Help, need opinions.. School or Work...

NyxDominique

I have recently started school for EMT/health care field. Which I enjoy. I like learning about the body and learning the ways to be able to help people who are hurt.

I have also recently applied for a position in a dispatch center. I never thought they would contact me regarding my resume. They did. I have a interview on Friday for a $36,000 position as a fire and police dispatcher. Unfortunately, one of the requirements for the position is to be flexiable with hours. Such as be able to work various morning, afternoon, and evening shifts. They have made it clear we can not select our days off, nor do we have a say in what shifts would be assigned to us.

As a result. I would like to make a decision by the time of the interview if I would be willing to give up school for this position. It is a amazing opportunity and would open up hundreds of doors for me in the future. Yet, so would going to school for to be a EMT...

Can anyone weigh in personally with their thoughts regarding the situation...

redefiningmyself

I would say you need to do some research before you can decide. For example, when you say this job will open doors for you...what doors? Are those doors still open if you don't have an education to back up the job? or is some additional schooling still needed? where's the ceiling on what you can make in this job? How far can you advance without schooling? What's the top dollar you can expect to make if you didn't go to school and didn't advance?

Also, you need to review your own finances and figure out if you do get offered a job, what is the bare minimum hours you need to work in order to comfortably pay your bills and be able to put some in savings?

what is the job security like? what's the average turnover?

Then look at similar things for being an EMT. how much work is available? what's the pay like? can you live comfortably off that.

At first glance it may appear that $36,000 is a lot of money, but after taxes, its not actually a whole lot to live off for the average adult.

also, don't feel like you have to have all the answers right now. Its ok to wait and see if they offer you a job, adn what the details are before you decide. Its ok to ask them to have the night to think about it and talk to your parents or another more experienced adult to help you decide what's in your best interest.

Either way, I think helping people is admirable. Best wishes in whatever you choose to do!