Does anyone else not have a career?

[Moonpig37]

Not everyone but most people I know seem to have an identity as such- "I'm a teacher", "I'm a nurse" "I'm a graphic designer" and so on, cue lots of conversation about how interesting that must be, what they specialise in and so on.

I've worked in a few different sectors and tended to move after a couple of years, I'm currently in a role I'm happy with, hopefully I'll stay a bit longer. I've never had a 'path' as such though. Has anyone else had this?

I feel like in the UK your work plays a big role in your identity, and it's seen as impressive and stable to have worked your way up in an industry to a senior role. I don't know if that will ever be me, I'm trying to be ok with it.

It is what it is. Until recently I had an interesting career. Before Covid it used to pay well too. But Covid did it damage, and AI has more or less killed it. Now I'm about to start a Christmas temp job on minimum wage. Work is work, and financially we'll get by OK. But many of the friends I went to uni with are literally running the country now, and mostly on amazing salaries, so I do sometimes wonder what they must think of my lack of achievement.

I do feel more reassured now and know that it's really not something worth worrying over, so thank you.

I hope @DoggerelBank that the AI dislocation is not permanent. You will have skills that survive the shift. All of us do, but we don't know which ones. It's all very very uncertain.

There is everything wrong with working for Tesco. But mostly, how bored can you tolerate?

Tesco are never going to hire me: I don't live close enough to their HQ to be hired for what I could contribute usefully, and I don't need the money enough to tolerate the boredom in a declining market town.

I suppose I have a career. I’ve worked in the same sector for 20 years and am quite senior now. It wasn’t/isn’t the kind of career like a teacher or nurse though. My qualifications could have led to a number of different sectors (albeit all probably public facing). Most people don’t really understand my sector despite it being in every council. I fell into it and I don’t think I made a conscious choice. Now I’m senior enough that I couldn’t take the salary hit to move sectors so I guess this is me.

I have trouble making mine look like a coherent career but I think that’s true for a lot of people

I freelance so I just tend to focus on the relevant skill. There’s been periods where there’s been a lot more of one thing than another. Does that make sense?

I've worked continuously since I was 17. I'm almost 57 so thats 40 years.
I've had loads of different kinds of jobs in a number of different fields. But I have never had a career, just a serious of jobs.
That has suited me though. I'm not ambitious.
The job I have now is the best job I've had and I plan to stay here until I retire which hopefully will be when I'm 60.

It does to me. My career was freelance from 1990. I worked hard and I travelled incessantly to make the meetings happen. But back then, I think I charged much much more per hour than a freelance writer could ask now. I charged in 1999, £600 per day. £500 per day if I wanted the work, and £700 per day if I didn't. I was good at what I did, my clients were happy. But most writers for hire are not getting those rates now, or are they?

But I haven't worked at that level for 15 years.

I guess I have a career, but my career is also working in tax and no one wants to talk about that

I strongly relate OP. I’ve had loads of different jobs, and also took a few years out of work altogether when my DCs were small.

When I was 40 I found a job that I really love. I wouldn’t describe it as a ‘career’ though. It’s PT and not an important job. But I love it and I’m really good at it, which I don’t find easy to say, but the great feedback I get on a weekly basis confirms it. And while it’s not an important job, it does have a real and positive impact on some people’s lives. I’ve been doing it now for 8 years which is the longest I have ever stuck with a job (I’ve got ADHD which might be relevant).

I have spent a lot of time feeling embarrassed and inadequate about my lack of career, especially as some of my friends have been extremely successful (some of them financially, but also just in terms of really shaping a proper career that has taken a lot of their brainpower and effort).

But over the past few years, I’ve made my peace with it all. I love the job I’m doing. I’ll never have a big income but I earn enough for my needs. My mega successful friends have never judged me for my lack of career.

I hope for the same for you. 💐

As bad as it is to admit this I think one of the reasons I am OK about my lack of income is because DH earns well. I’d probably feel a bit more inadequate without that. I don’t like owning that though, have only really thought about it just now.

Be glad you don't define yourself by your job, being in a room full of teachers or doctors (when you are not one) is not fun! Most people work to pay bills, even when they have a career, I certainly do. I do envy those who are truly dedicated and passionate about their work though, it must be great to have that.

I have a “career” as a solicitor. But I’m not interested in progressing to a more senior role or partnership.

I don’t know this for certain, but I’m under the impression that rates have dropped enormously for commercial copywriters. I only know people who were doing it in the 2010s say… and in 2026, they are not getting anything like what they used to.

no idea what happened if you are a political writer…. I would imagine that’s a very different situation.

I have a professional job. I don't see it as a career. A career just sounds like another excuse for employers not to pay you properly as you work on ' your career'
Or work you into an early grave!

Just jobs here too. I tried to retrain into a career, but it went horribly wrong.
Some people just want the means to pay their bills, whereas others want something that is going to interest and challenge them. Neither are wrong. It is your life to live.

I don’t consider myself to have a career. I’m a marketing manager but have been with the same company for 20 years and worked my way here via almost every other department. I wouldn’t have a hope of marketing any other business, I can do this job proficiently because I know the business I’m marketing inside out and upside down, not because I’m a marketing expert.

I have a profession (nurse) but have never been ambitious. I'm b6 and have never wanted to go further. Like similar fields eg teaching, social work the higher you go through less nursing, teaching etc you do and that's not why I entered it.

I very much see it as a job for me.

I was thinking about this recently watching The Chase. Bradley Walsh always asks the contestants what they 'do'. And i never realised how odd this is until the other day. Like people are only defined by their job. But also its the 'go to' fact to get an insight in to someone.

I have never been career minded. I have always worked, part time since having kids, in various industry/ roles. Right now I am making enough money in a 'side' hussle (as DS called it - even though it is my only hussle!) and I am very happy.

It is a difficult one to be at peace with though. I often have to go through everything on my head to remember how we got here... DH has always had a demanding job/career. If I had had a career too our lives would have been super stressful. To me, our family is happy because I have always been happy. That is my main achievement and who I am.

If friends define you by your job or earning power then are they really friends?

I always went to work to make money to enjoy my life. I was fortunate to have a very good professional job but as soon as I was able to retire I turned my back on a 30 year career and left.

My job/career was a means to an end and yours should be too. We all go to work to earn money and any and every job is worthwhile because it's something that someone else needs.

The most important thing is to be happy 😊

Changing is now the norm for many. I'd say very few people are more impressed with someone just because they're senior. There might be some impressed by those who earn more money, but I'd be wary of friends like that.

I do have a career but I always wanted to be a sahm but sadly the men Ive married have been useless workshy types so Ive always had to carry the load. Ive lived alone for some years now and always regretted the years I had to spend working instead of being with my DC. Id sooner have been with my DC tbh. Im very much looking forward to retirement in 2 years so I can give it all up.

I am not passionate about my career, have no natural ambition and have definitely plateaued now I'm in my 40s.

What drives me is being able to afford my lifestyle as a single woman. Also, a certain level of autonomy is important to me eg no-one questions if I occasionally take an extended lunchbreak or something.

Its taken a good deal of career progression to get to the point where I can (just about) bear working full-time.

If all jobs paid the same, I'd have been a nursery worker. Its such an important role that would be fulfilling but its criminally underpaid.

I'm a senior in my field but I have a job, not a career. At some age we do hit a ceiling career wise and I see my job as 9-5 unlike before. Why should I work extra when I've hit the ceiling? There's a colleague who is incredibly smart and works so hard all hours, we got the same for our performance review.