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Original poster

knowing what you know now would you choose the same career path?

46 replies

bbforpp · 10/07/2023 23:11

yes for myself

OP posts:
JamSandle · 10/07/2023 23:17

Not sure. I'd probably go for something that paid ridoinkulously well.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 10/07/2023 23:25

No. I would still have the drive to improve things for children and apply my skills to benefit them but 2nd time round I'd just volunteer at something. Could have avoided MH illness and a lot of stress doing a job where people appreciate that you are extremely skilled and have had a big impact. Never again.

snoozeyoulosecruise · 10/07/2023 23:25

Nope, I do a job that fits in with the kids and let's DHs work take priority.

Wish I'd been an air hostess when I was younger then gone into teaching.

JamMakingWannaBe · 10/07/2023 23:26

When I was at school I thought I'd like to be a dentist or a librarian.
Ended up studying Environmental Science, did a post grad in Marketing and now I work in comms for a national nature type organisation which I do really enjoy.
A few years ago I thought maybe I should have been a florist. I sometimes think I might have liked to have been a financial/money saving journalist.

I really do feel that career planning/advice is shockingly lacking in schools.

LazJaz · 10/07/2023 23:27

No, I would chase money, and swallow my values such that now I would be comfortable enough to work serving my values with a great foundation and a very specific experience set which would still be very well paid work

NuffSaidSam · 10/07/2023 23:27

Yes, but I'm not sure if I'll say that in ten years because it's a job that doesn't have good long term prospects (no job security, poor pension, harder to do as you get older, no ladder to work your way up etc.). But I do love doing it and it's not badly paid.

CatNeedsFed · 10/07/2023 23:37

No. I'd absolutely go for much better pay as it would be much better for my DC. But that could be just because at the moment things are super tight and I'm sick of juggling money. I do actually like my job and think I'm good at it.

What I regret (not that it's my fault!) is that the internet was in it's infancy when I was young as I would have been able to find out and discover things about lots of different careers, instead of being limited by what prospectuses hadn't been pinched from the school library.

I remember doing a multiple choice careers service quiz just after I finished my degree and had no clue what I really wanted to do. It said I should be a barrister. My degree was not in law. And I definitely didn't have a spare 10 grand to do a conversion course.

Sums up career planning in the 90s I feel!

UsingChangeofName · 11/07/2023 00:02

Yes if I were starting 35 years ago again.

No if you mean starting the same job in 2023.

Primrosefrill · 11/07/2023 02:12

Nope. Absolutely no way. I would go for something cushy and well-paid - lots of people I know are in roles like that. Some of whom do not even have a degree.

Destash784Decisions · 11/07/2023 03:31

I stayed in the career that I choose & I have progressed well

However, I was offered an opportunity in my 20s into a different career with training

I sometimes wonder how my life would have worked out if I had chosen the second career.

One of those once in a lifetime decisions !

neverwakeasleepingbaby · 11/07/2023 04:31

I'd shorten the path here but I'd choose the same job. I career changed at 29 and it was the best thing I ever did. Having said that, the path here has taught me a lot.

I think so many people don't consider or even know how to choose a job that suits their personality type. I think this was key in me finding a job I enjoy. It's not for everyone but on a Sunday I look forward to work on the Monday and I know that's a rare thing

mrsneate · 11/07/2023 05:57

No. I'm a nurse. It's very different to when I started 10 years ago. It's ruined my mental and physical health.

I do adore being with my patients though. When I get to be

thenewaveragebear1983 · 11/07/2023 06:54

No, I would have done something creative. I also wouldn’t have had so many years working part time after having DD and then another round of years as a sahm after ds, then another round of years working term time only…. I have had a career change this year and I like my job, but I don’t love it.

ThePoshUns · 11/07/2023 06:58

No. Im public sector and actively discourage my children from entering any part of it.

mangochops · 11/07/2023 06:59

Nope. I'd have done law instead of psychology

blibblibs · 11/07/2023 07:01

I loved my job and would definitely do it again but only if I knew my role wouldn't be redundant after dedicating 20 years to it.
Now hate my new role and dread going to work everyday and I have another 18 years until retirement 😞

Dotcheck · 11/07/2023 07:08

JamMakingWannaBe · 10/07/2023 23:26

When I was at school I thought I'd like to be a dentist or a librarian.
Ended up studying Environmental Science, did a post grad in Marketing and now I work in comms for a national nature type organisation which I do really enjoy.
A few years ago I thought maybe I should have been a florist. I sometimes think I might have liked to have been a financial/money saving journalist.

I really do feel that career planning/advice is shockingly lacking in schools.

Yes, careers planning is lacking. However- as a profession it is ridiculously underpaid and there’s a lack of good jobs. Employers who are keen to get in to schools to talk to students often won’t go to colleges, or to smaller institutions. With working from home being more common, it’s hard for students to get decent work experience.

LookingForFreeDoughnuts · 11/07/2023 07:10

Yes, absolutely. The only change I would make is to get into it sooner (I was a sahm for a long time). I am very lucky to be doing something I'm good at, enjoy, and which pays well.

TheCheeseTray · 11/07/2023 07:12

No - I like it. Actually love it but it doesn’t pay well.

when I finished my postgrad a top company offered me £40 K a year to work at their testing facility and research project in Australia - 4 free flights back to the U.K. each year, free board and food and medical - I turned it down - even the guy offering it looked surprised. I turned it down as my abusive controlling parents got all uppity at how they would never see me again etc given they were abusive and awful and are NC now and often stopped talking to me - why the hell didn’t I take the job - I literally could have done it for 5 years - pocketed £200 000 K and have no expenses and come back and brought a house outright with no mortgage.

Summerhillsquare · 11/07/2023 07:20

Yes, wish I'd started earlier in fact. It's taken me yes to find my Ikigai.

Careers advice was non existent when I were a lass.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 11/07/2023 08:15

I'd go into the sane field, but I'd do a slightly different degree and come at it from a slightly different angle.

AluckyEllie · 11/07/2023 08:19

I’m a nurse and no way in hell I’d pick it again. I’d stay well away from healthcare in general and do something IT/tech based

HorribleHisTories15 · 14/07/2023 23:03

My degree, Masters and PhD were in chemical engineering. Would I do it all again? No, I would do something easier and equally as lucrative without the moral questionability like IT or mathematics. I'll tell my 2 year old daughter the same. Do something like maths at uni if you are thinking of engineering. They all end up in the same place, but management is sparse on the technical knowledge.

HorribleHisTories15 · 14/07/2023 23:05

Plus those who get a third or a pass in engineering degrees from Russell group unis end up at the same level or higher than us who got firsts or upper seconds. And cos those ones are very often men, they keep on climbing up the greasy rope when you go on mat leave, or you pop to the loo quite frankly 🚽

olivehaters · 14/07/2023 23:08

I like that it fits around my kids and I can work part time. I like the autonomy I have. NHS clinical role.
I think it is woefully underpaid compared to other industries considering the amount of study and hoops I have had to jump through.
My DH earns well in a better paying industry but if he didn't I wouldn't want to be stuck doing this, as its hard to increase you income. There is a ceiling.