[VM1138]

I need some advice. I have recently been offered a job across the country in my chosen field. The catch is: the job is only part time and the area to live is very expensive.

I have good credit but a lot of debt, no savings. Financially, the movie is probably suicide. But as long as I stay here in a retail job that I not only hate, but that offers no significant increase in income in the future, my financial situation is going to deteriorate as well.

I cannot pursue a career in my field in Michigan it doesn't look like. So, if you were in my shoes, would you make the move anyway? I figure I can take the new job and transfer within my retail company to at least maintain my current wages.

This other area I'm moving to promises a better future job pool. So would taking short-term financial distress for the promise of possibly improving in the future be sensible?

Or should I just stay here in a dead-end job, let me college degree become useless, but maybe find a way to break even for the next few decades in a field that doesn't interest or challenge me?

[EP in MI]

I'd get the hell out of dodge and get that job in your field. Getting that experience will help on the resume in landing a full time job later. I left the detroit area 3 years ago for a good job in florida and that experience got me a better job up north in michigan. This state is a brain drain, you may as well follow.

[Retroit]

Mind if I ask what your field is and where you will be moving to? Also, your age and any obligations (wife, kids).

[VM1138]

26, wife, no kids. Moving for a history-related job in DC. I've been looking on and off for three years (while finishing school) and have only ever seen one history related job pop up in Michigan. But I've also got a Bachelor's in Poly Sci, but those entry-level jobs all seem to be unpaid internships.

[Retroit]

If your wife is okay with it, I'd recommend moving. You're still young enough, where a few years of struggling is to be expected (as it was for me at that age). If you want to be in as limited a field as history, you have to go where the jobs are. Washington, DC is a wealthy/expensive area, but that is because there are job opportunities there (at least as long as we stay on our BIG Government kick).

Probably the biggest hurdle will be you getting a second job (probably in something you don't really care for) and your wife getting a full time (or two part-time jobs) to make ends meet, pay off debt, start a family, etc.

But I would strongly encourage you to pursue your dream in the history field, and if that means moving, so be it. Otherwise, many years down the road you will kick yourself for not making the move now. If you want to get a good paying job down the road in your field, you need to start building a resume and professional network.

Good luck. Brings back memories of my early days and the tough choices that had to be made back then.