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Home > Career stress - decision to sacrifice 2 months of my life for a very slim chance

Career stress - decision to sacrifice 2 months of my life for a very slim chance

November 14th, 2008 at 04:30 pm

I have a chance to take a very difficult exam at work. It would require me to study intensively until February (that is after I come home at 8:30pm daily).
If I am admitted to the exam and pass it, I would be placed on a roster from which future positions may or may not be filled.
If I pass, and if they need someone, and if I got picked - than I would go through the regular multiple-interview process.
So even passing gives no guarantees.

It would be a job in a different field (that is very hard to break into without experience). It pays higher but carries a much higher workload/stress.

I can see why people prefer to coupon instead of trying to advance their career. In trying to save money you extend very little effort to get little result.
But the result is proportional to the effort and it is guaranteed.
While trying to climb the ladder requires a lot of effort and guarantees nothing for all that hard work. It is stressful.
You have to face high chance of failure/rejection/the unknown.
But it is a chance to change my life in a way that saving $1 on toilet paper and toothpaste will never change it.
Yet it is scary to want something so much and know that the odds are not so good. Yet there is a chance nevertheless, so I have to try.

So this weekend I will have to write an application essay to get selected to even take the exam.
I am trying to calm down and manage my emotions.

With the chances of disappointment being so high, would you do it?

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Career stress - decision to sacrifice 2 months of my life for a very slim chance”

  1. kdmoffett25 Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 04:42 pm 1226680932
    1226680932

    Good luck and focus on your goals, even if it is just taking the exam, and things will work out in the end.

  2. ceejay74 Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 04:53 pm 1226681593
    1226681593

    Sounds like if you didn't, you'd always wonder if you could be doing better. My husband was planning on finally going to college when he moved to the U.S., and then he got a pretty great job with good pay, great perks and opportunity for advancement. But he decided to get his B.A. anyway. It may not lead to a higher-paying or better job than what he's got, but it's worth pursuing. As a result, I'm seeing much, much less of him for the next 4 years, and he's dog-tired all the time. But we think the sacrifice is worth it for the possibilities.

  3. mom-sense Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 06:51 pm 1226688676
    1226688676


    Hell, I was a SAHM with four kids under the age of 5, and I studied by myself for the LSAT. Plans for law school were nixed with number 5. But I had a plan, I studied when the oldest two were at preschool, and I sat for the test. And I did well. Probably well enough to get into a school of my choice without having to ride on coat-tails of my lawyer father or lawyer brother. Am I sad I didn't go to lawschool? Not really.

    GO FOR IT! You can do whatever you put your mind to. You might not get there the way you think you will, but o will end up where you want to be.

    GOOD LUCK!

  4. anonymous Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 11:00 pm 1226703622
    1226703622

    The single best thing I have done for my career is pass tests to get certifications. Clients and competitors alike are impressed with my resume and I get consistent compliments about my achievements at a relatively young age in my career. To pass these tests, I have had to give up months of my life to study and some of the passing rates were pretty dismal. So I say go for it - having this kind of stuff on your resume will be nothing but an assest and give you bargaining power for future work. Gook luck!

  5. Ms. Pearl Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 11:11 pm 1226704289
    1226704289

    Do it.

  6. Blue Eyes Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 11:45 pm 1226706343
    1226706343

    I would do it also. I don't agree though with your statement about people how some people prefer coupon, save small amounts of money, etc...rather than advance their career. There are plenty of people out there that have well-paying jobs with advanced degrees/education that choose to live very frugally. In the end every little amount of savings/money does add up, IMO.

  7. baselle Says:
    November 15th, 2008 at 04:41 am 1226724074
    1226724074

    Go for it. Even with the stress, its much better to live life with no regrets. They ain't gonna kill you if you fail the test... you just fail the test.

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