Would you recommend your career to others?

Just curious.

I see lots of people ask questions about the field that i'm in and i love answering them and helping in any way that i can, but when it comes to friends, etc IRL, i have to admit that i'd feel guilty if i recommended my career to them

Of course there are aspects of it that i love, but it is hard and there's just so many levels to it. There's security in it, flexibility, and it has afforded us a nice lifestyle... but i feel like i'd feel guity recommending it to people b/c it really can take such a toll on you, and i don't want to be responsible for that

So, just wondering. If others ask about your career (or display an interest in it), do you encourage them and recommend it, encourage them but with caution, or just tell them to run far, far away??

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I'm an attorney. I have been discouraging friends from going to law school unless they really want to be a lawyer (rather than just on a whim), and encouraging them to apply for and strongly consider scholarships rather than taking it all out in loans. the legal market is pretty horrific right now.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Yes but it's for the right person.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Posted by jps

I'm an attorney. I have been discouraging friends from going to law school unless they really want to be a lawyer (rather than just on a whim), and encouraging them to apply for and strongly consider scholarships rather than taking it all out in loans. the legal market is pretty horrific right now.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

It's hard. I tend to be brutally honest about the cons and sometimes find myself sounding really, really negative when I think about it after the fact.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I'm a teacher. Most people think it's this great job (vacation time, work with kids, etc.) and for many people it is. For me it's NOT. I hate it. So if people ask for my honest opinion, I am very negative, but always tell them to try it if it's what they want because they may love it even though I don't.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Posted by neenie

Just curious.

I see lots of people ask questions about the field that i'm in and i love answering them and helping in any way that i can, but when it comes to friends, etc IRL, i have to admit that i'd feel guilty if i recommended my career to them

Of course there are aspects of it that i love, but it is hard and there's just so many levels to it. There's security in it, flexibility, and it has afforded us a nice lifestyle... but i feel like i'd feel guity recommending it to people b/c it really can take such a toll on you, and i don't want to be responsible for that

So, just wondering. If others ask about your career (or display an interest in it), do you encourage them and recommend it, encourage them but with caution, or just tell them to run far, far away??

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Yes, I work in higher education administration and also teach MBA classes. I don't love teaching, but it's a wonderful environment and family-friendly.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Posted by jps

I'm an attorney. I have been discouraging friends from going to law school unless they really want to be a lawyer (rather than just on a whim), and encouraging them to apply for and strongly consider scholarships rather than taking it all out in loans. the legal market is pretty horrific right now.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Another lawyer here. I come from a family of lawyers but wouldn't recommend the profession.

Most lawyers I know wish they were doing something else (a few are because they have lost jobs). Personally, I'm pretty happy but that's because I have a government job and am only in the office a few days a week.

Strangely enough my father, while he supported me, never really encouraged me to be a lawyer. He did, however, encourage me to take a government job, after explaining repeatedly to me that mid size law firms only " make money off your back." I thank him to this day because I'm not sure I would be practicing otherwise.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Another attorney here. I do not recommend my profession to others - especially the type of law I practice - litigation. I know very few attorneys in my specialty who are happy with the work.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I'm in HR.

I would tell people to run far, far away unless you enjoy listening to people whine and complain and fillng out forms all day.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I'm in IT. Too many people think that since they can play their Xbox, they can fix computers and software. It really takes a certain type of thinking in order to do what I do well. In our group, we know who the "good" people are, and those that are just getting by.

It's got its pluses and minuses, but it's definitely not for everyone.

Some people shouldn't even be allowed to use an ATM machine, no less fix computers....

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I am an Executive Admin... There are good days & bad days, You have to have thick skin & a strong ability to bite your tongue on many many occassions.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I am in the fashion industry and I think it's a great industry if you are single but now I am married & baby on the way & will most likely not continue in the industry... hours are long, pay is crap, you need a tough skin.. but it could be tons of fun sometimes.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

no - i am a graphic designer. when i started off in my career journey you could earn a decent salary and be completely untalented. then the career got to popular and i find many people b/s their way to good jobs (get fired shortly) and the industry to the whole are going more to temps since they don't have to pay benefits and they are very eager to work and do more since they are getting higher dollar amounts due to no benefits.

i found myself lucky to step into a state job but your locked into doing completely borrring work that for the most part is just editing copy or dumping copy and completely not creative. But i have benefits, cheap daycare if i ever need and the salary is eh but i don't have to schlep into the city.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

yes- but it isn't for every one

I am a real estate agent- and I work nights, weekends, take calls at all hours, run all over the island showing houses, deal with other agents who make it hard to sell their listings

but I love it

I am still in the early stages- but in a year I will have alot more flexiblity (and I wont have to work another job)

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Although I love love love my job, I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone. When times are hard, they are REALLY hard. I worked 11 weeks last year. One of my friends worked 3 weeks. Who knows when I will go back and for how long.

Other than the money issue, I love the different environments I have been in.

I've worked in Bloomingdales, on the roof of Blommingdales, Empire State Building, Sony building, Queens Center Mall, MANY apartment buildings, Shea stadium, Times Square, Wall Street area, AIG building downtown, Jay Street courthouse, a few Trump buildings, JFK airport, Columbia Unniv, Queens College, the list goes on and on.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

yep another problem i am a print designer not a web designer and i can edit tags but i can build pages from code and use style sheets so i am screwed. I tried to learn programming but my brain does not think in that fashion.

hards times to be a print designer.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Posted by Kara

Posted by jps

I'm an attorney. I have been discouraging friends from going to law school unless they really want to be a lawyer (rather than just on a whim), and encouraging them to apply for and strongly consider scholarships rather than taking it all out in loans. the legal market is pretty horrific right now.

Same here.

This is a career you have to absolutely LOVE because it can be life-consuming. I like to make sure people really know what they are getting into when they go to law school.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

Posted by CaseyGirl

I'm in HR.

I would tell people to run far, far away unless you enjoy listening to people whine and complain and fillng out forms all day.

Message edited 1/26/2010 8:15:21 PM.

Re: Would you recommend your career to others?

I can't help but chime in here as another attorney. I work for the government too (federal) and I love my job. I always try to steer other attorneys, interns and law students into the public sector.

While I don't make as munch money as I could in the private sector, we live comfortably, the hours are fantastic and most importantly, I feel like I am doing good everyday!