A Friend of Mine Is 35 and Has Never Worked—Now He’s Running for a Top Management Position with a High Salary

Theres this woman I went to school withlets call her Charlotte. Charlotte was, in a word, the star of our class. When we finished school, she went straight to university to study law. Not long after, she decided to pursue a second degree, this time in business and management. It was at the second university that I met my husband, and we got married. Charlottes boyfriendlater her husbandhad a comfortable income and never pushed her to get a job, which allowed Charlotte to focus on her studies without any worries.

When she completed her business degree, Charlotte didnt actually seek out work; she stayed at home. Whenever our friends asked her about it, she insisted she couldnt be happier with things as they were. Shed say her husband loved coming home to a spotless, cosy house, and that she wouldnt have been able to manage that if shed had a job herself. He provided generously, giving her money for anything she fanciedfrom beauty salons to pilates classes.

Thats how they lived for over a decade. From time to time, Charlotte recalls, her husband would mention how much he wanted a child, but she wasnt interested in having that conversation. Charlotte simply didnt want children; she was concerned with keeping her figure, minding her health, and enjoying her own time.

Their marriage lasted about twelve years, and then they decided to separate. Charlotte never said exactly what happened, and I dont want to jump to conclusions. After the split, he stopped supporting her financially.

Now, Charlotte relies on money from her father, who still works. But his contributions are nothing compared to what shes used toits a struggle for her to maintain the lifestyle she once took for granted. Her father keeps suggesting she ought to look for a job; after all, shes thirty-five, a grown woman by every measure.

Recently, Charlotte turned to our old classmates, asking for help in finding work. One mate offered her a position as a store assistant at a shop he owns in a shopping centre, but Charlotte scoffed at the suggestion. She said she hadnt spent all those years at university to end up handling stock in a shop.

Honestly, its a bit comical. She has no work experience since she finished university ages ago, but her expectations couldnt be higher. She wants a managerial role, and with a big paycheque to match.

What do you make of it? What sort of job can you really land at thirty-five, if youve never had a job before? Sometimes I wonder if shes going to have to face reality sooner or later.