Seeking advice (long)

Dragonranger

Hi all im looking for some advice.

1) I recently landed a low level job over at a company, Im a sub-contractor so I dont really even work for them yet, but would like to eventually. Trying to work my way up to a better position. Unfortunately They will not work with me on a schedule. Job is from 9-5:30 sometimes 6. I live a little over 30 miles away. So by the time I get out and fight traffic I dont get home till around 7-7:30.

2) I like working there but this puts me in a bind at school. I attend a community college about 4 miles from my house but I'm done with my general ed courses and really only need classes for my major now. Alot of the classes I need for my major are only offered once. WHat i mean by that is I need to take a Electronics class and its only one class that meets Monday and wednesday from 6-9:30. There arent multiple classes like math where there are 20 math classes everyday and i think only 1 of the classes i need offers an online course.

3) So I was told I would be working monday thru friday 40 hours a week. Thats one reason i took the job. But Here ive been employed a month and a half and Ive only worked 40 total hours. So I am debating staying with my job until this semester ends for the experience and then quitting so i can refocus on earning the remaining 27 units left on my A.S. And looking for something more flexible. I have always wanted to work at this company so im kinda worried leaving will hurt me long term. But i think not completely my A.S will be equally as bad.

4) Also im a low income student. I get alot of help attending school and dont have to pay alot which is another reason I'd like t continue going to school.
So what do u all think? Sorry for the long post!

over9000

Not to pry, but what are you future goals in IT? Also, what are you doing at your current job? That'll really help with giving you some advice.

School can be a great gateway into getting a higher paying job, especially if you can do it without getting too many loans (free is even better ). However, and I learned this the hard way, if you don't really do an internship or get some applicable experience in your field, it's going to be VERY HARD to even get your foot in the door to land the positions you want. Right now, I'm working my way up from the help desk, trying to either go back to school or get more certs to move up and I'm already hitting the wall until I make another move. It's a tough economy out there so you're competing with people who have a lot of experience and certs/etc. for the same jobs.

Akaricloud

Have you spoken to an academic advisor about this? A lot of times there are work arounds.

They can often make other classes count for the ones you need, have you take the class somewhere else and transfer it in, or even have you self study and test out of it.

Dragonranger

@Over9000 - My goal right now is to land a permanent position with Sony probably in QA testing. I have several friends doing QA testing there and they tell me its a pretty technical position. As far as coding and testing goes.
Im currently doing QA testing myself, but on video games. Pays not great and not as technical as Id like but I do need basic knowledge of computer systems for my job. I see my current position as a foot in the door.
Yeah I think schools a great thing especially when I pay so little.

@Akaricloud - I have not spoken with my counselor yet. I did have an appointment scheduled for today but I was called in last minute at work and have yet to be able to reschedule.

over9000

Honestly, if you want to do QA testing at Sony, you're going to need a degree. Experience is key, but I'm pretty sure companies like that will want both. (You also don't want to spend too much time in school either. Get your schooling done early and as soon as possible, so you don't have to worry about going back to school to do what you really want either). I would suggest that you try and get your job to work with you and finish the degree.

Don't burn bridges, but if you can't really get your job to work with you, then get the experience for a little while and finish school. While you're working on finishing your degree, you can leverage that experience you got in the field to land an even better part-time job or if you've got good contacts at your school, use them to get something else that's more flexible.

Since you already have friends that are doing what you want to do, ask them more about what you want to do. (If you're not pushing yourself, you'll stay in the same place.) Ask them all the questions you need to figure out what you need in the job market. Friends can also be a great way to get something else too. (Classes are great, but you've probably seen that working in the field's different from certifications/ class learning).

Mike-Mike

tell them if you don't get the job you want you'll unleash the DragonZord