How did you decide on your career path?

[spotty_dog]

Wow. So many people's experience resonates with mine. My DH was passionate and ambitious about medicine, I'm a fickle dilettante (sp?) about where my passions lie from moment to moment, so my dreams get dragged along in the backwash as we motor ahead with the medical training path. The year that DH finally got accepted to med school, I was toying with the idea of applying to vet school. If I had felt that calling, if I had been certain about where my path lay, my DH would have followed *me*, or so he says. But that's not how it worked.

I definitely want to raise my babies and keep my house. But the doubt creeps up lately about my being satisfied in that role for the long term.

For the sake of amusement, possible careers I've considered other than full-time parenting: academic department manager, clinical practice manager, high school teacher, elementary teacher, college educator, research professor, veterinarian, farmer.

[Vishenka69]

Living with someone who is driven and has a very specific career that he will have for much of his life (he better!) is a sharp contrast. I think it is the source of some of my worries about career (my own doing, not his).

I definitely agree with this and think that this is why I'm doubting myself and my choices. I also completely agree that the only way an MBA will matter is if I got a top school, which will be extremely difficult to balance on top of everything else. Then again, I could start one class at a time and take it from there.

I don't think a career has to mean being a big shot in the corporate world. Competing in anything professionally, raising children, owning your own business or even volunteering full time are all careers. I just wanted to see how everyone has gotten to where they are and if you're happy with their choices, or you're already planning the next change/move. This thread has been a tremendous help to help me start moving in a more concrete direction.

Unfortunately, I don't think FIT would work. I'm really bad at creating my own stuff, I can only arrange what others already did.

I also completely agree that the only way an MBA will matter is if I got a top school, which will be extremely difficult to balance on top of everything else. Then again, I could start one class at a time and take it from there.

I agree with you and Cheri on this, too. I had thought about MBA (along with a million other degrees ) but the MBA had some more serious consideration. There was a school in our last location that had a very good local and regional reputation but beyond that, it wouldn't have been as helpful.

A lot of what you are talking about is what got me to the point of working at a bakery. I was really lucky to have found a unique situation where I can start work at 8:45 AND childcare but I very glad I did it. Yesterday, I was contacted by the PI on a project I worked on two years ago. Part of me wanted him to ask me to do some consulting work. I was torn. Until I figured out that he was just telling me that I will only be acknowledged on a paper (instead of an author). Screw 'em -- I'll keep baking! :>

[PrincessFiona]

This thread...is such a relief to me....I'm so glad to read everyone's thoughts and realize that I'm not alone.

kris

[migirl]

I was an engineering major in college (as Sue said, mainly because I was always good at math and science), and worked for a couple of years in the field after graduating. It was ... ok, nothing spectacular or exciting. Definitely just a job for me, not a career. When DH and I got married, I moved to the east coast while he finished the last 2 years of med school and decided that I didn't feel like looking around for a job for just 2 years only to have to move again and start all over, so I thought that would be a good time to get my MBA. I actually got my full-time MBA from a "name" school, I thought it would help enhance my skill set beyond my technical experiences. The thing I didn't think about - and that I'm just starting to realize - is that I'm just not a very ambitious person when it comes to my career. I definitely don't regret getting the MBA because I think it was a great experience and I really did learn a lot, but when we moved back here for residency I ended up in the same old job (different company, but doing the same thing) I was doing pre-MBA! Partly because I just didn't have the motivation to seek out something new.

So now, today I've officially started my maternity leave (woo-hoo!) with no plans to return to the work force for the foreseeable future. It feels weird to not have a job/be in school for the first time in 8 years, but I *think* that I'll enjoy being a SAHM. Sometimes I wonder, though, if I'm not taking the easy way out by using the SAHM thing as an excuse to just not have to work at an unfulfilling, boring job.

[SueC]

That must feel so liberating Jane! Congratulations--how close to your due date are you???
Re what you said about using the SAHM thing as an excuse not to work, sometimes I question if I just have a poor work ethic since I have never really been satisfied in any type of job, but honestly being a SAHM really fulfills me (on most days anyway). I think you'll love it!

just have a poor work ethic since I have never really been satisfied in any type of job, but honestly being a SAHM really fulfills me

That would be me. I haven't had a job that I look forward to going to for longer than the honeymoon peroid. THIS is the job I am best at, and most days I look forward to getting my to do list done, which includes playing Thomas and fingerplays.

[mommax3]

I have never been an ambitious "career-minded" person, either. I taught middle school music and choir for five years and was good at it, and had reached a place where I either needed to find a more challenging job, or try something else.....so we had a baby. Since then, I have worked when jobs have come across my path, and I have enjoyed them, but have felt relieved when they have come to an end for various reasons. I think that for me *right now* full time motherhood is my dream career, although there are definitely days when I hate my job! I don't want anything else bad enough to be willing to mess with what is currently working for our family. When all of my kids are older, I will most likely go back to work, probably in an education-related field. I think about going back to school prior to that, but going back *just* to get more letters by my name is not motivating enough for me.....I would be much more motivated if I were in a job and needed additional training to accomplish more in that job, so that is probably what I will wait for.

Sally

[alison]

Hi Vishenka:

I'm in a German Lit PhD program--it's a long, arduous road. I did my MA in 2 years, and am in my 3rd year of the PhD. I have my prelims coming up in the Spring and then I'll be ABD (all but dissertation). I have already started my diss research and hope to be done with it, the diss itself and my defense by Spring 2007. That's about 6 years of school.

Keep in mind that the PhD is a long process. If you're not completely sure about whether you want to do it, I suggest you look into programs that have a terminal MA and not for PhD programs. Or PhD programs that will allow you to get an MA on the way. My rationale behind this option (which I think is the better one) is that if you put in a few years in a full-on PhD program and decide the PhD isn't really for you, then at least you can have SOMETHING to show for the time you've invested (an MA!--not too shabby)

Do you plan a career in academia? If so, then you can bank on traveling to conferences, presenting (at these conferences), doing archival work abroad, going on the job market at the MLA (Modern Langauge Association), keeping your CV sharp, applying for fellowships... The list goes on and on if you plan to go the academia route. It's SO much work, and you have to be super motivated!

The private sector is also another option that a PhD in lit. will open up for you. Publishing, business, textbook writing... All exciting stuff, if you ask me. I'm actually thinking of scrapping the academia route and going private sector. With all this residency stuff going on for my husband and me, I want to stay put with him and not chase after one of the handful of tenure-track assistant professorships that come up each year.

Again, it's a loooooong haul. There are some people in my department who have been working on their PhDs for 14-15 years! You have to be passionate about your research topic and love what you're doing. I'm not trying to discourage you, but the things I've mentioned are the issues that I've encountered over the past few years of a lit. grad program.

Good luck! It's long, but definitely an exciting, fulfilling road!
Alison

[PrincessFiona]

There are some people in my department who have been working on their PhDs for 14-15 years!

:thud:

[planet]

I am also relieved to see that this can be an ongoing question. I actually have too many passions and not enough time or money to pursue most. I like reading about all of your career paths (direct and indirect) and the process of deciding which way to go. It does sound like taking more classes in Russian Lit could be a good starting point for you Vishenka. Even if you decide not to go for the PhD you could have a lot of fun. It might even result in you branching out into other classes that spark a passion. You never know. But I think Alison has an excellent point about looking for a program with a terminal Master's in case you want to opt out after starting.

[Vishenka69]

The Ph.D program I was thinking about includes MA but not sure if it's terminal. Although we would have to stay in this area for me to pursue it. I don't mind the long process, that's what I'd be looking forward to. I miss being in school, as weird as that may sound.

Do you plan a career in academia? If so, then you can bank on traveling to conferences, presenting (at these conferences), doing archival work abroad, going on the job market at the MLA (Modern Langauge Association), keeping your CV sharp, applying for fellowships... The list goes on and on if you plan to go the academia route. It's SO much work, and you have to be super motivated!

Not sure how DH will feel about me traveling to conferences and doing archival work abroad. I really having thought that much about what I would with the Ph.D

[migirl]

That must feel so liberating Jane! Congratulations--how close to your due date are you???
Re what you said about using the SAHM thing as an excuse not to work, sometimes I question if I just have a poor work ethic since I have never really been satisfied in any type of job, but honestly being a SAHM really fulfills me (on most days anyway). I think you'll love it!

Sorry for the tangent, but thanks Sue! I'm due on the 21st (9 days to go!), so I suppose it could be any day now. I'm slightly envious of Crystal since we shared the same due date but she's probably already had her little boy by now!

I really have no idea what to expect with regards to the SAHM thing, so I'll just see how it goes and take it one day at a time.