Going to college seems like a luxury of the recent high school graduate. College campuses are full of younger people without career experience looking to get the tools they need to succeed in our highly competitive job market. So, if you’re already established in your career, is there really a right time to go back to school? Here are a few things to consider.
What are your career goals?
There are occasions where going back to school makes sense. Will you need an advanced degree to work in your chosen field? For example, if you want to practice law you will need to go to law school in order to accomplish your goals. But if you want to be and HR manager, for example, there may be other avenues to pursue that won’t take you away from your career or negatively affect your finances.
Can you take classes online?
For many professionals, online classes have changed the education game entirely. It’s much easier to take courses online and be able to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule without worrying about missing work. Depending on your long-term goals, you can take individual courses to help you get the knowledge you need or complete a degree entirely online.
What is your current earning potential?
College has never been more expensive than it is right now. And that means you need to take the cost into consideration. While you can apply for grants, scholarships or financial aid, you should also keep your current earning potential in mind when applying. What would happen if you don’t earn any income over the next four years? And how will it affect your ability to get back into the job market once you graduate?
What are the potential benefits of a new degree?
What you will need to determine is if a degree will be worth the financial and time sacrifices you’ll make to pursue it. You will also need to determine whether or not a degree will actually help. In the case of Human Resources, there are other ways to achieve the right credentials that will help you advance your career and it may make more sense to pursue those options if school isn’t right for you.
Are you looking for a new opportunity? Contact the team at Harvard Resource Solutions, now hiring for jobs in Southeast MI, to see what we have available today.
