Navigating Career Choices: Should You Share Your Graduate School Plans with Your Manager?

As I near the end of my internship, I’ve found myself grappling with a significant decision regarding my future career path. Allow me to provide some background to offer context for my dilemma.

Earlier this year, I completed my undergraduate degree with plans to pursue a Master’s program this fall. I was thrilled to be accepted into my chosen university, eagerly enrolled in classes, and ready to tackle the associated tuition fees. However, a recent internship opportunity has brought my plans into question.

While completing my internship, my expectations were aligned with the notion that I would be returning to school for my advanced degree. After all, securing a graduate education is often viewed as a key requirement for ambition in my chosen field. However, with the current state of the job market, I’ve begun to reconsider. To better position myself for success, I’m contemplating deferring my admission by a year to gain valuable work experience and take up a job offer I recently received, which is set to start in September. The fear of turning down this opportunity and potentially facing unemployment has weighed heavily on my mind.

Throughout this process, I’ve been transparent with friends and family about my plans to begin graduate school this year, but maintaining this facade has become increasingly difficult and stressful.

An additional layer to my predicament is tied to my experience during this internship. While I’m interested in securing a return offer within my current organization, I’m particularly drawn to a different team that has not hired new members in the past two years due to its lean structure. The likelihood of receiving an offer from them seems slim, but it’s a prospect I can’t ignore.

Given these circumstances, I’m faced with a choice: Should I inform my manager about my decision to defer my graduate studies? Moreover, should I use this opportunity to inquire about potential openings on the other team I find intriguing?

Navigating the complexities of career development while managing personal decisions can be overwhelming. I would appreciate any insights on how best to approach this conversation with my manager—balancing transparency and ambition. What are your thoughts?