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Not sure what would be the best career move
Hi there! I'm 27 years old/female and I'm graduating with my Masters in Higher Education Administration with a graduate certificate in academic advising at the end of this month. For those who don't know what that is.. it's basically a career to work within a university. Ideally, my goal was to work in academic advising... helping students to pick their classes, adjust their schedules, try to decide their majors, etc.
I had been offered a part time position at the local community college as an advisor. However, to work at a four year university, you need a masters. I did not take this position because unfortunately, I cannot afford to work part time. I am completely financially independent, as I'm not married. So, every bill falls on me and my parents are quite financially underprivileged. They cannot afford to help me. So, I took on this other job at a non-profit, which offered a great salary and wonderful benefits. I work in an early childhood center, managing several centers and developing curriculum... which is in line with what i received my bachelors in... early childhood education.
Now... I am finishing my masters this month and I am eligible to apply for academic advising jobs at four year institutions. However, I have only been working at my current job for about three months. I took this job because i had been out of work for six months. I was in a dire situation. I went weeks without eating. I was hospitalized. Not a good time in my life. The thing is... that my job is VERY far. I drive about an hour to get to work. It really isn't oriented towards the career I've chosen. However, I don't know if it is in my best interest to stay for a while and have this as a solid job on my resume... or if I should rip the bandaid and start searching for jobs as an academic advisor. Will I be set back if I stay... or would I be starting from scratch in a new job?
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I think I am a bit confused because you say of current job:
...which is in line with what i received my bachelors in.(this is the non profit job)
and in next paragraph:
...It really isn't oriented towards the career I've chosen.
All I can figure is that it is one of several jobs you could do with your particular bachelors. And that you want your dream job right away which is not related at all to the current one.
What is the hurry? If you had to hire someone from two applicants, both who aced their studies and know their stuff well, but only one has a track record they can show as to how well they did their position, how dependable they are, etc... would you go for the one who has not yet worked a day in their life, even if not related to the jobs applying for, or go with someone who can prove they are a worthwhile employee?
See, there are some things that school doesn't teach you. You can graduate and have all the head knowledge, but not know how to get along with co workers, how to work as part of a team or do well also on your own, how to be punctual, dependable, organized, friendly, supportive and helpful, etc....there are so many qualities that fall more into a persons characteristics as a person, not their schooling but will have an impact on whatever job they do. I know how I would answer, I'd go with the person who has proven themselves in a job already. I can't tell you that 3 months is enough time or not enough. It will likely depend on the person actually doing the hiring.
I don't know how far behind you got while unemployed but it might be better to get caught up if need be and get a small savings set aside because even in a new position, there area transitions and it might be some time before your first paycheck if its not bi monthly but a monthly paycheck. I would think that 3 months might make someone think of a young person who can't stay employed long, tires of a job and just leaves it without good reason. Even if thats not your reason, 3 months isn't long at a position to show how dependable you are, can they rely on you and hire you, or will you be gone in 4 months if you see something better you want to go after. People hiring do think these kinds of ways. They may understand you left the 3 month job as it was just to pay bills but there will always be that wondering if are you doing the same with their company, going for a job just to get one now but will anything entice you to leave and go after something better? A brand new graduate hasn't got any track record of being an employee but you may worry about losing a chance to get the perfect job. However, realize that out of dozens applying for the same job, the change you will be the one who gets it is fairly slim.
I am assuming the jobs you want to go far are all going to be near you so you wont be traveling an hour. Travels cuts down on time for you, cooking, sleeping, errands, laundry, etc... And its wear and tear and more gasoline cost as well if you own a car and its not public transportation.
YOu need to talk to your current boss and let them know you will attempt to stay with them a while but also put out feelers looking for another job and if by chance someone wants to hire you, how much time will they require as notice of you leaving so they can also have time to hire a replacement. This is something you should know now in case someone does want to hire you. It is not smart to just quit now and be free to start on the spot with a new employer. One of my daughters went into college to become a doctors assistant. Of the people she graduated with and kept in touch, only a handful found jobs in that field right away. She kept trying and even gave one office some free work so they could see how good she was. But she never did land a job in the medical field. Her fellow graduates had bills to pay and couldn't wait and had to take totally unrelated jobs.
That is more often the case, the market flooded with graduates and not enough jobs available with that degree. ANd she took her degree because of hearing how the medical field is just exploding and never has enough people to fill the jobs. That is not what she found out. Same for my husbands daughter. It been years since she graduated with her CG degree. She could not find anything in her field and she wasn't shy, she went out of her way to meet key people too. She had to pay bills and at once point worked as diaper changer in a large daycare and another, coming up with designs for a tattoo artist, but not being able to get taught how to do the actual art work herself. She finnally has the job she wanted. But in the meanwhile met and married the guy she's with and they had to move to NY for her to finally have the job she wanted.
You don't know how long or if you'd ever land a job if you consider worst case scenerio as I've just shared. Its not just a couple stories but personal ones I can share from my life but I've heard of many more just like this in all fields, there are not enough jobs. SOme times there are 100 people or more all applying for one job that is a specialized position. That is crazy. So it might be best if the chances end up that slim after numerous tries, that you decide to stop looking and wait until you've been with the current job longer, check into possible car pools with others from same company who may live in your area. Or perhaps you might consider moving if you can get cheaper rent closer to the job you currently have. These are all ideas and the final decision is yours. All you can do is make your best guess and if it doesnt pan out, regroup, not give up and try something new, and you'll need a big dose of patience to get that job you want. I just asked hubby how long it was, and his daughter had to wait 5 years before she finally got the job she dreamed of. She had to take whatever she could get in the meanwhile. So don't give up, even if it takes a long time and even if the job you want is not in your area. You may have to greatly widen your search to other counties or even states. But if the job is that important to you, then its worth the changes you make to get that job.
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