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.

I didn’t choose my career, just kind of ended up in it and now I really enjoy it and am paid well for it.

I fully subscribe to the fact that a career doesn’t define you, but it does have the possibility to make you feel proud. My job is corporate nonsense tbh, not very meaningful as such, but I like it. I work hard and take pride in doing a good job and I’m proud of what I’ve done, even if it’s not saving the world.

I think it comes down to some kind of mix between ambition, intention, and satisfaction from your contribution.

If your job or career doesn’t meet your ambition, on some level you won’t be satisfied, and I would assume that makes you feel less pride and more shame.

If you intentionally take a low paid job but it covers your needs, then you’ll probably satisfied and feel no shame.

You could volunteer and your contribution and satisfaction could be through the roof.

I do think it’s a cop out if you could contribute more (via work or otherwise) but consciously choose not to because your partner/spouse does. I mean, if that was an intentional decision because logically that works best for your family set-up, then fine. But if you simply rely on your other half’s ambition/effort at work to bankroll your lifestyle I don’t think that’s fair or respectful.

In short, a career is by no means essential. But only you can know whether however you spend your time and however you contribute to your life is enough or adequate or right (on every level - financially, morally, physically, mentally, physically, spiritually, logistically).

I thought I did until life turned upside down when I was 27 and remained very unstable for the next 5 years. Then I started working very part time in a school. Then a bit less part time in a different setting. Did some training. Then I stopped for a while, and returned a few years later and did a bit more training. And more hours. And thensomeone asked me to lead the team dealing with such-and-such. So on and so forth.
At a staff meeting a few weeks ago my boss said “Righto, you’ve been working with people with X for the best part of 30 years, you’ve more experience than any of us, have you ever seen this before?” And I had seen it before.
so it’s not been particularly lucrative, but I suppose I have a career.

I work in a warehouse making kitchens. It is what it is. It's only my username because I had a question relating to it. Cant say many people ask about my job

I haven't got a career. I haven't even got a job.

Mental illness means I haven't been able to work for about 25 years. Also now have a teenager with disabilities, so I have to look after them. Single parent, so no one else to do it.

I feel very inadequate, it's not how I imagined life turning out.

No. I always choose jobs for location, hours and pay (in no particular order). Jobs are much fitted around other things in my life - like caring for aging parents and in laws and DH work or only having one car which needed to be in two different places at the same time.
A job was a means to an end - money.

I relate to this, although no kid here and I have not been out the workforce as long.
But I will tell you what my therapist told me... you do have a job, and it is trying to manage your mental health. You never get time off from it, you do not accrue annual leave, and there are no perks.

I have a degree and MSC in Nursing but have never wanted to progress above being a staff nurse. I have no interest in a career

Actively choosing to not progress is a luxury.

I trained for a career (aircraft mechanic) and did it for a year until I got laid off when the company ran out of money.

Now I have a job but if I just say I work in a factory that's pretty boring but if I say I build* satellite parts then people get interested (or at least the ones I've told)

*though I don't build them anymore, I inspect them but that sounds less interesting, unless I mention the lasers.

What, like someone who works as a cleaner or care worker or on a till for their whole working life? I don’t see that as a luxury; more lack of opportunity and lack of choice.

But think half the time people really don't understand what a job or career involves. If for example someone says they are a " field technician " or similar then no one would immediately know what sector or what it involves

Even so with many of these jobs that sound made up

When people ask the boring question of what do you do for work, my response is usually that I’m much more interested in what they do for fun.

I’m not talking about when there’s lack of opportunity or lack of choice. In fact exactly the opposite.

If you have the opportunity or the choice but you actively and consciously decide not to pursue it, that is a luxurious position to be in. Either you are already in a good position (which is a luxury) or someone else is funding your time/life (which is a luxury).

If a junior cleaner is offered a senior cleaner position and they decline it for no other reason than they don’t fancy it, being able to make that call in that way is a luxury.

Not everyone is capable of moving to supervisor or managerial roles. I can barely manage my household, I certainly couldn't be in charge of people at work.

dressing you have my sympathies. I have only managed to keep my job as it's 3 days a week and it leaves time to deal with my SEN teen. I'd have lost my job if it was full time. My employer was desperate when they employed me so I could name my days.

I see what you’re saying @Nevermissabeat, apologies I didn’t read your post properly.

I can’t imagine not having a career. My career is hugely important to me. I live and breathe it Mon to Fri. Think about it a lot. Often check in on Saturday. It’s a core part of me.

And how will you feel and manage when you are either let go or get to a point you can’t work, or retire?
I see a lot of people flounder and sometimes fail to thrive in life when they make their entire being/life/identity about their job.
There needs to a balance. Not just one or the other.