Should I go back to school?
Education Tip: The math of school is this: you should be able to pay off any loans you take out within 10 years, by paying 10% of your salary toward the loan. But, like any investment, there is risk. What if I pay for an expensive education, but can’t find a job? One way to minimize the risk is to consider ‘blue collar’ jobs, where there is a clear demand.
The biggest obstacle to overcome when you consider going back to school is fear. You may feel afraid to start over, or afraid to spend more money and more time on something that won’t pan out. This article is going to show you how to break down this big, scary goal into small actionable steps that can help you make your decision.
Step one: Decide what area you want to think about. Do not get granular at this level, stay general. I’m going to recommend three umbrellas that may or may not fit your career goals.
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Skilled trades
Step one is going to be thinking about which (if any) of these umbrellas may suit you best - this is your homework for day one. Just make a decision about which of these you want to pursue.
Sample jobs/training programs under each umbrella:
Healthcare: Pharmacy tech, imaging tech, lab tech, radiation therapist, anesthesiology tech, ophthalmic tech, surgical technician.
Manufacturing: Welding tech, CNC machinist, industrial maintenance tech, forklift operator.
Skilled trades: Electrician, plumber, HVAC tech, Mason, pipefitter, lineman.
Which of these resonate with you? Which of these have job titles that you think might interest you? Your decision will probably have to do with money, so let’s dig into that.
These are median salaries for the state of Illinois. So please note that your state may have different pay scales. ALSO - note that you’ll hear anecdotally that people in these roles earn much more. Why the differentiation? Many of these positions have the opportunity for overtime pay, which can be a game-changer. By picking up extra work, you can increase your income dramatically.
See a table of careers HERE
One thing that may be striking you as you read through this information is that these salaries are a bit on the low side. Things to consider for this - - these are salaries for front-line workers. In any career, one easy way to increase your earning potential is to seek management roles which will be higher paying. Let’s remember stories like the one from Judy Marks, who started her career as an electrical engineer, and now makes $14 million as the CEO of Otis elevators. Is this an extreme example? Sure. But the point is that every job on this list has a manager, so that’s a course to pursue if you want to make more money than these salaries listed.
Step Two: Once you decide which of these appeals to you, your job is to set up ONE (1) informational interview. Do not be overwhelmed by this task. You can do it.
Step Three: Do a cost analysis and don’t over-value your time! There is assistance available to pay for some of these things - so if you can become qualified to do one of these jobs for low cost, but are just worried about the time investment, really think about how you’d be spending that time otherwise. Really think about it.
You’d be watching netflix and scrolling social media wouldn’t you? You’re telling me that, two years from now, you’d rather say ‘wow, I have seen A LOT of puppy videos,’ then be able to say ‘I’m a certified surgical technologist’?
Be realistic about the value of your time. If you can get one of these certifications by giving up some free time - you should do it. Even if you never use it! What do you have to lose? Time spent watching puppy videos? Enough is enough with those - it’s time to get real about your future.
