“With No Experience, I’m Having a Hard Time Getting Interviews”     

Hi,

When I was in yeshivah, my parents insisted I get an accounting degree, even though my plan was to start off in kollel. After I got married, I continued to learn while my wife completed her schooling and became a full-time pharmacist. It’s been over ten years now, and it always just made more sense for me to be on call for the kids as our family grew. At this point, I’m 36, and we need a second income, but with no accounting experience, I’m having a hard time even getting interviews. Any advice?

Have you ever paid for an all-you-can-eat buffet and eaten way more than you should have, because you wanted to get your money’s worth?

Or seen someone pouring more money into a failing business? These are examples of what economists call the “sunk-cost fallacy.” In your case, I wonder if your degree is blurring your current needs. Just because something was an excellent decision in the past doesn’t mean it’s still right for the present.

Let’s try putting aside the past and focusing on the present. Perhaps we would rephrase your question to something more like this:

“I’m in my mid-thirties and have zero work experience. My wife has built a successful full-time career, which has led me to carry a lot more of the child care and household roles in our home. Right now, I’m ready to embark on a career. Where do I get started?”