Thinking of taking a managerial position at work. Hard to decide, emotional problems at play.

[Locut0s]

I've posted about this kind of thing before so feel free to skip this post if you like.

To make a LONG story short anxiety and depression have wrecked havoc with my life for quite few years now. They turned a promising educational carrier into so much past awards and high grades. I've lost track of the number of times I've doped out of university. The past 3 years I've been working at 7-11. Started out as a sales associate and for the past 2 1/2 years I've been the assistant manager. I've bin doing very well at this job but I've always looked at it as a temp job to save money to go back to school. I've saved up quite a bit in that time ($50,000+, but that's because I still live with my parents). And spent a lot of it (about 10,000 on entertainment and toys). I still plan on going back to school but recently an opportunity has opened up. The manager of my store is moving and the job is mine for the taking if I want it. Both the manager and district manager, plus innumerable customers, have all rooted for me if I go for it (the jobs as good as mine if I want to take it). Question is should I take it? In the long run I definitely want to go back to school but this has it's own allure too. Before this job I never had a real job and like I said I had terrible problems at university due to emotional problems (though I did very well when I could hack it). I've been relatively happy the past 3 years and this gives me the opportunity of having the first real workable salary (I've been making about 30K/yr and the new job would offer about 42K/yr). Question is should I keep the education on the back burner for now and go for this opportunity (looks good on the resume). Or should I take the plunge and use the savings to go back to school. I have definitely not solved all my emotional problems!!

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Is it possible to go to school part time?

Maybe take a night class here and there while you work.

[MajorChode]

6. I suspect the problem would be...

that with most managerial positions you sell your soul to the company to at least some degree. Sometimes it's hard to go back to school even part time when you are constantly on call.

[Madam Mossfern]

2. Have you thought about

night school?

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Think about doing both, go to school PART TIME

take a class here, and a class there, and take this job

The way the economy is right now, hang on to it

[sandnsea]

4. I have a new way to make decisions

Is it a mistake worth making.

I pretend I'm you.

If I take this managerial job, and it's a mistake, what will the mistake be. I'll delay my education, maybe I'll never finish. Maybe I'll have some unknown situation, and be stuck in this job forever. Is that okay?

If I quit and go to school, maybe I'll discover I still can't handle the pressure. Maybe I'll have lost my opportunity to have a stable job, and have to start all over and scratch my way back. Is that okay?

Which of those scenarios would be a mistake worth making. Which would be completely unacceptable.

[Oceansaway]

5. take the job offer and sign

up for a few night classes....take it slow and stay secure....jmo

[roody]

7. I was 40 when I graduated from college.

You will know when you are ready to study.

[emilyg]

17. I was 40 when I switched and went to Nursing School.

[Avalux]

8. Im hearing you say you've been happy during the time working at the 7-11.

And I also hear excitement over the managerial opportunity and better salary. Your boss must think highly of you or he wouldn't have offered the position.

Is school something you want to do for yourself, or something you THINK you need to do related to external pressures? School isn't for everyone and maybe you were meant to take the job and keep doing something you enjoy instead of going to school.

At this point in my life I'm all about doing what makes me happy. I wish the same for you.

[spindrifter]

9. I vote with the "take the job" contingent.

Why? You are right that it will look good on your resume. If you can, take some classes--maybe at a community college. Work on your depression. That is probably what sabotaged your previous efforts at university.

[givemebackmycountry]

10. Take it.

Don't even think about it, take it.
There are about 70 million people who would flatten you like a pancake in the street running over you, to get that kind of opportunity.

Take it while you have the chance, and thank whatever god you pray to that you have it.

Then do what you have to do to get something better.

[Kip Humphrey]

11. I recommend you go to college when you feel that you are ready and really want to do it.

[unkachuck]

12. you're too....

....hard on yourself; lighten up....the only place any of us are going (including billie and the buffer) is in the grave....and if you're lucky, that'll later than sooner....

....I myself, wouldn't go over to the 'dark' side....I'd keep my current position, play it low-key and slide back into school when I could...some people are just good at being professional students....maybe that's your calling....there are worse things to be....

....with the money you've saved and with living at home you could safely 'coast' for many moons....lay back and take a wait and see attitude; the economy is only going to get progressively worse and management ain't worth the pressure you'll be under....

....but hey, it's your life and your decision....what the hell do I know; I'm a life-long failure and proud of it....

[bertman]

13. Lots of good advice here, Locut0s. But please don't look at a management position as

the "dark side" as one poster called it. If you've been relatively happy at this job and your manager and district manager are rooting for you, they must be pretty good people or you wouldn't have stuck around. I've known lots of managers who were topnotch decent people and really looked out for those folks who worked for them. One advantage of being in management is that often you can have a positive impact on more aspects of the company than if you are a line worker.

If you find that you don't like being in management, can you go back to your current position?

You seem to have good self-awareness and realize that you are not yet ready for full-time college. If you feel like you're maturing don't be afraid to give yourself more time to decide when and if you'll go back to school. You may do much better after you have spent some time checking out the other options that life has to offer for you. I went to college twice and never graduated, but have worked at a number of very good jobs and done well for myself.

Good luck, whatever decision you make.

[Locut0s]

18. Thanks for the support! Part of the reason I never did well in university...

is that I never had a real emotional goal for myself. Don't get me wrong there were plenty of courses that I liked and subjects that I did well in (I've always loved and done well in Math). But I was never there for myself. I've long wandered through life in whatever field because it was what was expected of me.

[ezgoingrl]

14. Don't forget about

online classes. You can go to school and take the job!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. Take the job. n/t

[Locut0s]

16. Thanks for all the wonderful replies:) nt.

[Hawkowl]

19. You are happy!!! Take the job!

You need to recognize that you are already successful and happy. Why go back to school where you were miserable? Remember the goal of life should be happiness--not some arbitrary accomplishments that don't make you happy.

Take the job and continue being happy. If you must, take some part time courses to continue your education. Remember the goal of an education should not be a job but just education. You already have a job and it looks like a career.

Also, we are in a monster recession. Somebody offers you a promotion with a 40% salary increase you take the job! Opportunity doesn't knock twice. Hell most times it never knocks at all.

[Muttocracy]

20. don't go back to school unless you have a goal, or it's a clear luxury

If you have plenty of money and school is a luxury, well, why not.

If you have a specific goal (I need training in XXX to do the career I really want, or I've always been VERY interested in XXX and know I'll work hard enough to find a job in that field), then school is great.

But being in the middle (not sure why you're there, potential financial harm) could repeat disaster. I say this as someone who pushed myself very hard in school, and burned out in grad school. Really, the slightly higher average pay I have hasn't made up for student loans and gaps of unemployment. So unless you're really dedicated and in the right emotional frame for school, it can wait.

As others have said, a bird in the hand job right now is a good thing.