Trying to avoid getting "stuck" in my current career/role

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Do I suck it up for 3 years and get my MBA? Or just keep looking for that opportunity where someone will take the chance on me?

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Can you do both? What's penalty or required service after they pay for education? And would plan be to move within company or use MBA for outside opportunities?

You mentioned you moved up quickly. Objectively, would you be fully qualified for the position to an outsider? Basically on paper, do you meet the requirements? I mentioned this is another thread, but companies today tend to promote based on potential, while outside they're going to hire based on accomplishments or history.

It's a tough spot. Personally, I'd suggest to keep looking. It doesn't sound like you're thrilled in the role, so you're going to want to jump ship. Maybe change how your resume is presented. Get help. Or change your search to be better tailored to your skill set, that is proven on resume. If you are getting shot down by resume, I think you may need to just present the information a lot differently.

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Late 20's...moved up quickly in my mid-20's and took an opportunity to run my own office/division 2 years ago. Was promised a bunch of stuff that never happened and wasn't told about pending org changes when asked before coming on board.

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Really early-30s in a similar situation.

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Essentially I'm stuck where I'm at in a niche role that people outside of the sector don't understand the skills (Gov Relations/Lobbying/Sales) are transferable to their field. I've applied for 4 or 5 jobs in the last few months, breeze through the phone interview, and get shut down when the hiring manager for the job looks at my resume. Literally been told the same thing for each position "we'd like someone with a background in our industry".

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Have the 4-5 jobs been in the same field?

Is your resume dynamite? Do you feel you are setting your expectations too high?

Searching for a job now sucks because platitudes like this

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"we'd like someone with a background in our industry".

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Are so ridiculously common it sucks.

If you know this going in, you might have to frame the interview differently. What can you bring besides the background that can help offset that?

I just took a new job from that similar situation like you. It was a lateral move, so I wasn't looking higher, and it was a tangent field to what I do, not the exact same thing. Etc. The interview was tough, but I made sure to prepare for questions about my lack of direct experience/background in the field.

Funny enough, I'd classify where I was coming from in a similar light - Gov Relatons/Sales/Etc.

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My current company will pay for Grad School, but that will take 3 years to complete part-time and I don't know if I can't stay in this position that long. I know this seems like more of a rant, but any advice would be appreciated.

Do I suck it up for 3 years and get my MBA? Or just keep looking for that opportunity where someone will take the chance on me?

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IMO, look for the company that will take a chance. That's the kind of place you want to work for. The MBA is going to tie you to your current position too long. Unless the money is good and you can suck it up, it sounds like you're mentally disconnected from your current job already.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I want out of my career. It's tough. I'm doing an MBA so I can hit the reset button and take advantage of recruiting.

I feel your pain.

Keep trying. It sounds like you are frustrated with your job search but keep trying because someone will take a chance on you. You may want to consider applying to smaller companies as most of them do not have hard and fast rules that they must follow when hiring a new employee.