When a Job Promotion Turns your Life Upside-Down

[The Serpent Merchant]

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been online much the past few weeks. This is because I recently got a promotion at work that has taken my already crazy life to a whole new level.

I have been working as an engineering intern at my company for awhile now and they decided to bring me on as an "actual" employee. This came with a slight increase in salary (from $33 per hour to $35 per hour working 40-60 hours a week) and added a significant amount of traveling.

I should mention that I am a full time college student as well. Luckily my boss is very understanding, and I have flexible hours/do a lot of work from home. Even still This leaves very little free time and now that I am having to travel all the time I find myself studying for classes in airports/airplanes more than I am at home.

In the past few weeks I have been out to Glendale, California... up to Toronto, Canada... and all the way to Frankfurt, Germany. Honestly I don't think that I can keep this up long term. The jet lag alone is killing me.

I'm at a loss of what to do. I love my job and I am extremely thankful for it... I can't stand the thought of letting my boss/coworkers down, but as a student I can't let my classes/grades slip away.

We are in the very beginning stages of a new project so I am hopeful that the amount of travel will go down once we move into the prototyping/production/testing phases of this project... but I know that I will be right back in this same situation in a few months when we start the next project.

I guess that this was more of a rant than anything else... thanks for reading. any thoughts/comments are appreciated.

[GoFride]

How many more classes do you have to get through before you reach your goals?

[The Serpent Merchant]

How many more classes do you have to get through before you reach your goals?

I've still got 3 semesters on my Undergrad, then I would like to get a Masters... but I will have to reevaluate that when I get there.

[GoFride]

It's unlikely that you would be able to keep up with this schedule through 3 semesters. Do you have the option of cutting back to part time (job, not school)?

[The Serpent Merchant]

It's unlikely that you would be able to keep up with this schedule through 3 semesters. Do you have the option of cutting back to part time (job, not school)?

I think I am going to see if I can cut back on the travel... Maybe I could participate via conference call or something. I can deal with the hours, it's just the travel that pushes it over the edge.

[Mike41793]

I think I am going to see if I can cut back on the travel... Maybe I could participate via conference call or something. I can deal with the hours, it's just the travel that pushes it over the edge.

I would try this. Or why not go to school part time?
It may take you another semester or two but you would still get the degree. Youre making good money and in the big scheme of things whats an extra year in school? Then once you get your BS your work may pay or at least help pay for your masters. That seems like a pretty good idea to me. Is there any reason youre in a hurry to get your BS and wouldnt wanna go this route?

[DooLittle]

I don't have any helpful info, just sympathy for a crazy busy schedule. Maybe your conference call idea would work? Good luck with what ever you do.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[h00blah]

With all the technology we have, you can be at all those places mentioned in 5 minutes via the internet. That's a great idea, and I hope it goes through. Good luck Aaron! The boards are suffering without you !!

[Andybill]

Wow you have one crazy schedule! I am a full time student living off odd ball jobs and GI Bill (my wife is doing the same so its not as tight as it sounds) and I struggle with school! Actually I HATE school! If I was making 35/hr I wouldnt be going to school but I am sure your job requires that you complete your degree... I am applying for State Patrol and hoping to get hired and go to the academy in the fall.... In which case I am dropping the degree thing and I will sadly also be postponing snake breeding until next year .... Good luck to you I hope everything works out!

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Wow you have one crazy schedule! I am a full time student living off odd ball jobs and GI Bill (my wife is doing the same so its not as tight as it sounds) and I struggle with school! Actually I HATE school! If I was making 35/hr I wouldnt be going to school but I am sure your job requires that you complete your degree... I am applying for State Patrol and hoping to get hired and go to the academy in the fall.... In which case I am dropping the degree thing and I will sadly also be postponing snake breeding until next year .... Good luck to you I hope everything works out!

[Don]

Hang in there. It will be worth it in the end. I finished the last year of my bachelor's degree by going to school five nights a week and working a 50 hour work week. In addition, I had a family. Luckily, my wife was very supportive and got me through it. Don't give up. Keep pushing. Use every spare minute you have to do homework. It ain't easy.