oh Buggery...

[jenuwhine]

Right. In current role for past 4 years. Very 'meh' about the job & employer and find that I have not really settled at all well. Had a bout of sick leave earlier in the year for anxiety & low mood - some of which was due to an overbearing boss and being micro-managed as well as being given less taxing roles than my equivalent colleague.

Fast forward to now.. I have the opportunity to start a masters degree in HR, part sponsored by work. thing is I am not too sure that's where I want my career to head.
I don't require release from work to do it.. But it could present as a problem if I change jobs and wanted to go full-time iyswim

I am having major wobbles about whether to do it. I believe I am capable but am dreading committing another two years to this employer given the circumstances. On the other hand it should be a great opportunity to develop.

Am frightened of looking like a total prat if I back out now. My senior boss has been supportive but I am concerned that I will appear flaky and unable to make decisions.

What would you do in my position?

Never give up the chance to improve and develop I think. Sounds like a good opportunity.

Are you working in HR at the moment? If you are not sure whether that's where you want your career to head might that be because you don't like where you work rather than not wanting to work in HR generally?

If you were with another employer and they sponsored you, would you be keener on doing it then? Is it HR that you don't want to do, or just this employer? If you had a different manager, would the company be okay? Is there anything you do like about your job, and if so, what?

I've asked myself a lot of questions like this, and I've come to the conclusion that I want a different role in the same company, rather than moving to something that's more of the same in a different company. I found it really helped to think about what things are important to me in a job, and what I want from a job, rather than focussing on the rubbish management.

Also, a masters can be very hard work, even part time (especially part time), and if you're not feeling completely committed to it, you'll just resent the work involved and it will be a very long two years.

Is it just 2 years wedded to your current co though? Will they require money back if you leave within x of completing the course? Sorry if you have already checked it/know if if you are in HR.

I guess the question for me would be - is the study/2 years a short-term pain for a better and more interesting role elsewhere?

If you are not really sure about HR I wouldn't do the course. Part-time study is difficult enough, you really need to want to do it.

I am sure you can say something plausible to your employers - time/other committments.