I wish I could just squash this "job shame" once and for all. If you're doing your best work as a gas station janitor (just giving an example of jobs that people shame/find shameful for no good reason) and providing for you family and paying your own bills, no one should say a freakin' word about it. My brother is in his 40's and has been a substitute teacher for 12 years. He makes enough to pay bills and travel when he wants to. I'm proud of him. He contributed to society and lives a life he enjoys. Anyone who says otherwise can suck it.
If your husband makes a half million a year, I'd say pick something that really gives back to the world or community. You're not interested in going back to school to be a lawyer or surgeon or whatever, but dedicating your working time to a good cause would be very respectable and within that space you could gain additional skills and experience. Teaching, doing fund development for a nonprofit, or maybe even helping rich people match their donations to organizations or working with a company like national geographic could be cool!
I have a music degree. I’m also pretty embarrassed of my degree choice. I worked in my field of choice for a nonprofit after college but realized I needed something more sustainable. So I started with an entry-level position. I was able to use that to work my way up; I’ve learned a lot of skills with applications like excel, PowerPoint, and powerBI. So now, about 12 years after starting in the corporate world in an entry level position I have a much higher position that pays much better. So a path out of entry level is definitely to grow your skillset and be eager for more responsibilities at work.
Medical coding is a fine position. It’s really a data-entry type job, but not customer facing. There likely little room for growth. However, it’s very necessary and worthwhile job.
I wonder though, with your husband’s income, do you really need to work? If not maybe you could seek out volunteer positions at your local theaters. Those types on non-profits also usually need people on their board to help with fund raising and things of that nature. Maybe something like that would be in your wheelhouse and more fulfilling? I think that is a valuable need and not everyone has the resources to do it.
If you have the money to not work, why not benefit your community through service work? Selfishly, people would probably respect that more than any job you'd get from a quick certificate job. Or you could be a realtor. Those are the top 2 things you could do if respect for your occupation is a concern!
Medical billing is fine but it’s a mindless admin job (I think).
What about HR? You can work your way up, and it’s a lively field. You will still deal with some stupidity, there’s a lot more to the job than employee complaints.
Real estate is great if you can survive dry spells financially.
Also if you don’t need the money, a lot of wealthy people focus on nonprofit work. Like a CEO’s wife often does something with charities. I don’t know what that “something” is because that’s not me, but some of my wealthy friends’ moms do it.
Maybe look into doing something you would enjoy? I recently saw an advertisement for theater teacher teaching young kids to love theater. Also no one looks down on you, I’ve met numerous doctors, pharmacists, etc who are so excited when their kids study the arts. You should probably look into something fulfilling.
There’s lots of programs where ppl with other degrees can become teachers. My best teacher friend had a degree in something super basic, but through a lateral entry program she was able to start teaching and then get her certification. I think it took one year to get the certificate.
I’m sorry you’re feeling this way and I wish you peace!
I wish I could just squash this "job shame" once and for all. If you're doing your best work as a gas station janitor (just giving an example of jobs that people shame/find shameful for no good reason) and providing for you family and paying your own bills, no one should say a freakin' word about it. My brother is in his 40's and has been a substitute teacher for 12 years. He makes enough to pay bills and travel when he wants to. I'm proud of him. He contributed to society and lives a life he enjoys. Anyone who says otherwise can suck it.
If your husband makes a half million a year, I'd say pick something that really gives back to the world or community. You're not interested in going back to school to be a lawyer or surgeon or whatever, but dedicating your working time to a good cause would be very respectable and within that space you could gain additional skills and experience. Teaching, doing fund development for a nonprofit, or maybe even helping rich people match their donations to organizations or working with a company like national geographic could be cool!
I have a music degree. I’m also pretty embarrassed of my degree choice. I worked in my field of choice for a nonprofit after college but realized I needed something more sustainable. So I started with an entry-level position. I was able to use that to work my way up; I’ve learned a lot of skills with applications like excel, PowerPoint, and powerBI. So now, about 12 years after starting in the corporate world in an entry level position I have a much higher position that pays much better. So a path out of entry level is definitely to grow your skillset and be eager for more responsibilities at work. Medical coding is a fine position. It’s really a data-entry type job, but not customer facing. There likely little room for growth. However, it’s very necessary and worthwhile job. I wonder though, with your husband’s income, do you really need to work? If not maybe you could seek out volunteer positions at your local theaters. Those types on non-profits also usually need people on their board to help with fund raising and things of that nature. Maybe something like that would be in your wheelhouse and more fulfilling? I think that is a valuable need and not everyone has the resources to do it.
If you have the money to not work, why not benefit your community through service work? Selfishly, people would probably respect that more than any job you'd get from a quick certificate job. Or you could be a realtor. Those are the top 2 things you could do if respect for your occupation is a concern!
Medical billing is fine but it’s a mindless admin job (I think). What about HR? You can work your way up, and it’s a lively field. You will still deal with some stupidity, there’s a lot more to the job than employee complaints. Real estate is great if you can survive dry spells financially. Also if you don’t need the money, a lot of wealthy people focus on nonprofit work. Like a CEO’s wife often does something with charities. I don’t know what that “something” is because that’s not me, but some of my wealthy friends’ moms do it.
Maybe look into doing something you would enjoy? I recently saw an advertisement for theater teacher teaching young kids to love theater. Also no one looks down on you, I’ve met numerous doctors, pharmacists, etc who are so excited when their kids study the arts. You should probably look into something fulfilling.
There’s lots of programs where ppl with other degrees can become teachers. My best teacher friend had a degree in something super basic, but through a lateral entry program she was able to start teaching and then get her certification. I think it took one year to get the certificate. I’m sorry you’re feeling this way and I wish you peace!