Help me find a career path please! Feels like I'm running out of time!

[Keke94LND]

Hi all, so I feel a bit stuck and meh about my choices and path so far.. I’m going to try and give you as much information about myself as possible to work with..

I’m 27, live and work in London, I have a degree in Business and Management and graduated with a 2:1 6 years ago. I have a lovely supportive boyfriend who I’ve been with for 5 years and who I plan on hopefully being with forever. Over the last 5/6 years, I have really been focusing on getting a mortgage, so saving for a deposit and trying to jump up the salary ladder. We are now achieving this goal as my bf and I are now in the process of buying a 2 bed garden flat in London (yay)

Since graduating I have had 2 jobs, the first one as a Personal Assistant (PA) and office manager, where I worked for just over 2 years, whilst I obviously did make a conscious decision to apply and take this role.. it doesn’t feel like it, it feels I fell into this role because I just really needed a job after uni and this was the first one I got. The second job is where I am still currently working as an Executive Assistant (EA) and office manager where I have been for 3.6 years. I chose this job because I was qualified and it was paying quite a bit more than my first job. I currently earn £35k, so i’m no millionaire but I am quite happy with my salary and don’t think it’s bad at all. Both jobs have been in the finance industry btw.

Regarding the role… I hate being an office manager and would like to bump this off my CV ASAP lol I don’t want to be in charge of things when they break.. and being an EA isn’t much better. I feel like an extra in someone else’s movie, arranging meetings for other people, arranging flights and travel for other people, being responsible for everything that goes wrong even when it’s not my fault lol etc etc etc. I don’t really feel like I even have my own work, it’s more just .. based on other peoples work. I don’t enjoy it and I wouldn’t even necessarily say I’m that good at it.. I’m not a naturally organised person. Sometimes when I’m wallowing I feel like I have let young me down haha.

I have always been one of those people who could never ever decide what they wanted to do.. here is a rough list of everything I have ever wanted to do in (roughly) chronological order … farmer, cafe owner, pet shop owner, journalist, Marine biologist (I liked dolphins lol), animator, makeup artist, hairdresser, join the RAF, police officer, florist.. the list goes on but I can’t even remember everything. And because I could never stick to a path I have ended up in a path I hate. I was always quite business minded when I was young, I’d make/draw things and sell them, I’d do chores for people for money etc which is probably why I had an interest in business enough to do a degree in it.

In the spare time, I volunteer for a help line (I do about 2 hours a week), this brings me a bit of fulfilment that I don’t feel I get in my day job. I am also planning (once the sale actually goes through) on doing a little blog for my flat as we are going to be renovating it, this will be a bit of a creative outlet for me as I really like interiors and I also quite like writing (I can’t say whether I’m good at it, I just enjoy it).

In terms of what I like and my interests, I love anything beauty related, fashion and style, interiors, I love national trust gardens and houses, I LOVE animals, I love the outdoors (hiking, lakes, woods etc), I enjoy reading, I like history, true crime and I also really like researching random stuff, for example I became obsessed a while ago at researching about MLMs an pyramid schemes lol.

One job I have absolutely always wanted to do is.. to be a mummy lol, I would ideally like to be married first, and think this will happen in the next 2/3 years, and I want to start trying for a baby when I’m 30 in 3 years. Having said that, I really want to avoid making being a mum my entire identity, because then I will just end up in the same position in 20 years when kids have moved out and will then just be waiting to become a grandma (my lovely mum for example saw her purpose as being a mum and now she’s just waiting to be a granny) I don’t want that to be me. But equally, like lots of women, I obviously do need to do something that works with having children. Unless I cant have children in which case I am positively screwed.

Some options I have bouncing round my head:

I have looked into becoming a virtual assistant but to be honest I don’t feel like I have enough experience to do this and I don’t have any contacts.. I have thought about doing some courses like maybe a copywriting course, book keeping course etc to give me different skills, but I just don’t think this is the best solution for me right now..

I could get a job as an EA in a company that interests me, like an interiors company or national trust or something but then the job is still the same .. and I’d still hate what I do lol

In my heart, I want to do something totally totally different, like maybe I could do something crazy and become a veterinary nurse or something..

Unfortunately making a total switch probably means lowering my income.. but it’s not like I need to worry about saving for a deposit and getting a mortgage now (Altho obvs we will want to move one day), the sensible option is be an EA in another field but I worry about pigeon holing myself as an EA as I will then have 3 EA jobs on my cv so I feel if I do this I will have to accept that is what I will be doing for ever. Doing a book keeping course is an option but equally is it not just a bit boring and am I just being desperate trying to get out of EA work and moving onto something equally boring 🤣 I don’t know!

This is more just a rambling and venting post but any advice you have is extremely welcome!

In your shoes, knowing what I know now, I'd do either vetinary nurse training or join the police force with the eventual goal to become a detective.

Would not advise ANYONE with your experience to become a virtual assistant. I'm a freelance writer and those jobs are poorly paid and stressful...plus usually freelance which gives no security.

What excites you most? Vet nurse or police?

@FortunesFave

In your shoes, knowing what I know now, I'd do either vetinary nurse training or join the police force with the eventual goal to become a detective.

Would not advise ANYONE with your experience to become a virtual assistant. I'm a freelance writer and those jobs are poorly paid and stressful...plus usually freelance which gives no security.

What excites you most? Vet nurse or police?

Hmm well my dad was police, so he always had really cool stories haha which I think probably is what made me consider it in the past, and I really respect the job, but shift work puts me off and if I'm being truthful with myself I don't think I have the confidence or desire even to deal with so many horrible people.. some parts of the job would be rewarding however. My dad also left the police at a time when working for them was really going downhill and I'm not sure he would recommend it. Vet nursing is just something I've randomly thought of recently because I do really love animals, and I think I could be good at it, but Its also shift work I think which won't be easy with kids? Plus it pays pretty poorly I believe? Not that I want to earn mega bucks but I'd quite like to keep my current salary or around the £30k mark 🤔 oh I don't know 😩 thanks for your help tho :)

Look into getting a job as an EA in a more creative area. interiors, film production, television....the BBC actually run special courses where you can apply for positions at the end. Look in the right places for jobs...are you on LinkedIn?

How about trying for work experience as a vet nurse? Presumably you've looked at the BVNA website here - there are always Saturday/weekend clinics so maybe a local practice would let you observe? I read on MN recently that demand for vet nurses is huge right now, not sure if that's true but could be a good time to make the jump. Maybe with your business skills thee might be a practice manager job going in a big vet practice??

I would just say that you are doing brilliantly in your career. £35k is more than I have ever earned! It's a big deal to take a big pay cut, which vet nursing certainly would be, but you've done so well financially so young that you have put yourself in z position to be able to make choices. Really impressive.

What is the helpline you volunteer for and could you look at jobs in that area as you find it fulfilling?

When you took your business course, did you learn accounting? Because you could use that to be a fraud investigator with the London police looking into bank fraud and such like. You wouldn’t be dealing with the general public or patrolling the streets.

You could also apply for a job in procurement ...say an assistant buyer and business degrees are valuable for such a career path. Procurement covers anything really from construction project to military submarines to groceries to computers to cosmetics. It had good career prospects too. If you get your MCIPS you can get as much as £100k+/yr as a director of procurement for a large corporation (plus your own EA).

@FortunesFave

Look into getting a job as an EA in a more creative area. interiors, film production, television....the BBC actually run special courses where you can apply for positions at the end. Look in the right places for jobs...are you on LinkedIn?

I am on LinkedIn but I don't really use it if I'm honest, I'll look into what you mentioned about the bbc

I was also going to suggest work as a buyer. (Though I've no experience in that industry, so no idea how one gets into it, sorry).
You must have a lot of transferable skills- from your degree, and also from your jobs so far.

@minipie

What is the helpline you volunteer for and could you look at jobs in that area as you find it fulfilling?

I volunteer for shout which is a texting crisis line, I havnt been doing it that long so I don't have loads of experience in it yet

@PlanDeRaccordement

When you took your business course, did you learn accounting? Because you could use that to be a fraud investigator with the London police looking into bank fraud and such like. You wouldn’t be dealing with the general public or patrolling the streets.

You could also apply for a job in procurement ...say an assistant buyer and business degrees are valuable for such a career path. Procurement covers anything really from construction project to military submarines to groceries to computers to cosmetics. It had good career prospects too. If you get your MCIPS you can get as much as £100k+/yr as a director of procurement for a large corporation (plus your own EA).

I didn't do an accounting at uni, I did some very very basic accounting stuff on Xero in my old job, which is why I considered doing a book keeping course.. but that kind of job in the police definitely sounds interesting! Also gonna have a look at procurement! Thank you! :)

@CovidPassQuestion

I was also going to suggest work as a buyer. (Though I've no experience in that industry, so no idea how one gets into it, sorry). You must have a lot of transferable skills- from your degree, and also from your jobs so far.

I think I must do.. but when I actually sit down to think about my skills my mind goes blank!

@PlanDeRaccordement

When you took your business course, did you learn accounting? Because you could use that to be a fraud investigator with the London police looking into bank fraud and such like. You wouldn’t be dealing with the general public or patrolling the streets.

You could also apply for a job in procurement ...say an assistant buyer and business degrees are valuable for such a career path. Procurement covers anything really from construction project to military submarines to groceries to computers to cosmetics. It had good career prospects too. If you get your MCIPS you can get as much as £100k+/yr as a director of procurement for a large corporation (plus your own EA).

I just had a quick look at procurement and it actually sounds quite interesting and something I could have transferable skills in.. I've never even heard of it before so I feel abit dumb! This is why careers advice at schools should be way better! (I.e not non existent lol) Thanks so much

I may be wrong but I don't think the police are particularly known for their family-friendly roles.

I'd look at doing something with house interiors and turn that into a business, either by retraining as a designer or by staying in your current job and seeing if you can buy and do up another house, then gradually make that your FT job. As you have the business training, running your own business seems like a plan.

@Keke94LND
Glad you like look of procurement. It’s a great field. My brother is in it and loves it. He’s in healthcare procurement so he lately he has been buying and installing MRIs for hospitals around the world in developing countries.

The best advice I can give is to start seeing yourself as an equal in your relationship. When it comes to parenting you should approach it as a joint responsibility.

You're not even planning a child for 3/4 years yet you're looking for roles that work around school hours, that's ridiculous. Don't do yourself a disservice and allow your boyfriend to progress by doing his share of the home/child rearing on top of your own.

A friend did a business degree and after a few years went into procurement. He earns a really healthy salary and has interesting high level work. Really good shout.

There's a shortage of quantity surveyors. I'd do that if I had my time again

A lot of people go into being a vet because they love animals, but it's not a case of cuddling cute animals all day. Euthanasia can be a big part of the job. I'd really research it as an option, talk to people who've pursued this career path etc. It can be really stressful, there's a reason why the suicide rate for veterinarians is about 4 times the national average. The grass isn't always greener, career-wise.

On the careers side - how big is the company you work for and have you looked at internal opportunities? I work for a big accountancy firm and have known of people moving internally from PA/EA roles into marketing, communications and into accounting itself. Or as someone else said moving to a similar role in a company which interests you may be a good move.

On your wider life plan, is you partner enthusiasticly on board with your plans and timescales for marriage and children? Given your strong feelings on this you don't want to get a few years down the line and find otherwise. Also echo poster above who said don't worry about a job being family friendly at this point. In my experience this is more about the company and manager you work for and the level of experience you have, rather than the sector of work (obvs with some exceptions!).

Good luck, I hope you find something that you are passionate about!

I advise caution with being a vet. It is not about cuddling cute animals 24/7 (you can do that at home without any qualifications). Do not be so desperate to work that you choose a inappropriate career. Being a vet is hard work, and you will definitely need patience and a level headed mindset too.
And it can be very stressful and demanding, pay attention to the industry suicide rate. Research it by all means but do not be fooled either. Consider your own set of skills and qualities and whether or not you would actually love it.
I recommend exploring other options. Talk to a career advisor or do one of those useful online skill quizzes to help you to figure out what to do etc as well. I hope that you do find something that you can do and love at the same time here.
Good luck to you on your career journey. Perhaps something with plants or cars is more suitable instead. You should read job descriptions, talk to people about their careers and make notes on top of that.

I was an EA - mostly in law firms. I was able to use that experience to get into other more fulfilling work. What kind of companies have you worked for? Re the BBC, I was offered a role there years ago, it didn’t pay at all well.