Job Seeker Blog - Spark Hire

Back to School: The Right Thing for your Job Search?

What’s that old saying, when the going gets tough, the tough… go back to school? Sometimes going back to school can be the kick-start your job search needs. So what are the reasons that will lead you down such a path? Let’s take a look.

The best reason for going back to school to kickstart your job search is if you want to change fields. If you’ve decided you have a keen interest in economic policy and studied kinesiology in school, you’ll likely want to pursue a graduate degree in economics or public policy. Even though the field may not require a certification, re-educating yourself on concepts you haven’t seen in awhile will help springboard your resume.

Another benefit to your job search is the renewed ability to secure internships. Sure, now that you’ve graduated scoring an internship doesn’t sound great, but in truth it could be the boost your job search needs. Internships give you real world experience often not available to non-students. If you’re looking to get a job which will bolster your resume in the long-term, an internship offered to graduate students will often give you that experience while not tying you to one position. Internships are a valuable tool, and one that are now re-open to you as a grad student.

As much as graduate school can help your job search, there are some reasons NOT to just go back to school in lieu of pursuing a full-time position. The first is money. If you are deep in student loans already, digging yourself deeper likely won’t help you much. Even if you improve your job prospects slightly, you’re looking at a long, uphill climb back to financial stability. Additionally, don’t just go to school for the sake of it. If you’re going into a field without an emphasis on a particular education, or are just sick of the job search, you’re likely wasting your time and money.

Whether you decide to go to graduate school for something new, or to brush up on previously learned skills, grad school may be able to help revitalize your search and give you new options for your future.

Have you ever gone to grad school because you wanted to change career fields? Tell us about that decision in the comments below!

IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Avolore

Jen Schiller

Jen works as a Marketing Project Manager for a restaurant, a kitchen assistant for cooking classes, helps with database management, does some freelance writing, and more. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland in Government & Politics in 2011. Currently, she resides in the Washington, D.C. area and is an avid sports fan.

2 comments

  • I been thinking about that for the past 4 years and with all that thinking sometimes I wihs I just did and accepted the debt but then who knows if i still be in the same position I am today. Age is critical when going back to school and how much more time you will lose and where to start again.