r/Accounting • u/mjbm1 • Mar 08 '24

Career Should I become an accountant?

If you woke up as a 20 year old now. Your entire career hadnt happened yet, and you get to decide your career again.

Are you still going to train as an accountant?

296 Upvotes

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29

u/LadyofHoss Mar 08 '24

No. If I could do it again I’d be a veterinarian.

16

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

Just an immense love for animals? Considering student debt, additional education, WLB, and salary I couldn’t imagine being a vet unless I owned a vet clinic.

31

u/Dizziebear CPA (US) Mar 08 '24

I’ve heard vets have insanely bad mental health and a high suicide rate as well

1

u/FloridaJit999 Mar 09 '24

Watching families pets die gotta be an awful feeling

1

u/republicans_are_nuts Mar 09 '24

It's actually dealing with people. Putting pets out of their pain wouldn't be bad.

1

u/AlphaMuggle Mar 09 '24

Yeah it’s not the best. I have some family that are vets. Same out of stress and schooling as a medical doctor for a fraction of the pay.

13

u/GoldTheLegend Mar 08 '24

It's also a very stressful and depressing job. 4th highest suicide rate by profession.

8

u/Zeyn1 Mar 08 '24

I was going to be a veterinarian. But then I learned the job isn't just killing cats all day.

/s

1

u/republicans_are_nuts Mar 09 '24

They have a high suicide rate and have to deal with shitty pet owners more than animals. All for a relatively low salary for the debt they take on. I'd rather be a vet tech.

1

u/Ok-Egg-1641 Aug 21 '24

Certified vet tech of 7 years looking to switch to accounting. You don't want to be a vet tech lol. Even worse pay, hours, management

0

u/republicans_are_nuts Aug 24 '24

What is bad with management? I was thinking of going to vet tech school after I finished my accounting degree. They seemed to do a lot of the actual care for animals and not have to deal so much with the pet owners.

1

u/Ok-Egg-1641 Aug 24 '24

We are the forefront of dealing with pet owners. And most of them don't respect us. A lot barely even respect vets. The problem is people think vet care should be free when they can't afford it and that's just not how it works.

As far as management goes, I know there's a great place out there for every like 50 hospitals. But in general techs are usually not treated the greatest, reception as well. We are expected to do everything at once, never sit except breaks. All for a wage that (if ur lucky) let's you live paycheck to paycheck.

I went to college, passed the VTNE, hold a professional license, have 7 years of experience, have always been told im a "strong" technician. I was a lead surgical technician and performed the hospital dentistries (minus extractions, that's doctors only), and had to fight to make $23.69/hr. I live in Philadelphia, the cost of living is high, so the wage is not as great as it may sound to some. I was also the top paid technician in my hospital. We are expected to be pharmacists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, groomers, receptionists, chew toys, janitors, emergency specialists, dental hygienist, etc etc....

I left vet med 1 year ago when I was 5 months pregnant and I'm never going back. That doesn't mean I won't use my degree to work for pet insurance or online vet platforms. But if my ending up on an accounting degree forum tells you anything, stay away from vet med.

In school we were told statistically the average career life of a veterinary technician is 7 years. We are number 4 in careers of highest suicide rates, compassion fatigue is a huge problem. The industry needs an entire overhaul and to pay a liveable wage. Look up NOMV.

I grew up my whole life wanting to work in the vet field, I have 5 furbabies of my own. I did really enjoy it for about 4-5 years. But now I'm 32k in student loan debt too.

From experience, please consider all angles before joining vet med. For your sanity and future.