The Career Gatekeeper: When Industry Insiders Try to Control Who Can Join Their Ranks The recent trend of people switching careers mid life has led to a new phenomenon: the gatekeeping industry insider.
These individuals, often enthusiastic about their profession, become overly protective and dismissive when others express interest in joining them.
A notable example is a reader who shared an anecdote on Slate's "Good Job" advice column. The reader, Need a Change, confided that their friend had quit an office job to train in a trade.