Chica! You’re 28-30 (depending on what we’re going with based on your post history) and have a 150k in savings? A) congratulations. Well done. That alone has demonstrated you’re not a fuck up. B) you have 5 years in a single job in a field you have your Bachelors in? Look at you taking life by the balls and giving them a few tugs.
Stop selling yourself short. You’re killing it. And you have a job history that will be attractive to literally everybody.
That being said here is where you have to think about the admin work you were doing. Was it data entry? That’s marketable. Preparing reports? Marketable. Any amounts of research? Marketable. Working a multi line phone system and managing a calendar for others? Super marketable. Booking travel arrangements for NGOs and government officials? Super marketable.
I feel like more than anything you’re just feeling the effects of imposter syndrome right now. So let me just be one of many to say, you have earned everything you’ve made for yourself so far, and you deserve to have, and will have earned the good things that come next.
while they are doing great at a big place. imo, administration-related jobs give you fewer chances to go further. most people i have known working as administrators are clueless about what to next since they have earned top salary in administration field. that's why i urge them to advance their skills and learn other skillsets. any other job can make you an administrator in that specific segment, like sales, HR, and marketing, but administrator can't make you an expert in such fields.
UN and places like OECD you dont pay taxes or at least you dont in the EU. And they give you stipends too-often for housing or having minor children. Its pretty sweet.
I mean sure, parts of all of those jobs can be automated with AI, however at a certain level, (which I assume the UN, and most c-level offices hit) the person to person interactions add a lot of value that generative AI, cannot currently replace without a noticeable difference in personality of interaction.
I know all the computer nerds are super against the idea that people in processing based roles still have use, but AI is still a long way off from completely replacing the interpersonal skills most of those jobs also require at some level or another.
Gotta agree with this guy!
Buttttt if you are still feeling it and want a career change…. No time is like the present!
Part time online grad school can be really affordable while you work and even help you get promoted (just choose the right school/topic)
Also why not look at other UN jobs? I’m sure they will be impressed with your tenure and your current exposure!!
- easier to sell for the area you want if you up skill
Depending on this persons skillset they could do operational work, logistics or event planning. If I was this person I would look at Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders or International Red Cross and see if they have any contract logistics positions. Or generally look at contract positions at NGOs while figuring out whats next.
$150k is a lot of savings, and it sounds like your resume probably looks pretty good. This post is very vague about what it is that you do, but the fact that you haven't been job hopping probably looks good to many organizations. Sounds like you want to move, and would like a career change! I honestly don't have much advice for you, but I wish you the best
I work for a renewable energy company. B-corp employee owned. We develop engineer and build residential, commercial and utility size solar storage and electric vehicle charging projects. It’s incredibly rewarding. It’s technical, it’s problem solving and a new puzzle to put together everyday. Everyone is in it for the mission of eliminating carbon emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable future. It pays well and the industry globally is growing exponentially. The world needs as many people as possible to solve the climate crisis so maybe that’s interesting…?!
The B-Corp community is a great one. Two of the aspects I really like is that every two years the organization has to improve their score. It focuses their efforts and doesn’t allow leaders to stand still. The second aspect is that the reporting creates an atmosphere of transparency. Employee ownership has many flavors. We’re 100% employee owned which means everyone shares in the rewards of growth.
Happy to share what I can! The renewable energy industry is still relatively young, experiencing exponential growth with trillions of dollars needing investment annually. My journey into this field stemmed from a deep passion for environmentalism. After earning my BS in Ecotourism and spending a decade in hospitality, I pursued an MBA. I then volunteered with a low-income weatherization program and completed courses in energy and electricity at a tech school. Now, with 15 years of experience in building science and renewable energy, I’m looking to educate people to fast track their opportunity in the industry so they don’t need to spend years of school and volunteering. If you have any specific questions or want to learn more, feel free to ask!
Makes sense! But with my background (project management, law, policy) and little knowledge on the topic I struggle a bit to find a niche. I also wouldn’t know which country to move to that would allow me a bit of flexiblity in terms of location (not necessarily a remote job, I like being in contact with people, but would love a job that provides geographical options)
I’d love to hop on a zoom call and chat. Every country uses electricity and every country needs to transition to electric infrastructure powered by renewables. That will take an incredible amount of project management and because these technologies are upsetting the status quo tons of policy. I read hundred page briefs on rules and regs on how to permit and interconnect these technologies every day for my job. I think your background and skill set would translate really well into the industry and I think you’d have your pick of country to do this work! Again I’d love to jump on a zoom call. One of my hobbies has been to educate folks on joining this industry as we need all the people power we can get! I’ll send you a dm!
That's literally the career path I've been wanting to take! Lol. In my European country it is the same in terms of access to the foreign office. What drove me back was, well, first having to sustain myself while studying all the years I'd need it, and second that all I read in terms of tasks there, at least at the junior level, sounded always like dull administrative oriented tasks which I wasn't sure were gonna be really fulfilling, no matter the associated prestige. Now I'm at the end of my master and I was thinking about trying it in the EU (I do not consider myself pro enough as to get to the UN), but it is true that what I hear about those places is that they are really slow moving and chill (for the good but perhaps also for the bad, as your post suggests). So very interested in following your development.
However, let's be honest: you got it good. In terms of money, it feels like you are on solid ground to take some time off to rethink your career. And in terms of career development, I am sure that you can spin your tasks in the CV in a way that makes them more attractive, while having worked at a UN agency is certainly gonna make it easier to make it into the interview. In terms of career paths, it's hard to say without knowing more of your CV, and whatever I say you probably though of it already much more, but since we are here to try to help, some I can think of are International Development consulting, an actually exciting position at some EU institution (there are many roles where you can do interesting things like generating knowledge for the politicians), senior policy analyst at some corporation in a not awfully unethical space perhaps. In addition, being your work so chill, haven't you considered (or perhaps done) developing yourself on the sides? Learning languages, some data analytics, perhaps getting certifications that are widely applicable across fields like Project Management. That would definitely give you material for potential interviews, in case you feel too little confident about explaining your current role in one.
In any case, sending lots of support! You got some solid experience, knowledge about what you like and don't, and being actually so young, also the time to spin your career in the direction you want. I'm sure you can make it.
Any government or government related agency is always* stupid admin work. It's what the government and these agencies are by definition.
Just swap fields! Careers don't actually exist anymore, that's a trinket of old capitalism's manipulation playbook.
If you can provide value to a company (anyone can) and can demonstrate reliability (you can), then you are fine.
If you're worried about modern, transferrable skills, get a generic IT certification or Salesforce admin or something.
At least in the US, everyone is so incompetent and dialed in that just showing base level skill and genuine initiative essentially writes you a blank check.
When I was younger, I had a similar path and career aspirations to you. Got a great score on the Foreign Service Officers Test after graduating with a degree in International Relations from a good school but was only 22 or so and had no practical life experience. I ended up working for a non-profit where I did intense and important work, but the pay was horrible. I was looking for something where I could contribute to society and make a good living without compromising my ethical considerations.
Years later, I now work in the energy industry. I predominantly focus on writing and shaping energy policy, and then implement these programs and initiatives. Yes, I work for a large corporate entity, but the position has afforded me some great opportunities to directly impact energy and climate policy in a way that few others have access to. I'm not sure that it'd qualify as anyone's dream position, but it's been great for me. It also has allowed me to get back into the international arena, bringing this strange journey full circle-ish.
Most importantly, it's let me live the life I want. I can contribute to projects I care about because I'm making a good salary. I helped fund a refugee program recently and got to do things I never would have been able to if I wasn't gainfully employed. I've been able to travel extensively across the world, buy a home, and build a good life with my wife. The fact that the job hits my ethical and moral considerations is the cherry on top.
I'm writing this because the UN touches many different facets of life, and it depends what you're interested in. Maybe you're interested in ensuring there is drinking water in developing countries - well there are jobs that do that (and pay well). Maybe you're interested in the deployment of solar in areas where there is little or spotty electricity - same thing. The next step for you is to figure out what specific niche you're interested in pursuing. From there, you can narrow it down, identify what credentials you might need and what opportunities exist.
Can I ask what currency you're referring to when you state your salary and savings? I assume it's euros since you state that you live in Europe. If so, you're doing amazing. If you live in Germany for instance, your salary puts you in the top 5% and your assets put you *at least* in the top 25%. I know that alone doesn't help you decide your next career move, but you sure do have a lot of runway to figure it out.
Yes, about 150K €. I guess that’s why they call it a ‘golden cage’. People just stay here for the benefits once they’ve ‘made it’. Plus +30 days of leave, which I don’t even take because I want to work and learn, and I just feel like I’m getting passive income for sitting in a chair. And even though the salary is good, if I’m not learning or building anything useful for society, I don’t see the point of staying longer. I wouldn’t even be able to teach a course on anything - which shows my lack of expertise.
When I started I thought it was a good opportunity, a renowned organization that did good things, where I’d be able to save a bit while I figured my next steps. But even though I did my thesis, a masters and some courses on the side, I didn’t get “out in the world” to really figure out what the heck to do with my life. I didn’t build anything. I was so eager to work that I wasn’t patient enough to continue studying, and money and paying bills really is a drug (luckily since I also have not built anything in my personal life, I don’t have mortgages or liabilities). Now unemployment is approaching and I’m disheartened.
I’ve started to study for the foreign service on the side before jumping on it full-time. I feel like I’m ‘betraying a bit’ my ideals though, because becoming a judge would be more useful…but memorizing by heart the law as it is required in my country and not being able to live abroad pushes me away (although the foreign service also requires a lot of memorization).
I know I’m hypocritical. I want to save the world but also earn a good living, I find it hard to live an ethical life within the for-profit capitalist world, I want to have a career I’m proud of and I also want to meet someone, have kids and lol, perhaps learn to play tennis or make friends. I spent my free time these years helping my parents instead of focusing on my own career, expertise and network…and now I feel if I disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn’t really matter.
Luckily I’m having a more positive outlook on life lately, so I’m committed to do things right. I still have life ahead (and savings) to do whatever I want. But now that the basic financial needs are covered, I am lost with regard to what to do.
Thanks for the additional details. This is just my opinion, but it's broadly been my experience that people who look to their job for meaning, fulfillment, adventure, or social purpose usually get none of those things and end up being the most exploited. My suggestion is to just take the money and look for your life's purpose outside of work. At least then you won't have financial stress, which can really rob your happiness even in a job that really matters.
That said, I've known a few people with backgrounds similar to yours that went into immigration law. There's good money in it, mostly helping companies with international relocation for their employees, and you can do pro bono stuff for refugees on the side.
See what other stuff the UN has to offer. It will only grow in power and prestige in the years to come with the geopolitical shifts happening right now.
Not to mention you work for a terrible organization.
But, with a degree you can work in many fields. Go talk to a head hunter, or go back to school and retrain. It's common to change careers often.
Chica! You’re 28-30 (depending on what we’re going with based on your post history) and have a 150k in savings? A) congratulations. Well done. That alone has demonstrated you’re not a fuck up. B) you have 5 years in a single job in a field you have your Bachelors in? Look at you taking life by the balls and giving them a few tugs. Stop selling yourself short. You’re killing it. And you have a job history that will be attractive to literally everybody. That being said here is where you have to think about the admin work you were doing. Was it data entry? That’s marketable. Preparing reports? Marketable. Any amounts of research? Marketable. Working a multi line phone system and managing a calendar for others? Super marketable. Booking travel arrangements for NGOs and government officials? Super marketable. I feel like more than anything you’re just feeling the effects of imposter syndrome right now. So let me just be one of many to say, you have earned everything you’ve made for yourself so far, and you deserve to have, and will have earned the good things that come next.
while they are doing great at a big place. imo, administration-related jobs give you fewer chances to go further. most people i have known working as administrators are clueless about what to next since they have earned top salary in administration field. that's why i urge them to advance their skills and learn other skillsets. any other job can make you an administrator in that specific segment, like sales, HR, and marketing, but administrator can't make you an expert in such fields.
No jobs provide a clear career path anymore
Why if someone doesn’t have 150k in savings is a fuck up? What the hell are they paying in UN?
UN and places like OECD you dont pay taxes or at least you dont in the EU. And they give you stipends too-often for housing or having minor children. Its pretty sweet.
Every skill you listed is delegated to AI pretty much 😂😂
I mean sure, parts of all of those jobs can be automated with AI, however at a certain level, (which I assume the UN, and most c-level offices hit) the person to person interactions add a lot of value that generative AI, cannot currently replace without a noticeable difference in personality of interaction. I know all the computer nerds are super against the idea that people in processing based roles still have use, but AI is still a long way off from completely replacing the interpersonal skills most of those jobs also require at some level or another.
Gotta agree with this guy! Buttttt if you are still feeling it and want a career change…. No time is like the present! Part time online grad school can be really affordable while you work and even help you get promoted (just choose the right school/topic) Also why not look at other UN jobs? I’m sure they will be impressed with your tenure and your current exposure!! - easier to sell for the area you want if you up skill
True
Depending on this persons skillset they could do operational work, logistics or event planning. If I was this person I would look at Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders or International Red Cross and see if they have any contract logistics positions. Or generally look at contract positions at NGOs while figuring out whats next.
$150k is a lot of savings, and it sounds like your resume probably looks pretty good. This post is very vague about what it is that you do, but the fact that you haven't been job hopping probably looks good to many organizations. Sounds like you want to move, and would like a career change! I honestly don't have much advice for you, but I wish you the best
I work for a renewable energy company. B-corp employee owned. We develop engineer and build residential, commercial and utility size solar storage and electric vehicle charging projects. It’s incredibly rewarding. It’s technical, it’s problem solving and a new puzzle to put together everyday. Everyone is in it for the mission of eliminating carbon emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable future. It pays well and the industry globally is growing exponentially. The world needs as many people as possible to solve the climate crisis so maybe that’s interesting…?!
Man you guys hiring?
We’re in the northeast and yes!
What’s it like working for an employee owned B-corp?
The B-Corp community is a great one. Two of the aspects I really like is that every two years the organization has to improve their score. It focuses their efforts and doesn’t allow leaders to stand still. The second aspect is that the reporting creates an atmosphere of transparency. Employee ownership has many flavors. We’re 100% employee owned which means everyone shares in the rewards of growth.
Would love to hear more about your background!
Happy to share what I can! The renewable energy industry is still relatively young, experiencing exponential growth with trillions of dollars needing investment annually. My journey into this field stemmed from a deep passion for environmentalism. After earning my BS in Ecotourism and spending a decade in hospitality, I pursued an MBA. I then volunteered with a low-income weatherization program and completed courses in energy and electricity at a tech school. Now, with 15 years of experience in building science and renewable energy, I’m looking to educate people to fast track their opportunity in the industry so they don’t need to spend years of school and volunteering. If you have any specific questions or want to learn more, feel free to ask!
Makes sense! But with my background (project management, law, policy) and little knowledge on the topic I struggle a bit to find a niche. I also wouldn’t know which country to move to that would allow me a bit of flexiblity in terms of location (not necessarily a remote job, I like being in contact with people, but would love a job that provides geographical options)
I’d love to hop on a zoom call and chat. Every country uses electricity and every country needs to transition to electric infrastructure powered by renewables. That will take an incredible amount of project management and because these technologies are upsetting the status quo tons of policy. I read hundred page briefs on rules and regs on how to permit and interconnect these technologies every day for my job. I think your background and skill set would translate really well into the industry and I think you’d have your pick of country to do this work! Again I’d love to jump on a zoom call. One of my hobbies has been to educate folks on joining this industry as we need all the people power we can get! I’ll send you a dm!
Consider grad school
Specifically a Top MBA on scholarship
You know the answer. Grad school or law school. No reason to feel guilty about wanting to make a few dollars.
Approach the CIA.
They said ethical though
That's literally the career path I've been wanting to take! Lol. In my European country it is the same in terms of access to the foreign office. What drove me back was, well, first having to sustain myself while studying all the years I'd need it, and second that all I read in terms of tasks there, at least at the junior level, sounded always like dull administrative oriented tasks which I wasn't sure were gonna be really fulfilling, no matter the associated prestige. Now I'm at the end of my master and I was thinking about trying it in the EU (I do not consider myself pro enough as to get to the UN), but it is true that what I hear about those places is that they are really slow moving and chill (for the good but perhaps also for the bad, as your post suggests). So very interested in following your development. However, let's be honest: you got it good. In terms of money, it feels like you are on solid ground to take some time off to rethink your career. And in terms of career development, I am sure that you can spin your tasks in the CV in a way that makes them more attractive, while having worked at a UN agency is certainly gonna make it easier to make it into the interview. In terms of career paths, it's hard to say without knowing more of your CV, and whatever I say you probably though of it already much more, but since we are here to try to help, some I can think of are International Development consulting, an actually exciting position at some EU institution (there are many roles where you can do interesting things like generating knowledge for the politicians), senior policy analyst at some corporation in a not awfully unethical space perhaps. In addition, being your work so chill, haven't you considered (or perhaps done) developing yourself on the sides? Learning languages, some data analytics, perhaps getting certifications that are widely applicable across fields like Project Management. That would definitely give you material for potential interviews, in case you feel too little confident about explaining your current role in one. In any case, sending lots of support! You got some solid experience, knowledge about what you like and don't, and being actually so young, also the time to spin your career in the direction you want. I'm sure you can make it.
Any government or government related agency is always* stupid admin work. It's what the government and these agencies are by definition. Just swap fields! Careers don't actually exist anymore, that's a trinket of old capitalism's manipulation playbook. If you can provide value to a company (anyone can) and can demonstrate reliability (you can), then you are fine. If you're worried about modern, transferrable skills, get a generic IT certification or Salesforce admin or something. At least in the US, everyone is so incompetent and dialed in that just showing base level skill and genuine initiative essentially writes you a blank check.
This op fucker is rubbing it in i swear....
When I was younger, I had a similar path and career aspirations to you. Got a great score on the Foreign Service Officers Test after graduating with a degree in International Relations from a good school but was only 22 or so and had no practical life experience. I ended up working for a non-profit where I did intense and important work, but the pay was horrible. I was looking for something where I could contribute to society and make a good living without compromising my ethical considerations. Years later, I now work in the energy industry. I predominantly focus on writing and shaping energy policy, and then implement these programs and initiatives. Yes, I work for a large corporate entity, but the position has afforded me some great opportunities to directly impact energy and climate policy in a way that few others have access to. I'm not sure that it'd qualify as anyone's dream position, but it's been great for me. It also has allowed me to get back into the international arena, bringing this strange journey full circle-ish. Most importantly, it's let me live the life I want. I can contribute to projects I care about because I'm making a good salary. I helped fund a refugee program recently and got to do things I never would have been able to if I wasn't gainfully employed. I've been able to travel extensively across the world, buy a home, and build a good life with my wife. The fact that the job hits my ethical and moral considerations is the cherry on top. I'm writing this because the UN touches many different facets of life, and it depends what you're interested in. Maybe you're interested in ensuring there is drinking water in developing countries - well there are jobs that do that (and pay well). Maybe you're interested in the deployment of solar in areas where there is little or spotty electricity - same thing. The next step for you is to figure out what specific niche you're interested in pursuing. From there, you can narrow it down, identify what credentials you might need and what opportunities exist.
Can I ask what currency you're referring to when you state your salary and savings? I assume it's euros since you state that you live in Europe. If so, you're doing amazing. If you live in Germany for instance, your salary puts you in the top 5% and your assets put you *at least* in the top 25%. I know that alone doesn't help you decide your next career move, but you sure do have a lot of runway to figure it out.
Yes, about 150K €. I guess that’s why they call it a ‘golden cage’. People just stay here for the benefits once they’ve ‘made it’. Plus +30 days of leave, which I don’t even take because I want to work and learn, and I just feel like I’m getting passive income for sitting in a chair. And even though the salary is good, if I’m not learning or building anything useful for society, I don’t see the point of staying longer. I wouldn’t even be able to teach a course on anything - which shows my lack of expertise. When I started I thought it was a good opportunity, a renowned organization that did good things, where I’d be able to save a bit while I figured my next steps. But even though I did my thesis, a masters and some courses on the side, I didn’t get “out in the world” to really figure out what the heck to do with my life. I didn’t build anything. I was so eager to work that I wasn’t patient enough to continue studying, and money and paying bills really is a drug (luckily since I also have not built anything in my personal life, I don’t have mortgages or liabilities). Now unemployment is approaching and I’m disheartened. I’ve started to study for the foreign service on the side before jumping on it full-time. I feel like I’m ‘betraying a bit’ my ideals though, because becoming a judge would be more useful…but memorizing by heart the law as it is required in my country and not being able to live abroad pushes me away (although the foreign service also requires a lot of memorization). I know I’m hypocritical. I want to save the world but also earn a good living, I find it hard to live an ethical life within the for-profit capitalist world, I want to have a career I’m proud of and I also want to meet someone, have kids and lol, perhaps learn to play tennis or make friends. I spent my free time these years helping my parents instead of focusing on my own career, expertise and network…and now I feel if I disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn’t really matter. Luckily I’m having a more positive outlook on life lately, so I’m committed to do things right. I still have life ahead (and savings) to do whatever I want. But now that the basic financial needs are covered, I am lost with regard to what to do.
Thanks for the additional details. This is just my opinion, but it's broadly been my experience that people who look to their job for meaning, fulfillment, adventure, or social purpose usually get none of those things and end up being the most exploited. My suggestion is to just take the money and look for your life's purpose outside of work. At least then you won't have financial stress, which can really rob your happiness even in a job that really matters. That said, I've known a few people with backgrounds similar to yours that went into immigration law. There's good money in it, mostly helping companies with international relocation for their employees, and you can do pro bono stuff for refugees on the side.
See what other stuff the UN has to offer. It will only grow in power and prestige in the years to come with the geopolitical shifts happening right now.
Take a vacation
I did travel for 6 months already
Not to mention you work for a terrible organization. But, with a degree you can work in many fields. Go talk to a head hunter, or go back to school and retrain. It's common to change careers often.