Topic: Maybe I want to be a librarian

[shock]

Hey all,

I've been having a career crisis as of late.  I'm 23 and a year out of undergrad.  I've been working as a paralegal at a law firm for the past 7ish months.  It's been the most draining thing of my life.  My responsibilities vary, but I always feel overwhelmed and overworked.  I'm forced to multitask to the extreme and generally do work that I don't enjoy much.

I took this job because I wanted to go to law school.  I applied and was accepted to a 'good' school back at home.  I can go to law school for free.  However, it seems eerily similar to the job functions I have now.  Further, the attorneys I work with have been very forthcoming with their opinions about me going to law school.  Most of them regret going and wish they would have done something else.  Most are also now stuck in their field because of their debt.

So I've been trying to branch out and decide.. what kind of career do I actually want?  I have a major in International affairs (read: worthless).  I've been perusing over a ton of random jobs and careers recently and I found something that sounded absurd at first: librarian.  You have to get a graduate degree, but it would also be free like law school (thank God).  It also only takes two years.  Jobs seems to be somewhat hard to come by, but nothing like law jobs (read: almost impossible).

It looks like a lot more than just 'shhhh-ing' people and collecting library fines.  Informational systems sounds like a better description of the day to day.  I'm sure there are some stressful things about it, but I feel like overall, it can't be nearly as intensive as working as a lawyer.  It also is generally aimed at helping people, which I like.  Finally, it isn't adversarial like law is.  I'm tired of getting bitched at by lawyers and having to call them and argue.

Anyone have any experience or thoughts?  I'm slightly scared to tell my family.. haha.

[idolminds]

Don't you know the Dewey Decimal System?

[bullshark]

Here's some advice that took me years to figure out.  Do what you really enjoy.  Don't worry about the money or finding a job.  If you do what you enjoy, the job and money will come.  If you were just looking for something other than your current job, I could probably argue against librarian as a career choice but if you were really passionate about it, it would probably work out for you.  If you are considering being a librarian go see if you can volunteer at one.  Go talk to the people who work there. 

The other thing I've learned is it's not so much about what you know but more who you know.  So if you see something you really want to do, start connecting with people (lots of people) in that field any and every way you can.  Sure sure certain jobs require technical skills but in my experience even technically less skilled people often get better jobs because of the contacts they have.

Also, there are a lot of jobs overseas if you are willing to leave the US.  I'm not really all that surprised how few people look outside the US for jobs given that most people assume everything outside of the US is a barbarian wasteland.  My quality of life was arguably higher overseas than back in the US because we didn't pay taxes, our money went further, and we were able to travel more.  There are plenty of western educated people working in Qatar, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong/China, Indonesia, etc.  Expat work is usually decent money, no taxes, plenty of opportunities to travel and network with people globally.  It's not all strawberries and cream and your mileage may vary but for me living and working overseas was great.

[shock]

I'm definitely trying to do what I enjoy.  I guess the problem is that I don't really know what that is.  It doesn't appear to be law. 

I need to find one of those personality/career type of tests.

[bullshark]

I think those personality/career things are ridiculous. 

Just look at your own life.  What do you enjoy doing, what are you really passionate about?  What is something you've always wanted to do but thought it would never be sensible.  Go explore these possibilities.  Even if you don't end up doing these things as a career, who knows where they'll lead.

[bullshark]

And who knows, maybe it still is law.  Law is a huge field, maybe you aren't working in the right place.  Maybe you need to start connecting with different offices, pro bono firms, advocacy groups, etc.  Don't get discouraged, just get out there on your off time and start exploring.

[sirean_syan]

Don't forget, not becoming a lawyer gives you a shot at a decent afterlife again.

[Quemaqua]

What Sy said.

Librarian is a tough one, but like bull said, if that's something you're passionate about, just go do it.  I'm a firm believer in do what you love.  If you can do that, do it.

[iPPi]

Find something that interests you and go from there.  You might be surprised at how many different and unique opportunities are out there.

During Christmas, I met some of my old junior high school friends and one of them is going to school to learn to be a helicopter mechanic.  Another person I met was a commercial diver. 

Seriously consider all your options and what you're interested in.  If you like video games, maybe try and enter the video game industry or something like that.  It won't be easy, but you should always challenge yourself.

Also, don't just throw out the idea of law so easily.  Law is huge -- there are so many different things to do (tax, securities, criminal, family, corporate, patents, etc).  You could also consider law outside of the US as well.  Granted, if you don't think it's your cup of tea than don't go there with your career.

[Cools!]

Go to law school, especially if you can do it for free.

Attorneys always have work and you can start your own business doing the particular law that you like. All work in the end is just that: work. You do it to pay the bills, then do whatever you want in your spare time. All attorneys I know make good money. Not all of them might like it, but they don't complain when they can charge crazy money just for a consultation and then enjoy nice long vacations.

I really wish that when I was 18, someone would smack some sense into me and tell me to go into law. Instead I tried  to "follow my heart", switched majors numerous times trying to find what I enjoyed (engineering, biology, computer science) and in the end I do none of it and it's all the same boring work.

[gpw11]

Go to law school, especially if you can do it for free.

Attorneys always have work and you can start your own business doing the particular law that you like. All work in the end is just that: work. You do it to pay the bills, then do whatever you want in your spare time. All attorneys I know make good money. Not all of them might like it, but they don't complain when they can charge crazy money just for a consultation and then enjoy nice long vacations.

I really wish that when I was 18, someone would smack some sense into me and tell me to go into law. Instead I tried  to "follow my heart", switched majors numerous times trying to find what I enjoyed (engineering, biology, computer science) and in the end I do none of it and it's all the same boring work.

I'd like to point out that probably 50% of the people I know who have gone through law school either don't make nearly as much as they thought they would or can't find any jobs in the aspect of law they want to pursue....specifically those with less than 5 years professional experience in a field other than law.  And Canada has a much better job environment in legal than America at the moment.  I refer you to Started Out Barrister, Ended Up Barista.

If you want the ever elusive and sure fire combination of job security and a good paycheck, look at becoming an MD or Chartered Accountant. It's starting to look like law degrees are going to be the new MBAs.

[iPPi]

Yea, to be honest law school in the US is not that appealing.  The Canadian legal profession is much different in comparison.

[Cools!]

Come to Toronto. If you're any decent (and that's always key) you should do well. Obviously I don't know all the attorneys in Canada, but the few I know personally all seem to be doing well.

[shock]

I think those personality/career things are ridiculous. 

Just look at your own life.  What do you enjoy doing, what are you really passionate about?  What is something you've always wanted to do but thought it would never be sensible.  Go explore these possibilities.  Even if you don't end up doing these things as a career, who knows where they'll lead.

This is helpful.  I'm passionate about random things.  I gauge this by things I get really excited to talk to people about: motorcycles, science, medicine, technology, space/astronomy.  I dabble in the occasional video game.  I like shooting guns.  And skiing.  And I love reading and writing.

I wish I could put these keywords into something and it would spit out an industry or job that I'd be happy at.