I should have gone into medicine (ophthalmology or dermatology), or dentistry. It’s needed, but no night shifts, no emergency calls, no significant work travel, hopefully no project deadlines.

I honestly can't think of a better fit for me than what I have, which is aerospace systems engineer, mostly in the R&D arena working w/scientists.

I like the idea of teaching math or science - but the idea of classroom management gives me anxiety just thinking about it, and I am admittedly not a great teacher naturally.

There are times when I think back to my days in retail/food service. There is some comfort in more physical work where responsibilities were very focused on the present (no long term stuff), and left at the work site. But I'm sure that would be exhausting as a career in the long run for me.

Anonymous wrote:Something with less people interaction. I am an introvert and I feel like I made a mistake choosing to be a speech pathologist. I should have been an accountant or a maybe a designer of some kind where I can work alone. I chose this job for stability. My undergrad is in communication. I would have loved a writing/communication career but those are so hard to get.I love animals but any animal career breaks my heart.

Funny, I am an accountant and sometimes wish I would’ve become a SLP.

But I’m definitely an introvert and love being alone with my spreadsheets and general ledger. Unfortunately I spend a lot of time in meetings and dealing with finance fires.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Initially, I wanted to be a flight attendant. Grew up in a very strict household and pretty much could only leave home to get married Ended up working in Administrative positions. I wish I would have gone into foreign service, like working at the US Embassy around the world. When I attending college at night, didn't know that was an option

If it makes you feel better, it’s almost impossible to get into the foreign service

If it makes you feel better, I have seen more foreign service officers with imploded marriages, toxic personalities, substance abuse problems, and delusions of grandeur than I have seen in the civil service/general workforce. That is an incredibly tough lifestyle that takes its toll on many. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't know about it/do it.

You forgot messed-up kids.

Yes to all of this! I happen to have one circle of friends which includes a group of FS officers; what a strange, intense and bitter bunch! All have f-ed up kids, marriages and seem to lean more narcissist than interest in the public good. Growing up, it seemed to be a neat lifestyle - you get to travel! learn new languages! learn new cultures! instead, it's a group of people who act like they are better than anyone else, in any other career choice ('I'm exceptional!') with screwed up lives.

Some but not all. I have 2 college classmates that are FSOs- one is amazing and uses her savings to buy her widowed mom a house and is a dedicated mom and friend. The other is married too but seems overly impressed with himself and brags all the time. So some are ridiculous and some aren’t. You’d get the same mix from the chevy chase SAHM and Biglaw spouse, or really any job right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s never too late. I was working in a boring DC job where I had been for almost a decade when I decided to start applying for any job on LinkedIn that looked interesting and sending people general resumes. Got a call back from a really cool tech company I had been following/using products from for many years in my personal life. Long story short they ended up offering me an unadvertised job making more than double what I was making and working with the company head who I admired deeply (but I had never met).

I love this story! Congrats.

Thank you so much! I was 40 when I made the change but I had been using this company's products as a power user since their launch 15 plus years ago.