You've made the important and praise-worthy decision to return to school as you seek your master's degree. If you're like many aspiring graduate students, you already boast an impressive resume but are eager to take your career to the next level. Your background will grant you valuable insight as you begin grad school, but your decision could cause some complications with your current employer. These concerns should not damage your resolve as you strive for an advanced degree.
With open communication, you can break the news to your employer without receiving any pushback. In fact, you may be surprised by the extent to which your ongoing academic journey is encouraged. The initial conversation about your return to grad school may seem intimidating, but there's less to fear than you think. Keep the following in mind as you alert your employer to your grad school plans:
Should I Tell My Employer I'm Going Back to School?
Unfortunately, not all employers respond with enthusiasm when professionals let them know that they're about to return to school. From their perspective, enrollment in grad school could mean the potential loss of a skilled employee or a loss of commitment. Some may doubt the ability of students to simultaneously manage the demands of graduate-level coursework and full-time jobs.
Given these common concerns, it's only natural for grad students to fear a negative response from employers. Even so, honesty remains the best policy. Your failure to alert your employer could spell big trouble, especially if grad school requirements do eventually conflict with work functions.
Don't let fear get in the way of open communication. It's impossible to know how, exactly, your employer will respond. In fact, you may be surprised to find that your decision to return to school is applauded. If not, consider this: Do you really want to work for a company that actively tries to discourage you from seeking the credentials you need for career advancement? Skepticism about grad school may be a sign that it's time to search for a better job.
How to Let Your Employer Know About Your Grad School Plans
You've sent in your application or enrolled for grad school—and you're excited to get started! Before you get too invested in your program, however, you'll need to get a better sense for your future work arrangements. This begins with a much-needed chat with your employer.
If you suspect that your decision to return to school will be met with a lack of enthusiasm, you'll need to approach your upcoming announcement carefully. Properly framed, the big news may be accepted or even celebrated. These strategies can help you convince your employer of the professional value of grad school:
Provide Plenty of Notice
Your employer is far more likely to accept your decision to return to grad school if you announce your plans far in advance. This shows respect and demonstrates that you're willing to do what it takes to successfully work and attend school at the same time.
If possible, start chatting about grad school a few months in advance. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to make adjustments to your work schedule, or, if needed, assist with training in somebody to help cover specific duties if you need to scale back your workload.
Determine the Why Behind Your Enrollment
What, exactly, do you hope to accomplish while attending grad school? Do you anticipate that your master's degree will help you score a promotion? Or would you like to make a lateral move and try a new professional trajectory? How do you anticipate that your master's degree will impact you in ten or twenty years?
If you understand the why behind your decision, you may find it easier to explain the value of grad school to your employer. Clarify your top reasons for seeking your master's while providing a compelling appeal to both logic and emotion. Genuine passion will go a long way towards convincing your employer that this is the right move.
Explain How Your Decision Will Benefit Your Employer
While graduate school will require a significant time commitment on your part, it could also help you develop critical skills and knowledge that will ultimately benefit your company. Your employer may simply not be aware of these benefits at the outset.
While discussing your plans for upper-level academia, highlight a few detailed examples of the targeted training you'll obtain in grad school—and how this will allow you to improve your performance in your current position. From your employer's perspective, this may be the most compelling argument for returning to grad school.
While explanations of employer benefits will be easiest if your major directly relates to your current job, you can also find advantages about unrelated programs if you think creatively. In general, graduate school will help you develop better written and verbal communication skills. You'll also emerge with the ability to quickly and accurately solve complex problems. Most importantly, you could bring back insights into new research that relate, even abstractly, to your current job.
Reassure Your Employer About Your Time Management Skills
If you have a strong reputation for being punctual, this is the perfect time to call on it to remind your employer that you're a dependable professional. Make it clear that this level of reliability is not going to change as you take on the added commitment of grad school.
In addition to referencing your inherently dependable nature, let your employer know how you'll continue to maintain this reputation even when you're mired in time-consuming, mentally-taxing graduate coursework. This explanation will demonstrate that you're still committed to your job—and that you're conscientious enough to consider how your pursuits outside of the workplace could potentially impact your cohorts.
As you share your plans for managing your schedule, consider making a few basic requests for flexibility. Be honest if you anticipate needing to reduce your hours at work or take on a remote approach. Provided you remain productive, your employer may be willing to cut you some slack.
Don't forget to highlight opportunities for simultaneously advancing in your job and your education. Many grad school programs encourage applying knowledge in a professional setting. You may be able to accomplish this with your current job.
Your return to school need not be a burden for you or your employer. This could be a mutually beneficial opportunity that allows you to take a step up in your career while also bringing new skills and insight to your workplace. Don't let fears about your employer's response stand in the way of your academic future. A little honesty can go a long way as you embark on this exciting journey.
For more information on how the graduate programs at Geneva College can help you pursue your career goals, contact us at 855-979-5563 or at our graduate page.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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