30 Careers That Seem Great But Are Actually Horrible And Careers That Are Often Overlooked, As Shared In This Online Thread

Choosing a career path is a lot of pressure. Most of us quickly make a decision at the age of 18 before going off to university or entering the workforce and are expected to stay locked into the same field for the next 45 years. Oh, you were interested in pursuing accounting when you were 17 and applying for colleges? Awesome. First, spend $50k on a degree, and then commit 40 hours a week of your life to accounting until you retire at age 65.

Of course, it is always possible to change career paths, but it is not likely to be a smooth transition. If you realize while you’re still in university that another profession seems more appealing, you can change your major. But it might make your degree cost tens of thousands of dollars more, and your "college years" might be extended longer than you'd like. If you have already entered the workforce before having the epiphany that your career is sucking the life out of you, you will likely have to be unemployed for some time while searching for a new job. And if you plan to pivot into a completely different field, more school may be required, which can be extremely costly.

Because it can be so complicated to shift career trajectories, it is important to make an informed decision when entering any profession. Unfortunately, that does not mean watching 10 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy to understand what being a surgeon is like or deciding to go to culinary school after binging Top Chef. It means talking to people in the industry and doing research about the pros and cons of the job.

But as of right now, it is quite common to pursue one profession and later decide to jump ship. According to one 2021 survey, 52% of American workers were considering changing careers, and 42% already had plans in place to make their transitions. This does not always happen at a super young age either. Apollo Technical reports that, “The average age a person changes careers is 39 years old.” Even after earning a degree in one field, many people go down a different path later. Apparently, only 21% of Americans whose studies specialized in a particular major use all of their education in their careers.

Most people have about 12 jobs throughout their lifetimes, so there are a multitude of reasons why someone might want to shift career paths. Not surprisingly, money is commonly a motivator. 39% of Americans who were considering changing careers or had already decided to do so cited a higher salary as their main incentive. Another common reason someone might embark on a new career path is because their goals and priorities have changed over time. What was of paramount importance to you at age 18 might have faded into the background of your life by age 30. It is completely natural for us to grow and evolve over time; there’s no shame in changing careers due to being at a different place in life.  

Regardless of how they feel about the actual job, sometimes employees decide they just cannot handle their management any longer. Incompetent leadership is another commonly cited reason for leaving a career, as it can cause an uncomfortable workplace environment. Nowadays, greater flexibility in a job is also a hot commodity. When employees have the chance to opt for a comparable job that allows them more flexible hours and a better work-life balance, the choice seems obvious. Lastly, people who want to change careers might just not be satisfied with where they are. For whatever reason, if your job does not align with your values, bores you to death, or negatively impacts your quality of life, it’s important to know that there are alternatives. Most of us don’t have the luxury of avoiding all work, but we certainly should not have to suffer to make ends meet.

So how are we supposed to choose career paths that we will actually end up enjoying? Consulting some experts is never a bad idea. The Balance Careers provides a list of steps readers can take to “Choose a Career When You Can’t Decide What To Do”, and their first tip is to make a list of your hobbies and interests. First, just write down everything that inspires you, and then start to distinguish what is solely a hobby and what could be a legitimate career path. Even though painting can be a profession for some, if it is what brings you the most joy and relieves your stress, you might not want to turn to it for income too. Rare individuals can make a living off being an author, dancer or film director, but relying on a passion for your livelihood can suck the joy out of it, so be careful not to pursue anything that is too precious.   

Next, The Balance Careers recommends determining your skill set and what working style you prefer. For example, if you are extremely extroverted and enjoy making conversation with clients and colleagues, you might not want to choose a remote job that rarely affords you social interaction. And when noting your skills, consider “hard skills” like computer programming or being fluent in another language and “soft skills” like communication and organizational abilities. Consider all of your strengths and weaknesses and lean into what can help you land a new job.

If you are having a lot of trouble narrowing down what industry you would like to pursue, consider taking a career aptitude test. While you can take your results with a grain of salt, it does not hurt to receive a second opinion on what industries you might thrive in, especially if the test brings up career options you might have never considered. There are even personality tests that can help you determine how to best utilize your skills and traits. The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, for example, breaks down your personality into 4 categories: extroversion or introversion, sense or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. With 16 potential types, this test can provide an in-depth analysis into your personality, including common career paths your type pursues.