Comments on: Starter career: Like a starter marriage without the messy divorce http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:37:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Heather http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-175049 Heather Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:21:29 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-175049 An interesting idea, but now that students are graduating with more debt, I think a lot of them are planning to make money first, then "do what they love" later. I know, in direct conflict to the family-mortgage timeline. . . I graduated with 30k in debt, and while I tried to pick a career I wouldn't hate, the more artistic jobs I might have found "fulfilling" just wouldn't pay the rent and my starter-baby: college loans. An interesting idea, but now that students are graduating with more debt, I think a lot of them are planning to make money first, then "do what they love" later. I know, in direct conflict to the family-mortgage timeline. . .

I graduated with 30k in debt, and while I tried to pick a career I wouldn't hate, the more artistic jobs I might have found "fulfilling" just wouldn't pay the rent and my starter-baby: college loans.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1050 Penelope Trunk Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:43:08 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1050 Liz's blog, <a href="http://cheetarah1980.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Brain Dump</a>, does a nice job of describing the life that goes along with a starter career: Long rollicking posts, short weekend trips, and a litany of tricks tried for keeping money in the bank. Liz's blog, The Brain Dump, does a nice job of describing the life that goes along with a starter career: Long rollicking posts, short weekend trips, and a litany of tricks tried for keeping money in the bank.

]]> By: Liz http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1049 Liz Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:45:09 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1049 Hey! Found your blog through Three New York Women. Interesting post. For the past four years I've been involved in a starter career. You're right it is very much so like a starter marriage. It's totally changed my expectations, hopes, and requirements for a career. I'm hoping I can make a smooth transition into something else very soon. Hey! Found your blog through Three New York Women. Interesting post. For the past four years I've been involved in a starter career. You're right it is very much so like a starter marriage. It's totally changed my expectations, hopes, and requirements for a career. I'm hoping I can make a smooth transition into something else very soon.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1048 Penelope Trunk Mon, 25 Sep 2006 02:23:45 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1048 Well, that's an interesting point. My husband and I have changed careers since we've had kids, but for the most part the changes were expressly to reconfigure life to accommodate our kids. I think that the more responsiblity you have in life the less likely you are to do a starter career -- one that you know is a dead end but you want to try anyway. Well, that's an interesting point. My husband and I have changed careers since we've had kids, but for the most part the changes were expressly to reconfigure life to accommodate our kids.

I think that the more responsiblity you have in life the less likely you are to do a starter career — one that you know is a dead end but you want to try anyway.

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1047 Wendy Sun, 24 Sep 2006 22:49:53 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1047 Well, certainly changing careers with family responsibilities is tougher than without. But the concept of a starter career can work at any stage when a change is required (whether from college and childhood to the working adult world; or from what job/career to another). Your message is "don't worry about envisioning 15 years down the road, but just the next 2." That's a good message for anyone lost in a career crisis. Also, look at you and your family. If I've read and remembered your blogs well, both you and your husband have changed careers and looked to pursue passions after having earned good money and had high income expectations in your younger years. I'm sure it's tougher to go this way than the other way, but you're proving that it can work, aren't you? Well, certainly changing careers with family responsibilities is tougher than without. But the concept of a starter career can work at any stage when a change is required (whether from college and childhood to the working adult world; or from what job/career to another). Your message is "don't worry about envisioning 15 years down the road, but just the next 2." That's a good message for anyone lost in a career crisis.

Also, look at you and your family. If I've read and remembered your blogs well, both you and your husband have changed careers and looked to pursue passions after having earned good money and had high income expectations in your younger years. I'm sure it's tougher to go this way than the other way, but you're proving that it can work, aren't you?

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1046 Penelope Trunk Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:00:21 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1046 Wendy and Crank, maybe the way I think about money is too limiting, but... I was thinking that a starter career is something you can only do when you do not have a family/mortgage to support. Otherwise it might seem too high risk. Sort of in the same way that a starter marriage is one thing if there are no kids, but a big mess with children in the mix. What do you think? Wendy and Crank, maybe the way I think about money is too limiting, but…

I was thinking that a starter career is something you can only do when you do not have a family/mortgage to support. Otherwise it might seem too high risk.

Sort of in the same way that a starter marriage is one thing if there are no kids, but a big mess with children in the mix. What do you think?

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 Wendy Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:59:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1045 A starter career is a great concept for getting past the "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up stage" (like CrankMama, I'm in my mid 30s and still not sure what I want to be). However, with people changing jobs regularly throughout their lives, maybe there isn't a starter career and a "real career" dichotomy. Everytime you leave a job or take on a new one, perhaps you should ask the questions Penelope raises for evaluating the starter career -- what worked, what didn't, what do I want in my new role. So, I guess you can have a "starter career" at any age, and any stage in your professional development. A starter career is a great concept for getting past the "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up stage" (like CrankMama, I'm in my mid 30s and still not sure what I want to be). However, with people changing jobs regularly throughout their lives, maybe there isn't a starter career and a "real career" dichotomy. Everytime you leave a job or take on a new one, perhaps you should ask the questions Penelope raises for evaluating the starter career — what worked, what didn't, what do I want in my new role.

So, I guess you can have a "starter career" at any age, and any stage in your professional development.

]]> By: CrankMama http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 CrankMama Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:10:42 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/22/starter-career-like-a-starter-marriage-without-the-messy-divorce/#comment-1044 What if you wait until you're 35? I've had several starter careers and I highly recommend them :) What if you wait until you're 35? I've had several starter careers and I highly recommend them :)

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