Imagine if you will: you go back to school for an advanced degree, one which will qualify you for a very specialized type of work. As part of this education, you have the opportunity to receive professional certifications and accreditations which will make you more marketable in the coming job search. You graduate, but fail to find a job in your field, most likely because of forces outside your control. However, your professional credentials require continuing education and upkeep. This requires money that, since you’re not working in your field, you don’t have. You could let the credentials expire, but then it would be even harder to find a job. You need the credentials to find a job in your field, but you can’t afford to keep the credentials without a job in your field.
Sound familiar?
If you’re me it does.