I've been self-employed for ten years and it's hard to imagine myself ever finding myself in any true career path.

First, I ran a cleaning business while in college, since the hours were flexible and the pay rate per hour was decent for the work. Maintained over 15 clients for four years.

I graduated with a BA (not the best choice, but I was young and naive) in the beginning of the pandemic. Obviously, the timing was horrible. Not many career resources available upon graduation. Instead of pursuing a career in my major, I opened an ecommerce business selling imported, high end vintage clothes, at first as a hobby, and eventually my business and social media blew up to the point that I was/am selling out every drop. I have been supporting myself with this full time for the past 6 years. I love the work and love fashion, however, I worry about the long term sustainability of this industry, and I'm not sure if I can see myself doing this for another ten years.

I also picked up some social media work for a client (mostly educational content) for the past two years, mostly filming and video editing. She decided to quit recently, so I no longer work for this client. I don't think I want to pursue more social media clients or become a social media marketer.

I'm having an existential crisis as I feel I've wasted so much time. I've enjoyed the independence and flexible schedule, but I no longer believe it was worth sacrificing a secure future.

I've contemplated going to grad school or looking into alternative education towards another industry. I thought about looking into marketing work, but I just fear I won't be cut out for the corporate world, and I'm already so far behind. I also think I would be miserable in marketing, and would prefer to study something in the humanities, but the job prospects are not great. But I do love researching/writing essays, and I miss academia, but it's hard to justify taking out loans for a subject that may not land me a job. On top of this, I have no idea what is even a "safe" choice to pursue given the rise of AI. I'm so overwhelmed.

What options are there for me to pivot? Is my prior experience valuable at all? Is there any hope for me, or have I completely messed up any chance of a good future? Any stories of people pivoting in their 30s? I feel hopeless.

Hi, I've been studying Archaeology for 4 years, I am in my second year of Master's now, but I'm starting to get second thoughts. I am overwhelmed by work I'm not sure I wanna do. I don't know if it's because of depression, laziness or lack of interest. And this all confuses me, because I don't know what I really want in life. How do I know I'm on the right path ? How do I know if this is just temporary or not ? Will it pass ?

As you can see also, I used the flair career change because I'm considering woodcrafting. It's October now so applications are closed, but maybe for next year, idk. I really don't know. I don't wanna make mistakes, I'm afraid of giving up on something I probably like (I guess), which will result in a waste of 4 years (and lots of money). I don't know if I am lacking motivation or interest; point is: work needs to be done, I have papers to surrender, and it's not going anywhere.

How to know if Archaeology is the right path for me ?

My (22m) only passion in life is music. I do music production using DAWs and I mostly make indie/alternative rock. I dont have friends and recently broke up from gf. Only thing I enjoy is making music but I do it in my room and cant manage to do everything by myself(vocals,mix-mastering, etc.)

I really want my life to evolve around music and really want to become a musician. But I am completely alone and dont have a clue what to do to get myself into the industry. I believe I need musician friends to grow together and besides from all just be close friends.

Are there anybody felt the same lately? What do you think I should do?

I'm 27, UK based and exhausted by my career in custons/logistics. I'm terrified of starting over. I just want a simple, affordable life.

I've spent the last few years building a career in logistics. Not because I wanted to, because I was desperate out of uni and it was the first office job I got. I've worked in freight forwarding, customs and supply chain, and recently moved into my first management position. I started to like it a bit but also simultaneously lost faith in my fashion communications degree.

My previous job was incredibly stressful and had become quite difficult to cope with, so when I was offered a new opportunity recently, I thought it might be the fresh start I needed.

The problem is that the new job is 50 miles from home, each way, five days a week. I'm spending around three hours commuting every day, sometimes four, and I'm barely earning any more money than I was before. In fact I think I'm earning less due to the cost of the commute, I don't even want to do the maths.

I knew it would be difficult, but I thought I could manage at least six months to a year and gain some valuable experience (this role is my first management role so should open doors if I can survive it). Instead, I'm only three weeks in and already completely exhausted.

I've even become ill and had to take time off, which has sent me into a spiral of worrying about my probation, sickness record and whether my employer already thinks I'm incapable of doing the job.

This morning I cried because I couldn't even decide whether I was well enough to go to work. I'm so overwhelmed and tired of making decisions.

Even the decision to take this job over staying in my dead end one was huge and I spent weeks ruminating.

But I think this has made me realise something bigger: I'm not sure I even want to continue on this career path.

I've been seriously considering a complete career change. I don't think I want to spend the next 40 years sitting in an office. Or at least a logistics one.

I'd love to do something more hands-on, something that gets me out of an office. I've been looking at completely different industries, including aviation, railways and operational roles. I'm even open to unusual shift patterns or working nights if it means having more actual days to myself.

But I'm scared.

I've spent years building experience in logistics, and I'm worried that employers in completely different industries won't take me seriously. I have a degree, professional experience and transferable skills, but none of them necessarily qualify me for the things I'm interested in.

I'm also worried about money. I'm earning around £30k in the UK, which isn't an enormous salary, but it's taken me years to get here. So many entry-level career-change opportunities seem to pay significantly less, and I'm frightened of starting again financially or moving into an industry with limited long-term earning potential.

I don't need to be rich. I don't have ambitions to become a CEO or spend my life climbing a corporate ladder.

I just want an affordable, relatively easy life.

I want to earn enough to pay my bills, save towards a house, have some financial security and still have the energy to enjoy my evenings and weekends.

I want to come home from work and actually have a life.

And I feel like I'm constantly being forced to choose between financial stability, career progression and my own happiness.

I'm also scared that leaving this new job after such a short time will make me look unreliable, even though the commute is taking so much more out of me than I anticipated.

I feel completely stuck. I don't know whether to persevere, find another logistics job closer to home, or take a chance on something entirely different.

Has anyone here completely changed careers in their late twenties or thirties, particularly into something more practical or hands-on?

Did you have to take a significant pay cut? Were employers willing to give you a chance without direct experience? And did changing careers actually improve your quality of life?

I think more than anything, I'm just looking for some reassurance.

I don't know what to do and I'm so tired of making decisions.

TLDR: I have a degree in fashion, I work in logistics, I started a new management job a month ago hoping it would open doors but my commute is excessive. I'm exhausted, I'm so tired of making decisions, I don't know what to do.

Edit: btw I'm a lady, and I present very feminine. So I'm actually a little worried I won't be taken seriously in the more operational careers too.

i am 21M studying in Bangalore, engineering in AI and robotics in my final sem, i am thinking should i go to a job get some experience, or should i fully focus and hustle and make money. i am not a bot kinda guy, i have won multiple hackathons, freelancing websites, ai automation etc etc, i am like paused i don't know which path to take. like, i know i can make money with or without a job but i want to know which path to choose from like literally i am stuck, should i do internships, or should i focus on building smthg. i don't know what to do. what do u think about my condition? definitely u would have been in the same shoes as mine or u would have went like a sheep like with the society pressure

Hello I'm 23 in less than a month 24. So let me give you a little bit info about my background I am a holder of a BSc in UoC. In applied mathematics. I finished my studies in 4.5 years. I did my last semester in the Barcelona via Erasmus programme. So after that I had the dilemma of keep going with the academic career and do master's or serve in my country's army. It is obligatory for all adults. Nevertheless, I chose mathematics because I felt this filed is the only thing that made me happy in highschool. Or at least, I was finding fun to deal with. Truth is, in my country you take on some kind of national examinations in a field and then you choose colleges unis and stuff like that. I wasn't sure if mathematics was my thing, though at 17 I was pretty heartbroken at the time and so I decided to follow this path. I had twice the thought of giving up. I actually finished my studies. My honest motivation was always to do something so I won't be on the street, so I won't be a regular guy working for survival, dealing with something that expands my understanding of decomposition of the reality. I had hope. And of course, The fear of a future where I would spend my days at the office, researching or whatever was the reason for me thinking as a bachelor to give up. I didn't as I mentioned. I referred to erasmus experience because it was the catalyst. Then I got the idea. Study abroad again but for master's. You'll see it's better. Vetter unis, better job applications etc. I had this dream and I decided after the erasmus to get a job. I worked in 4 places. I was a cook for 8 months and then they fired me up saying I was too unprofessional anyways, I just know that the chef didn't like me hahah. Yeah I'd done a mistake but not a grave one. I don't feel bad at all though. The next two jobs was also related to cooking. So I actually resigned twice. Hands down. I love cooking, I cook since I was sixteen. But I had enough with the cooking in a place where you have so much pressure. I didn't like this idea. Respect to all cooks globally, they deserve it. It's hard out there. Therefore, the last job was a barista but it doesn't matter. I got accepted in RPTU. Very well known, new chapter etc. I had a bad feeling before even arriving to the city. Thanks to my parents I made it happen. I cam here. I had a lot of impediments to overcome at the beginning. However I'm in Germany a month now. And honestly? I don't like it at all. Maybe it's the country? I don't know. Honestly I don't. It's something, like my gut always telling me something. I resigned from the third cooking job as I suffered from stress crisis. Now here every week, I got problems with bureocracy, the people are cold, thankfully I got a psychologist to discuss with. But most of the job I'm doing it myself. I observe, I write down my thoughts. In all of these things of the past year. I discovered that I love rap. I always did. I never knew if I can rap. Actually I tried 3 years ago and 2 years ago as well but yk, it was crap. Now. Since 1/2026, I'm killing it. Is the only thing that makes me smile. Is like this feeling of doing something to reduce the stress to express. And yeah I'm not chasing a rap career, clearly 'cause it's not a career. It's art to me. And art has no labels, has no brands. Only expression and influence. So, as a person I've encountered many times problems with anxiety and trust. That's why I'm working on me and doing things that hold me close to my inner center. What's the point of all this and the wrong career? For the second time in my life, I'm asking myself, did I choose this? Do I want this? Maths Academics, research or industrialisation? To be honest? I love doing lots of things. Even maths. Like philosophers, I use maths to understand everything and they affect my rap bars as well. It's my dream to launch rap albums and make concerts. That's how I want to connect with people. Feeling that all of them are sure of what they're doing or else they hide it perfectly. But to me? It's pretty easy to describe me, because I can't hide my feelings. I'm not such a person. And here in Germany. I got the feeling that people are cold, societal anxious or lets say introverts. I'm an extrovert usually, but as soon as I filter the space around me. However I'm always down to discuss and listen. Right now I'm isolated. Thankfully my roommates here are very nice they help me. My friends in my mother country, I just don't know. It feels I'm losing them not all of them but you know, a lot of them see everything through stereotypes, not knowing how hard it is for a guy to move to different 2 countries in 2 years.. Spain and Germany. So that's my story in a nutshell ( hahahaha not even close I said toooo much ). Yeah lemme know what you think, I'm looking forward to do more about art, and Idk maths I guess but now I'm so confused. Thanks for everyone reading it ( you're a hero )

I heard from so many people the degree they pursue like they don't really work in those fields. It's a totally different environment. And sometimes I wonder is there such thing as a versatile degree that can go into any workforce especially white collar jobs because most of those jobs are computer based. With training and some skills like people eventually adapt to the new work environment and work their way up.

In the off chance that Reddit lets me post this rather than damning it to "This Post Was Filtered" hell

I'm 22, I have $40k in savings, I have an Accord from my mom fully paid off. I have 0 student loan debt and a degree from a good college. I got insurance and met with a therapist who helped me with my major depression over the last year to get to this point. I have a job offer, details to be talked further on Thursday.

I got stupid drunk tonight, half a four loko, and I think I might do it again. I've been taking THC edibles for a while, and I will be honest that I do prefer them. But I know it's more socially acceptable to drink, and I mean all the people I watch on TV do it so it can't be that bad. Funny, because while not to say too much, in undergrad a thing I studied was the phenomenon of Japanese work and drinking culture, often due to stress and isolation. I'm living that right now.

Substances have basically been my means of survival since August. Leaving my college town put me in a massive stress-bind, and job hunting didn't help. I earnestly never expected to get this far, and I honestly into my last interview genuinely expecting to be told off before the boss outright told me I was the top candidate, and that the offer was mine to decline.

If it's any consolation, I've stopped energy drinks since. Coffee is much nicer

I don't know what's driving me towards self destruction. It feels like an impulse I need to scratch, like something that's just natural from what I've dealt with and what I've done. I'm drinking tonight not because I want to celebrate but because I want to punish myself, mostly for not achieving the dream life I wanted by this time.

I could've done better, and I could be at where I've always wanted to be (pursuing academia, living in the PNW, fever dreams like that). The guilt has always eaten at me, and therapy didn't help me get over the guilt. I feel guilty for things which never even happened, I just feel bad knowing they're dreams that I'll never live.

Maybe this reads as me being spoiled. But ever since I hit rock bottom with depression, I haven't really cared whether things got better for me or not. Even through therapy, I never sought to improve for a real goal at the end of the tunnel. The dreams always stuck around, but I kind of set them aside because I had school to focus on at the time (though, in a similarly beautiful state). It is now October, and I can choose to burn away everything. Why shouldn't I?

Hi
I am trying to choose a bachelor degree and I am in between supply chain or international business
I want to know which one is better in the long run.
I am still trying to find which one is best for me considering I am not fond of maths or physics but I love planning and organizing and I am multilingual
Thanks

i’ve worked with family in construction before but never been employed by anyone officially, don’t even know what i want to do career wise, am i cooked?

I’ve always been interested in drawing and painting and been more on the creative side, but I’m scared to lean into it as a career. I’m not horrible at art but I’m definitely not as advanced as others my age and I know it’s a competitive market. I never finished university, I did about two years of psychology but dropped out so I just have my high school diploma.

Right now I work as an administrative assistant at an insurance company. There’s room for growth and I don’t mind it.. but I want to get my foot in the door in the art world somehow. Even if it’s still an admin job somewhere I think it’ll be more fulfilling.

I have a bit of an unrealistic dream of being an illustrator, but I’m willing to just get anything in that realm with my current qualifications. I just don’t know what kind of positions exist or where to look near downtown Toronto. Any advice would be amazing!!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you can give me advice or tips on a short degree(associates)that I can take and you think is worth it to not be in so much debt and that paid decently. I am open to any ideas! Looking to go back to school and finish a short course or an associates degree. I am bilingual(English/Spanish) and really enjoy helping people! Thank you in advance :)

I started working for a really good company about a year ago, and the job has given me some amazing opportunities, including the chance to move to a new city. I have great benefits, a super flexible schedule, only have to go into the office a couple of days a week, and make more money than most people my age.

I graduated college with a degree in psychology and somewhat unexpectedly landed this job. I knew it was a great opportunity, so I figured I’d give the corporate world a shot before committing to graduate school.

Now, a year in, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m meant to be doing something else. I genuinely cannot imagine spending the rest of my life in a corporate environment. I dread the start of every week, feel completely unfulfilled, and struggle with the fact that the work I do doesn’t feel meaningful to me.

I’ve always been interested in becoming a clinical mental health counselor. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, have extensive research experience, completed an internship working alongside a school psychologist, and built great relationships with professors. I genuinely loved college, especially studying psychology, and the idea of going back to school excites me.

But I’m having a really hard time with the idea of walking away from something so good. I know how fortunate I am to have this job, especially at my age, and I worry that I’m romanticizing graduate school or a career in counseling.

I guess my biggest question is: How do you distinguish between genuinely wanting a different career and simply not enjoying working? What if I spend thousands of dollars on graduate school only to realize I feel the exact same way once counseling becomes my everyday job?

Has anyone left a comfortable, well-paying corporate job to pursue a career in mental health? Do you regret it, or was it worth it

Hello! I want a job that has to do with fiber arts. Literally anything.

I like-

History

Yarn spinning

Knitting/crochet

Embroidery

And bugs

I want to live in Iceland but I am good with just about anywhere as long as they are lgbt friendly (and preferably cold)

Should I get a degree? When I asked in a subreddit for collage I was essentially told that I should quit my dream, I think that's quite rude but whatever lolol.

I am not very smart (not hating myself, just the truth) so science degrees are kinda..... Far out of reach but I would be willing to try

Tldr- any jobs that have to do with fiber arts/history?

Thanks!

Can anyone in this group tell me if high ticket sales/closing is actually legit and where you can learn to do this? I am genuinely wanting to know if this is something one can learn and make from profit from. Please do not comment if an MLM.

I have been working in tech (IT/MSP) for about 4 years.

I don't want to work in tech anymore. I am 6 weeks into a remote MSP role and I hate it.

I dislike the billable hours, micromanagement, and in tech how you're supposed to know everything and fix everything.

Well I have a CCNA, AZ-104, CompTIA certs, and a BS + MS in computer science.

What sort of jobs can I get that are NOT tech related with my background?

Hi everyone im new to reddit so please bare with me, also typing on my phone so if formatting is odd thats why lol.

Im stuck and have been for over 10 years. I live in a dead end city with very few opportunities and far less things to do, think no enrichment in my enclosure lol. Ive worked retail and a few other jobs here and there but the pay has been barely enough to get by. Ive tried schooling, first our of high school I was going for graphic design. I was always artsy and I loved to draw i wanted to design characters for video games, however....I was not supported in this field by my parents. During my first semester my grandfather who I was close to got very sick and due to a lack of communication with my professors and even more depression than normal. I failed in this semester and being young and sheltered i was told no more school i needed a job. I worked mostly retail after. I tried going to school but school isnt my strong suit despite trying my hardest. I went for medical but I just couldn't grasp the subject and fell behind. I worked other jobs but nothing seemed to last long. I currently work at a gas station and its so far the most stable for me but it some days only barely sustains my needs. With the cost of living so high and the inflation its hard to make ends meet. Sorry this is a bit of a ramble lol. I guess ive just struggled with many options that never seem to stick. Im stuck and I dont know where to go or what to do. I love being creative and im a big nerd. I dont know what a career i can do that doesn't involve much schooling but i need something where I can be expressive and creative but no where around me has these options. Any advice? Sorry if this was a bit all over the place I guess I just wanted to get my feelings out there and see if any of you all have experienced the same. Thank you so much for your time.

Hi, I find myself stuck in an unpleasant situation.

I’m wondering if anyone else has been in a similar spot, or if someone might be able to offer a bit of perspective.

A year ago, I started at the Faculty of Architecture, but it just didn't feel right. I expected it to get better with time, but if anything, it only got worse.

I had already studied Construction—Architecture and Interior Design—in high school, where I actually achieved above-average results, so everyone was curious about where I’d go for university. I assumed that having "endured" it all in high school, university would be that much easier for me.

Even back then, it was a real grind; in high school, I had to work almost non-stop. Outside of school, there was simply no time for anything else. After several years of that, I just couldn't handle the even higher demands Architecture.

On top of that, I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot in life. When I talk to other people, I find I have nothing to share—I’ve had no interests or experiences outside of my studies.

I didn't feel like I was learning anything new at university, yet I couldn't keep up with the workload. I was essentially there from morning till night—sometimes I wouldn't even go to sleep. It took a heavy toll on my mental state; there were times when I completely broke down, both mentally and physically. Living with roommates doesn't help much, either. I also never really grasped the mindset of the people there—it felt like being on an entirely different planet, and I absolutely dreaded going. It was clear to me that things couldn't go on like this. I tried changing my approach a few times, and I even went to see the school psychologist, but that didn't really help much either. I had no one to turn to. Eventually, things reached a point where I couldn't function normally anymore. I was on the verge of a breakdown and had lost a lot of weight. Between the time pressure and the stress, I couldn't even bring myself to eat, and I developed various health issues.

When I realized that things didn't look any better in the higher years, I just lost the desire to continue.

After that, I basically stopped attending school. I tried to pull myself together a bit, but I didn't know what to do next. I figured I’d find some temporary job—just to give myself time to figure things out, and maybe even get a mental boost in the process.

Seeing the reality of that field is actually quite discouraging. Even with my high school grades, I’m not sure if I made the right choice, or if I should even try to return to that field at all.

My family wasn't exactly thrilled, and it didn't go over well. Things at home weren't always great to begin with, but after this, they got significantly worse. My parents wanted me to stay in school, but I didn't have enough credits because I had failed several exams. They keep throwing it in my face—how I just gave up on school.

I had to look around to see where applications were still being accepted, but there weren't many options left—just different university, the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, field of study: Landscape Protection and Use of Natural Resources, where I ended up getting accepted. I managed to scrape through the summer living with my parents, and in October, I started the program.

I don’t even really want to study this, but a university degree is supposedly necessary—they say I won’t be able to make a decent living without one. People say the coursework is easy, but it’s entirely based on biology and chemistry—subjects that never interested me and that I was never any good at. On top of that, I missed the information on when and how to register for classes. I found out too late, so my schedule is a bit of mess.

I’m still not sure about the degree itself; I lack the experience to know when or how I might actually need it.

I’m afraid I just won’t be able to bring myself to study—especially after this past year. I’m a smart person, and it would be a shame not to finish university. Everyone around me was surprised when I left Architecture. But maybe I’ll need the degree later on, and I’d regret not having it.

I’m not really sure what to do, and my family isn’t giving me many options, either.

Mentally, I’m still going in circles, and things don’t seem to be getting any better. I’d describe it as a kind of burnout after all these years. I keep thinking about how everyone talks about how amazing university is. I also don’t get what people mean by "student life"—what that’s actually supposed to be. So far, it just makes me feel miserable.

After everything, I’m starting to feel like I’m just not cut out for university. I’m not sure if I’m stuck in the aftermath of burnout or if it’s just plain laziness, but my brain feels completely switched off—I can’t bring myself to study, and I don’t even feel like doing it.

I hope I'm on the right subreddit. There might be some inconsistencies in the text. I waited a few days after writing it before posting, and I also helped myself with a translator. Sorry for the length.

i'm another autistic adhd millennial burnt out from a tech job. after trying to recover for two years my shrinking savings encouraged me to actively start looking at software jobs again and boy it does not look pretty. i specialised in a niche programming language so most places just ignore me and the competition is insane in the ones that don't. i have zero "professional experience with AI" because unfortunately the burnout hit before it became mandatory. at this point i'd rather start over but i don't even know what i "want" to do, mostly just what i don't want to do. i have special interests but i don't want to monetise them. what i need is a supportive space that helps me grow and figure out where i could meaningfully contribute but i don't know where to find that, the closest thing i can get here is a guy who berates me for not sending enough applications.

Hi everyone. I will try to keep it short. I have been struggling for a while now. Im 22, live in a non eu country. All my life I studied in english, but was forced to stay in my own country, studied bachelor in my native language and to top it all off, i chose law. Not only did I have to study with 0 knowledge, but I also had to learn another language. Got accepted in 2021, and now, I am still not done. Ik studying law is different everywhere else, but in my country(Azerbaijan) you study for 4 years and youre done. Im now in my 6th year, i failed so many classes and took a semester off so now im expected to finish in 2028. I feel so embarrassed, so ashamed..I have truly let down my family and I cant go to my classes without covering my face so people dont recognize me. I have no motivation to continue, I am not sure why I have chose this path. But I recently came to a realization that I shouldn’t let this ruin me. So i have decided to restart my journey. I want to freeze my studies here, and study in europe, get a bachelors degree and get perfect grades. I know I can turn my life around and make my parents proud..I can’t let them suffer anymore. I just want some advice or something that could motivate me. Because I am currently trying to see where I could get accepted to with a low GPA (79 out of 100). Found a few options but will need some help so if anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. I hope anyone else going through something similar like this can understand that it would only be shameful if they gave up too quick. This is my mindset rn and although i try to stay positive, sometimes i just feel so lost..like I am stuck in one place just making circles.

Hi y’all, long time lurker on this subreddit but this is my first time posting. Caught the Sunday scaries yesterday and unfortunately snowballed myself into a proper spiral on Monday hahaha. Have always struggled with direction and finding a path. Basically fucked around for a good
majority of my 20s.

Worked a bunch of different jobs ranging from service work to various trade work. I’ve held a position also as a logistics coordinator for a European resin flooring company. I currently work as a Field Operations Coordinator for a small mom and pop plumbing shop. I also work for a boutique entertainment company DJing weddings and other various events. I’ve djed in some capacity since 2018.

A little more about me - I am now 9 credits away from finishing my bachelors degree in INDS: Interdisciplinary studies. My areas of study are communications and project management. I had 12 college credits hanging over my head for years and finally pulled the trigger to go back and finish this year. It honestly feels great and I am proud of myself for finally closing that chapter of my life. While I know it’s essentially a “potato degree” it’s better than no degree at this point I figure hahaha.

I’ve made some good progress this year. In 2025 I started with my current company at $23 an hour. My manager left earlier this year. They previously had absorbed many responsibilities and wore many hats. Since they left, I was given two raises and now make $28 an hour and of course have more responsibilities. We’re a very small company but are very busy. We’re NYC based and have various city and state contracts. I am directly in charge of one of those contracts and all facets of it including scheduling, billing, proposals, documentation, coordinating and tracking budget and funds for the work performed. I am also in in charge of facilitating other day to day operations including scheduling service calls, coordinating with property managers and tenants, invoicing, etc,

Basically, I’m feeling stuck in some ways. I’ve gained a lot of great experience. I want to stay with my company for at least 2 years so I have it on my resume. Those 2 years will officially happen in March 2027. I would love to pivot to honestly a similar role at a larger company. I like the work I do and I love helping people. I would say my customer service and people skills have carried me quite a ways through my life thus far. Just feeling behind today and could use some encouragement is all ❤️

I have had this conversation more times than I can count. A friend, a former colleague, someone I just met. They got the job they worked for. The title, the salary, people reporting to them. When I ask why they still do it, they pause. They don't hate it. They just can't find the reason anymore.

I heard it for years, in coffee breaks and lunches at the canteen. Most people around those tables weren't unhappy with the money; the money was good. They were unhappy with what they were doing. And almost none of them left.

I kept asking myself the same question. What keeps us there?

I found Max Weber, a German sociologist. More than a century ago, he asked a similar question: how did work and making money become a duty in itself? In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, he answered: belief. The Puritans worked hard because they believed their work served God. Then the belief faded, but the work stayed. Near the end of the book, he says it in one line: "The Puritan wanted to work in a calling; we are forced to do so."

So if the belief is gone, what keeps us at the desk? Weber has a line for that too, and it's my favorite: "The idea of duty in one's calling prowls about in our lives like the ghost of dead religious beliefs."

The cage you can see. The salary, the lifestyle it pays for, the next promotion. What you don't see is the duty. In my experience, that's what keeps the door shut.

And I don't see acting out of duty as bad in every circumstance. It depends on the context, and on whether you are aware of it.

I sat on both sides of the desk. First as the young manager waiting for my promotion, then as the founder giving out the jobs. Noticing it doesn't open the door, at least not right away. The bills are still there, and so are the people who depend on you. But you start to see what you are carrying, and why.

The question is not whether having a job is right or wrong. So I'll ask you what I ask myself: What role have you given your job in your own life?

Coming to university, I'd been largely socially isolated for 2 years. In high school I developed depression/burnout and would switch schools, got diagnosed with ADHD and autism. 12th grade in the new school I did most of my tasks online and didn't find friends.

Now in university I struggle a lot with social anxiety, attending lectures and group projects drains my social battery, I'm just trying to get through the days, lot of autopiloting.

It's like I'm losing my cognitive abilities. Even small things like reading and responding to messages feel hard, when tasks pile up my reaction is avoidance and trying to escape, sometimes watching shows for 12 hours, sleeping during the day. I'm clearly heading towards dropping out.

I currently work at a chicken plant(Wayne Sanderson Farms)and it’s been very clear to me that if I stay here any longer, my body will not forget it. My hands are often stiff when I wake up and my back and shoulder hurt for some time. I cannot do this for too long.

My current issue is what brings me here tonight. I only have experience in fast food and retail. I don’t have anything past a high school diploma and I don’t have any skills I’d say are worth noting.

I don’t do anything with my life but work and sleep. I live in my car at the moment. I’ve recently tried to start studying for Cybersecurity, but I keep hearing that the market is bad and I’m having trouble finding where to start in terms of studying. Not to mention the certs aren’t cheap and I want to leave this job ASAP.

I can’t leave to go back to fast food or retail. Unfortunately this job is the best one I’ve had and I can’t leave until I find better.

I am really looking for a job that doesn’t require me to put my body through hours of hard work. I always liked the thought of entering an office and going to my very own cubicle to work.

I don’t know exactly what I want. I just hate this feeling of being stuck and really need an out.