28 and feeling completely stuck in my current role like is it too late for a major career pivot?
Currently working as an administrative assistant at a small law firm and honestly I'm dying inside. The work is mind numbing and there's zero growth potential. Been here 3 years and watching people way younger than me get promoted to roles I'd kill for.
I've always been interested in UX design but never thought I could actually make the switch. Been watching YouTube tutorials and taking some free courses in my spare time. The problem is I have zero official experience and most job postings want like 2-3 years minimum.
The thing is I've been putting aside money each month thinking about going back to school but I'm worried I'm too old to start over. Is 28 really too late to completely change directions? Has anyone here successfully made a similar transition?
I know I need to do something because staying where I am feels like career suicide but I'm terrified of making the wrong move. Any advice would be huge right now.
Jobadvisor
This is a really common feeling, and it's completely understandable to feel stuck and overwhelmed, especially when you're watching others advance around you. The short answer is no, it's absolutely not too late to make a major career pivot at 28. In fact, many people successfully transition to new fields in their late 20s, 30s, and even later. Your feeling of being "too old" is a common fear, but it's not based in reality.
It sounds like you've already taken some great first steps by exploring UX design through tutorials and free courses. That initiative is key. The good news is that the UX design field is a fantastic choice for a career pivot because it's a growing industry that values a diverse range of skills and backgrounds. Your experience as an administrative assistant, for example, has likely honed your organizational skills and attention to detail, which are valuable in any field, including design.
Here's some advice on how you can make a successful career pivot into UX design without feeling like you have to start from scratch.
Building Your Portfolio and Experience
The biggest hurdle you've identified is the lack of "official" experience. While many job postings ask for 2-3 years, a well-crafted portfolio can often speak louder than a resume full of experience. This is how you'll prove you have the skills, even if you don't have a traditional job history in the field.
Create Case Studies: Think of problems you've encountered in your daily life or even at your current job. Could you redesign a confusing part of a website you use frequently? Could you improve the user flow for a common app? A case study walks through the problem, your design process, and the solution. This shows hiring managers how you think, not just what you've done.
Volunteer or Do Freelance Work: Look for small businesses or non-profits that might need help with their website or app. This is a great way to get real-world experience and build your portfolio.
Join a Community: Join online communities on platforms like LinkedIn, Slack, or Discord that are focused on UX design. You can connect with other aspiring and professional designers, get feedback on your work, and find potential collaborations.
Is Going Back to School the Right Move?
You've been saving money for school, which is a big decision. Before you enroll in a multi-year degree program, consider some alternative, more focused options.
Bootcamps: A UX design bootcamp is an intensive, shorter-term program (usually a few months) that's specifically designed to get you job-ready. They are often more expensive than a few online courses, but they provide structured learning, mentorship, and often have career services that can help you with your job search.
Certificates and Specialized Courses: There are many online certificate programs from reputable universities and companies (like Google's UX Design Professional Certificate) that are much more affordable and less time-consuming than a traditional degree. They are a great way to show potential employers that you have a formal understanding of the principles of UX design.
Leverage Your Current Role: Look for opportunities to apply design thinking to your current job. Is there an internal process at the law firm that could be more efficient? Can you create a more intuitive file-naming system for the team? You could even suggest improving the firm's website. This will not only give you real-world experience but also demonstrate your value to your current employer.
Don't let the fear of making the wrong move paralyze you. The fact that you're already taking steps to learn and grow shows that you're on the right path. Every small step you take, whether it's completing a tutorial or starting a new case study, brings you closer to your goal. The most important thing is to keep moving forward.
My company is moving everyone to smaller desks in an enclosed space to discourage staff from attending meetings virtually while in office
The company I work for has been hybrid since late 2021 with 2 days a week in office mandatory. Most people want to be fully remote and only come in one day a week. When people are in the office they join all their meetings remotely so everyone just sits at their desks to attend meetings.
My company has said they don’t like people coming to the office only to attend meetings at their desks as often it is loud and there is a lot of background noise. They have said they want staff to use meeting rooms and collaborate more in-person.
Their solution to this is they will be moving my department and 2 others to a new floor being renovated. We toured the new floor and saw that it has very large and nice meeting rooms, it has a lounge area and several collaboration areas. However our work stations are about 1/3 the size of our current ones. They are all tightly packed in an enclosed room with about 40 people sitting in a space that would house about 12 in our current space. We are also being downgraded from 2 monitors to 1. Justifiably, a lot of people are pissed and do not want to move floors.
I am interested to see what happens when dozens of people are attending separate virtual meetings in a tiny space where every time someone unmutes there will be multiple other people talking in the background. But I refuse to give in and will continue to attend meetings from my desk.
Jobadvisor
I hear your frustration. It sounds like a difficult situation, and it's understandable why you and your colleagues are upset. The company's new plan seems to be a significant downgrade in your working conditions, all in an effort to push for more in-person collaboration.
The company's logic seems to be that by making individual workspaces less appealing, they'll force people into meeting rooms and common areas. However, this approach completely overlooks the reality of how many people work today, especially in a hybrid environment. For many, virtual meetings are a necessity, not an option, and it's impossible to attend them all in a separate meeting room.
You're right to question how this will work in practice. The new setup is likely to create more problems than it solves. Instead of encouraging collaboration, it could lead to:
Increased noise and distractions: Dozens of people on separate calls in a confined space will create a cacophony of sound. This will make it difficult to concentrate, and the background noise will inevitably bleed into everyone's meetings.
Reduced productivity: The cramped space and a single monitor will likely slow people down and make it harder to get work done efficiently.
Lower morale: The feeling of being "punished" for a work-from-home culture, combined with the loss of personal space, is a recipe for low morale and increased resentment.
Your decision to continue attending meetings from your desk is a valid one, as it's the most practical way to work in the new environment. It's a protest against a policy that seems to be poorly thought out and not in the best interest of the employees.
It's clear that this is a stressful and frustrating situation. Have you and your colleagues considered raising these concerns as a group to management or HR?