I left a tenured government job in a field I'd always dreamed of working in. I loved the work while I did it, but the foreign service supervisors cycled in & out, some were great, some were horrible, a handful were probably untreated, mentally ill. The unpredictability of who would come next, the pending fulfillment of promises from boss 1 as boss 2 came in only to start from scratch again. . . . it just wasn't a winning career proposition.

So I left for the private sector, have been here for a year, and am happier than I can ever recall being in my work. When your whole career has been public sector, everyone you work with advances by knowing how to navigate the system. Leaving the system, and all its safety nets, for the unknown was pretty scary. I was definitely afraid I might regret it once I was out, and I was afraid that I might not be able to get back in once I was out. But I have to say, now that I'm on the other side, I only wish I'd made the jump sooner.

I left a great, but ultimately boring, fed job for a nonprofit job that I thought I would love. HATED it. Terrible fit, but I learned a lot (substance and about red flags when looking for a job...) and used that knowledge to seek a better fit a year later. Moved on without a single regret.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

DH earns a high income and we don't need my income. If I worked, it would be a hobby job. I really enjoyed that first job. Great bosses, nice co-workers, good hours, very pleasant work environment.

I.E. The man was always the plan, these jobs were just for fun. Very different from OP.

Pp here. Man was never the plan. I was earning more than DH when we got married. I didn't expect or know that DH would be so successful. He earns a seven figure income now.

Let me guess he was a starving surgical resident? It isn't like you married a non-profit activist... you had the safety net to take the risk of those new jobs.

I actually had equal or more earning power than my then boyfriend. Not everyone thinks of a man as a meal ticket. That is probably why DH wanted to marry me. Some of my friends who wanted to just get married and have kids are still single at age 40.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

DH earns a high income and we don't need my income. If I worked, it would be a hobby job. I really enjoyed that first job. Great bosses, nice co-workers, good hours, very pleasant work environment.

I.E. The man was always the plan, these jobs were just for fun. Very different from OP.

Pp here. Man was never the plan. I was earning more than DH when we got married. I didn't expect or know that DH would be so successful. He earns a seven figure income now.

Let me guess he was a starving surgical resident? It isn't like you married a non-profit activist... you had the safety net to take the risk of those new jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

DH earns a high income and we don't need my income. If I worked, it would be a hobby job. I really enjoyed that first job. Great bosses, nice co-workers, good hours, very pleasant work environment.

I.E. The man was always the plan, these jobs were just for fun. Very different from OP.

Pp here. Man was never the plan. I was earning more than DH when we got married. I didn't expect or know that DH would be so successful. He earns a seven figure income now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

DH earns a high income and we don't need my income. If I worked, it would be a hobby job. I really enjoyed that first job. Great bosses, nice co-workers, good hours, very pleasant work environment.

I.E. The man was always the plan, these jobs were just for fun. Very different from OP.

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Doesn't seem like the job hopping held the same risk for your as it does for OP; you married a high earner and likely already had your sights on the SAH, versus OP who I think needs to take on the burden of supporting themselves without a fallback plan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first series of jobs were promotion based, so no regrets. but then at some point in mid/senior level there is more at stake and the chance to F up is apparent. For me I had to decide to take or not take a job coming in to restructure a program. Only I strongly sensed the 12 person team and bureaucratic large parent was just blowing smoke and would shoot down any suggestions or proposals.

I passed and found a no-Brainer better opp a year later. Hard to find but my point is to ask tough questions once you have the job offer. Ask for P&L statements, an org chart, the years performance, do references of the group from deportees, customers, agents, equity etc. Take things with a grain of salt as everyone is biased but you don't want to be sold one thing only to find out if was never true.

that's a tough call! stay in a comfy place or take a promotion to be a change agent (which may or may not work, lots of places hire people thinking they will change their ways but end up suffocating that new hire).

Yep. The last two places I was hired to be a "change agent" have turned out to be terrible. No regret, per se, as they have been learning experiences, but I won't take that type of job again any time soon. Too much politics, resistance to change, stress, etc. Plus there is always something you don't find out about until it's too late. Never a good long-term position. One place I stayed 2 years, the other 3, but only because I had a baby. Was looking to get out of both ASAP.

Took a new position with promotion and absolutely hate it. I traded in my health and peace of mind for chaos and backstabbing coworkers. My last job paid less, but it wasn't significant enough for me to deal with the current position. I've been in it for 5 months and I am feverishly applying to get out. I am even considering quitting with no plan. I am that stressed :/

sort of regret. Moved from govt job (my first since grad school) when it was clear there was very little upward movement. Moved out of state, with family, to job with bigger title and 20% raise, but the place itself is dysfunctional, with seriously questionable ethics, recent financial issues and people are starting to jump ship. wonder if my boring old job would be better. on the other hand, happier living in our new home/state. applied for another job, which may or may not be marginally better.

Yes I switched jobs in Sept 2015 and it was a big mistake. I was unsure of my decision at the time (mainly due to an increased in commute) but I thought the job would be worth it. Well the job was not great and the commute was horrendous. As a single mother it was a nightmare. I just last week went back to my original job. Phew.

Anonymous wrote:My first series of jobs were promotion based, so no regrets. but then at some point in mid/senior level there is more at stake and the chance to F up is apparent. For me I had to decide to take or not take a job coming in to restructure a program. Only I strongly sensed the 12 person team and bureaucratic large parent was just blowing smoke and would shoot down any suggestions or proposals.

I passed and found a no-Brainer better opp a year later. Hard to find but my point is to ask tough questions once you have the job offer. Ask for P&L statements, an org chart, the years performance, do references of the group from deportees, customers, agents, equity etc. Take things with a grain of salt as everyone is biased but you don't want to be sold one thing only to find out if was never true.

that's a tough call! stay in a comfy place or take a promotion to be a change agent (which may or may not work, lots of places hire people thinking they will change their ways but end up suffocating that new hire).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

DH earns a high income and we don't need my income. If I worked, it would be a hobby job. I really enjoyed that first job. Great bosses, nice co-workers, good hours, very pleasant work environment.

Anonymous wrote:I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.

Dumbing down your resume isn't that hard.

And remember: which would be harder, being a SAHM financially well off or struggling to raise 2 kids with $75K? Grass ain't always greener

I chased money when I was younger. Went from 75k to 110k to 200k to 300k. Had kids and that first 75k job would have been a dream. I'm now a SAHM with 2 kids and pregnant with 3rd. I would eventually love to get a job like the first one I had. Doubtful they would hire me now though because I'd be overqualified.