Hard Decision Re: Jobs and School

[trenttrenttrent]

Hi all,

 

I'm new here but have been lurking for a while, getting advice and tips. I've suddenly found myself in a strange predicament. I have worked in a single sector since graduating college in 2008, but have wanted out for a couple of years now. I was planning to do one more year at my current job and leave for grad school (for which I'd be applying this summer). However, I was recently asked to resign, leaving me with a year or so before I plan to go back to school. I live in an expensive city but have enough savings to get by. I have a couple of options that I'm weighing and would like some input from you guys:

 

1. Look for a "real" job, apply to school by fall, hopefully know by winter, and then leave the job in May 2015 if the right academic opportunity has presented itself. This, of course, gives me access to a steady income and insurance, but I'd feel terrible about starting at a new company and leaving after a few months, particularly because these aren't large corporations but rather small non-profits that can't really afford too much turnover. Plus, the jobs I have interviews for aren't really dream jobs or in my chosen new sector, but rather continuations of what I've already been doing.

 

2. Find short-term work to pay the bills for the time being, something I won't feel bad about quitting in a few months, apply to school, then hopefully know by winter what I'm doing. If everything works out, spend the spring traveling before starting school. If I get rejected from every program, go into "oh crap" mode and figure something out.

 

Again, I have enough savings to last a while and if I can cover my costs for the time being I'm happy. I understand that my admission to my chosen schools is not guaranteed, but I think I have a good chance at getting in given my academic and professional background. 

 

What do you guys think? 

[bakalamba]

I was in a similar situation last year, where I was applying for "real jobs" while putting in graduate applications. Now I have a job I'll be leaving soon; my former supervisor knew about the applications and acceptances, but my new one doesn't. It's not a job I see myself doing much longer, but it's at a college, so there's some level of - how can I say it - stickiness to the job. Other people in my position have been here 10-15 years. I'll end up just clocking one year. I live in an expensive city as well, and wasn't really make it with odd jobs.

 

If you're already interviewing for jobs, I would continue. Having a salary with benefits means you can grow your savings a little bit more for grad school. And, in the end, you don't really know how your applications will end up, and having a stable job means: 1) you have a fallback if you don't get in anywhere, 2) you can be selective with programs, i.e. you won't have to desperately choose an offer with little or no funding. And I'm sure getting a job isn't guaranteed either, so it's good that you're already considering a fallback plan from that, which is to work short-term.

[victorydance]

Are you tied to your current city in some way?

 

This could be a good opportunity to get rid of everything, move to a foreign country that is cheap to live in and apply for schools during that time.

Edited June 23, 2014 by victorydance

[wildviolet]

You seem really thoughtful.

 

I'm not sure what I would do in your situation because, in my experience, the process of applying to graduate school was so unexpected. I thought I knew which schools I wanted to apply to. I did a lot of research (or, as much as I could via the Internet). Once I started talking to people, however, I ended up choosing a school in a part of the country that I never ever thought I would live in. And my research area is partly in something that I didn't even know existed because it's so new--I didn't even learn about it in my recently completed Master's program.

 

So my point, I think, is that the future is too uncertain. I understand that you want to do the best for yourself and the company you'll be working for during the next year or so. But, I also think you have to do what's best for you regardless of the impact on the company. Kind of like a personal relationship, I guess. They will move on and find other people. In terms of savings, save as much as you can before going to graduate school. Good luck!

[juilletmercredi]

I think you should apply to both kinds of options.  You do need to eat, and who knows what will happen - the right academic opportunity might not present itself next May, or you may decide that you like your new job and you want to stay, or you might not find a short-term opportunity or one that pays enough for you to survive.

 

I agree with the above advice that the future is too uncertain, and you need to feed yourself.

[themmases]

I also applied to jobs at the same time I was applying for grad school, and I would say apply to anything that interests you. You don't know what will happen next spring. You could even find something between then and now that strengthens your candidacy.

 

Apply to the jobs that interest you and that you'd be qualified for. When you start getting responses, then you can decide how much to tell those employers about your situation or even to withdraw your application if need be. I did this with one job that got back to me after I started getting acceptances, 8 months before I knew I would be starting school somewhere. I just told them my situation and that I understood if it didn't work for them, and they wished me the best-- no big deal. You may hear back early, or learn more about some jobs through the application process that makes you more comfortable being there a short time-- not everything is in the job posting.

 

Also, there is a big category of non-profit work that might be OK with you being short-term: grant-funded jobs. Many of those jobs have at least a potential end date, anyway.