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Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

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Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#1

Post by mrleiter »

Dear HN,

I've recently finished my law degree, and I also have a degree in business administration. I've also turned 28 now. I have work experience in those fields (finance, law), but also in journalism and PR.

Over the last year I discovered that my career path (lawyer for financial institutions) really doesn't make me happy, in fact, all of it doesn't. I've come to realise that I lied to myself quite some time now.

What truly interests me and makes me happy is science and technology, ever since I'm young. Especially maths and biology. I just love it. I was too blind, to dishonest with myself to follow up on it professionally. Now I am honestly afraid it's too late, since I'm already nearing my 30th birthday.

So my question to you is: is it ok to start completely new? Pursue a degree in maths or biology, all the way? I'll be around 35 until I have a PhD realistically, because that's what I want to do, I want to do research and work on sometimes abstract and sometimes applied problems.

Or to put it another way? Am I too old? Am I still employable afterwards, with little work experience in that area so far?

Thank you very much, I feel lost.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#2

Post by lhorie »

Honestly, I don't think age is an issue. My mom did a career change at 50. Your problem is grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side syndrome: you seem to think that if only you put in years of study into some field, it'll turn into your dream career. That's not how it works. Academia suckage is a well documented phenomenon; unless you're keenly aware of what that entails and are willing to tolerate all the BS that comes with it, you're just going to find yourself at the same spot you're in now: entering a field with starry eyes and being confronted with a reality that isn't so rosy.

For me, when looking for career advice, the one single piece of advice that served me very well is this: "Don't aim to do what you love, look for something you can tolerate". The idea is that if your approach to career choice involves romanticizing a profession, you're most likely ignoring its downsides (all professions have downsides) and you're setting yourself up for disappointment, whereas being brutally aware of all the suckiness factors means your opinion of the profession can only go up from there.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#3

Post by 5bolts »

lhorie wrote: post #2

Honestly, I don't think age is an issue. My mom did a career change at 50. Your problem is grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side syndrome: you seem to think that if only you put in years of study into some field, it'll turn into your dream career. That's not how it works. Academia suckage is a well documented phenomenon; unless you're keenly aware of what that entails and are willing to tolerate all the BS that comes wi…

might also just be seperation anxiety from the academia environment/structure.

For the original question.. try to drift towards technology in the fields you're already experienced in?

Not familiar but I'm sure there are software programs for both business admin and the legal fields.. hell seems like there could be lots of crossover where a little programming knowledge but lots of the people skills could be beneficial.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#4

Post by helph67 »

5bolts wrote: post #3
lhorie wrote: post #2

Honestly, I don't think age is an issue. My mom did a career change at 50. Your problem is grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side syndrome: you seem to think that if only you put in years of study into some field, it'll turn into your dream career. That's not how it works. Academia suckage is a well documented phenomenon; unless you're keenly aware of what that entails and are willing to tolerate all the BS that comes wi…

might also just be seperation anxiety from the academia environment/structure. For the original question.. try to drift towards technology in the fields you're already experienced in? Not familiar but I'm sure there are software programs for both business admin and the legal fields.. hell seems like there could be lots of crossover where a little programming knowledge but lots of the people skills could be beneficial…

> Not familiar but I'm sure there are software programs for both business admin and the legal fields.. hell seems like there could be lots of crossover where a little programming knowledge but lots of the people skills could be beneficial.

Agreed, mrleiter might consider programming in his current industry with ultimate move into those he prefers later.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#6

Post by giantg2 »

I would switch if it involves years of school. Debt makes you a slave to money (and the people who have it).

If you have a law degree, why. Ot look into specializing in a sector of law related to science or technology?

I sort of think I should have been a lawyer instead of a dev. A bunch of people say that makes sense, but it would be too expensive and time consuming. So I'll just tough it out in a job I hate. To be fair I think I would hate being a lawyer because of the general incompetence of law enforcement and the judiciary.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#7

Post by cottonseed »

One of the best technologists I ever worked with denied his interest in technology until he was around your age. He was a professor at a top school in CS and started some innovative and impactful companies. I quit my job at 34 to study math and got my PhD at 40. After that, I left math to work in biology and I run a data science/engineering group at a premier biology research institute. I will probably change things up again before I'm done. I am not unique, there are many examples of this:

https://mathoverflow.net/questions/7120/too-old-for-advanced... https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/237002/too-old-to-s...

You are young and life is long. Go do what you love.

edit: My email is in my profile. Reach out if you want to chat.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#8

Post by siquick »

I didn’t graduate from university until I was 28, up until then I worked in very average office jobs including sales, call centre work, and general admin.

It’s never held me back and if anything, it gave me an advantage in that I knew how to work in an “office environment” and had experience in quite a few different business areas - something that most young graduates just don’t have.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#9

Post by magicpossum »

I was a late starter. Finished uni later than others and took my time, changing careers 2 times before settling into tech.

I've never been held back or had any roadblocks (other than the ones in my head). Its time that society gets rid of the myth that you have to do everything right now, have everything sorted out young. Its a journey and its great that you have found something that you are more passionate about.

Re: Ask HN: Completely switching careers at 28

#10

Post by thiago_fm »

Just do it.

There are so many jobs available in tech that if you put your mind into it, you will likely have more opportunities than in law or finance.

But I'd advise against doing a PhD. You've studied just for too long.

Do a bootcamp, study a lot by yourself and make a name for you... and get a job as a software engineer.

I have a terrible time understanding that one person could afford to study for that long.

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