Deciding When to Pursue Further Education for Career Advancement

Facing difficult bosses, career changes, or potential layoffs are common workplace challenges. These situations often leave individuals wondering about their next steps. When considering career obstacles, it can be unclear where to turn for advice. To address this, Life Kit consulted with Brandon Johnson, a certified professional career coach from Embrace Change. He provides insights on when to step back from your career to focus on furthering education.

Listener’s Question

I’ve hit a wall in my line of work. When do I decide to step back from work to advance my education and therefore my earning potential? – Talia

This is a challenging decision, as it involves many personal factors. Here are some questions to guide your decision:

Resources and Impact on Life

• Do you have the necessary resources to pursue further education?
• Consider how education will impact your time, money, and energy.
• Evaluate if you are comfortable with potential impacts, such as taking on debt.

For example, if loans are necessary to cover expenses, understand how much debt you’re willing to incur for a degree.

Choosing the Right Path

• Consider alternatives like professional certificates, conferences, or boot camps instead of a degree.
• Conduct research to know what options best suit your career goals.
• Engage with your network to gain insights from those already in desired positions.

Determining Your Educational Focus

• Identify the program or degree that aligns with your interests and goals.
• Recognize that not all education programs offer equal benefits for your aspirations.
• Consider which programs will significantly enhance your earning potential.

Identifying the Real Hurdles

• Determine if schooling is the barrier or if other factors, like burnout or company culture, are at play.
• If the problem lies with company culture, exploring new organizations could be beneficial.

If, after contemplating these questions, returning to school seems right, start researching programs. Aim to find mentors or connections in your field of interest. They can provide guidance, set expectations, and offer valuable insights into the education process.

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