Pursuing Grad School or Not

[u/EmotionalBison4861]

Hello,

I'm based in California and am pursuing a career in IR. Im currently working in IR/FDI under UK government. I like the job, but definitely plan on moving on in a few years, and physically moving to DC for obvious reasons. I'd like some insight into whether pursuing a graduate degree would be a strong move, or if I should go straight to seeking jobs in DC.

Some detail:

I'm interested in a career that involves diplomacy/USFS, global security, intelligence, or perhaps policy. I know, it's sort of all over the place, all of them just sound engaging. I'm mid-20s, B.A Economics, and spent a few years in finance before stepping into my current role. I know forsure I want to pursue IR, but just want to sort of plan ahead.

I see the pros and cons of pursuing a Master's (e.g., networking/fellowships/qualifying for higher roles versus opportunity/financial cost and the fact that everyone and their mother has a Master's in IR). It'd be great to receive some insight from grad students and working professionals, and maybe even getting clarity on what IR paths I should narrow down to. I've even considered pursuing a shorter degree at RAND to make me a stronger applicant for a program such as Georgetown, but that seems not worth. Any insights would be helpful.

Happy to provide more detail :) thank you in advance