Employment before graduate school - high paying job or experience?

[staxdo_21]

Hi there, 

After contemplating graduate school for many years, with much consideration for my area of study, I finally decided that I would like to pursue a Master's in American Studies. I plan to apply to graduate school in two years. My question is whether to stay at my current place of employment or move onto a more intellectually challenging position that will most likely pay me less. 

Current Position
Pros:

• a highly prestigious academic institute that could potentially bolster my CV
• friendships with faculty, and staff
• world-class speakers and programming that I sometimes have access to
• solid compensation and matching pension
• lively discussions on diversity and inclusion

Cons:

• the position itself is considered entry level - which I didn't know when I accepted it
• I also thought I would gain grant writing experience in the role but there doesn't seem to be any possibility for that development 
• my responsibilities are pretty menial and incredibly boring
• an incredible amount of office drama and low morale among staff
• little opportunities for professional growth 

Before I was absolutely sure about the course of study I wanted to pursue, I became interested in Foundation Relations, which I am still interested in. Thus far, I've taken a course in grant writing and work on a friend's Board of Directors as a grant writer. After recently becoming more frustrated in my current role, I began applying for positions directly related to grant writing and am starting to hear back from a few. However, on average, they pay about 20% less than my current position. I imagine that it will be a similar story for other positions I come upon given that my current organization has the privilege to compensate us fairly well. 

I don't want to make any fast and hard decisions but I also don't want to miss out on potential opportunities. Should I make the leap into one of these roles that would provide some intellectual stimulation and also help me maintain my writing skills? Or should I continue building connections at the job I am at now? Other ideas are to look for research jobs or to use the experience at one of these other organizations to move into a position at a better organization. That's also a lot of jumping around prior to graduate school. 

I'd appreciate any thoughts you'd like to share. 

Thanks!

 

[juilletmercredi]

I think this is less related to graduate school and more related to what you want to do after you finish your MA in American studies. Will staying at your current job help you build connections that may help you land in the field you want after your master's? Or will another job do that? Do you want a more intellectually satisfying job right now?

[staxdo_21]

Thank you for your reply, @juilletmercredi . I decided that I cannot take any more of my soul-crushing job despite the perks. I have a phone interview for a job in public arts programming on Monday though it is a fellowship which doesn't compensate well. Not sure if its the right next step, but I will keep applying to jobs in the arts until I land one that offers more intellectual stimulation. 

[Ternwild]

Secure a job that is best fitted for what you will be doing your grad school work in.  Application committees will want to know what you've been doing all the time since UG and if you've been just following money, (unless you're a wallstreet or business capitalist) chances are they won't find those as hiring skills.  Do what you enjoy, but also consider what your two years will look like on an application to grad school