My new employer offers tuition reimbursement for related courses and/or required courses for a related degree. Since my paycheck is so small, I am considering taking advantage of this opportunity. I’ve learned the hard way that the degree I already have is way to obscure to help me get any sort of job, but maybe I can transfer many of my previously earned credits and be halfway to another degree. Business courses are nice and generic and may help convince someone that I am qualified to work in an office.
I met with an adviser at the local office of our statewide university system about a week ago to discuss these thoughts with her. Courses start this week and I was thinking about signing up for something (anything?). I didn’t particularly care for higher education my first go around or my second (which was with this university). I really really don’t want to be trapped in a crappy no-respect low paying job for my entire working career, but that truly seems to be the direction I’m headed.
The adviser did her best to talk me out of taking more courses. She thinks I need to figure out what exactly I really want to do (yeah, like the current job market affords anyone that luxury), revamp my resume (again?…*eye roll*) and be applying to different sorts of things. Um, hello? What exactly does she think I’ve spent the last few months doing? I’ve given up on that road; I’m looking for a new one. She also thinks that with a little searching, I could find a great secretarial job, because nothing says successful career like secretary. I don’t know what I want to be “when I grow up”, but I’m pretty certain my life’s ambition is not to be a secretary; I want to have a secretary.
I haven’t signed up for anything. I think what I really need to sign up for is little white padded room.
I say take a course. You never know if it will stimulate an interest in something. You might meet someone in the class who will be able to help you somehow in the future. The more people you meet, the more choices you have.
As Puffy said take a course, something you will find interesting, you never know what doors it might open.
Not sure how it works where you are, however I have known a number of secretaries who have moved on to great jobs because a) They know the people they will be working with and have impressed them, and b) They know the skills required to actually do the job.
If you do look at secretarial work however you have to make sure that you are doing the job of a PA and not just a tea and type machine.
And don’t give up on applying for jobs (easy to say I know) each job you don’t get just means you are one closer to the one you do.
If ‘three’ is a charm, I also say to go w/ the courses & take advantage of the opportunity offered at your job. If for nothing else, it’ll make you feel you’re getting more from this self-proclaimed ‘meager’ job. I like your comments about the padded room & also how you want your own secretary (not be one) – at least you haven’t lost your sense of humor! Keep your head up & keep plugging lady…