Going Back to School...Maybe

[Trelow]

Trelow- What do you mean “no practical experience”?

Work experience namely. We get people all the time who have a degree or two that haven’t the foggiest idea of how to function in a work environment. And typically they want way more money and privileges than they are entitled to. Given that you’ve been in the workforce for probably at least 5 years, you should now better by now.

In that note, I’ve noticed the most growth is in technical positions. Nobody wants to learn a skilled trade anymore, and in most cases the practical potential for income is the same.

I don’t know if this is honest or not…I don’t want to let my current job know that I’m going (or might be going) back to school. I don’t want to get fired because I’m going to go to school for something that has nothing to do with what I’m doing now. Is it wrong for me to not tell them? They don’t offer any tuition assistance so I don’t know if they have to know or not.

I wouldn’t tell them for a while, see how it works for you. No need to raise any flags for them. After you’ve established yourself in your schooling, I’d let them know what your plans are, but that’s dependent on the politics and climate of your company. When the time comes to move on I’d give them plenty of notice, a few months rather than two weeks. They’ll likely be a better reference for you.