I currently have my associates degree in Web Development and I have been working in the field for a few years off and on (meaning I had other duties at the same job). Due to horrible working conditions when new management came in, I have started to hate what I'm doing. My department has since been laid off and now I do web development in another department with the same company but I still feel completely dis-satisfied with my job. I don't know if it's because I don't like programming or because I'm frustrated with the people side of it. My boss in this department seems willing to get me the education I want/need to better myself for the company but I don't know that I will start enjoying it.
I have recently started taking classes at a university for Accounting. I took Accounting 1 many years ago to satisfy requirements for my web dev degree and really enjoyed the class. I have to basically start over from square 1 since most of my classes won't count towards the new degree. I still have about 4 years to go (taking about 3 classes a semester year around) and that's with a 2 year old and a baby on the way. I'm not taking any more classes until after I have the baby. With the accounting degree there is no gaurantee that I will enjoy doing that either so I would hate to waste more time/money on a degree that I won't use.
If I go a different route and get my Associates in Accounting instead then I only have a year left before I get my degree.
My questions are:
1. Is there anyone out there that has made it in the Accounting field with an Associates degree?
2. Should I stay with my web dev degree and hope that more training will help me find the spark again?
3. Are there any other ways of thinking about all this that I'm over looking?
Please help. I'm at a total loss. I run in circles with these ideas in my head over and over thinking I'm going to make a wrong decision.
I also had a degree in programming, but I ended up in accounting. I've done pretty well with no additional degree. Have you considered changing companies? I know it's hard out there now.
I suggest you take your accounting course and see if you like it. I came out of IT and into accounting and I would say the difference is timing. It was an extended project that may take a while, and IT is same day service! Our head accountant is pretty anal about how things are done and when they are done. Sometimes, no sooner to I shoot out an email, I look up and she is standing in front of my desk. I tease her about it and she laughs, but she still wants thing done her way and right away.
As well, accounting is a same old stuff kind of job, while IT was full of different projects.
You are in a very exciting field and well sought after...you should just find different ways to use that web career. Maybe you just don't like that company anymore. I have heard that Google is one of the best companies to work for. You could always do web design on the side too and maybe end up doing your own biz. I am in need of a simple web page if you are interested!! :o)
Since your taking classes at the University, I would check into what they offer as far as guidance to help you make the most out of your career choice. The other thing to decide is your feeling of dis-satisfaction is with the company or the work you do. I have had jobs that I felt very unappreciated by the company but still enjoyed what I did. I have also had burnout on the job that I was doing. I have also had times in my life that there was just so much going on that at times it seemed no matter who, what or where I worked that it was too much. At those times I had to just take a vacation or long weekend. Good Luck!
