I get asked during every one of my seminars, "Should I go back to school if I'm thinking of changing careers?"

And my answer is... it depends.

Are you considering school because you're not really sure what career you want to pursue next? Then, no, you should not pursue a new degree. You are just avoiding answering the question about what you want and hoping going to school will tell you. It might, but that's a very expensive and risky way to find out.

On the other hand, are you thinking of returning to school because what you want to do next requires advanced training? Are you eager to go back? Are you willing to make the personal and financial investment it will take? Then it sounds like yes, school would be a great next step.

If you're not sure if you actually need to get more education, do some research. Talk to people in the field you are considering. Get their thoughts on it. Find people who have returned to school and who are now in the workplace doing what you'd like to do. Ask them if they'd recommend it. You want to know if it's worth it and if it's necessary. Also, check in with yourself and see how excited you are about going back to school. Does it feel right to you? Be very cautious if it feels like a drain or obligation, your intuition might be trying to tell you something!

Get the facts on how important more schooling is before you commit to it. Don't use school as an avoidance tactic. Go back and become a student because you need to AND you want to.

(c) 2007 Segaric Coaching, Inc.
Annemarie Segaric is a respected career change coach, motivational speaker, and author. Does your company, group or association deal with people in transition? Ask about bulk discounts on the career tips booklet "107 Tips For Changing Your Career While Still Paying the Bills". Ready to switch careers and don't know where to begin? Visit http://www.segaric.com and download your own career change toolkit today.