Job search anxiety after obtaining degree.

[soliloquy]

I will be graduating with my MS in just 19 days. It's kind of hard to believe that I'm so close. I only have 1 more exam to take and a group project to turn in that is almost complete. :willynilly:

I've had the same job for 10+ years at the same law firm even though I've been promoted over time and now work as a legal project manager.

Well, I know I've reached the ceiling at my job as far as earning potential and I think it may be time to branch out and really use my skill set. The benefits at my current drop aren't very good and I feel stifled as far as making more progress there.

But, now I have this issue where as graduation approaches, I'm starting to feel a little nervous about being back on the job market. Obviously, I wouldn't leave this job until I found another one but with all the mergers, lay-offs, and changes to various industries lately, I'm unnerved by leaving my relative job security behind. I don't want to become complacent and not reach my full potential, but at the same time I nervous about a possible transition. Has anyone experienced this? Any advice?

Thanks!

[tsimmns]

Don't know what you're salary is, but have you ever looked into Federal jobs?

[bjcheung77]

Don't know what you're salary is, but have you ever looked into Federal jobs?

+1, or other state/government jobs as the benefits and pay are the most, it's also more worth it for job security

[KayV]

It seems like just yesterday you were thinking about getting an associate degree, and here you are with a masters.

+1 about federal/ state jobs.

[soliloquy]

I think it was just yesterday lol. My first semester back was in 2013. I've taken a full course load since then. Honestly can't believe that I'm at the end. Have you to thank for a lot of it because you were so patient with all my questions. ��

Maybe that's why the anxiety. I don't think I'm feeling my worth yet.

I don't know if it's because I'm ex-military but government jobs just do not appeal to me. Also, I make more now than I could make in most government jobs.

[cookderosa]

Everything you want is on the other side of fear.

I left a job that I'd had for 18 years when we moved to NC. Shortly after moving here, I finished my MS, and applied for a job that was a "reach" for my qualifications, didn't expect to hear from them at all. In fact, in that same pile of jobs, I applied for a handful of jobs that I was over-qualified for as well, thinking they were good fall back ideas. Funny story, none of the jobs I was SURE would call did, but the "reach" job called me immediately. (I almost didn't go to the interview because I almost chickened out) They hired me, and I had a really great experience.

In the end, it wasn't a good fit with my homeschool schedule, BUT I finished the semester, and it really "broke the ice" in my head in so many ways. It gave me the encouragement to go a different direction that was so much more in my lane with my talents and passions....but I'm not sure I'd have that confidence now if I hadn't put myself out there right away.

EDIT: search burbuja0512's posts about resumes, jobs, etc. She's AMAZING and has an AMAZING job that she talks about how she worked her way up into that position. Seriously, good stuff in her posts.

[Prloko]

+1 about federal/ state jobs.

Working for the Fed is a double edged sword. On the one hand, you can't beat the job security and the bennies. On the other, if you are a hard charging type A, you are going to feel stuck in bureaucratic muck

[LaterBloomer]

Hmm. Maybe what you're feeling is like those folks who lose weight, but still feel overweight. There's a cognitive dissonance. You've gotten your degrees, but it doesn't feel real. Know what can make that happen? Get out there a get a new job.

If you take a new job, you won't have the vaunted reputation you have now. Guess what? I suspect that you're the sort of person who will soon reclaim that reputation. Use your network to ascertain that you'll be hired by a company/firm that is on solid footing.

Good luck!

[Sagan]

Working for the Fed is a double edged sword. On the one hand, you can't beat the job security and the bennies. On the other, if you are a hard charging type A, you are going to feel stuck in bureaucratic muck

Worse, the higher up you go the more you have to manage and even create the muck.

[Prloko]

Worse, the higher up you go the more you have to manage and even create the muck.

When I was in the military, we called that "embracing The Suck".