For the most part, this is an answer that only you can answer. I however understand that there are moments in Life where we need someone else’s opinion because it’s not like we know everything. Below are some reasons as to why you should consider going back to school.
- If you hate your job.
At this point, it might be useful to look at your job as a means to an end and access satisfaction by going to school and having positive engagements with your classmates. I always tell this to all my clients – hating your job can truly be managed by a positive mindset. You shouldn’t completely allow a job that helps you pay your bills to ruin your mood or make you sick because your mental well-being is affected. And it’s not like I am being dismissive of how bad toxic work environments can be. I am just taking into consideration that you may not have another job lined up and you may need to stay in this job in order to continue paying your bills. If this is the case, then you need to shift your attitudes to focus on the peace you get when you pay all your bills through the job you hate and then seek happier feelings from school. - If you have a bad manager.
You can’t change a bad manager, but you can change by upskilling. Instead of focusing on how bad your manager is 24/7, it’s a much better use of your time to go back to school, level up and then use the new qualification to get a better paying job with a great manager. You need to understand that a bad manager will retire one day, and they can even surprise you by leaving the company sooner rather than later. Either way, you don’t have to wait for that, just focus on investing in yourself. - If your company offers to pay a portion of your school fees.
If you are lucky, your company offers to pay a portion of your education costs. Just grab the opportunity even if you don’t feel like going back to school. In the end, you are investing in yourself and you can never go wrong with that. - If you lack the skills to change into the career you desire.
Sometimes I will get clients who have zero experience in a specific area requesting me to help them write a CV that will help them get a job in that area. Of course, I am not one to sell snake oil, so I am always honest with my clients that they will need to put in the respective work, and that sometimes includes going back to school.
- If your work experience has led you to the realisation that upskilling is required.
We are living in the times where jobs are being replaced with AI. If you have to go back to school to stay relevant to the Future of Work, then so be it.