4 Things You Should Know Before Going Back to School for a Career Change

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If you’re frustrated with your job or struggling to get your business off the ground, you might be contemplating a career change. If you’re looking to move into a field that’s unrelated to the college or graduate school degree that you’ve already earned, then a career change might also mean going back to school.

While there are plenty of perks of getting another degree, there are also some downsides. Before you make your choice, consider these four points.

Is Your Dream Job Really Right for You?

It can be tempting to make a drastic career change in the hunt for your dream job, but when that career change involves going back to school, you need to make sure that pursuing that dream is really the right move for you. Certain careers may sound enticing, but until you’ve experienced working in the industry or working those specific jobs, you won’t have a complete sense of what’s involved and whether that career is really the right fit.

Before you decide to go back to school for this dream job, take some time to investigate the career. Try to shadow someone working in the type of position that you would ultimately like to hold, or see if you can get a part-time or volunteer position in the field. Talk to people working within the career and ask them about the things they like, as well as what they don’t like and what they would change about their careers if given the chance. 

If, after doing your background research, you feel that the career is still right for you, then you can move forward with exploring going back to school with confidence.

Will Your New Career Require a Degree?

Your first instinct might be to go back to school to start your new career but think about whether you’ll actually need that degree. Some career goals, like becoming a professor, will absolutely require specific education qualifications. Others may be more open-ended. Do some research into the requirements of your desired career and determine if a degree is a must-have, or if relevant experience and skills might qualify you for a position without a specific degree.

Even if your new career doesn’t require a degree, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t necessarily go back to school. Returning to school offers other benefits, like helping you to develop new skills, establishing valuable connections with peers and with faculty, and enjoying experiences that you might not otherwise have through internships, practicums, or other course requirements. Going back to school can also give you skills that are valuable in the job application process, like preparing you to better answer some of the most commonly asked job interview questions. Plus, with the materials you created and the experiences you had during your degree journey, you may be more confident when applying to jobs.

In short, there are plenty of reasons to pursue a degree—it’s just important to be realistic about what you plan to get out of your education when deciding whether going to school is the right option for you.

Can You Find Other Ways to Boost Your Business?

More women are striking out on their own and launching their own businesses, but growing a business is a long-term project and it can be stressful, tiring, and frustrating. If you’re considering going back to school because your business is struggling, consider whether there are other ways to improve your business without the significant time and financial commitment of going back to school.

If you’re considering going back to school for a business degree, after all, you may be able to find much of the information you’d access in a degree program elsewhere for less. Your local SCORE office may be able to connect you with a mentor who can teach you about important business basics, like how to build a brand for your business. Rather than pursuing an entire degree, online business courses can give you a sort of crash course in particular topics like budgeting, marketing, and more. You can quickly put the information you’ve learned to use, boosting your business without spending two or more years earning a degree.

Do You Have the Support Necessary to Go Back to School?

Going back to school is a large undertaking, and you’ll need some support. Does your significant other and family support your decision, and are they willing to accept some of the sacrifices, like seeing you less on weekends while you’re studying?

Take a hard look at your finances and how you’ll pay for school, too. You may be eligible for financial aid and can apply for grants and scholarships for women returning to school. However, chances are that, even with financial aid, you’ll need to balance school and your job. Look for a program that offers you the flexibility to do this, and make sure that you’re ready for the time commitment and balancing act that this can create.

Going back to school can be a rewarding experience, and it can potentially change your life. After graduating, you’ll be in for a new adventure, and the right degree could open up that dream job that you’ve been focused on. The decision of whether to return to school is one that only you can make, though, so think carefully and take your time with this important choice. 

About the author

Jori Hamilton is a feminist writer from the Pacific Northwest who enjoys discussing social justice, empowerment, and how to improve the workplace. You can find more of her work in her portfolio here.