Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if I'm the only person on MN who's never had a career?

160 replies

WaitressRose · 15/08/2013 09:51

whenever there is a SAHM/WOHM bunfight discussion, people always talk about how taking time out to look after kids will affect their career.

I've never had a career. Left school after A levels and got a job in an office. It was in the olden days when only a small perentage of population went to university. Worked, earned decent wage, did some travellings, bought own house, met DH and got married.

In my 30s I did a teaching degree but DC came along straight after (not the best planned move but very happy with outcome Smile). So never got to become teacher and don't have desire to be anymore - think having children of my own has put me off other peoples Grin

So anyone else just worked, had a job, earned money without having a career or profession?

OP posts:
MrsHoarder · 15/08/2013 13:10

I started a career. The the credit crunch happened, and then cutbacks in my field and I was made redundant. Its hard to get a job as a woman in your mid-late 20s, so I'm now doing a post-grad degree in the hope that it will help.

Its not just hard work, sometimes its good luck as well.

Potol · 15/08/2013 13:10

I have one. Spent 10 years getting qualified. Was fully funded for those 10 years so wasn't dependent on my parents (and also for the most part not living in my home country). Got married. Have a child. Have a job and a career. Working towards the next step in my profession which should take another 4-5 years plus any more mat leave I may take. Love my job and the people I get to work with. Has its tedious bits and unpleasant people but overall I can't complain. My mother had a career (still does, she retired at 60 and promptly went back to work as a freelance consultant in the same field), and I have never not considered having one. My mother pushed me (without being a tiger mother in the slightest) to work hard, be ambitious and stand on my own two feet. I have a career to be self sufficient economically but also I enjoy my job.

mrsjay · 15/08/2013 13:15

greasy pole Grin

Quenelle · 15/08/2013 13:16

I have a job. It took me many years and a lot of different jobs before I settled in the industry I've been in for 13 years now. There would be opportunities to move up if I chose to move around within the industry, but I don't think that makes it a career. I earn enough that I could support myself and DS on my own if I had to.

I guess I'm happy enough with my situation, but I know I haven't fulfilled my potential. I should have gone to university and studied for a career. It was discouraged at the time though and I didn't fight for it.

I'm sorry that my job is not something I love, my colleagues love it and many - especially young - people would give anything to work in my industry but it doesn't interest me at all.

melika · 15/08/2013 13:18

I haven't got a career either, worked full time in a library for 17 years, now help run our business part time. Dip in when needed. Running the home is enough career for me!

expatinscotland · 15/08/2013 13:20

I've never had one. I've had jobs.

nkf · 15/08/2013 13:29

It's true that most men have jobs rather than careers. I don't like the "just jobs" phrase. It sounds like a put down. I don't see the problem with supporting yourself through regular work. It's admirable and a perfectly viable alternative to a career.

BlackAffronted · 15/08/2013 13:31

Ive been a SAHM since I was 20 and Im 33 now. My littliest one has just started school this week though, so I am off to college to start my career :)

kinkyfuckery · 15/08/2013 13:32

Nope YANBU. I've never had a 'career' yet either.

usualsuspect · 15/08/2013 13:47

I'm not putting 'just jobs' down.

I think that people with everyday jobs are not thought to highly of on MN though.

I've seen plenty of digs about supermarket workers,hairdressers etc on here.

KnappShappeyShipwright · 15/08/2013 13:55

I've missed the career boat, I had DD1 just two years after graduating from a so-so university with a worthless degree. I've always worked but now that I'm in my mid-thirties I'm regretting not making more effort at getting on at work. My current job doesn't seem to have many transferrable skills and I'm struggling to break into a higher paid job as I'm earning the same now as I was 15 years ago. DH is a frustratingly intelligent man who seems perfectly content to drive lorries for a living so he's not had a career either.

Fruitnut · 15/08/2013 13:59

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up I'm 34

I've had different jobs in different fields, admin, retail, leisure, hospitality. I get so bored after a while. I start a new job on Monday, hopefully I'll like it...

When I'm working I long to be at home. When I'm not working I want to work. I'm a confused soul.

misterkite · 15/08/2013 14:08

I've never had a career.

Graduated from Uni in the 90s, but just worked in telesales sales and call centre jobs since. Currently a SAHM.

DH doesn't have what I would class as a career either, he has a job.

Squitten · 15/08/2013 14:13

I haven't had a career yet!

Fell pregnant with DS1 when I was 25, a few months after getting married. My job was nice but was increasingly moving into areas that I wasn't interested in. The salary would also barely have covered full-time child-care so I decided to be a SAHM. I'm using this time at home to also study part-time. I'm 30 now and expecting our last child this year so the ticker has started in the back of my mind about what I'm going to do once this LO is off to school in a few years time!

I think my big problem is that I've never really had a big ambition in mind for a career. I know the subject areas that interest me and everyone tells me I'm very intelligent but I've always prefered simpler jobs in admin TBH. I have no grand plans!

Tailtwister · 15/08/2013 14:18

I have what you could call a career, but to me it's just a job. I've never felt the need to climb the ladder, although that has happened by default. To me it's something I do to pay the bills, give my kids a good education and the best start in life I can manage. If I were to stop doing it tomorrow I wouldn't particularly miss it. I would miss the money and being financially independent, but not the actual job itself.

Deemail · 15/08/2013 17:38

I wonder what type of work is viewed as a career and what is viewed as a job? I know nurses all who love their work but some see it as a job others as a career. I view my work as a job simply because there isn't a lot of room for progression, but I love love love it and won't be leaving anytime soon.

WhoreOfTheWorlds · 15/08/2013 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HuglessDouglas · 15/08/2013 18:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrianTheMole · 15/08/2013 18:51

And no matter how much "career autonomy" you think you have, you still "jump" when the boss, client says - so just like you do in a job.

Sure, but I get paid well to jump. And I do get more freedom in the work place in terms of flexible working.

motherinferior · 15/08/2013 18:57

Nothing wrong with a career. A good thing for a woman to have. I've had two Grin

Unfortunately my current one is in the somewhat moribund field of print journalism but I am very fond of it. I would certainly like my girls to have a career too.

Melonbreath · 15/08/2013 19:00

I've never had a career. :-(
I chose love over a career as I live where there are no jobs in my dream field so I got a crap job.

I wouldn't advise love over career, whilst I love my oh it has caused a huge amount of resentment

catgirl1976 · 15/08/2013 19:06

I have one

I'd love to have enough money not to though :)

the "career is a job with unpaid overtime" quote further up thread is spot on IMO

I thought my career was soooo important. Then I had DS.

motherinferior · 15/08/2013 19:09

Oh god careers are far more fun than kids Grin

wordfactory · 15/08/2013 19:11

I've had both jobs and careers.

Jobs are somehting you do for the cash. Nowt wrong with that. And hopefully you might like it too!!!

A career is a more long term working progression. It might need qualifications, it might encompass moving positions/companies, it will involve decisions/choices to get you to where you want to be.

A career can be frustrating at times, because you might not see the progress you want. But ultimately it is more satisfying because you are the one planning that progression (even if you don't get it)...

motherinferior · 15/08/2013 19:13

OK, I was exaggerating a bit but I do find the cliche of 'once you have a baby you won't want to bother your pretty little head with all this work nonsense' is, frankly, yet another way to keep us in our (low paid and house bound) place.