb luck.

I still do miss the idea of having a bachelor's degree.

It's never too late. One class a semester and you can chip away at it. It took me 15 years to finally get my B.S. - saw a 50% raise in salary within a month after graduating.

Thanks for the cheer!

At this point in my career it won't make that much of a difference, I highly doubt anyone would increase my salary by that much. I'm fortunate to have 20 years in the computer industry and 10 in the TV industry.

For me to go back it's just a personal goal, and sometimes I think about it, and other times, I realize how much it just wasn't for me.

The place where I am now is my dream gig. After finishing Grad school, this would be something I would kill to do. The only issue is the uncertainty and whether they want me.

I think my experience at this company had something to do with me being accepted to the graduate program.

Financially I am OK. I will get paid by the graduate program; I'll be assisting Undergrads while also basking in the knowledge.

Would I be off-base if I talked to my boss about this? I am 90% sure his response will be that they haven't made a decision yet, and I should do what I want.

Do the MFA.

Grad school is a thing very few people get the opportunity to do. Take advantage of it.

An MFA can set you up to do a number of things. Work is always easy to go back to--school not so much. There's always an excuse or reason not to in the future, so do it now while you can.

School School School

It's the kinda thing that right now, you're in a good job and they're dangling the promise of full time work in front of you, and you're tempted. But don't be miopic. I'd sell my left foot on the black market for an oppurtunity like yours- having grad school PAY ME to come and do school. You won't regret it for an instant, not if you'll be studying something you're really interested in. Plus, having that Master's degree will look a helluva good on an resume when you get out of school, and all the expierence that you have gotten at your current job will help as well. Perhaps your current job will want you back once you complete grad school, who knows?

Life always gives you choices to either grow or stagnate. Right now you're being offered a very rare oppurtunity to go to grad school, something that fewer and fewer people are choosing to do. A Master's degree is a BIG DEAL to employers and a great chance to get even more schooling in, which is always good. You've gotten plenty of expierence at your current job, take the plunge and go do something different that will give you expierence in a different area, plus practally gaurentee that employers will be salivating all over you when you get out!

Remember... I'd trade you my left foot anyday and so would a million other people. Don't miss such a great chance :)

This has bitten me on the ass in the past. You need to be absolutely sure of your relationship with him. In my situation he and I were very good friends but when he learned that I had an interview, his loyalty to the company took over and I was subsequently passed up for promotion when I didn't move on.

Discussing this with your boss may plant the seed that you shouldn't be considered for the permanent position.

Very well said, Sage. Sometimes, you just gotta go with what's in front of you. And work will ALWAYS be there... (unfortunately!)... most people with advanced degrees don't sit around, unemployed bumps on a log, for long... there are always more opportunities to be had, with an education.

Now, someone else remind me I said this, next time I get depressed about my grad program!! :lol:

If I were in this situation, and my boss/company was as great as you say they are, I would talk to him. Tell him that you've been offered this fabulous opportunity, and you want to take it, but you don't want to burn any bridges with your company, and would love the possibility of being able to come back after you graduate.

Maybe they'd let you stick around and only work one afternoon a week (just 4-6 hours). That would keep your foot in the door, give you a little extra wiggle room in your budget, and still allow you to go to school.

Bottom line, I would talk to your boss. Maybe he has some ideas that we haven't thought of to make things work, because he knows the company and people, and we don't. As is said with every type of relationship on this entire board, communication is the key. Talk to your boss.

Good luck, and let us know how things work out. =)

I did the whole pros and cons deal.

My main concern is that if I go to Grad school, not only will I lose out on the full-time gig but I may never reach this type of position ever again.

I hope it's worth the risk.

conversely you could say that you could never get a Grad school deal as sweet as this one.

You said "I had a very difficult time finding a full-time job."

That tells me that you have a special opportunity. Work part-time someplace and take advantage of the school. You'll have a much better chance of landing the job you want with a higher degree. And if your current company really appreciates you, they'll allow you to work around your school schedule.

More and more I hear and learn for myself that a master's is becoming necesary to securing a good job. I am in a similar situation. The job I have pays well, but it is not what I want to do. To do what I want to do, more than likely I will have to get my masters. So I say, go for it. Get more schooling, and you will have many more job opputunities that you have now.

Stay in school. Enjoy the partying as long as possible.. ;)

Seriously, though. If you decide to go to grad school - will having this degree really make a difference down the line? Degrees are great but unless you are trying to be a thermometer work experience means an awful lot as well. In fact I think you learn more on the job than from any book.

IMO anyway. Good luck.

I have seriously been thinking of getting my MBA. Only problem is the one school in my area that is AACSB accredited would take a lot longer to complete, cause of their small selection of night classes. That and the GMAT is so intimidating. I should just take the exam and see where I place and take a course if my score isn’t up to par.

You will work your whole life, and probably not at the same job. Most people change every 5 to 7 years. If you have the opportunity now to increase your education, you should take it. You never know where this might lead...

If you stick with the job, you have no assurance that you'll ever get the full-time position you want. They sure are being coy about filling the vacancy. Why not, when they can use eager part-timers and not pay benefits? These days, even half-decent employers are playing that game.

So if you stick with your employer, you might lose; you might never get what you want. But if you go to school, you _will_ get that MFA (if you don't screw up). And the MFA will pay off down the line and (in the interim) support you while you get it.

Here's what I would do: make the commitment to go to grad school, then tell your boss what you're doing and why. He might:

1) Get pissed off and tell you to clean out your desk.
2) Give you a pat on the back and best wishes.
3) Sit down and figure out a way to keep you on part-time.

If 1), you were probably never gonna get that job. Or it wouldn't have been especially secure. But no half-decent boss is going to get pissed at you for going back for more education.

Frankly, with an MFA and a teaching certificate, you will get a job. It may not be the job of your dreams right off the bat -- it might be one or two classes (non-tenured) at two or three different community colleges or high schools, to start. But you will have work.

I tell you this: if you don't go for the MFA now, you probably never will. I don't know you, but that's just the way these things usually work out. Life gets more complicated as time goes on. Extra demands are made on you. College remains forever "in a couple of years."

Thanks. I finally spoke to my boss and he seemed sincerely happy that I have this opportunity. Told me to talk it over with my family and etc, and that he'd have an answer for me about the full time position within 2 weeks.

Dude. School. No question. School is money. Landing this full-time gig might be nice, but school will allow you to command a higher position, or just earn a higher salary.

That's awesome! See, communication is a good thing. =) You should totally go to school, speaking as a member of your TFP family. =)

Here's an update:

Two weeks came --and left-- and I didn't hear back from my boss. In the last month I have worked part time for the company at a different location; I haven’t been in contact with my boss. A month has passed and I still haven't heard back from him.

I registered for classes a couple days ago. I was very attached to getting this job and I have gone through mild depression and have been on the verge of insanity waiting around for a phone call. I still have a feeling that I'll get a phone call a week before classes start asking if I want the full-time position. That's how things usually work there. I gave two years of my life to this company and met some great people. I am still very confused as to why my boss --who embraced me on the phone after I told him I had two weeks to let the grad school know whether I was coming-- never got back to me.

I have decided to just proceed with school and cease driving myself nuts over it. I am not going to call my boss for an explanation.

I'm guessing that you did at least call him and ask him for an update at least once? while you aren't calling him for an explanation, it's simply just following up.

No, I did not call at all --and I won't. I was very clear that I had a two week deadline to notify the school of my decision. He mentioned that he was under the assumption I'd be offered a potion, but that he would let me know for sure before the deadline. He never got back to me.

As of two weeks ago, people in similar situation as I -- still didn't know their future at the company. From limited information, I know one person was laid off within the last few weeks and the person who I was supposed to replace was still working in his old position (he was supposed to be promoted or let go by now)

I have an incredible opportunity to get a Master's degree and deepen my knowledge. Throughout the whole process School was just a backup plan, but never a realistic option. You know what tho? It's a pretty damn good backup plan -- too bad it took me so long to climb off the roof where I was waiting for money to start falling from the sky.

While you were clear, people still have their own agendas and situations to deal with. It's still important for you to follow up on situations that are important to you. It could have been as simple as it slipped his mind, he had other things pulling at him. A simple friendly reminder to the two week deadline could have made the difference of him calling you or not.

Nor should you. You've been used. They've been stringing you along because you're giving them the work of a fulltimer without costing them half as much money as a full time employee would. They were gonna keep you going as a part timer until you figured out what they were up to, then they cut you loose. You didn't miss out on anything here.

Cynthetiq -- I appriciate your advice. I think actions speak louder than words, and this past month has just been a microcosm of my tenure at the company. I understand the boss could have forgotten -- actually I don't know how you could forget an emotional 10 minute conversation-- but he has had a month to remember it. It's all well and done. This has sparked another gear in me and I plan to do a lot with this degree.

The logic here eludes me. If I've forgotten something how on earth could I remember if it if something didn't jar my memory like a reminder?

Good luck with the degree path. It's just as well, and things played out as they should have.