Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

olosir · 07-08-2011, 08:57 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm a 28 year old guy with a BS in Management, 2005. Since graduating, I have worked in support roles and finally landed my first management position in March 2010. Overall, I haven't enjoyed my various experiences and have been left with feelings of disappointment and a sense that I've been an underachiever. In January, I decided that I needed to take action and change my career trajectory. I applied to graduate programs in Industrial/Organizational psychology, a field that I'm very interested in. I was accepted to several schools and ultimately settled on Fairfield University. In about three weeks, I'll be leaving my current job (the safety, decent income, benefits, etc) to essentially start over. I'll also be taking out student loans to fund my education. I'm excited yet terrified. I don't know if I'm making a good decision. I have a plan in place that I THINK will lead to success, but I still feel fearful, indecisive, and confused. I'd be happy to give you more details about my "plan." But, mostly, how do I work through these emotions? And am I crazy to leave a job to go back to school?

CoolBee · 07-08-2011, 09:03 PM

If you knew the answer to that question, what would it be?

What WILL happen if you do this?
What WONT happen if you do this?
What WILL happen if you DONT do this?
What WONT happen if you DONT do this?

What's the best/worst that can happen if you stay where you are?
What's the best/worst that can happen if you follow through your plan?

If you follow through your plan, even if it doesn't take you where you are hoping it will, what benefits will you have gained from it?

Clint Cora · 07-08-2011, 11:24 PM

The alternative was to stay in a career that you hate for the rest of your life ... the decision is a no-brainer to me. And you are not starting over since your experiences and some of the skills you already have can be transferred over to your new field. You just have to be on a budget for awhile but take this time as an investment in your future.

James81 · 07-09-2011, 02:30 AM

As someone who is doing exactly what you are doing, let me just chime in:

OMG! YOU ARE SO DOING THE RIGHT THING!

(LOL, is that subtle enough?

)

I had those same fears as you, but now that I'm a month into it, hollllly god I'm so glad that I did this. Sure, I have no idea how it's all going to play out (I'm not sure my money is going to last through the summer to my next disbersement at this point), but at the end of the day, I always figure out a way to hang with it. I don't know how I'm doing it, but I'm doing it. And I'm so glad that I finally sacked up and took this risk. And even if I fail, I can finally say that i have no regrets. And I'll figure something else out.

That being said, good luck! I think you'll have a blast with it.

Laurenaus · 07-09-2011, 06:06 AM

IO is a great field, congratS! You can make some real dough. I thought about it for awhile but I don't know if I have the analytical goods

olosir · 07-11-2011, 08:55 PM

I think I have the ability to succeed in this field and feel that the decision is sound, but the negative feedback I receive from friends, parents, colleagues, and others has affected me. I think the answer is to focus my mind and clearly envision what my future will look like as a result of pursuing this program.

CoolBee · 07-12-2011, 04:20 PM

Is the family/friends feedback along the lines of:
you'll never make it
you must have a steady job
what about your pension
etc etc?

PS I went back to uni full-time aged 39 to do a PhD I'd always dreamt of doing

Never had the slightest regret even if it did stuff up my career a little (having the effect in employers' eyes of completely negating 16 years working experience much of it at management level!)

07-08-2011, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
olosir Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 5	Starting graduate school to pursue new career Hi everyone, I'm a 28 year old guy with a BS in Management, 2005. Since graduating, I have worked in support roles and finally landed my first management position in March 2010. Overall, I haven't enjoyed my various experiences and have been left with feelings of disappointment and a sense that I've been an underachiever. In January, I decided that I needed to take action and change my career trajectory. I applied to graduate programs in Industrial/Organizational psychology, a field that I'm very interested in. I was accepted to several schools and ultimately settled on Fairfield University. In about three weeks, I'll be leaving my current job (the safety, decent income, benefits, etc) to essentially start over. I'll also be taking out student loans to fund my education. I'm excited yet terrified. I don't know if I'm making a good decision. I have a plan in place that I THINK will lead to success, but I still feel fearful, indecisive, and confused. I'd be happy to give you more details about my "plan." But, mostly, how do I work through these emotions? And am I crazy to leave a job to go back to school?

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07-08-2011, 09:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
CoolBee Family Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,044	If you knew the answer to that question, what would it be? What WILL happen if you do this? What WONT happen if you do this? What WILL happen if you DONT do this? What WONT happen if you DONT do this? What's the best/worst that can happen if you stay where you are? What's the best/worst that can happen if you follow through your plan? If you follow through your plan, even if it doesn't take you where you are hoping it will, what benefits will you have gained from it?

07-08-2011, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Clint Cora Family Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mississauga, On Canada Posts: 1,502	The alternative was to stay in a career that you hate for the rest of your life ... the decision is a no-brainer to me. And you are not starting over since your experiences and some of the skills you already have can be transferred over to your new field. You just have to be on a budget for awhile but take this time as an investment in your future.

07-09-2011, 02:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
James81 Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 12,690	As someone who is doing exactly what you are doing, let me just chime in: OMG! YOU ARE SO DOING THE RIGHT THING! (LOL, is that subtle enough? ) I had those same fears as you, but now that I'm a month into it, hollllly god I'm so glad that I did this. Sure, I have no idea how it's all going to play out (I'm not sure my money is going to last through the summer to my next disbersement at this point), but at the end of the day, I always figure out a way to hang with it. I don't know how I'm doing it, but I'm doing it. And I'm so glad that I finally sacked up and took this risk. And even if I fail, I can finally say that i have no regrets. And I'll figure something else out. That being said, good luck! I think you'll have a blast with it.

07-09-2011, 06:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Laurenaus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 385	IO is a great field, congratS! You can make some real dough. I thought about it for awhile but I don't know if I have the analytical goods

07-11-2011, 08:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
olosir Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 5	I think I have the ability to succeed in this field and feel that the decision is sound, but the negative feedback I receive from friends, parents, colleagues, and others has affected me. I think the answer is to focus my mind and clearly envision what my future will look like as a result of pursuing this program.

07-12-2011, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
CoolBee Family Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,044	Is the family/friends feedback along the lines of: you'll never make it you must have a steady job what about your pension etc etc? PS I went back to uni full-time aged 39 to do a PhD I'd always dreamt of doing Never had the slightest regret even if it did stuff up my career a little (having the effect in employers' eyes of completely negating 16 years working experience much of it at management level!)

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums