Is it worth it to move somewhere to work for 9 months?

Zoolander

I am currently working in a nice city in an ok job. The job I am doing now (software dev) is really not in my field and I don't see a career in it for me in the long run. The team I work with is really great though, and the city is really fun to be in.

I have a job offer the requires me to move to a less interesting (more suburban) city far away. The pros are that the job is very much in my field (electrical engineering), pays significantly more than my current job (about 25%) and is overall a good career choice. The con is that I only plan to stay there 9 months because I would want to move back to my current city to do grad school in engineering (85% sure of getting accepted).

Would it be worth it to take the job for 9 months? On one side, it would be great experience relevant to my field. On the other hand, if I left the job after 9 months, the people who hired me might not be that happy about it. Would I come out of this whole thing with 0 references for leaving so quickly? Also, will I get enough experience during 9 months to make it worth the hassle and expense of moving halfway across the continent?

It's my own decision to make, but I'm kind of conflicted. Any thoughts? Similar situations?

Delzhand

You're going to have a really hard time finding any place to rent with less than a 12 month contract. Having said that, actual work experience (especially in software dev) is worth a ton more than a degree, so I'd probably still go for it. Maybe you could find someone who would rent out a room of their house or something that isn't an apartment.

Zoolander

Sorry, should have clarified that I am doing software development now, but it is not exactly my field, and I am not crazy about it as a career. My field is more in electrical engineering, which is what I would be doing at the new job, except only for 9 months, as I would be leaving to do a masters after that.

Also, yeah, really noticing the lack of 9-month leases

Fallingman

Often, moving sideways in your career can be quite difficult. If you have the opportunity to gain experience in the field that tyou want to work in, I'd say go for it. And these things sometimes lead to other opportunities. While there, you could assess whether now is the right time to do your masters degree (career-wise).

I'm assuming that this job is genuinely in your desired profession...

Usagi

As an engineer who hires engineers, yes please, you definitely want to do this. The more work experience you have related to your field the more likely you will be to get hired asap upon graduation

Bartholamue

As the saying goes, any experience is good experience. I agree with Usagi.

Delzhand wrote:

Maybe you could find someone who would rent out a room of their house or something that isn't an apartment.

I also agree with this. It's a no risk venture, as you probably won't have to sign a lease.

DrAllecon

As long as you're up front with the people at the new job (that you only intend to stay for 9 months) they certainly shouldn't be angry that you're leaving early, therefore no bridges burned. If they are impressed enough with your work, they'll likely encourage you to complete your masters and return to them, or even help you get your master's degree while working for them. This sounds like an excellent opportunity, good luck!

KafkaAU

I moved to the UK from Australia for 10 months. However, the company knew I had an end date (had already booked my wedding) and they worked around it with the projects they had on. Was great experience in my desired field and they got a warm body to crunch numbers and push through a busy period.

Slightly different as I was very much interested in going to the UK than moving to a not so nice town. I also took a 12 month lease, told the guy I would be breaking it early and copped the penalty because similarly to yours I couldn't find one that was less (a couple of 6s, but didn't want to risk going on a month to month at the end).

Also to echo the above, experience >>>>> uni. If you get questioned about it in the future as to why you were only at the company for a short period, you can always say you decided afterwards to go back to uni to get your degree.

Blake T

Sorry, I might be missing something. You have a degree in EE and you are later going back to uni to further your studies?

I would stuff the studies, uni is great fun and all but a year of life engineering experience is worth two to three times what a year at grad school would be worth. Plus it costs you money to go to school.

Unless you wanted to switch actual disciplines it is by no means worth going back to school unless you do not have employment.

SwashbucklerXX

Once you find out for sure about your acceptance, you can always check in with the university about deferring your enrollment, too. Grad schools these days value people with employment experience in the field, so the school could very well be amenable.

khain

Make sure you read the fine print for any signing bonuses or relocation since it's pretty common to require the person to pay them back if you leave in less than a year.

bowen

Blake T wrote:

Sorry, I might be missing something. You have a degree in EE and you are later going back to uni to further your studies?

I would stuff the studies, uni is great fun and all but a year of life engineering experience is worth two to three times what a year at grad school would be worth. Plus it costs you money to go to school.

Unless you wanted to switch actual disciplines it is by no means worth going back to school unless you do not have employment.

Yeah and unless we're talking about $$$$$$ here, the move is likely going to cost more money in the long run.

Zoolander

Blake T wrote:

Sorry, I might be missing something. You have a degree in EE and you are later going back to uni to further your studies?

I would stuff the studies, uni is great fun and all but a year of life engineering experience is worth two to three times what a year at grad school would be worth. Plus it costs you money to go to school.

Unless you wanted to switch actual disciplines it is by no means worth going back to school unless you do not have employment.

I didn't really detail out everything in the OP as maybe I should have. The masters I want to do is in avionics and control systems design, a branch of EE in the aerospace field. I have found it very difficult to get an engineering job in this particular field with just a non-specialised bachelors. The masters includes 6 months paid internship in the aerospace industry arranged by the university, so it would be an excellent way to get in.

The 9-month job I am considering now is in designing control systems in the oil industry. I like the job (I have 2 years experience in it) and the career prospects are quite good, but I would rather be working in avionics in the aerospace industry if I could, hence the masters.

Really appreciate the comments guys, good to hear opinions from people who have experience with these kind of career decisions.

WildEEP

Experience in the oil industry is a good idea. It opens a lot of doors you might have not noticed before. No matter what you read in the news - oil is big and is going to stay big.

Getting a foot in the door with that industry is an investment all by itself.

CelestialBadger

Why not put off your studies for a year and take the job for 21 months? That looks better on your resume than quitting after 9.

Tastyfish

Is the course modular? I know quite a few uni's that have a second intake based around the calendar year rather than traditional school year - so adding an extra three months to turn your 9 month experience into a 1 year experience might be possible. You then might find that the company would be willing to take you back after you've completed your course as well if you make a good impression.

CelestialBadger wrote:

Why not put off your studies for a year and take the job for 21 months? That looks better on your resume than quitting after 9.

Or this, the extra money would probably help a lot as well.

Draygo

Thats what I would suggest, take the job for at least a year plus 9 months. You can easily put off your masters for another year without much consequence and the work experience and resume material you are going to get working for this job will more than make up for it. Plus you can ask if the company you are going to work for is willing to work with you in your education plan, some companies offer great benifits down this line.

Also if you find out you like the job enough to make it your career, I would switch up masters. Work isn't always about getting in that particular dream job, its work.

Esh

Delzhand wrote:

You're going to have a really hard time finding any place to rent with less than a 12 month contract. Having said that, actual work experience (especially in software dev) is worth a ton more than a degree, so I'd probably still go for it. Maybe you could find someone who would rent out a room of their house or something that isn't an apartment.

It's not that hard if you look into shared living situations on Craigslist. Especially if you're only going to be there for nine months, there's no point in getting your own apartment and shelling out to furnish anything beyond a bedroom.

But yeah, go make some money and get some experience. It sounds like fun. Nine months isn't that long of a time.

Disrupter

May I ask why you want to get a masters in a field at the expense of passing up an actual job and work experience? Im not an expert, but Im like 90 percent sure work experience will get you much, much further then a masters. Plus instead of PAYING for the masters, you will be getting PAID to work.

I dont understand why you would put your career on hold for education, isnt the point of education to launch said career? You can always get your masters later/while working.

Zoolander

Disrupter wrote:

May I ask why you want to get a masters in a field at the expense of passing up an actual job and work experience? Im not an expert, but Im like 90 percent sure work experience will get you much, much further then a masters. Plus instead of PAYING for the masters, you will be getting PAID to work.

I dont understand why you would put your career on hold for education, isnt the point of education to launch said career? You can always get your masters later/while working.

Sure, I can clarify that. The masters would be to specialise in a related but not identical field. Instead of working on control systems in the oil industry, I would be learning so that I can work with control systems in the aerospace industry, an industry that interests me more than the oil industry.

Zoolander

CelestialBadger wrote:

Why not put off your studies for a year and take the job for 21 months? That looks better on your resume than quitting after 9.

I'm just not sure if I want to delay it too long. I feel like I'm at the point where I have few responsibilities, few things tying me down, and just the best time to finish all my education goals. If I wait too long, I risk life getting in the way and never being able to go back to school.

Asiina

Working somewhere for a short term is fine as long as you are entirely up front about it. 9 months is really not that brief a time, especially if it's project based. If you need the education to continue your career after this, then go for it.

As for moving, I suggest selling your furniture or putting what you have in storage in the city that you're coming back to and then just renting a room somewhere in the new place. It's not that hard to find a place to live for 9 months where you don't really have to provide more than clothes.

Blake T

Zoolander wrote:

Blake T wrote:

Sorry, I might be missing something. You have a degree in EE and you are later going back to uni to further your studies?

I would stuff the studies, uni is great fun and all but a year of life engineering experience is worth two to three times what a year at grad school would be worth. Plus it costs you money to go to school.

Unless you wanted to switch actual disciplines it is by no means worth going back to school unless you do not have employment.

I didn't really detail out everything in the OP as maybe I should have. The masters I want to do is in avionics and control systems design, a branch of EE in the aerospace field. I have found it very difficult to get an engineering job in this particular field with just a non-specialised bachelors. The masters includes 6 months paid internship in the aerospace industry arranged by the university, so it would be an excellent way to get in.

The 9-month job I am considering now is in designing control systems in the oil industry. I like the job (I have 2 years experience in it) and the career prospects are quite good, but I would rather be working in avionics in the aerospace industry if I could, hence the masters.

Really appreciate the comments guys, good to hear opinions from people who have experience with these kind of career decisions.

Ok, doing your masters would be a good idea then.

Additionally going to work for six months would also be a good idea, because while your university will find you work, the companies get to pick the people they want as well. Having the extra experience will be beneficial long and short term.

Really though aerospace is fucking competitive though and you may have to go back to O&G after your degree is over due to lack of work available in the industry.

Zoolander

So an update, I decided to take up the job offer and move. The near-unanimous opinion of H/A helped push me to that direction and looking back on it, yeah, it's kind of a no-brainer for my career even if it means making a big change in my comfortable lifestyle.

I'm still planning on taking the masters in 9 months if I get accepted, but I will see how much I like the lifestyle and work environment at the new job before committing to it. I have a few months to decide. I know the aerospace industry is not easy to get into, so this experience will definitely leave me with more options if aerospace doesn't work out.

Looking online, I found a nice-looking house basement available for rent which is about 10 minutes walk from work, so I'm talking to the landlord to get that place before I head out. It's a bit of a risk taking the place without having seen it in person, but I really want to just be able to get there and have a place to stay finalized. I've asked the landlord to have a bed ready for me, and I'm just gonna go with two large check-in bags full of clothes and the necessities. Whatever else I need, I'll get it there.

Thanks for all the help, it has made my decision easier and better!

Dhalphir

Excellent decision.

I would offer one final piece of advice - and that is to keep your options open. If you enjoy the work and it is a stable, secure job, DO NOT return after 9 months unless you are absolutely sure the company will take you back if you want to come back. As others have said, aerospace is insanely competitive and just having the degree will not be enough when there will no doubt be other aerospace engineers with a degree and experience lining up for the same job as you. 9 months of experience in a similar field in the oil industry doesn't sound amazing on a resume - but if you work there for 3-4 years and then go get the degree, that is a ton more valuable.