I Used to Work a Very Glamorous Job. No One Will Ever Let Me Forget It.

A person left a high-pressure, low-pay career for a more reliable, lower-stress job with better work-life balance. Colleagues have spread news of the change and repeatedly ask about the former field, sometimes framing it as “slumming it.” The person wants to avoid discussing the old career because it causes stress. The response suggests that others may assume the previous work was glamorous because they lacked firsthand knowledge. The advice is to avoid oversharing while still offering enough context to end the conversation, such as acknowledging that the work looked exciting from the outside but was stressful and not a fit. This approach reduces mystique and makes boundaries feel normal.

"Congratulations on finding a less stressful career. Aren't spreadsheets strangely satisfying? This new job must be a huge relief, aside from all those pesky questions from your new colleagues. It may help you deal with their curiosity if you think back to how little you knew about your previous career before you dove into it. Did you once think it must be glamorous and thrilling? They don't know any better."

"You shouldn't have to talk about your past experiences, and you don't—but your reluctance to answer questions about your previous career is only adding to the mystique. You might be able to end these conversations by sharing just enough information, maybe like so: "I know [Career] seems exciting from the outside, but it'""

Read at Slate Magazine