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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you ever wish you could have chosen a different career?

44 replies

Upupupup · 23/04/2018 22:35

If I could go back to college and university I would. I feel there wasn’t much guidance given when it came to how studying and getting a degree could lead you into a certain job.

Like many people, I have a degree in something I enjoyed studying, as university felt like the natural progression. I then left university having no idea what to do, and spent another £5k on a course. I got a job, but after four years I don’t see how I can progress in this industry and earn a decent living.

I know wish I could go back and chose differently. At 18 I just wanted a job I would enjoy, now I want money and stability.

OP posts:
Mincepies76 · 23/04/2018 22:48

Every day!

SoftlyCatchyMonkey1 · 23/04/2018 22:50

I'm happy with my career but there are times I wish I had a different skill
The grass is always greener!

SweetMoon · 23/04/2018 23:23

Yes! I wish I'd had actual advice in school back then. I'd have taken a different route.

RebeccaBunchLawyer · 24/04/2018 21:32

Yes, I regret the (arty/media) degree I did, as although I loved it, it is pretty useless in the real world. I did then train as a teacher further along the line, but again, hate kids, their parents and have anxiety about standing up in front of people, so not the best fit!

I posted about the possibility of retraining as either a Social Worker or Occupational Therapist and received many private messages and posts here that were really kind, constructive and helpful. Most people are really up for advising you into the right direction, so tell us what your skills are and what area you’d like to head in?

Incidentally, I’d love love love to retrain as an Occupational Therapist, but the NHS funding has ended and can’t sadly see myself paying £20,000 or so to be in a job that doesn’t pay much more ☹️

OublietteBravo · 24/04/2018 21:38

No. I did a chemistry degree, and I don't regret my decision. It is still considered a 'solid' degree, and has opened doors for me career-wise.

I'd happily go back to university and study a different subject now (as a second degree). Perhaps law or history.

OublietteBravo · 24/04/2018 21:42

Oh, and I really enjoy my current career - it is well-paid and intellectually stimulating (I'm a patent attorney).

chocolateworshipper · 24/04/2018 21:44

Don't assume you can't change jobs. I'm on my third career.

Kokapetl · 24/04/2018 21:54

I sometimes wish I had done medicine. At the time I thought my personality completely wrong but now I've got to know a lot of doctors both through work and socially and I am not so sure.

CocoPuffsInGodMode · 24/04/2018 21:57

Yes I do and I feel there wasn’t much guidance given when it came to how studying and getting a degree could lead you into a certain job was certainly true for me. I'm from a very WC background and really I didn't have any awareness of what kind of careers were available, much less how you'd actually get into them! That said I'm not unhappy in my job, it's interesting and I earn a good salary but really I "fell" into the industry I'm in and I can't say I'd stick with it if I had a windfall.

Is it possible you could use your degree and experience to move into another career that has better salary progression? Can I ask what it is you do currently?

Snoopyokay · 24/04/2018 21:57

Yes I wish I had trained as a speech (speach?) therapist instead of working in the arts area I'm in which has got limited opportunities!

Uptehmountain · 24/04/2018 21:58

I’m on different career number 3 now! hated the jobs I had related to my degree, so self taught myself a different skill and switched as couldn’t afford to go back to uni to do it formally, just started another completely different career, much more outdoors based as I just got bored at a computer.

SnugglySnerd · 24/04/2018 21:58

I wish we'd been told about a bigger range of careers at school. There was only really information about the "obvious" jobs like teacher (which is what I do), doctor, nurse, lawyer etc. I had no idea that there are so many other interesting careers out there that I'd never heard of.
I'd love to retrain but can't afford to.

corythatwas · 24/04/2018 22:04

I couldn't be happier with the nature of the work I get to do, but it would be nice if I could find some way to make it pay. I couldn't give it up though: if I did have to take another job it would be to find the money to work on what is still the real me in my leisure time. It's all I've ever wanted money for: to get on with my work.

Scarlet1234 · 24/04/2018 22:47

In some ways. Like others have said there was pretty much zero constructive advice about further education and careers at the time. This was before easy access to the internet as well - i.e. when going on there meant firing up a slow dial up computer (or was it just my family with that?) - so ability to independently search for info before committing to a course was limited. No one in my family had gone to uni before so no one to turn to for advice. That said I have done reasonably well with where I've ended up and I'm grateful for what I have - just sometimes I wish I had a profession such as teaching and a clearer idea of how to progress. I have to say I don't envy those students who choose uni now - the fees have increased so much that they'll end up in so much debt that they'll be paying it off for the best part (if not the entirety) of their careers. It really is shameful. The next generation effectively paying an extra tax their whole working lives - for what, social mobility? So in some ways I'd go back but yet I think the world has changed and is changing so much that it wouldn't really help my situation much anyway!

Chesntoots · 24/04/2018 22:57

I wish I'd done medicine but my careers advice was very gender biased at school and I never felt it was an option.
I'm doing law now but it is highly competitive and I am nervous but loving the studying
It will get me out of the job I am currently in even if at the end I don't become a legal professional.
I find it an odd thing you have to make these life changing decisions so young and when you have no experience of life! I know I wasn't the best at making important decisions at 16!!

Bumble1830 · 24/04/2018 23:03

Yep...every day, Just need to workout what career i want
Smile

Tobebythesea · 24/04/2018 23:04

I wish I could re-train as an Occupational Therapist as well but the need to have evidence of recent study, lack of bursary, the cost of childcare, the fees, the loss of wages for two-three years and the average salary at the end means it’s a no.

silverpenguin · 24/04/2018 23:07

Yes, all the bloody time!! I hate my job most days.

But...I keep reminding myself that the decisions I made career wise enabled me to have kids and buy a house so it is worth it I guess. I would love to be in a career I actually enjoyed though. The idea of loving work is so alien to me but it sounds fab.

Cheeseandapple · 24/04/2018 23:08

@SnugglySnerd I often think this - some of my friends have ended up in really interesting careers, that I had no idea even existed.

I'm a primary school teacher and my BA was a teacher training degree. I regret not studying something else and then doing a pgce. Feel very tied to teaching!

Raven88 · 24/04/2018 23:08

Sometimes, I've always been interested in criminology and psychology and could see myself transitioning to that in the next 10 years. But I love my job right now. I am a support worker.

HollaHolla · 24/04/2018 23:10

I wish I’d become a medic. I’d have had to work harder at school, instead of dicking about in the art department (which, to be fair, I loved).

I did an English Lit degree, which is hugely useful in being able to filter and disseminate information, and to write well. It’s very useful in my current job, but I do sometimes fantasise about being a doctor....

Fortybingowings · 24/04/2018 23:12

Yes. Every day. I did medicine.
Don’t even consider it

VladmirsPoutine · 24/04/2018 23:13

My first degree is a bit of a micky mouse degree despite being from a reputable institution. I find the thing with careers and more so changing them, it comes down to the compromises you are able or willing to make. If you have children and or bills/mortgage etc to pay, your options will be more limited. I've changed careers about 4 different times and at times I started from the total bottom. It largely depends on your circumstances. Can you afford to retrain? Do you have children etc etc... these are all things to factor in. Later this year I'll be embarking on my 3rd MA degree.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/04/2018 23:40

I’m torn - one one choices I made led me to where I am now, so I wouldn’t want to change them - but on the other hand, if I could change one thing without changing the rest of my life, I would become a librarian.

fia101 · 25/04/2018 05:04

I'm a lawyer - it's not what I thought it was.

Wish I'd known at 22'when qualifies more about effect area I specialised in would have in my life. Wish I'd done commercial law so could go in-house. Better for family life, better pay than I'm on and more freedom where to work.