Yeah... tuition rates are another travesty.

People back in the 60's could work a part time job and have college paid off by the time they graduate. I'm still paying on mine almost a decade later and I make a decent salary.

I made right at 93k this year in an area that has a median salary of 40k.

But... in all honesty... the belief that you have to pay exorbitant rates for a good education is what allows private and public universities to charge those rates. If people understood their education is in their own hands (internet) and they don’t have to get the most expensive degree at the most expensive school to be “recognized”, then the tuition issue would solve itself in time.

Ignorance and victim thought gives power to these institutions.

Schools are a business too and if they have no students, they have no business.

A smart ceo will adjust rates to compete.

I think that thought back feeds from work places requiring degrees for jobs that they didn't. It only perpetuates from there.

Yep

Ignorance at it’s finest

The people in the US are way more powerful than they believe.

Like I wanted to apply for an environmental position at my work and the guy before had no degree. When they post his position it now requires a bs/ms in environmental science or equivalent.

US exceptionalism is a real thing.

It definitely sounds unfair, but do you have to stand for it? Nope. You have the freedom to go work for someone with integrity. But it all depends on situations of course.

It sounds like you are in a government job?

Energy sector

Not govt

Slightly limiting... relocating would probably be required if you were to find a comparable position at a different company.

Unfortunately, not everyone can relocate.

So I see where your grievance could be stemming from

Does the company you work for have a monopoly over the area?

My limiting factor is being able to move.

Yep. Relocating

But that's a personal thing. The company I work for covers the entirety of the south east.

If only there were more energy companies to enable solid competition and choice.

There are plenty I'm just stuck mainly due to personal things like family and having young kids.

I used to live around Round Rock, Texas and the beautiful thing there is we had a plethora of energy companies to select from. Going into Austin though... there is a monopoly.

Makes sense. Sorry to hear you feel stuck.

It is what it is. I make a good salary. Just feel like I can contribute more if given the opportunity.

I hate the idea of schmoozing, but have you considered it?

What's that?

Getting to be good friends with the boss

Sadly, the biggest issue in workforce is there is a heavy “who you know” influence.

Ah yeah. I've got a solid relationship with my boss. I'm pretty much the go to guy.... but that in its own right is limiting.

Hmm

Have you directly asked him to pull some strings for you?

I could do better at that. I've at least vocalized that I don't want to stay at my current job forever and have signed up for outside training and development but that usually gets shutdown or denied.

Does your company offer a career development map?

Yes. I've filled out my pathway and submitted it to where management can see it.

It sounds like you’ll need to hound your boss for internal resources and string pulling. He needs to be your advocate and right hand man on this.

I need to get a mentor in one of my areas of interest and we have a program for that but my application always gets denied.