20-something girls vs. 30-something women?

December 22, 2005 7:16 PM

Starting your career at 30...

I'm 22 (only just!) and have spent the last five or so years studying on and off (at college, not university - I'm in the UK) and waitressing and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I still don't really know the answer to that, but I've realised that I do want to go to university and I would like to do that next year (I'm currently studying with the Open University, but I won't be able to transfer my credits, so I will be starting from scratch as an undergraduate at 23).

This means I will graduate at 27 and that worries me a little. I know 27 is certainly not old, but as I may then have to spend at least a couple of years doing crappy work-experience type jobs, I can't imagine my career really starting until I'm at least 30. I don't really have a problem with this, I'm just concerned that potential employers will. Will they think it's odd that a 30-year-old is applying for the same jobs as under 25s with the same qualifications and work experience? Would they prefer the younger graduate? Will they pass me over if they think I'm going to go off and get married and have kids (don't believe in the former, don't want the latter)? Or will they not even notice or care?

I realise I might be being slightly paranoid, but since I've never worked in any place that didn't require me to wear an apron, I'm really not sure of what (if any) attitudes there are towards older (but not significantly more experienced) graduates.

posted by speranza to Work & Money (16 answers total)

I had several jobs from the time I left college at age 22 until about two years ago. At that point, I managed to find a career. I'll be 34 next year.

Don't sweat it ... particularly since this delay in starting is because you're actually preparing for your career.
posted by grabbingsand at 7:23 PM on December 22, 2005

Figure out what your degree goal is and study the fulfillment requirements. You may, for instance, be able to use electives to take courses that can fulfill required curriculum credit in future semesters. Perhaps you can carve a semester off the time required. Possibly with an additional night or summer course.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:30 PM on December 22, 2005

It's so much better to spend some time figuring out what you want to do, even if it means graduating older than the traditional student. You'll get so much more out of your schooling if you're sure you want to be there. Plenty of people graduate at 21 and 22 and then spend years waitressing afterward and don't enter their fields until 27. You're not behind them. Work at some internships while you're in school and over breaks. Depending on your field, it could help you eliminate the entry-level positions later. People switch jobs all the time; even if you went the traditional route, you might be looking for a new job at 27. And just remember, your life doesn't start once your career gets off the ground.
posted by Airhen at 7:46 PM on December 22, 2005

I didn't start my current career as a programmer until I was 33 after spending most of my adulthood working in construction. It didn't seem to hurt me at all. I was upfront about my age and background during interviews and the reaction generally seemed to be, "you sound like you've had an interesting life." I wouldn't worry about it.
posted by octothorpe at 7:47 PM on December 22, 2005

Depending on your field, most employers really don't care about age. You might have an advantage by being more mature than younger grads if you can convey maturity and stability in your interviews. You're only a few years behind, and a few years won't really make a difference. Congrats to you for deciding to seriously focus on your education!
posted by booknerd at 7:49 PM on December 22, 2005

I did a PhD that gained me nothing in the real world, but helped me intellectually. I was 35 when I got my first career job. Was it worth it? It depends on you. I'm smarter and better educated than my boss (really, I'm not a braggart-- she's absolutely terrified of me and I need to soothe her ego), and I've learned that I need to be conspicuously modest at work. I make less than my friends, do things that many feel are beneath me, but I'm actually really happy. I really don't need to be praised for my job.

Is doing a degree worth a delay in your economic success? For me it was. I don't care what people think of my not too impressive, but definitely not shabby salary. If I had a definite career goal, I might be down on myself. But I have great life and have time to read and socialize. Yes, you will be perceived as behind. But do you care? Personally I'd go for it. But you will find it a little harder, you will need to swallow your pride a little. I am happier than most of my richer, more successful friends.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:27 PM on December 22, 2005

Sorry, my last answer was too much about me, not you. I do interview and hire people. I'd rather hire an older, more reliable person with less professional experience. When I see that someone has supported himself as a waiter I think: good, he or she is dependable, flexible and can deal with assholes. This is no small thing.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:31 PM on December 22, 2005

I don't think it's very helpful for most people to consider a very linear school-degree-career-yay pattern. I don't think it's realistic - I can't think of a single person I have known since high school who has done that save for very very rich people whose jobs were selected for them by birth.

MOST people, these days, have a much more fluid path that they call a career. In my case, it went HS - BA - ski for 2 years in Banff - entry-level management consultant for 3 years - MA - Dot-com career - other stuff in basically the same area but not in the dot-com world exactly.

Don't sweat it - but also don't delay just because you're trying to find the perfect thing. The trick is to do lots of things. You can't find out what you really love to do in the abstract, by thinking about it. You have to get your feet wet and give things a try.
posted by mikel at 8:50 PM on December 22, 2005

When I interview people, I rather speak to someone who has seen the world and come to their career decision later in life. It is this person who has "thought" deeply about the situation. Sometimes you get a "Doogie Howser" and you wonder if you've got the next hot thing, or someone who's parents forced them this way.

Its alright. Besides I have a resident that is 55. This is her third career.
posted by erd0c at 8:53 PM on December 22, 2005

You'll get so much more out of your schooling if you're sure you want to be there.

YES! I half-assed my classes because I didn't know what working for a living was like. Man, I'd LOVE to be in school again (it doesn't make sense for me right now, however).

However, I would look into getting a degree that's career oriented -- graduating with a BA in English*, for example (if you're not planning on doing grad, etc) might mean that yes, you ARE gonna have to pay your dues before starting out. I may be totally off-base here, and lib arts BAs who finished in their late twenties, feel free to yell at me (I still somewhat regret my art degree, only because I spent so much time doing something that I couldn't do as a career -- it's basically like believing in Santa Claus for four years and then getting really sad when you find out the truth).

Either way, having a degree, ANY degree, is going to open more doors for you than not having a degree, UNLESS you already have some essential skills that people are hiring for , or a lot of work-experience in the field you want to work in.

* Sorry, lit majors. I still love you. FWIW, i left with an art degree, so, uh.
posted by fishfucker at 10:05 PM on December 22, 2005

50 is the new 40 and 40 is the new 30. =)

I know someone who started her MSc/PhD candidacy at age 30, didn't seem to bother her much.

I think that an employer would want to have stable employees; it wouldn't be a misplaced assumption that someone in their 30s are going to be more stable and responsible (on average) than someone in their 20s.

It also may depend on which field you're going into - if it's technology and cutting-edge-competetive stuff like programming or IT or whatnot, there may be an assumption that old=slower/less-cutting edge. Other than that, I think that maturity, stability, and responsibility are worth more than youth (read: naivete - although this might depend on what the outfit wants).

On the other hand, I've wasted some years of my life and I'm going to be in my mid-to-late 30's before I get another "real" job. It sucks, some days, thinking about it (compared to my age-peers who are career-successful enough to start contemplating being able to afford kids) but with the advance in medicine and prolongued productive lifespans...
posted by PurplePorpoise at 10:39 PM on December 22, 2005

I've spent the last two years working in student support for the OU and in my experience many employers prefer students who've had some life experience and at the same time worked hard for their degree. The six years of intense study that makes up an OU degree along with working full time look good on a CV. Besides 22's nothing, I've dealt with students in their 50's getting their first degree to start new careers. By the way I'm 25 and i've got two years to go until I finish mine, hang in there!
posted by brilliantmistake at 2:19 AM on December 23, 2005

I am (in the USA) in my fourth college/university working on my second degree at age almost-28. My Undergraduate degree was self-designed in Invironment (not a typo, but closest equivalent ~ Philosophy) and my Masters degree, which I will finish in a year and a half, is in Finance. I currently work as an Accountant, having only taken 4 accounting courses. As I will be almost 30 upon attaining my current degree, I will be playing up my experience (I work full-time while going to school) against other's youth. My biggest recommendation would be to take a part-time job or internship, whether it pays or not, to get some experience for future career-oriented goals. You won't get paid much, but sweeping the floors in whatever business you desire to work towards will go a long way.
posted by iurodivii at 6:25 AM on December 23, 2005

I have a friend who decided to pursue her doctoral degree. She was 27 at the time. I said, "But you'll be 30 by the time you're done with it." She replied, "I'll be 30 no matter what." That shut me right up. :) I say go for the education. :)
posted by cass at 6:35 AM on December 23, 2005

i didn't start programming til i was 28 or so. and that's supposed to be an industry for young people. no problems.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:38 AM on December 23, 2005

DO IT!

I worked at odd jobs for five years after failing out of college. At 26 I decided to go back b/c I was ready. After graduation I took a retail job that helped be adjust to post college life and after two years I found the job of my dreams. People who started at the same time as me were 6-8 years younger but didn't have real-world experience I did nor the variety of jobs.

Interacting with the public as an "apron-wearer" will only help you in your future endeavours.

All the best!
posted by UncleHornHead at 10:08 AM on December 23, 2005