50k wfh or $75k in office?
I am a 25 yr old making $50k wfh, eith an offer for $75k but full in person. No kids or significant other at home, so it does get boring at times. I know it’s a massive jump in salary but i’m hesitant just bc my current job was my first “real” corp job after graduating, and I am honestly afraid I might hate in person work. My current job has a “promotion track”lined up but it would most likely require me to go in person anyway, and moving to another state. Just looking for thoughts and opinions.
Jobadvisor:
Quit my job in corporate to go back to school for nursing. My life feels like a mess.
I 27f quit an extremely stressful corporate job in the financial sector to go back to school to become a nurse. In my corporate job, my boss practically put me on a PIP. I didn’t feel like the job was a good match for me, and honestly I was not sure where to go next. It felt like a dead end.
I spent the earlier part of my career working admin jobs to pay the bills while trying to break into creative marketing, corporate communications, branding, museum work (I worked at a museum in college), but nothing even remotely creative was successful.
I’m now taking my pre requisites for the nursing program and I’m surrounded by kids 10 years my junior. My classmates from college all have cool jobs by now, and I’m starting over.
My boyfriend dumped me because I went back to school, and I feel like nobody would seriously want me as an older student.
I don’t know if I made the right choice. My family all thinks I made the best decision, but it doesn’t feel like it at the moment.
Jobadvisor:
First off, take a deep breath. What you are describing is a huge life transition, and it's completely understandable why you feel like your life is a mess right now. You are doing something incredibly brave and challenging. The feeling of being "lost" is a very common, and very temporary, side effect of massive positive change.
You are not starting over; you are pivoting and building on the strength it took to leave an unfulfilling, stressful situation.
Reframe Your Career Change
You didn't "fail" at the corporate world or the creative sector; you successfully identified what wasn't working for you and had the courage to walk away from it.
Leaving the Stressful Job: Your decision to quit a job that put you on a PIP and felt like a dead end was an act of self-preservation. That job was stressing you out, and you prioritized your well-being. That's a success.
The Power of Your Past Experience: You have a range of experiences—corporate finance, admin, even museum work. Nursing is not just about clinical skills; it requires strong organizational skills, communication, problem-solving, and professional poise. You've built all of these, and they will make you a more capable and mature student and a better-prepared nurse.
A "Dead End" to a Clear Path: In your past career attempts, you weren't sure where to go next. Now, you have a defined, meaningful path with a clear goal (becoming a nurse) and high job demand. That certainty is a huge step forward.
Addressing Your Current Challenges
It's natural to feel insecure, especially after a break-up and a big change, but let's tackle these feelings with perspective.
1. The Age Gap in School
You are 27, not an "older student." You are a non-traditional student with life experience.
Your Advantage: You are taking these prerequisites seriously because you have a clear purpose and have paid for them with your own time and money. The "kids 10 years your junior" may be intelligent, but you likely bring superior focus, discipline, and maturity to your studies—qualities that often translate into better grades and stronger clinical performance.
Networking: Instead of comparing, focus on building professional relationships with your instructors. They are the ones who will write your letters of recommendation and serve as your future network.
2. The Relationship and Social Comparison
The Breakup: Your boyfriend ended things because you went back to school. That is a statement about his inability to support your ambition and life goals, not a statement about your worth or your decision. You are better off without a partner who can't handle a period of challenge and growth.
Your Peers' "Cool Jobs": Social media often presents a highlight reel. You're comparing your full, messy, behind-the-scenes life with their edited final cut. Your classmates might have high-status jobs, but they could be just as stressed and unfulfilled as you were in finance. You are pursuing a career that is intrinsically meaningful and purpose-driven. That's a "cool job" by any metric.
Why Nursing is a Good Match for You
You mentioned struggling to break into creative fields, but you went into finance and are now pursuing nursing. These are fields built on structure, precision, technical skill, and direct impact.
Direct Impact and Meaning: Nursing provides a level of direct, tangible impact and meaning that the corporate world often lacks. You will be using your brain and hands every day to solve real problems and help people.
Structure and Challenge: If your creative attempts were too nebulous, nursing offers a structured and constantly challenging environment. It requires high-level thinking, emotional intelligence, and organization, all of which you possess.
Your Family's Support: Your family's confidence in you is a sign that they see your potential for this new field. They know you better than anyone.
You have made a courageous, mature, and strategic decision to invest in a new, fulfilling future. The fear and messiness you feel is the unavoidable turbulence of a major transition, not a sign you made the wrong choice.
What is one thing you can do today to ground yourself and acknowledge your progress, even if it's something small? (e.g., look up a cool nursing specialty, treat yourself to a study snack, or successfully complete a challenging assignment).