Why did getting better at my job make me question staying in it ?
Years ago I got into a role that didn’t excite me but paid bills, and over time I slowly started to actually get good at it. People rely on me, feedback’s solid, I get things done without panic. Last month my manager asked me to mentor a new hire not because I asked, but because they trust me.
At first it felt like a win. I even sat there on my phone after work scrolling through management tips and thinking maybe this is a direction. I do have some money saved up, so I’m not scrambling financially, and that’s helped me think beyond “just surviving.”
But the more capable I’ve gotten, the more weirdly stuck I feel. I’m better at my job than I used to be, but the reason I started it hasn’t changed. It’s still a job that pays, not a job I want to build a career in forever. Now I’m not sure whether staying and climbing makes sense or if I’m just comfortable with being competent and afraid of starting fresh somewhere else where I won’t be good yet.
Some days I wonder if switching fields or even going back to school makes sense. Other days I look at my life, my partner, savings and think maybe it’s easier to double down here and build expertise.
Has anyone else gotten good at a job that they still didn’t want longterm? How did you decide whether to stay and grow, or take the risk to start over elsewhere?
Jobadvisor
It is a common irony of professional life: the better you get at something you don’t love, the more trapped you feel.
When you were struggling or just "getting by," your focus was on survival. Competence has granted you the "luxury of the existential crisis." Now that you aren’t panicking about performance or bills, your brain finally has the bandwidth to ask, "Is this actually what I want to do with my life?"
Here is a breakdown of why this shift is happening and how to weigh your next move.
Why Competence Creates Conflict
The "Golden Handcuffs" of Praise: When you’re good, people rely on you. Your manager trusts you, and your peers respect you. It feels "wrong" to walk away from a place where you have high social and professional capital to go somewhere else where you’ll be a "nobody" again.
The Narrowing Path: As you get better, you get promoted. As you get promoted, your salary rises and your niche deepens. The "cost" of switching fields feels higher every year because you’re comparing a senior-level comfort to an entry-level restart.
The Competence Trap: We often mistake being good at something for enjoying it. Mentoring that new hire felt like a win because humans naturally enjoy mastery and helping others—but that doesn’t mean you love the subject matter you’re mentoring them on.
The "Stay and Double Down" vs. "Pivot" Framework
To help you decide, try looking at your situation through these three lenses:
| Perspective | The Argument for Staying | The Argument for Leaving |
| Energy & Interest | You can use your "easy" competence to fund a rich life outside of work (hobbies, travel, family). | "Competence" without "Interest" eventually leads to deep burnout or a mid-life crisis. |
| Risk Profile | You have savings and stability; why risk that in a volatile market for an unknown? | You have savings and stability; this is the exact time you can afford to take a risk. |
| Transferable Skills | Management and mentoring are universal skills. You can "climb" here and pivot later. | The longer you stay, the more "specialized" your resume becomes in a field you don't like. |
How to Test the Waters Without Quitting
Since you aren't in a financial scramble, you have the room to be strategic rather than impulsive.
The "Work to Live" Experiment: Try treating the job strictly as a "utility" for six months. Do the job well, mentor the hire, but spend zero mental energy on it after 5:00 PM. Use that extra mental space to explore your actual interests. If you still feel a void, the job is the problem.
Audit the "Management" Spark: You mentioned looking up management tips. Is it possible you enjoy leadership more than the industry? If you enjoy the human element of mentoring, you might find fulfillment in management in any field.
The "20-Year" Visualization: Look at your manager's boss. If you were offered their job, their salary, and their daily tasks tomorrow, would you be excited or depressed? If the answer is depressed, "doubling down" is just digging a deeper hole.
A Question for You
When you think about "starting over" or going back to school, what is the first subject or industry that pops into your head before you let your "practical" brain shut it down?
Should I go to university at 27 ?
Hello,
I am a 26M, soon I'll be 27. Currently I work as a plumber and I make OK money considering my age but I'm not that satisfied with my job - it's not something I want to do in the long run.
For a pretty long time I've been thinking about studying at university again. I dropped out when I was 20 and since then I was working on and off. I have passion for markets & investing so having said that, I would like to focus on Finance related major. I want to study full-time and not part-time.
Considering my age, I'm not really sure if it's a good idea or not. I do not want to study just to have some piece of paper but mainly to change my career and life - I want to make good money and have a job which I love.
Should I go for it ? Why yes or why not ?
Jobadvisor
Deciding to head back to university at 27 is a significant pivot, but it is often a more successful one than the first attempt at 19. At 27, you have something you didn't have at 20: conative clarity. You know what you don't want (the physical toll and lack of passion in plumbing) and you know what you do want (Finance).
Here is a breakdown of the realities of making this switch at this stage of your life.
1. The "Age" Factor: Perspective vs. Reality
The most common fear is: "I’ll be 30 or 31 when I graduate."
The reality is: You will be 31 anyway. The only difference is whether you are a 31-year-old plumber or a 31-year-old finance professional.
Mature Student Advantage: Professors often prefer mature students because they are disciplined, have real-world experience, and aren't there to party.
The "New" Entry Level: In the corporate world, 30 is still very young. Many people pivot careers in their 30s and 40s. Having a "previous life" as a tradesman actually makes you stand out—it shows grit, a work ethic, and a practical understanding of how the world works.
2. Finance: The Market Reality
Finance is a broad field. Since you have a passion for markets and investing, you are likely looking at roles like Equity Research, Asset Management, or Financial Analysis.
Networking is King: In finance, the degree is the "entry ticket," but your network gets you the job. At 27, you likely have better "soft skills" and conversational maturity than a 21-year-old, which is a massive advantage in interviews.
The Quantitative Bar: Ensure you are ready for the math. Finance degrees involve significant statistics, calculus, and accounting.
1 Since you've been out of school for a while, you might want to brush up on these before day one.
3. The Financial Trade-off (Opportunity Cost)
Since you make "OK money" now, you need to calculate the Opportunity Cost.
Plumbing: Stable income, physical wear and tear over 20 years, potential for business ownership.
Finance: 3–4 years of zero/low income + tuition costs, but a much higher "ceiling" for earnings later in life and less physical strain.
Should You Do It?
Yes, if:
You have the savings to cover your living expenses so you don't graduate with crushing debt.
You are prepared to be an "intern" at 30. You have to be okay with reporting to people who might be younger than you for a few years.
Your interest in markets is deep enough to sustain you through intense exam periods (like the CFA levels later on).
No, if:
You are only doing it because you "hate plumbing" rather than "loving finance." (There are other ways to leave plumbing that don't take 4 years).
You expect a high-paying job to be handed to you just for having the degree. The finance job market is competitive and requires proactive internship hunting.
2
A Strategic Alternative
If 4 years of full-time study feels too risky, consider a "Bridge" approach:
Keep working part-time as a plumber to keep your cash flow high.
Take online certifications (like the Investment Foundations® Certificate or Wall Street Prep) to see if you actually enjoy the academic side of finance.
Transfer credits: Check if any of your credits from when you were 20 are still valid to shorten your degree time.