6 answers
Ivy
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
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Do you regret your career?
Do you regret your career? If so what career would you do if you had the chance to go back in time?
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6 answers
Sabrina Reed
12
Answers
Newport Beach, California
Updated
Sabrina’s Answer
Hi Ivy! I do not regret my career! That being said, I am doing something completely different than I ever imagined when I was in High School or College. I majored in Business in college, knowing it was a broad major that could be applied across different options, just in case the career ideas I had in mind didn't work out. I'm glad I had that forethought because my first job made me realize my intended path was not right for me. My career path from there has been a very windy one through many industries and jobs, but all have been a learning experience so I do not regret any of them. That path led me to my current position in an Executive Assistant type role, assisting senior managers with their calendars, travel and anything else they need.
The one commonality between all of my jobs is they all involved helping people. When I was in college I loved volunteering and always thought "how can I make a career out of volunteering?" Of course that was a rhetorical question knowing I couldn't make volunteering a career since it doesn't pay! However, looking back I now realize that the part I loved about volunteering was helping people. This has translated into my jobs in marketing, customer service, travel and more.
I consider my career a wonderful journey and not a destination. I certainly did not love all my jobs over the years, but they all led me to where I am today, so I have no regrets about any of them!
If you are concerned about potentially regretting your future career, I hope you can consider these thoughts:
Like me, think of your career as a journey and when there is an open door walk through it. If you don't like it, you can usually move on and try something else.
If you have a career or subject in mind that you want to explore in college - do it! College can be challenging so if you don't enjoy the course work or the school environment, you will struggle to get through your classes. Keep in mind, you can always change your major if you take a couple of class and decide to pick something else.
Most employers now do look for job applicants to have a college degree, but they don't always expect your degree to match your career. Some jobs do require that, but most employers now realize that the specific degree isn't as important as your skills and that many employees in today's world rotate through many jobs and career subjects over their lifetime.
Best of luck to you, Ivy!
The one commonality between all of my jobs is they all involved helping people. When I was in college I loved volunteering and always thought "how can I make a career out of volunteering?" Of course that was a rhetorical question knowing I couldn't make volunteering a career since it doesn't pay! However, looking back I now realize that the part I loved about volunteering was helping people. This has translated into my jobs in marketing, customer service, travel and more.
I consider my career a wonderful journey and not a destination. I certainly did not love all my jobs over the years, but they all led me to where I am today, so I have no regrets about any of them!
If you are concerned about potentially regretting your future career, I hope you can consider these thoughts:
Like me, think of your career as a journey and when there is an open door walk through it. If you don't like it, you can usually move on and try something else.
If you have a career or subject in mind that you want to explore in college - do it! College can be challenging so if you don't enjoy the course work or the school environment, you will struggle to get through your classes. Keep in mind, you can always change your major if you take a couple of class and decide to pick something else.
Most employers now do look for job applicants to have a college degree, but they don't always expect your degree to match your career. Some jobs do require that, but most employers now realize that the specific degree isn't as important as your skills and that many employees in today's world rotate through many jobs and career subjects over their lifetime.
Best of luck to you, Ivy!
Kalkidan Gebray
Pharmacist
19
Answers
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Updated
Kalkidan’s Answer
Hello Ivy,
There might be times i regreted particular at the beginning of my studies to my Career. The best advice i could give you is to join the things you love to do with the career you already have. For example if you love to volunteer try to do that around your career area, try to learn the things you love as well. This could make you enjoy your career and do the things you love instead of regretting what has already happened. Good Luck!
There might be times i regreted particular at the beginning of my studies to my Career. The best advice i could give you is to join the things you love to do with the career you already have. For example if you love to volunteer try to do that around your career area, try to learn the things you love as well. This could make you enjoy your career and do the things you love instead of regretting what has already happened. Good Luck!
Jeannette Cook
Writer, Communications Manager, Yoga Teacher
18
Answers
Belgium
Updated
Jeannette’s Answer
Ivy, those are interesting questions. It makes me wonder why you asked about regret. Do you have people in your life who have expressed regret about their choices?
In my experience, choices which are consciously made tend not to be regretted. We might wish that circumstances had turned out differently, but a choice made calmly, after weighing up all the available options, is difficult to regret. If we make our choices that way, we can know that we did the best we could with the cards we were dealt at the time.
This also is probably the only real control we can exert ... to make the best out of whatever situation we are in. Career choice or otherwise. Because we cannot control external situations. We are really powerless there! We can however control how we act and what we decide to do, within the framework presented.
So, me myself, I try not to beat myself up about the decisions that ... could have been better. Who knows? Maybe things would have been worse!
I honestly don't know what I would choose if I could go back in time. The things I would change don't have anything to do with earning my living ;)
I hope this helps. Whatever paths you are considering, take your time, be true to yourself, know that to do anything in this world requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and effort, and that sometimes our "mistakes" can have surprising outcomes. Good luck!
In my experience, choices which are consciously made tend not to be regretted. We might wish that circumstances had turned out differently, but a choice made calmly, after weighing up all the available options, is difficult to regret. If we make our choices that way, we can know that we did the best we could with the cards we were dealt at the time.
This also is probably the only real control we can exert ... to make the best out of whatever situation we are in. Career choice or otherwise. Because we cannot control external situations. We are really powerless there! We can however control how we act and what we decide to do, within the framework presented.
So, me myself, I try not to beat myself up about the decisions that ... could have been better. Who knows? Maybe things would have been worse!
I honestly don't know what I would choose if I could go back in time. The things I would change don't have anything to do with earning my living ;)
I hope this helps. Whatever paths you are considering, take your time, be true to yourself, know that to do anything in this world requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and effort, and that sometimes our "mistakes" can have surprising outcomes. Good luck!
Melissa Johnson
Infusion Nursing
3
Answers
Concord, North Carolina
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
I do not regret my career choice. Nursing has so many possibilities with in it, one could never get bored. I have moved all across this great country without fear of getting or having a job. When a nurse doesn’t like a job or location, there are always other options with the same credentials. You can work in the hospital, out patient, clinic, home care, flight nurse, pharmacy, corporate, correctional, the list goes on. Just like the locations are endless, so are the specialties. And within the specialties, there are different levels of skills and jobs. I love learning new things and nursing has given me 40 years of lifelong learning and joy. You can start with a two year degree and work all the way up to a PHD. If I could go back in time, I would have gone back to school for my masters degree.
Nick D’Angelo, PharmD, CSP, MSCS
Pharmacist
18
Answers
Rochester, New York
Updated
Nick’s Answer
No, I do not regret my career. The only thing I regret is allowing myself to plateau and remain in a position of comfort, instead of continuing to challenge myself and continually chart a new path. I have pivoted to new aspects of pharmacy that have been immensely challenging, but also very rewarding. Always strive for additional responsibility and challenges, it will always pay off in the end.
Teresa Brzozowski
Workplace Experience
28
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Teresa’s Answer
Hi Ivy,
I started in marketing, then spent years in sales, and then moved into sales operations. I had jobs in the tech industry as well as the HR industry. There were some jobs that I liked better than others, and so as I progressed in my career, I focussed on finding the things that I like in the next job. So, a career is an evolution. There are usually opportunities to pivot, engage in continuous learning (on the job, online or in person) and leverage transferrable skills from one role to another. Transferrable skills can be anything from organizational skills to project management to communications skills and dealing with people. If you find that you are in a role that isn't exactly what you wanted, then focussing on the skills you can apply in another role will help you on our career journey to finding something that brings you satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Best of luck!
I started in marketing, then spent years in sales, and then moved into sales operations. I had jobs in the tech industry as well as the HR industry. There were some jobs that I liked better than others, and so as I progressed in my career, I focussed on finding the things that I like in the next job. So, a career is an evolution. There are usually opportunities to pivot, engage in continuous learning (on the job, online or in person) and leverage transferrable skills from one role to another. Transferrable skills can be anything from organizational skills to project management to communications skills and dealing with people. If you find that you are in a role that isn't exactly what you wanted, then focussing on the skills you can apply in another role will help you on our career journey to finding something that brings you satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Best of luck!