I'm not good at figuring out life decisions.
(Or posting here with any kind of frequency, for various reasons.)
Any way... I've been a library circulation clerk for nearly seven years, now, far longer than I've ever held a job before. I enjoy my job. However, my job does not pay terribly well. (Or, to be frank, it just plain pays terribly.)
For, oh, I'm not sure, maybe six months or so, I've been doing kind of semi-IT-type things for my branch's circ department. Between the renovations last year and system upgrades and stuff, IT has been swamped. So I've poked at things that weren't working right and done what I could to make them work right. One of the actual IT people went so far as to show me how to do a few things that really are IT things. He also told me that next time a full time help desk position (entry level IT) comes up, I should apply for it. I told him I don't have any training or a degree or anything. He said I should apply anyway, since I seem to have a knack for it.
While there isn't currently such an opening, there is a part time one, and I looked at the requirements, which include a two year IT degree. (And experience, but I'm getting some of that, unofficially, anyway. And the library likes hiring from within.) The library does offer some tuition help - not enough to make getting an MLS reasonable, but certainly enough to help with a two year community college degree.
I don't know.
It's an option I've never considered. (Even though I have some interest in tech stuff and have been waffling for months on whether to replace my computer - which has gotten out of date and is showing signs of needing replacement soon - by buying a computer or building one.)
I've fantasized about getting an MLS or a history degree (which would qualify me to work in the local history part of the library), but there's no way in hell I could afford either. And I know I couldn't work full time and go to school full time or even part time for the length of time those degrees require without burning out or losing my marbles. (Which are barely assembled at the best of times.) And my options would remain somewhat limited, unless I wanted to consider moving to other parts of the country. (Even then, there aren't that many things one can do with an MLS or a history degree.)
I just don't know.
I'm torn between "Hey, wait, maybe I could really do that." and "AAAAAAAAAAAH." Anxiety makes it hard to ever change the status quo, you know. Even when the status quo is, eventually, doomed. (Not only does that entry level IT job pay a bit over $2 more than I currently make, it makes somewhere around what my job maxes out at.)
This entry was originally posted at http://smurasaki.dreamwidth.org/136386.html.
Any way... I've been a library circulation clerk for nearly seven years, now, far longer than I've ever held a job before. I enjoy my job. However, my job does not pay terribly well. (Or, to be frank, it just plain pays terribly.)
For, oh, I'm not sure, maybe six months or so, I've been doing kind of semi-IT-type things for my branch's circ department. Between the renovations last year and system upgrades and stuff, IT has been swamped. So I've poked at things that weren't working right and done what I could to make them work right. One of the actual IT people went so far as to show me how to do a few things that really are IT things. He also told me that next time a full time help desk position (entry level IT) comes up, I should apply for it. I told him I don't have any training or a degree or anything. He said I should apply anyway, since I seem to have a knack for it.
While there isn't currently such an opening, there is a part time one, and I looked at the requirements, which include a two year IT degree. (And experience, but I'm getting some of that, unofficially, anyway. And the library likes hiring from within.) The library does offer some tuition help - not enough to make getting an MLS reasonable, but certainly enough to help with a two year community college degree.
I don't know.
It's an option I've never considered. (Even though I have some interest in tech stuff and have been waffling for months on whether to replace my computer - which has gotten out of date and is showing signs of needing replacement soon - by buying a computer or building one.)
I've fantasized about getting an MLS or a history degree (which would qualify me to work in the local history part of the library), but there's no way in hell I could afford either. And I know I couldn't work full time and go to school full time or even part time for the length of time those degrees require without burning out or losing my marbles. (Which are barely assembled at the best of times.) And my options would remain somewhat limited, unless I wanted to consider moving to other parts of the country. (Even then, there aren't that many things one can do with an MLS or a history degree.)
I just don't know.
I'm torn between "Hey, wait, maybe I could really do that." and "AAAAAAAAAAAH." Anxiety makes it hard to ever change the status quo, you know. Even when the status quo is, eventually, doomed. (Not only does that entry level IT job pay a bit over $2 more than I currently make, it makes somewhere around what my job maxes out at.)
This entry was originally posted at http://smurasaki.dreamwidth.org/136386.html.