Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy? Forum
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Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
I have been planning to head to Vanderbilt in the fall, but a corporate recruiter just called to offer me a new job (the job is mine as long as I don't blow the interview). I've already (mostly) made my decision about whether or not to take the job, but I'm curious to get your thoughts, just in case there is something I overlooked when making this decision.
Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt seems pretty awesome. I am very interested in going to law school, look forward to the challenge, like to learn, and have a lot of friends in Nashville. Also, a rich relative who I never knew just died and left an educational trust; Vandy will be almost entirely paid for, but I can never touch the money for anything other than college or grad school.
The Job: The job is in a (smallish) city where I'd be very happy, the work is interesting, and the pay is ~80k/yr. There is some room for upward mobility, but not a lot. Of course, there is always a chance that I take the job and then we realize that it's not a good fit, and I may be pressured to leave at that point. There are very few opportunities for somebody with my experience, so if I lose this job, it is very unlikely that I'll be able to find another job anywhere close to as good. Finally, I would have to work hard my first 1-3 years to develop a framework for my projects (8-7 with some weekends), but would then work consistent 8-5:30 M-F to just maintain my projects.
So what do you think and why?
Edit:
- A management job in the corporate headquarters of a retailer
- After Vanderbilt I would be looking to return to a medium/small city
Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt seems pretty awesome. I am very interested in going to law school, look forward to the challenge, like to learn, and have a lot of friends in Nashville. Also, a rich relative who I never knew just died and left an educational trust; Vandy will be almost entirely paid for, but I can never touch the money for anything other than college or grad school.
The Job: The job is in a (smallish) city where I'd be very happy, the work is interesting, and the pay is ~80k/yr. There is some room for upward mobility, but not a lot. Of course, there is always a chance that I take the job and then we realize that it's not a good fit, and I may be pressured to leave at that point. There are very few opportunities for somebody with my experience, so if I lose this job, it is very unlikely that I'll be able to find another job anywhere close to as good. Finally, I would have to work hard my first 1-3 years to develop a framework for my projects (8-7 with some weekends), but would then work consistent 8-5:30 M-F to just maintain my projects.
So what do you think and why?
Edit:
- A management job in the corporate headquarters of a retailer
- After Vanderbilt I would be looking to return to a medium/small city
Last edited by nosaj123 on Tue Jun 14, 2011 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- MTal
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Need more description as to the type of job. Management, sales?
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Management. I would work at the corporate headquarters for a retailer.MTal wrote:Need more description as to the type of job. Management, sales?
- pleasetryagain
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
IB Mtal says "take the job"
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
IB Mtal?pleasetryagain wrote:IB Mtal says "take the job"
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- stratocophic
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
I'd take the job. If nothing else, it'll look really good if you later decide to go to law school.
- Patriot1208
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
btw, I wouldn't trust the recruiter that the job is "all but yours". Recruiters can be a slimy bunch. I worked in a recruiting office and while my office was very nice and responsible, some of our competitors were a slimy bunch.
- MTal
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Definitely take the job. Management and leadership skills are highly valued everywhere and are transferable to a multitude of places.
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
You can always go to law school later. If you think you'd enjoy the job, why not try it out?
In reality both of your options are fairly low risk so go with the one you prefer.
In reality both of your options are fairly low risk so go with the one you prefer.
- Cade McNown
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
How old are you, fresh out of undergrad?
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
I am a few years out of undergrad. The recruiter contacted me because I work for another company doing exactly what this new company wants someone to start doing for them.Cade McNown wrote:How old are you, fresh out of undergrad?
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Thanks for the warning. The recruiter's feedback actually came after I had a phone interview with the VP I would be reporting to if I took the job, so I'm feeling pretty good about actually being able to get the job if I want it. I know where you're coming from though, I've spoken to recruiters who called me in for jobs that were horrible matches....Patriot1208 wrote:btw, I wouldn't trust the recruiter that the job is "all but yours". Recruiters can be a slimy bunch. I worked in a recruiting office and while my office was very nice and responsible, some of our competitors were a slimy bunch.
- JustE
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
I've been working for a few years as well and if you're interested in law school and it's something you really want to do, go now. I would not wait a moment longer. Life happens and if you're getting it paid for, why on earth would you delay?nosaj123 wrote:Thanks for the warning. The recruiter's feedback actually came after I had a phone interview with the VP I would be reporting to if I took the job, so I'm feeling pretty good about actually being able to get the job if I want it. I know where you're coming from though, I've spoken to recruiters who called me in for jobs that were horrible matches....Patriot1208 wrote:btw, I wouldn't trust the recruiter that the job is "all but yours". Recruiters can be a slimy bunch. I worked in a recruiting office and while my office was very nice and responsible, some of our competitors were a slimy bunch.
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- Patriot1208
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Ok, if you've already had an initial interview than you are likely fine.nosaj123 wrote:Thanks for the warning. The recruiter's feedback actually came after I had a phone interview with the VP I would be reporting to if I took the job, so I'm feeling pretty good about actually being able to get the job if I want it. I know where you're coming from though, I've spoken to recruiters who called me in for jobs that were horrible matches....Patriot1208 wrote:btw, I wouldn't trust the recruiter that the job is "all but yours". Recruiters can be a slimy bunch. I worked in a recruiting office and while my office was very nice and responsible, some of our competitors were a slimy bunch.
- robotclubmember
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
nice get.pleasetryagain wrote:IB Mtal says "take the job"
OP, come back to us when you have an actual job offer
- nids333
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
Go to law school! Even based on your descriptions of both options, it seems that you are leaning towards this. You have also worked for several years and understand what it is like to be in the real world. In addition, your trust is another pro for going to law school.
- Br3v
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
I say LS. Youve already been in workforce for a few years and are still considering LS. If it is something you truly want then go for it. It sounds like this job is "just a job" to you. I could be wrong.nosaj123 wrote:I am a few years out of undergrad. The recruiter contacted me because I work for another company doing exactly what this new company wants someone to start doing for them.Cade McNown wrote:How old are you, fresh out of undergrad?
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- things fall apart
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
The answer for me is law school.
Mainly the fact that you're a few years out (aka still young) and you want to do it. And especially with it paid for.
And if you're going to have to put those hours in, why not put those hours in at a law firm(in a few years) and have greater upward mobility for your 70 hour work weeks?
To me its completely backwards to work for a few years and build your way up, then go to law school and start back at the bottom of the ladder, when you can go to school for free and build your way up in a field you're obviously wanting to go in to.
Mainly the fact that you're a few years out (aka still young) and you want to do it. And especially with it paid for.
And if you're going to have to put those hours in, why not put those hours in at a law firm(in a few years) and have greater upward mobility for your 70 hour work weeks?
To me its completely backwards to work for a few years and build your way up, then go to law school and start back at the bottom of the ladder, when you can go to school for free and build your way up in a field you're obviously wanting to go in to.
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
If you want to go to law school, go now. If you want to workin middle management, take the job. There's no point in delaying law school longer if you know know you eventually want to go.
- robotclubmember
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Re: Should I take the new job or head off to Vandy?
The middle management job could lead to upper management in time (whether that's 5 or 20 years).duckmoney wrote:If you want to go to law school, go now. If you want to workin middle management, take the job. There's no point in delaying law school longer if you know know you eventually want to go.
I have a decent job and credentials, and if I don't get the kind of employment prospects out of law school that I want, I can return to that job, and continue leveraging those pre-existing credentials. However I will have lost three years of income and have accumulated a significant level of debt. Likewise for you, if you don't get the employment prospects you seek, you can return to your field. If we looked at this from a financial perspective only, then yes it is a huge risk. My rationale was, that even if I don't get the job I want out of law school, it's okay because I still will have gotten three years of education at a great school in a topic I am genuinely interested in, and I will have learned how to be a more logical and thoughtful person. That education will, hopefully, make me a better and wiser person in perpetuity until I die, and therefore is worth the financial risk. If it pays off financially in the long-run, then that's even better (and I think it probably will for you, if you seek the right opportunities). But people shouldn't attend law school for strictly vocational purposes.
It's definitely better to do while you're younger. But the job seems like it pays well, you're already talented in that field, and it's in the type of region you want to be in. You won't find a lot of law jobs that will compensate better in the long-run than that management job in small/mid-markets. But you could find jobs that compensate comparably.
Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.
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