My dream job is open. (The specifics of what it is aren’t important.) I’m qualified to take it, and I’ve interned there and they loved me. I also applied for another, sorta related job there earlier this year and was turned down for an interview after someone was hired, so they probably used my resume for their equal-opportunity file and never considered me as a serious candidate. (FTR, I was qualified for that position, too.)
However, the hours are noon to 8 p.m. and are not flexible. My husband often travels on military deployment, and we have a young child who is going to need care. I’m also in the process of getting my master’s, and the classes are 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.
So, the question is this. Do I apply this time, fully aware of the hardships and the history, or do I pass this time, finish my master’s, and go for it when my life is a bit less turbulent and the sprog a little older?
Psychology says that in such cases, the best way to get out of the conundrum is to ask yourself not “should I do A or B” but “How can I get what I want?”
For instance, you could ask the job or the school if either can change the hours. Maybe your university course is given at another hour, or again at another date, as well.
Or you can ask yourself it is really necessary to get your masters if you apply for this job.
Or you try to combine studying with childcare (maybe there’s a fellow student in the same position).
Do you like the childcare options that are available to you, and is your child ready for some independence? It sounds like that could make the difference between enjoying your dream job and feeling miserable at it.
Until I read **twickster[\b]'s reply, I was going to say finish school first. But if you have a job (and that’s the end result of schooling, for most folks, isn’t it?), you could probably work the program around it at a later date. And it’s your dream job! Shoot for it and don’t look back.
Isn’t one of the points of getting your Masters to be able to get that dream job? Go for it; give it a shot. **Twickster ** is right, you can slow down a little on your degree. Education goals are admirable, but you have to allow a little flexibility in your approach.
Is this one of those jobs that provides education benefits? They may be more willing to rearrange schedules or fund schooling if that’s the case. And Aaron will be OK, as long as you have a good childcare for him. He won’t care if it’s 8 hours in the middle of the day or later in the evening.
Apply for it. Then, if they offer it to you for real, you start looking at your options. Can you find someone to look after your child? Family, daycare, nanny, babysitter, or a combination? Are you comfortable with putting your degree on hold for a bit? You can probably fit classes around the job at a later time, if you decide you still want the degree for its own sake and not just as a means to a job.
Whatever you decide, I wish you luck. Big decisions can be hard, but sometimes they can help you to see what’s really important to you at the time.
It’s a very rare job in that there are very few like it. However, the company has had a good bit of turnover in this position for various reasons.
The kidlet starts kindergarten next fall, and everything works out as long as Airman doesn’t deploy. If he has to, then I need to arrange for someone to take care of him after school and into the evening until I get home. My in-laws both work, and sometimes they work overtime or travel, so they’re not terribly reliable. The best alternative would be to hire a sitter.
For this job, the master’s isn’t essential; in fact, there is no degree requirement whatsoever. However, I started it and I’m far enough along to where I want to finish it. There is no education benefit that I’m aware of, and I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy with the whole night class issue. I could work it out with my professor to see if there is an arrangement that could be made there.
I did apply. I sent my resume via e-mail first because I had jury duty last week and wasn’t sure I could get to the post office to mail out an audition tape. I did mail the tape with a hard-copy resume, and they’ve gotten it.
However, my uni is hosting a regional broadcasting convention today, and my (hopefully) future boss will be there. The adviser of the group hosting the convention and my own adviser have all but guaranteed me face time with him. I also have 25 copies of my resume (which looks damn good, if I do say so myself) and about 15 or so copies of my audition tape, all of which are neatly labeled and in sleeves for easy distribution.
As to the degree, most of the professors are pretty flexible. I’m sure I’ll be able to make arrangements with the one professor.