Taking a do-over at 30

Changing careers isn’t as troubling as one might think — if you follow your heart

By Jessica Kelmon

When I first graduated from college, I had no idea what to do. It’s safe to say that I spent exactly zero hours contemplating my future during college. When graduation day arrived, I, armed with an expanded viewpoint, a thirst for knowledge and an esteemed diploma, began the career quest. All I knew for certain was the staggering amount soon due to Sallie Mae.

Not all recent college grads flounder. To the outside eye, neither did I. Unsure of what to do and unaware of all the possible paths, I bounded straight to law school. There were a couple of clues that I wasn’t completely devoted to my future in law. Our contracts professor spent the first 20 minutes of class recapping the end of the prior session. I took this as license to skip the beginning. I was, however, the only student who didn’t think punctuality was imperative. And this was my favorite class.

Over the course of a year, I ruled out criminal law, then contracts, then corporate law. Finally, a summer internship helped me veto family law. In exchange for $30,000 and a year of my life, I discovered that I didn’t want to be a lawyer.

Change is difficult, even for people like me, who actively seek adventures. We may seem fearless, but let me assure you, quitting an established path without another, equally gold-paved future is one teaspoon nausea, two tablespoons depression and three cups financial burden. Straight A’s all my life, and I had no answer to the one burning question: “What now?”

The temporary answer came in the form of a marketing job. For five years, I was able to pay rent and go on vacations. The only drawback was that I didn’t love my job. But at least I didn’t hate it. Love and hate exist on a continuum, however, and somewhere in the middle lies discontent. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t it for me. It was not obvious, but there were signs.

For one, I avoided any and all commitment — from buying furniture to dating. Another big sign was my Craigslist.org addiction. It turns out that people on the right path do not constantly scan unrelated job postings; it’s not exactly riveting reading — unless you are searching for what’s right for you. The third and final sign was dread at the thought of a promotion, something that I knew would quickly move me from discontent to misery.

The funny thing is, the next step took all kinds of consideration, crying and courage to finally do something I had always known would make me happy. Why did it take so long to make a good, solid decision? Fear. Fear of the unknown and fear of falling short on the social measuring stick. While others my age progressed into management jobs, home ownership and stability, I chucked my past — again — to start anew.

I applied for graduate school and, at 31 years old, moved across the country to start a master’s program in journalism. I am now 32, and my colleagues are competent and focused 20-somethings who know what they want, a fact that sometimes makes me jealous. How great that must be, I think. But that just wasn’t me … until now.

There are drawbacks to a career change, but they are not the ones that I feared before I closed my eyes and jumped. My friends and family are supportive. I am making ends meet financially, even with friends’ weddings and baby showers popping up here and there. And I’ve even overcome the embarrassment of taking so long to get here. I’m pitching story ideas and writing to my favorite magazines for jobs. My summer internship is unpaid, so I’m taking odd jobs from my old pal Craigslist.org. On my first day as an intern, a nice girl, younger than I, gave me the kind of marketing work I would have asked staff members to complete in my prior career. When people discover that I’m a.) not married and b.) in school to change careers, they visibly struggle with what to think.

And yet I’m happy. Before, uncertainties plagued me. Now, they’re interesting questions to contemplate, because the underlying question is answered and the uncertainties lie in the details. The reason is that I finally see a career path and a future that I sincerely like. I’m excited about the next step, something that hasn’t been true for me since high school ended and I was dying to start college. I wouldn’t trade salaries or positions with the old version of myself. Being on the right track feels that good.

 

Turns out I’m not alone
The big 3-0 seems to be a moment of truth for many in our generation. Whether it’s a birthday or a nagging negative feeling, the revelation that something’s just not right can inspire us to identify what works — and what doesn’t.

Taking charge: Chris Gallagher, 34
As a kid, Chris Gallagher disliked corporate America’s effect on his family. “I was always worried about being relocated,” he says. “It seemed like a big risk.”

After graduating from Vanderbilt, Chris worked for a start-up, but he eventually moved over to the dreaded corporation. When the technology bubble burst, Chris was one of the many people let go. It reaffirmed his opinion that corporate employees are disposable.

“I had a mid-life crisis 10 years early,” he says. So Chris called his brother Todd, and the two decided to go into business for themselves. With the help of a business broker, the brothers looked at 80 different businesses before they settled on Chicago Cartridge World. That was three years ago. Now, they have 16 employees and earned $1.5 million in top-line sales this year.

It’s a great story with a happy ending, but it wasn’t easy. In fact, it meant a total life change. He had to get a roommate and severely cut his weekend entertainment expenses. “My girlfriend of two years broke up with me,” he says. “At the grand opening (of the first store), my uncle asked her: ‘Are you on the bus or off the bus?’ Turns out she wasn’t. She wanted an 8-to-5 guy.”

 

Not sure yet: Helena Oroz, 31
“I quit my job with no idea what I’m going to do,” Helena says. After five years as a lawyer, Helena realized that her work/life balance wasn’t satisfying and that she needed to take action.

“I want my life to be about more than a paycheck,” she says, but admittedly needs time to contemplate her next step. While it would be nice to think she could do that while still earning her paycheck, the simple truth is that she needs time to carefully consider her options.

After treading tenuously into law school, she wants to be sure of the next step.

“I remember standing at the mailbox and thinking about whether or not to send (my law school application),” she says. “I wish I could go back and do so many things differently.”

Now, with her last day at work looming, the feeling she has is relief mixed with fear. But she’s moving forward, perhaps to pursue her dream of being a writer.

“I’ve always thought that people who are really successful are that way because they have a vision,” she says. “I haven’t had that vision.”

Yet.

 

Following through: Matthew Pfeifer, 34
When he took his first post-college job, Matt thought about getting his master’s degree in accounting. His mentor at the time talked him out of it. But the real obstacle was a perceived competition with successful college friends he describes as “powerhouse intellectuals.”

“I was intimidated by how smart and successful my friends were,” he says. Over time he overcame this feeling, realizing it was “ridiculous.” Since then, he’s taken the GMAT and will start a part-time master’s program in January.

This degree is something he’s always wanted. It’s compatible with what he does now, so he’ll benefit from the tuition reimbursement from his employer, which helps reduce the financial risk. And he’s taken aptitude tests and proven to himself that he really enjoys accounting, which counteracts the time risk. The only thing left is the fear of the unknown — the outcome risk. But whether this degree enhances his current career or sparks a new path as a CFO or entrepreneur, Matt says he’s ready for what comes his way.

“This is a completion of what I should’ve done 10 years ago,” he says. “At least that’s the way I see it.”

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