To still not know what I want to do in life

[Teetreez]

I'm 25. Work in a Solicitors firm (don't have a law degree but am a case worker so essentially the same job within my department).

I'm so unbelievably bored of it. I 'fell into' this job, it wasn't something I chose to do but now I feel stuck. I've done this since I left school, I've worked my way up to the point where I wouldn't get anywhere near the same money starting again at the bottom somewhere else.

AIBU to think I can start over doing something else? Even though I have no idea what it is I'd want to start over doing.

Is there anyone here who started again and if so, how and doing what?

I see people who have an absolutely vocation for something and it makes me sad that I've never really felt a need to work in or do anything in particular.

I like the idea of studying something but to be honest I just can't lose a full time job, I'd get myself into debt being unable to pay rent/run a car etc...

It makes me feel awfully low the thought that this is what I'll be doing until retirement!

Of course it’s not too late! A vet would only just be finishing uni now. You’re so young.

Have a listen to the r4 series about second career teachers. I know that’s a limited “experiment”, but the point stands.....they are all in their 50/60s and starting to teach.

There are millions of examples, and you can study along side your job so don’t have to give up.

What is it you enjoy? Figure out your priorities; enjoygin working? Earning money? Easy hours? Work out your personal ideal and figure out what is negotiable. Then work back from that!

I don't know what I want to so and I'm 45!

You are definitely not too late to change direction.

What kind of things are you interested in? What aspects of your current job to you enjoy/hate?

I think my priority is absolutely my home life. I live out in the countryside but have to travel into the city as that is where the law firms are. It's a horrible commute and one of the main reasons I've started resenting the job but there is nothing but trade type work in my own village/immediate surrounding towns.

I have thought about the possibility of teaching. It's so scary the prospect of just changing everything I know. But I think I'll do some more research. Or I have considered perhaps nursing. It's what I wanted to do when I went to college but I ended up leaving to get a job as my personal circumstances at the time meant I needed the money.

I did do two years of a 4 year uni course but as my family grew it just became unmanageable with a full time job (and added long distance commutes either side) & everything needed at home. I was finding myself slacking massively in my studying as I wasn't getting home till 7pm and then having to sort out things at home.

I need to get out of the can't do attitude I think.

I was in a similar role to you at about the same age. Like you I’d never known what I wanted to do, had fallen into something and worked my way up. I felt trapped because I was earning a decent wage and couldn’t afford to go and study. In the end there were a lot of changes at my workplace and my role became impossible to do well and I was so stressed I just quit and did some temping for a little while. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so just browsed job websites without any keywords to see what existed.

I saw an advert for a very junior position in an auction house, and thought it sounded interesting. It was only NMW but the moment I walked in for interview I knew I had to work there. I was trained on the job, and am now an auctioneer. I’m earning more than in my old career, now have a professional qualification and am studying a related distance learning uni course. I love everything about it and can’t believe I put up with being miserable for so long in my old job.

Taking such a big paycut was really hard, but it was only temporary and my quality of life improved massively when I wasn’t dreading work all weekend.

I am 41 and half way through a degree which will lead to a totally new career (ODP). I also have three young children. It is tough but can be done and is never too late. The oldest person on my course is 56!

Thanks all for your responses honestly it makes me feel better knowing people have been here and I can make the change!

I think I just need to put on my big girl pants and take the plunge. It scares me the thought of not having the security for a while. I'm a worrier when it comes to things like money but I know I'm just going to be miserable if I don't do something.