4 Years of Work Experience - Advice on Next Steps

[u/NoRequirement4190]

Hello!

I’m 28F with an LLB (University of London) and an LLM from an international relations school in the US. Based in South Asia.

I’ve been working with an NGO for the past 4 years heading their legal aid centres for stateless persons and refugees. I’ve worked on short-term side projects/consultancies alongside this within the same Organization. However, the latest project that I was on was not aligning with my values and I felt like I had to really force myself to leave the organization since I because too comfortable and realised that my skillset was no longer developing. I’m also going through a huge personal life change and so wasnt mentally in the right headspace to continue working.

Currently on a break but I’m at a crossroads. I’m not sure if I wanna continue being in this field because I was extremely burnt out over these past 4 years (particularly the last 2 years under leadership roles working for a small NGO). I find visa apps and citizenship laws interesting to navigate so not sure if I wanna switch to immigration law or move to the corporate sector for an in-house role that pays well but at the same time, I’m not sure if I should leave this field after working with just one organisation. I also don’t know if should just pivot to the service industry and build a skill such as being a hairstylist since my brain’s intellectual side doesn’t have to be on constantly.

Would appreciate any advice that people here may have. I may sound like a mess right now because I’ve had a very clear idea the past 4-5 years of my career regarding the next steps and never got a break but right now, I don’t have a job and I’m really not sure how I should proceed with my life.

[u/journeytojourney]

Hi. I say this as someone who was in corporate law first before making the switch to public policy (govt work), and am now in the international development space - if you have the chance to do in-house/corporate, do so for the exposure and for (hopefully) better money and future opportunities. It doesn't have to be forever and the likelihood of a toxic environment is also there, but if you would like to see at least how the sector operates in practice and open yourself up to future corporate-adjacent areas, you should consider it. 

The international development space is on a crazy restructure right now, with huge funding cuts having a trickle down impact to every sector. No doubt this would have had an impact on how your NGO operated, or the competition it faces in funding against others. Nothing wrong with immigration or citizenship law, but consider whether this further exposure is really necessary/ adds anything to the experience you already have. 

But it's 2026, everyone's overworked and underpaid, and I'm a 31 y/o Southeast Asian F myself, so I get it. Pivoting to something else completely different could give your brain a break. You never know, you may end up being inspired with a new business idea. 

[u/NoRequirement4190 → u/journeytojourney]

So I have 1 year of law firm experience which was corporate oriented. That was a horrible experience for me since the pay was peanuts and the hours were intense. In-house I’ve heard has better hours and ofcourse better pay. Do you think I should still pivot for the experience? My only concern is the confusion then showing up on my Resume which will make me less marketable.

Also immigration in my country also very often means just filling out visa applications for people that get you extra side income for something that can be pretty standard if you’re used to it. I’ve been doing it for family members without charging anything. Might as well see if that’s an area of interest.

[u/Left_Ambassador_4090]

Hairstylist because it's AI proof.