This year’s job market has been bleak, to say the least. Layoffs hit the highest level in 14 years; job openings are barely budging; and quits figures are plummeting. It’s no wonder people feel stuck and discouraged—especially as many candidates have been on the job hunt for a year.
But some mid-career professionals are working with the cards they’ve been dealt by going back to school. Many are turning to data analytics, cybersecurity, AI-focused courses, health care, MBA programs, or trade certifications for an “immediate impact on their careers,” Metaintro CEO Lacey Kaelani told Fortune.
But while grad school can certainly offer the opportunity to level-up your career once you’ve completed a program, it comes with financial and personal sacrifices, like time. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one year of grad school, on average, costs about $43,000 in tuition. That’s nearly 70% of the average salary in the U.S.
I have a pretty dissimilar resume but have perhaps had somewhat similar challenges.
I too have distinct specialties that should, in theory, be desirable in many different roles. But to get any attention at all from employers, I had to take a lot of things off my resume to make it look less ”complicated”. This included removing things that I considered relevant experience for the position, but not explicitly asked for. It also involved scrapping half of my education background for a lot of positions.
Shit fucking sucks and are unfair. But I was just recently able to get a job that I’m happy with and so will you too, soon.