Nervous - Informing boss of career change

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I currently work as an internal auditor at a public corporation and have decided that accounting is not for me. The past few years I have been working on completing the CPA but cannot get through it. I know the main reason is because my heart is not into it and I'm not giving my full attention while studying! My boss thinks that I'm starting a new CPA review course in Jan to complete the exam. On Friday, when he returns from vacation, I'm informing him of my decision to not complete the CPA exam and go back to school for nursing. I'm hoping he will allow me to stay here until the end of April as I'm not starting courses till May. We have had a great relationship and work environment so I think he will be ok, but thats a big change he is not expecting.

Have others gone through this discussion? Any advice or stories to share?

Specializes in being a Credible Source.
In the past when I have mentioned going back to school to employers they miraculously had no need for my position anymore

Yep.

Remember, your boss is your boss, not your friend, no matter how well you get on.

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Specializes in ER, CCU.

I'm Amazed At The Number Of People Leaving Finance For Nursing. I've Been A Finance Manager And Worked In This Field For 7 Yrs Now. I Did Two Semesters Part Time And Decided I'm Too Old, (32) For This To Take 10 Yrs So I Took A Much Lesser Paying Job On Midnights So I Can Start Full Time Next Week. I Had Heard The The President Of The Bank Which I Work For Had A Habit Of Telling People To Go Ahead And Leave When They Turned In Their Notice So I Just Did It. Everyone Has Been Very Supportive And The 11th Is My Last Day.

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I am going through the exact same situation. I have been working for the same attorney for the past three years. She has known my family for a long time and we have a very close relationship. I am now in my second year of pre-reqs and I am feeling so guilty about not telling her. There are times when she thinks I am not doing my best and I just want to blurt it out. I have so much on my plate (job, kids, and school) but I need this job. In the past when I have mentioned going back to school to employers they miraculously had no need for my position anymore:( No matter what relationship you think you have with your boss, business is business. I plan on keeping my mouth shut until I know I have been accepted into a program. Good luck with whatever you decide!!

That's great advice. If you need your job then keep your lip zipped until you are ready to leave your position. If you don't then you run the risk of them replacing you before you are ready to move on. Just like businesses look after their own heinies we need to look after our own. Good luck.

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Wow, thanks for all the respones. I really appreciate everyone's advice and hearing everyone's situations! Due to my circumstances (boss thinking I was working on CPA exam, when I would not be) I did not feel right not telling him. So today is friday and I just finished my chat with him!! Overall it went GREAT! I can keep my job as long as I want it and then he even said we will talk about part-time once I know my pre-req schedule!! He definally tried to give me some bad points about nursing and force the CPA and the accounting field on me, but I knew that was coming and I have already made the decision its not for me. I could make a lot more money staying where I am and continuing in this field, but sometimes its just not about the money anymore!! Thanks again for all your words and encouragement!!!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm glad it worked out well for you, Gretchen.

It's nice when doing the right thing evokes a positive result; that's all too rare these days (as all the cautionary posts attest).

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Congratulations! I know that was a brave move and a wonderful suprise that they are being supportive. Good luck in school!

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