To ask you to help me decide between 2 different careers which I have job offers for?

[Nuphonewhodis]

I was undecided between 2 different careers so I thought I'd apply to jobs in both sectors. I'm very fortunate to receive a job offer from each but I'm struggling to decide between them. Fyi, I don't yet have kids but I probably would like them in about 7 or 8 years from now maybe.

First job: Lawyer in a Human Rights Firm
Pros

• They'll pay the cost of my conversion course with a guaranteed Training Contract afterwards
  
• I feel very passionate about Human Rights and know I will feel fulfilled if I'm involved in fighting for better conditions etc for people
  
• Likely some work/life balance available if I decide this is more of a priority to me later in life
  
  Cons
  
• Not nearly as well paid as my other job offer
  
• It may be more competitive to find a job post TC if my firm don't offer me one because there are far more applicants than jobs in this field
  
  Management consultant at a big firm
  Pros
  
• Very well paid and lots of opportunity for career progression
  
• The firm is a recognised name and will look good on my CV, may open doors later on
  
• Interesting and intellectually challenging work
  
  Cons
  
• I don't feel as passionate about the work that the firm does as I do about Human Rights work, but im still interested in it.
  
  Thoughts?

[IceRebel]

I would go for the management consultant job.

Whilst you sound more passionate about the human rights lawyer position, the reality may be very different to what you expect. How much of the role would be fighting for better conditions, as apposed to paper work and other less fulfilling areas?

[Vulpine]

Human rights lawyer

[Nuphonewhodis]

Bump

[FreiasBathtub]

I'd also go for the management consulting job, after checking out their policies on flexible working, maternity leave etc. In my experience, the smaller mission driven organisations look good on paper but you're expected to put in a hell of a lot of unpaid extra time because you believe in the cause. Your career is going to be long. Experience in a big firm is an excellent starting point and line on the CV and in future you can move into a more mission driven role. Eg I have friends who started in management consultancies and then moved into management or strategic roles in charities. I'd say it keeps your options much more open than specialising immediately as a human rights lawyer.

[Dafspunk]

MC will give you exposure to many different areas, which would be a great grounding for a your future career.

Could you specialise later on (in human rights law or some other area) if you choose to?

[VelvetPineapple]

I’d take the better paid job with more career opportunities.

[Myyearmytime]

You have no ties so follow your dream.
If you have kids this might be your only chance for years.
So i would say human right lawer.

[sluj]

But do you WANT to be a lawyer or a management consultant? You must have some gut preference and view on what career you wanted to follow. I would say choose the job you love as long as it gives you enough money to live on (and I can't imagine a lawyers job won't do that). You seem to prefer that one in your description.
Well done to have two good offers

[Horsemenoftheaclopalypse]

Management consultant every time. It gives you a great platform to explore areas of businesses and it’s easy to move out of. Realistically most people stay in it 2-10 years max.

My friend works in human rights it’s hugely demanding and the pay is dire and She has barely any time to see friends (she can only continue with this passion as she is single / has no personal commitments)

I also have friends with kids who ex-MCs. They now free lance MC post-kids - it’s flexible and they earn well still

[Porpoises]

Human rights lawyer. Stay true to your passion.

[VictoriaBun]

I won't suggest which one , but ask yourself this.
At the interview, if introduced to other members of staff / shown the workplace. Did they seem friendly / happy, good mix of staff ?
Are the working hours the same. Is one position more pressured than the other ?
How close to home is the office. Are they an easy commute ?
How long was the last person in those positions ?

[shopaholic85]

Congratulations on being offered both jobs.

I would go for the management consultant job for the reasons the pp have already mentioned. You can always specialise later. Also a well paid job now, before kids, will give you the opportunity to save.

Is human rights work generally less well paid?

I was lucky to have a well-paid job in my 20s (pre kids) where I made a difference to people's lives. It allowed to save for a deposit and to do something I was passionate about. And it made the long hours worthwhile.

[TeaforTwoBiscuitOrThree]

Do what makes you happy and gives you energy.

[Rickytickytembo]

Human rights lawyer. I say this as a corporate lawyer. I have a great, interesting career but 15 years on am too far into this corporate world to consider jumping ship into the human rights world. I think human rights law would be so interesting and if you change your mind later on, it would easier to move across into the corporate world rather than go the other way. Congrats on your offers.

[Gunpowdertea]

How much does a top HR lawyer earn? Is that enough for you? You could make it to the top if it is what you really want. I'd question the work life balance of any lawyer by the way. Management consultancy could open the doors to so many (more) things, you could help women in developing countries start businesses for example. Broader skillset.

[1Wanda1]

I'm a lawyer and I'd go with the management consultant offer if I were you.

I always wanted to be a lawyer. I enjoy my job now but if I didn't REALLY want to do it, it would not be "worth it" to me. The work is stressful, even if you can do family friendly hours, and if you aren't well paid, it can feel a real grind.

Management consultancy, on the other hand, seems to be generally well paid and is a great springboard into all sorts of other careers, if you decide you don't like it.

[JasperKarat]

Lawyer, but I chose a job in the public sector over a much higher paid one in the private sector because I was passionate about the work , so maybe I'm biased! I see so many people on here who work for the wage, hate their jobs, don't believe you can do a job you actually love. You've got the opportunity to make a difference, jump at it, it feels great. You'll end up as a qualified lawyer so you won't earn terrible money and can always change specialisms later on. Also remember Cherie Blair was in that field and earned more than her prime minister husband....

[WineAndTiramisu]

Management consultant, save well whilst doing it. Check maternity package etc, but if you're not considering children for quite a few years, probably not too relevent currently

[oreoxoreo]

The second offer, no question.

[MarchCrocus]

Just FYI OP, human rights firms that pay training fees are sufficiently rare that this may be potentially identifying. You may wish to namechange and/or have this moved.

And in answer to your question, what do you actually want to do? I'm in the human rights law field and the more corporate stuff would just never make me happy. It's the same for a lot of people who do that type of job. However, you evidently have at least some interest in both. It's worth getting it correct now though, because these are not easy areas to cross over into. You might well be able to work in the human rights field as a management consultant, but to do human rights law would be a very significant career change.

Where will you be living, I'm guessing London? I wouldn't fancy human rights law in the south east unless I had a partner who was well paid, and indeed the only millennial I know who's done it and stuck at it post kids had a spouse on megabucks in the City, so the 40k ish salary for the human rights stuff was inconsequential really. However I also have found the ability to work part time for several years post kids pretty attractive. I have also found it's a bit of a bottleneck getting into human rights law but once you have a few years experience, all of a sudden you're a bit of a commodity.