For real...what do you think of mid-life career changers?
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Anonymous
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I am one (lawyer to psychologist). I'm curious if you think this is a positive thing or if secretly you view someone like me as undisciplined because I couldn't hack it in my first profession. If it depends on the circumstances, what do you need to decide whether you view the career changer positively or negatively.
Go! |
Anonymous
Ha! I think of you as rich
Right or wrong, I think anyone that can afford the additional schooling, the opportunity costs, the time, to switch careers is living at some level o luxury that I'm not. I'm jealous! /former lawyer |
Anonymous
| I meant level "of" luxury, not level "o" luxury. I'm not Irish. |
Anonymous
| Brave. It takes guts to start over. |
Anonymous
| I think anyone who judges you harshly doesn't know about the reality of either job. |
Anonymous
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I think, "Anorher lawyer in recovery!"
I am one, too. I agree with the PP who said we are brave. I also think a little bit crazy and idealistic would be two other adjectives. It's hard to walk away to start over, but I'm hoping it's worth it. (I am just about to start step 1 of Career 2.0 this fall.) |
Anonymous
This is OP and I think you've made a valid point. Not that I haven't had to sacrifice for the career change (we ended up with $50k in debt and needed to downsize our home) but I'm aware it is a privilege to even be able to consider a "do over" on one's career. So many lawyers feel chained to their current circumstances because they think they'd never be able to get by making less money. I tell you the truth -- I miss the money a little but thank my lucky stars every day that I have a job that is fulflling rather than soul-sucking. |
Anonymous
Agree with the idealism part. |
Anonymous
| As a lawyer I sort of look down on you - there are many ways to practice law, and instead of sticking it out, you quit. If you are a woman I probably also suspect you are making bad financial decisions (accruing more student loans and forgoing prime work years for school, probably for a lower paying job). |
Anonymous
Wow. And if you're a woman making this comment, how depressing, torpedoing your own navy. . . OP, I have total respect for mid-life career changers. I always think they're being true to themselves and don't need to the approval of others. |
Anonymous
| I think you spend a lot of time posting on DCUM and I wonder why. |
Anonymous
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I don't think anything of it at all. The way that other people choose to earn their living isn't really high on my "things to make sure I stick my nose in" list! Seriously, if I were the kind of person who judged this sort of thing in a negative light, it would be sad, this life is FAR too short and I don't see the point in spending it in a miserable way when we are fortunate enough to be born into better circumstances than the vast majority of humanity.
Do your thing. |
Anonymous
+1 I wouldn't do it. |
Anonymous
I couldn't be fulfilled by a job that pays shit. |
Anonymous
Agree. So long as she doesn't mind still having to work at 70, go for it, but by 60, I want to be down to part time. |