1.07k
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
Do you have any regrets in your career path?
We certainly learn from our decisions and experiences, but hindsight is also 20/20. Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career or education? Majored in something else? Taken one job instead of another? Left a company sooner?
Maggie BBusiness and Data Analysis Consultant
983
06/14/19 at 7:45PM UTC
I majored in English and am currently working as a Business Analyst, so that's served me well. If anything, I stayed at my Data Analyst role too long. I was a temporary employee at a company for over four years, and my wages never really changed. The company went through a merger and couldn't ever quite figure out how to hire me. I should have known my value then and tried to find a place to move on to earlier.
However, that experience led to me starting at another company and meeting my partner, so it did pay off, just not with money.
Anonymous
06/13/19 at 6:49PM UTC
Thinking the grass is greener on the other side. It isn't.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 11:09PM UTC
I hear you! We learn from all of it, don't we?
Rachel WeisbergFT acu / People Ops in transition
51
06/11/19 at 10:59PM UTC
wish I had made different decisions in school (but man is it hard to know what you want to be when you grow up when you're not really grown!) I always knew I wanted to actively help people, but that can take various forms (I'm currently a people manager, but am also an acupuncturist - confusing!) wish that I had considered what it means to be a business owner (it's scary and I'm not enough of a self-starter to get that hustle). so now I'm in considerable debt because of grad school loans ... it's a burden I'd rather not have, so taken on that debt is most certainly a regret. all that being said, the journey has been joyous and I've met a lot of wonderful people, and I'm certain that many important events in my life wouldn't have occurred without some of these decisions I regret. sooooooo do I really regret?
Anonymous
06/11/19 at 5:28PM UTC
I've left bad jobs at good companies because of sick, overbearing micromanagers. I often wonder if I should have stuck it out, but I think if I had stayed at either place, I'd be a dark, angry person.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 11:09PM UTC
Self-care matters too. Hopefully, this is all in your rear-view mirror- or that next time you have an opportunity to move around within the company.
Anonymous
06/11/19 at 2:58PM UTC
I decided not to go to business school, and in retrospect I'm not sure that was the best move. I've got a job now that I love, but I ask myself if I could have gotten a more senior role at a similar company for a higher salary if I'd gotten my MBA.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 3:14PM UTC
While it is possibly true that an MBA can get you a higher salary, never discount yourself just because of what you perceive as something you're lacking. I had an employee who applied for reimbursement to finish college. I asked her why she wanted to get her degree and she said she'd never advance without it. I pointed out that MY boss hadn't graduated from college and she nearly fell out of her chair. While she was the exception, we were in tech and this 40-something year old woman had proven herself many times over. No one ever sat around wondering if she had a degree.
Stephanie NievesFan of all things Rihanna- and Ru Paul-related.
1.7k
06/11/19 at 2:21PM UTC
This is a good question! "Regret" would be a strong sentiment but I probably shouldn't have worked my contract tutoring job because a year later, I was required to pay taxes for it. Then again, it allowed me to change careers from teaching to writing without going broke, so I guess I can't actually regret it, haha!
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 2:41PM UTC
It sounds like it actually helped you move forward so good for you! And, yes, there is a lot to know about taxes for the self-employed!
Keith Rosagazo
13
06/11/19 at 3:31AM UTC
Yes, just recently I resigned from a very good company which I love. It so happen that the immediate boss had resigned at that time so that's when I feel strongly of resigning myself and it turned out the previous companies I had were not really okay. In terms of work environment and culture very depressing and demotivating...
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 2:39PM UTC
Transition is tough. Best of luck on the road ahead!
Laura ScaloneNew Mom looking for New Career Path
212
06/11/19 at 2:07AM UTC
I majored in Apparel Design and Technology. I swore I’d be a fashion designer. Now I feel like it’s a hindrance to have on my resume. I took marketing, consumer behavior, and accounting courses, but none of that comes across. If I could do it over, I’d have majored in Management.
jess2meansResearch Chemist - Mother of Two - Avid Reader
99
06/12/19 at 2:28PM UTC
I majored in Biochemistry but focused on analytical chemistry. I wanted to get a job in analytical chemistry when I was fresh out of college, so I highlighted on my resume the courses I took that reflected that. I placed "emphasis on analytical chemistry" after my degree title as well. I loved Erika's feedback on this as well!
Laura ScaloneNew Mom looking for New Career Path
212
06/12/19 at 5:36PM UTC
I also didn’t know I could do that!! Man, I’m so glad I commented on here. I’m getting such great advice for my resume. You are awesome!
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 2:38PM UTC
Have you considered removing just the word Apparel and going with Design & Technology? While your focus was apparel at the time, it sounds like a broad program and I don't think it would be dishonest to remove the single word.
What's odd is that I majored in Management, but found that to be a hindrance. At my college, most companies would only interview the Finance, Accounting and Information System majors. Even though we'd all taken those classes as well, I think Management was seen as too generic.
Laura ScaloneNew Mom looking for New Career Path
212
06/11/19 at 4:03PM UTC
I will try that! Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would be okay to fudge my major’s program name at all.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/11/19 at 5:03PM UTC
While you need to be honest, it's also important to remember that some school's and company's names, job titles, etc. don't make sense to other people. Some people hear Apparel Design & Technology and think all you know how to do is sew. Since it sounds way more business oriented, I think you'd be fine going with Design & Technology.
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.