Job / School Dilemma

[kithara]

I am trying to decide what is best for me, best for us, and best for my company. Should I apply for this position?

If DH is accepted to Columbia, we would absolutely want to stay for him to earn his MA there! But since we won't know until March or April, do I apply for this position or do I just wait. I should add that this analyst position is a very big step up from Administrative Assistant and I have worked very hard to prove myself here. If DH is accepted, we would stay in NYC until at least Fall 2009, possibly 2010. (Would DH then want his Ph.D. from Columbia? I can't think that far ahead.)

If I apply for the position AND am offered the position, how long should I stay in the position if DH doesn't get into Columbia. Could I leave for the Fall 2008 academic year? I tend to think not...but could I leave for the Fall 2009 academic year? Is that still too soon? I don't want to burn my best references and contacts here if I can avoid it.

Ultimately, I do not want to stay in NYC. I don't mind being here for DH's school or to get my career off the ground, but I don't want to raise a family here. I also think that I will need an MBA at some point to continue moving forward in my career. In fact, it is likely, I will need it after the analyst position - so applying for this position may only delay the need. I would like to earn my MBA before I have children. (I am considering taking the CFP exam instead of an MBA as an option, but I am not sure if they are given equal weight.)

I would appreciate some outside thoughts on this. It has been very stressful for me to think about and I am hoping someone else might have some advice or experiences to share.

[Peppy]

I don't have a lot of details about your situation, so take this advice for what it is worth. But it sounds to me like:

You are currently an administrative assistant, and have been in that position for some time. You have been offered a position as an analyst (I'm not sure what type of analyst) within the same company, which is a big step up. You are in NYC, and your husband has applied to Columbia business school. If he gets into Columbia, everything is great, you can stay in the job while your husband is in school. If he doesn't get in, there is a possibility he will have to leave NYC to go to school, at which point you will have to decide whether to go with him, or whether to stay at your job in NYC for awhile while having a long-distance relationship.

I guess I have two questions:
1.) Has your husband applied to other NYC grad school programs?
2.) Does your husband have a good chance of being accepted at Columbia?

Regardless, my advice would be to take the job, for several reasons. First, you don't know what is going to happen with your husband's grad school options. This is a big opportunity for you. Your husband won't be starting grad school for another full year, which means you will be in this new job for a whole year before there is even the possibility that he leaves. That is a lot of time to work at one place, and I think the opportunity is too good to pass up.

Additionally, I don't think leaving the job after one full year of working there would be terrible. It sounds like you have been with this company for awhile and have good relationships with the people there. If your husband doesn't get into Columbia and is leaving NYC, you can tell them the truth--that he has to leave for school, and you want to be with him. I think most employers will understand that, particularly if you give them ample notice.

I think that the jump from being an administrative assistant to an analyst is a big one, and if you pass up this opportunity you are hurting your career and your future academic options. You mentioned wanting to go to B-school. I know that most good B-schools put a lot of emphasis on work experience. You will be far more appealing if you have experience as an analyst than if your only experience is as an administrative assistant. Additionally, if your husband does not get into Columbia and you decide to follow him, wouldn't it be better to have a resume that shows upward mobility within the last company you were at, and experience as an analyst? With that, you will more likely be able to get another analyst position. If your resume only shows administrative assistant experience, it will be more difficult for you to find something other than administrative assistant work in the new city you move to.

The fact that you don't want to stay in NYC super long-term doesn't change my advice. I think that a year or two or more in the analyst position will help you a lot, and then when you leave you will have better options. Lots of people move to NYC, work there for a few years and then leave. It's not something I would worry about.

[kithara]

Thank you Peppy.

I want to clarify a couple of things. DH will be applying for an MA in Film Studies. There are 3 options in NYC - Columbia, NYU, & CUNY-Staton Island. Out of these, only Columbia has a one year MA. NYU would be very, very difficult for us to afford. The CUNY program is not as strong or prestegious as the first two. DH will probably apply to both Columbia & NYU. CUNY has rolling admissions so he could revisit that idea later.

I currently have a BS in Business Administration and work in the financial industry.

I do not know what DH's chances are for Columbia. He will be speaking with one of his professor's (and Columbia MA & Ph.D. Alumni) tomorrow about this. I would love for him to be able to get a degree there.

Thank you for your advice - it echoes what I have been thinking. Making this move is important for my career. My job title is admin assistant, but my responsibilities are at a higher level. This promotion would reflect that (if I am offered the position).

A part of me is worried that if I don't go to grad school now, I might never really have the time again. But that is probably silly. If it is important to me, I can make the time before I have a family. And part of me is sad that I might miss out on the chance to live abroad for a year as well. It is something that I have always wanted to do.

[claire]

A part of me is worried that if I don't go to grad school now, I might never really have the time again. But that is probably silly. If it is important to me, I can make the time before I have a family. And part of me is sad that I might miss out on the chance to live abroad for a year as well. It is something that I have always wanted to do.

My 2 cents - don't worry about grad school. Two of my friends have gotten their Masters degrees while employed full-time and raising children; one has 3 and the other has 4 kids. My mother finished her graduate degree when I was 2 and my brother was an infant. Your life does not end when you have kids.
I have a bachelors and keep getting hints from my family to get that masters, but I have decided to focus on working and making money so we can afford children sooner. It all depends on your priorities.

Bottom line, I agree with Peppy, you should totally go for it. A year is a good chunk of experience, even if you end up having to leave, it will look much better on the resume than staying at your current level for yet another year. You have nothing to lose. Good luck, I really hope you get the promotion!

[trestlegirl]

I agree, you should absolutely apply for the job!

You and your husband should not let the cost keep you from applying to the higher priced schools. There are so many scholarships and grants available - I haven't paid a cent for my (very expensive!) MBA.

As for getting an MBA - working as an analyst for a few years may actually help you get into a better business school. And maybe your company would pay for you to go! If you want to live abroad, why not apply to schools in a foreign country? Many schools in Europe offer accelerated one-year programs. Or apply to one of the US schools which offer semester abroad options. I believe Columbia has a joint program with the London Business school, where students go back and forth between the two schools.

Also, I have many classmates with kids, and a few who are pregnant, so it can certainly be done!

Good luck!! :)

[BlackMagicRose]

I do not know how much I can help, but agree with everyone here. GO FOR IT! Do not worry so much about leaving quickly if you do get the job if your situation changes. The fact is, you will have something to put on your resume and it will be a big step for you. If you have a good reason for leaving, employers understand this.

What is the worst that can happen? You may not get the job, but if you apply for it and get it, that would be a great thing no matter what, right??! Go for it Gretchen. I wish I had another opportunity right now. The second something comes my way I am going to jump on it!!!

[LRL]

I say take the job if it is offered. You will not know for some time if he was accepted to Columbia, and no job is going to fault you if your circumstances change in a couple of months. The worst that could happen is that you would need to leave in a few months, but it sounds as if they love you and will give glowing reccomendations whereever you go. I had to make a similar decision recently: leave the company with my lame title (even though I have done much much more), or get a new title regardless of the fact that I may not be staying much longer. I am now a titled officer of the corporation, which makes a huge difference. Now I would be leaving for salary, which would be easier to get since my title has improved so much. Corporate recruiters don't read the fine lines of resumes, only the positions usually.

BTW: Life does not end once you have a family. I started my MBA years ago, and was stalled dues to life- wedding, home remodeling, pregnancy, newborn stage. I just finished my MBA, and an darn proud of it. Was it easy? No, but nothing ever is! ;)

[kithara]

Thank you all for your advice. I've given this a lot of thought and decided that I am going to go for it! This is the job that I have been waiting for - and didn't think I was going to even get a shot at. The position is now posted and I will be applying tomorrow - we will see what happens! I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I'm proud of all the work I have done to get to this point.

[kithara]

It's official! I have an offer letter in front of me right now. I am now an analyst - and an Assistant Vice President at that! My promotion went into effect on Monday.

I'm so excited and very happy that I applied. I don't think I could have asked for more. Thank you all for encouraging me - it was a very tough decision, but I know I made the right one.

[Liz]

Congratulations!!!! I am really happy for you! Off the topic, are you still on LJ?

[Dunja]

Brilliant! :D Congratulations! :)