Look for new job now or finish school first?

[soliloquy]

I know you all can't really answer this for me but I've been thinking about going on a job hunt. I've been with the same law firm for more than 10 years and I'm not unhappy there but I know I could make a higher salary elsewhere. I keep seeing all these regulatory legal jobs at various banks that I qualify for. It would give me a salary bump of about 20K per year. On the other hand, I am taking three graduate courses every semester through Spring 2015 and really don't need another transition before I complete my degree.

Right now I work from 7:30-3:30 which gets me home around 4:30. It gives me plenty of time to get off work, take care of my family, and spend long hours on homework. It also allows me to pick my child up from school as soon as school gets out so I don't have to pay for after school care. He's actually old enough to stay at home for a few hours alone but his school is way on the other side of town so there's no way for him to get home unless I pick him up.

If I had a regular 9-5, I probably would't even see home until 6PM which would take about 2 hours out of my day. That won't be a problem once I finish with school but it could be a problem at this point.

Does it make more sense to just wait until I finish my degree instead of stressing myself out with a job hunt right now? I know a lot of people transition while they are in school. If anyone has advice, I'm all eyes.

Thanks.

[LaterBloomer]

Is Spring 2015 a typo? How are you doing with the courses and finances? It may be a quality of life issue that only you can answer - needing time for the courses versus money for living. Also, how will having the masters versus working on it play into your new salary? If you were to be hired now at $20,000 more per year, would you get an additional bump once you got the degree?

Congratulations on moving along so steadfastly on obtaining these degrees. It helps reinforce our drive for our degrees.

[soliloquy]

Is Spring 2015 a typo? How are you doing with the courses and finances? It may be a quality of life issue that only you can answer - needing time for the courses versus money for living. Also, how will having the masters versus working on it play into your new salary? If you were to be hired now at $20,000 more per year, would you get an additional bump once you got the degree?

Congratulations on moving along so steadfastly on obtaining these degrees. It helps reinforce our drive for our degrees.

We are fine financially. I actually make a very good salary and so does my husband so we don't have any unmet needs that would influence my decision to make a change right now. Yes that was a typo. I meant spring 2016.

[UptonSinclair]

I would suggest you take one challenge at a time unless there is an urgent need to make the change. It sounds like life is good. Enjoy it while you finish your Masters.

[Prloko]

There's a possibility that your increased salary comes with increased responsibility. This may involve working more hours than you are comfortable and forcing you to extend your time to complete your degree. Money is nice, but should be number three in what you look for in a job.

On the other hand, if there are additional benefits (location, tuition assistance, etc.), it may be beneficial to take a new position.

Why don't you start a passive search and put out feelers in the industry without actually aggressively applying to positions. Connect with recruiters and see what's out there. As they say, the best time to find a new job is while your working in your current job. Good luck.

[LaterBloomer]

Prioko made a good point about the passive job search. Spend the time as you can to find out more about the possible businesses you could work for. With this additional time, and without the stress of having to tell a potential employer, "yes, I'll take the job," you can learn more about the places. Are they somewhere where you'd like to work? Maybe you can network with folks who work there - or who worked at those places - and see what they have to say. There are employers who lack insight. They will tell you what the office environment is like, what's allowed, etc., only for you to begin work and find out that the employer was delusional. A supervisor in my department, who had already submitted her letter of resignation, was hiring. A outside candidate asked her about her management style. She didn't say she was leaving, and purposely phrased her responses so as to avoid mention of her departure. While you can never know everything about everything, it's nice to feel that there wasn't some low-hanging fruit, information-wise, that you missed.

[indivinefavor]

Soliloquy, I'd just stay put for the time being. I'm kind of in the same boat myself. Since you have a routine that works for you, I wouldn't consider changing that up unless there's a real, viable alternative. HOWEVER, I would still keep doing a job search because you never know what's out there. Since you're not unhappy, you always have options. But I hate for you to just focus on school and miss the JOB of a lifetime. Stick with what you have, but keep you're options. You never know what may come along.

Good luck!!

[Goblue34]

I know you all can't really answer this for me but I've been thinking about going on a job hunt. I've been with the same law firm for more than 10 years and I'm not unhappy there but I know I could make a higher salary elsewhere. I keep seeing all these regulatory legal jobs at various banks that I qualify for. It would give me a salary bump of about 20K per year. On the other hand, I am taking three graduate courses every semester through Spring 2015 and really don't need another transition before I complete my degree.

Right now I work from 7:30-3:30 which gets me home around 4:30. It gives me plenty of time to get off work, take care of my family, and spend long hours on homework. It also allows me to pick my child up from school as soon as school gets out so I don't have to pay for after school care. He's actually old enough to stay at home for a few hours alone but his school is way on the other side of town so there's no way for him to get home unless I pick him up.

If I had a regular 9-5, I probably would't even see home until 6PM which would take about 2 hours out of my day. That won't be a problem once I finish with school but it could be a problem at this point.

Does it make more sense to just wait until I finish my degree instead of stressing myself out with a job hunt right now? I know a lot of people transition while they are in school. If anyone has advice, I'm all eyes.

Thanks.

I would stay put. it sounds like you have a clear path to your masters, and in the long run having your masters will pay. Your doing great BTW. Congrats on the process.

[ladylearner]

I would suggest you take one challenge at a time unless there is an urgent need to make the change. It sounds like life is good. Enjoy it while you finish your Masters.

Looking for a job is a job, getting acquainted with a new environment even if you already know the work if another job, and school is another challenge. Besides, you have great hours for what you have going on in your life right now. I have asked my boss to let me work earlier hours (just half an hour earlier, especially since I'm at work anyway and get so much work done in that extra 30 minutes). Not every job has a culture where people leave right on the dot and that can seriously affect your ability to multitask the way you do now.