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So Meh about Life Choices

  • 20-05-2015 9:08pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi guys,

    I hope this won't be a long one, I'll bullet point maybe so it's easier to read...

    - 28, PhD qualified
    - In a fulltime academic role earning slightly less than my peers
    - Job promotion came up, I got it but it's going to be a massive amount of more responsibility
    - Beginning to think... this isn't for m

    I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am getting a bit down by the fact that I'n getting up to 30 and I still don't LOVE what I do.. and that if I decide to change careers now I will have to either retrain (spending loads of money on fees) or intern for free and end up starting at the bottom of another ladder. My discipline is in the humanities but I am drawn to helping people in a much more hands on environment (nursing, medicine, paramedic, counsellor, social worker etc). I don't know where to start with any of them as I don't have time to really shadow people (as I also work part-time on top of full-time in similar field), I don't have time to intern or to do part-time courses etc. My leave is always taken up by part-time job... If I want to retrain it's going to be quitting everything and focusing everything on it... Maybe I need to go to a careers guidance counsellor? One that's private?

    I guess that I am just at point of no return in away (I bet some of ye will think that's a bit rich coming from a 28 year old!) but I dunno... a friend passed away a month ago and I suppose I'm just realising that you literally do only live once....

    Any advice guys? :(


Comments

  • #2
    dublinman101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18 ✭dublinman101


    You're definitely not too old to change careers. Or is there a way your can tweek your career, specialise to incorporate helping people, working with people. Or could you be a part time counsellor and stick with the academics as your main career.


  • #3
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,378 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Not many people get a chance to work in a job that they love. You could just treat work as a means to pursue interests outside of their career. If you're working in academia then would you have ample free time?

    However 28 isn't that old to start a new career. We're living much longer and it's not unforeseeable that by the time you retire the age will have risen to 70 or more.


  • #4
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Hi again,

    sorry - been so busy at work :(

    I think ye are right, counselling sounds like a good fit and I could do it in evenings or at weekends. I'm going to look in at courses.. See there's a HDip in UCD which I can't do as it's during working hours.. maybe the HDip in DBS and then do an MA in UCD or something.. Love collecting degrees ;)

    I think I'd be very passionate about it, though.. I'll investigate further!


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