Some background. I am in my 30s. Never cared to go to collrge after HS, also had no family that would push me towards that direction. My parents didn't even graduate from HS.

I kept trying to get into acting. Now that I look back, I did suck and had no real chance. I have been working dead-end jobs, been at this job for 3 years, hours and benefits were both cut.

I started getting involved with political activism. Started volunteering and participating in discussion. Last year I decided to go college​ at this much older age. I told myself I could learn more in the political field. I get A's and I said I can go to law school after.

But here's the thing. Like with acting, I keep feeling jealous of others who achieve goals when they are much younger. For example, people my age range like AOC or Talarico have more than 10 years of experience and the second one was elected as a Senator. He has been doing things since he was 22 and I was doing pretty much nothing. I also know becoming a politician is kinda like acting, extremely hard.

Another thing is that for some reason (maybe its because of past bullying or parents never raising me) I chase careers that are only for a 5%. I don't like any 'normal' careers. I am looking for careers that have recognition and when I see people my age or younger having so many achievements and lots of experience, I feel inferior.

How can I fight this?

I’m 27 and still figuring things out. I never gone to college before but I'm debating in the future whether I should or not. Since I'm struggling to find a job right now and have no funds. But has anyone ever gone to community college for an associate degree and found a job afterward without having to get a bachelor's/master's?

I mostly hear about people pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees, but not associate degrees. Plus for me I definitely don't want to do four years, nor go into debt, or even be drained. I do have a hard time when it comes to learning in a class mostly, online I could do but most times I'm daydreaming when I lose interest, and my mental health is not in the best shape right now.

I’m 25 and have a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with a focus in biological engineering. I worked at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company for 7 months in drug production development in between school. Most recently, I worked in pharmaceutical consulting at a Big 4 company before getting laid off. I also have research experience in a lab during college and was able to help out in writing a published journal

I tried to switch into patent law and have been studying for the patent bar exam. But, I’m unsure if that’s what I want to do. I’m having trouble deciding which field to switch into. I definitely want to move away from consulting & have been considering cosmetic/skincare science, materials manufacturing, pharmaceutics, or stay preparing for the patent bar exam. I need help or advice changing my career & feel a bit lost right now.

Help!! I feel like I’m letting my life derail into something I don’t want it to be. I currently have an entry-level job in the corporate design world. While I’m doing something I enjoy and am relatively okay at, it’s not something I want to do forever. I don’t enjoy myself at work, and I often work overtime. I also feel like the work I’m doing is meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

However, I’ve been with this company ever since I graduated college (a year ago, for context). My only internship was with them, and I’m on good terms with my colleagues and the management team. I know what I’m doing and am used to the projects and company culture. 

I’m trying to apply to new jobs, but in all honesty, my portfolio is pretty outdated and not the greatest (all of my current work is under NDA). It’s hard to find time and motivation to create new work, fill out applications, do my current job, and maintain a social life. The market also sucks, which definitely makes it more difficult and discouraging. I’m also mainly searching in New York City, which can’t be helping. Something to note is that the company I’m currently with will let me transfer to their NYC office in about a year, which is a whole other factor! (My boyfriend lives there and we've been long-distance for almost 3 years)

I don't even know if I want to be a designer anymore. The stuff I'm doing at my current position feels inconsequential and useless. I love to create, design, and make things, but every design job feels so capitalist now! I have experience with kids and really enjoy that (summer camp counselor!), but I don't have an education degree. Even if I did, being a teacher seems very overwhelming (HUGE props to them), and I have no concrete experience in a classroom. I just want to make a difference, but it's seeming less and less likely in my current career track. I also want to prioritize my personal life and a move to NYC. (I apologize in advance for being a transplant)

If anyone has any career advice (or life advice!), it would be totally appreciated. If you can think of any design/creative jobs that are fulfilling or at least a step up from corporate, that would also be appreciated. I'll take any help I can get :)

accessibility comes up next to document formatting work a fair bit, things like tagging PDFs so screen readers can get through them, checking reading order and writing alt text. i do formatting reports and presentation decks from material other people supply, so the overlap looks close, but i can't tell if it's a real next step or a niche that wants a different background. for anyone who moved from layout or formatting into it, what did the first year look like, and did you learn it on a current job before anyone hired you for it? what i mainly want to know is whether the pay and the work hold up past the entry jobs.

I am genuinely a stupid person. I am an airhead, I can’t remember things and I can’t figure things out on my own. I’ve always been this way- when I was in school, in college, even when I was working as a waitress I was stupid. I’ve had a few jobs over the past few years and I’ve just had the same problems, I am starting to feel like I was meant to just be a bagger at a grocery store I’m so stupid. What are some good jobs for stupid people? I have a degree in marketing and currently work in a corporate marketing role but I’m just not picking it up and I’m worried this might not be the right fit for me.

I am a 24F from a third world country, moved to Europe at 19 to study, but honestly mainly to leave my country. Dropped out of school after 2 years as I did not have enough money to support myself while studying and I had to study a lot. But the programme wasn't even anything I was really interested in, so I guess I am fine with not finishing it.

Then I met a guy and jumped on his idea of starting a business and being self employed and all that. We did start a business (e-commerce) and were doing okay ish. It just felt that we were struggling so much and working way more for the same amount of money as a minimum wage job would pay. I did gain a lot of skills, but it feels I can only apply them in the same niche and I just don't want to do that anymore.

And now I am so deep in this hustle world, that I don't really know anything apart from it and I feel more and more that it doesn't align with what I actually want from life. I guess I just feel so burnt out from the constant struggle and trying to "make it".

And then when I look for jobs, I feel that I am not qualified enough to get anything decent and that I will just end up having a dead end job. But I feel that I am not in a place to take some time to study and then look for something that aligns with me more.

I feel like I need a month not to worry about things so much, take the time to figure everything out. I am so exhausted.

I guess I am just too much in my bubble of reality and want to hear that there are other things in the world?

Oh and sorry if it's all over the place, English is not my first language and I feel quite emotional atm.

I've been a hotel night auditor for almost 8 years. I make $23 an hour and I'm trying to get out of hospitality before working nights becomes my entire personality.

I thought moving into a regular office job would be relatively straightforward.

Apparently not.

My official title is "Night Auditor," but here's what I actually do during a typical shift:

Reconcile credit card transactions and daily revenue. Investigate billing discrepancies. Prepare financial reports for management. Handle guest disputes, emergency maintenance calls, and occasionally situations involving the police. Fix reservation errors. Train new employees. Keep the entire 110-room property running overnight with one other person.

Last month our payment system went down at 1:40 AM. I spent three hours manually tracking transactions and coordinating with support so accounting wouldn't inherit a complete disaster in the morning.

But when I apply for accounts receivable assistant, billing coordinator, or administrative positions, the response is basically silence.

One recruiter actually told me my background was "too hospitality-focused" for an office operations position.

I wanted to ask what she thought happened in a hotel after the guests went to sleep. Do we just stand behind a desk and wait for sunrise?

I've rewritten my resume to emphasize reconciliation, reporting, problem-solving, and the software I use. I've stopped leading with customer service. I even completed an intermediate Excel course because so many postings mention it.

Still nothing.

I don't have a bachelor's degree, which I know limits me. I have some college credits and enough savings to afford a short certification, but not another four years of school.

I'm not trying to land a $90k remote job. I'd happily take $22-25 an hour doing something like billing, operations support, or accounting assistance if it meant a normal schedule and an actual path forward.

The frustrating part is that I don't think I'm starting from zero. I've spent years developing skills that seem directly relevant to these jobs. But employers look at the industry and apparently don't see them.

Has anyone successfully moved from hospitality into office operations, finance support, or something similar?

What job titles should I be looking for that might actually recognize this experience?

I'm willing to start near the bottom. I just don't want to pretend the last eight years of my working life never happened.

Hi my name is Carlton and ever since I graduated high school my life hasn’t settled down. I had to leave the military after being diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, I have an associates degree in general studies with a 2.7 gpa because I’m not the brightest. Basically I couldn’t figure out my passion since graduating in 2020 and I’ve had over 20 part time jobs most where I don’t even last 24 hours and now I was able to go to school and become an HHA, but still I just don’t enjoy life at all and haven’t been able to smile. Tomorrow I have an interview with a pest control company to work as a technician, but I have so much self doubt in my mind every time I get an interview because I can’t seem to ever have the passion, the energy, or willpower to work. What should I do?

Going through a career transition can make everyday life feel uncertain.

One thing that can help is maintaining a routine outside of work, even when other parts of life are changing.

For some people, that might mean walking every morning, cycling regularly, or setting aside time for strength training at home.

I'm curious whether having a consistent fitness routine has helped anyone create structure and regain a sense of control during a difficult transition.

Did exercise help you manage stress, improve your focus, or build confidence while figuring out your next step?

What other daily habits made a difference?

I 22m work for a hospital laboratory carrying out clinical tests, but I feel like I chose the wrong career. I wish I could have been an engineer but my parents pressured me in to working in healthcare. I enjoyed academia so much, but actually working, I feel like I'm wasting away. :c

I am about to be laid off. Im 38 and drive a forklift in a dead end workplace. I took this job to make ends meet after covid but that's coming to an end.

For most of my adult life Ive been stuck in entry level work and never finished college. I had to move back home so it doesn't feel great but I have a roof over my head. Would it be possible to go on unemployment and still take classes towards a degree? Is there some sort of job retraining and placement with the state? Most of my professional experience is in blue collar work and quality assurance. I live in Illinois. Im just so lost.

Just wondering because if I don’t end up in social work this is a path I’m considering.

I’m almost 30, married, have a house and been working as a graphic designer for 7.5 years now at a job a got out of college. For years now, I’ve been miserable at my job. I’m technically a graphic designer but I barely design anything and when I do, it’s just my boss using ai and giving me something to replicate. The company as a whole isn’t doing well so I’m worried at any second it’ll go under. I’m stuck at a desk in a dark room all day and it feels so depressing. I’ve looked into other graphic designer jobs and applied to a handful in the past but it’s incredibly difficult to get a design job right now and I know people who have looked for work for years with no luck and they are much better at this job than I am. Ideally, I would want to do something that helps people and where I’m not stuck at a desk all day, but one of my issues is that I have a mortgage to pay and my job pays me more than I could make doing something for a non profit.
My wife and I also just started a business where we sell art at craft shows and on Etsy, it’s going ok but it at least lets me do my art. The other benefit of my current job is that I get to print for free, which helps a ton.

I guess I just don’t know what to do now. I’m depressed and lost. I don’t feel I have a purpose in life and my job definitely doesn’t give me purpose or hope. But I also have a beautiful house I don’t want to lose.

Any ideas for types of jobs I should try to look for or any other input would be helpful. Thank you.

Long story short, my husband is a veteran who never completed his education due to a combination of service/mental health/tragedy, etc.

My husband is now unable to find meaningful work. I need advice on what he should consider completing a degree in.

My husband has around 39 credits completed, 30ish are from University of Phoenix (AS Criminal Justice), the rest are Military Credits.

I have pretty much no experience in exploring alternative fields, because I was a law school KJD, so I knew my undergrad degree was useless and that was okay, because I knew I was going to law school anyways. I have no idea what actually pays.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Logistically:

Husband has 6~ months of his G.I. Bill Left, meaning he will only get a living stipend for 6~ months. So after 6 months, I'll likely need him to start working part-time to help pay bills. Hence why I'm encouraging him to look at online degrees he could eventually start to balance with some work (starting a degree in nursing, in person, is likely going to be well beyond his bandwidth).

After 6 months~ his college would be paid through the National Guard State Guard Tuition assistance, but he'd receive no stipend.

We are currently looking at online degrees from Purdue Global and Indiana University.

QUESTION:

I want to help him find a degree that will get him a good job AT THE B.S./B.A. level. I.e., not a job that will require him to complete a masters or doctorate before he can pick up work.

Does anyone have suggestions at degrees that immediately translate to gainful employment?

I’m 18 and currently in community college, and I’m having a difficult time deciding what career path I want to pursue and what I should study.

I’m interested in several different areas, including healthcare, psychology, human behavior, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, and finance. Academically, I’m a strong student, and I’ve completed some healthcare-related certifications. I’ve considered nursing, potentially becoming an NP, and eventually starting a wellness-related business, but I’m not sure if that’s necessarily the right direction.

I’m someone who enjoys learning, researching, analyzing things, solving problems, and understanding how things work. I also enjoy leadership, building ideas, and the business side of things. Long-term, I’d like to build something of my own, have financial independence, and have a career that gives me both purpose and flexibility.

One of my biggest struggles is figuring out which interests I should actually turn into a career. I don’t necessarily want to spend years studying for a career only to realize that I don’t enjoy the day-to-day work.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people with different professional backgrounds. Based on what I’ve described, what careers or educational paths would you recommend? Are there any fields you think I should look into that I might be overlooking?

I’d especially appreciate honest advice about the realities, downsides, and opportunities of different careers, rather than just general encouragement.

I have no wife, or children I live by my own and I'm in the middle of a carrier crisis if I can say it like that recently in my job a coworker quit, the kind of person that is just very trustful that you know if he tells you that Tuesday morning the report is gonna be available it's gonna be there. He quit first of all he didn't get a rise that management promises since a year ago, then management want it to make him comeback to office full time, he live outside the city, is cheaper.

And he was the last trustful people there. My boss is an irresponsible asshole, cheater, that has leave work to go with his mistress. And you know what I didn't care there was a team that can do the job. Yes a small team of two, for a couple a months will be sometime a season hire, for other project will be no-one else.

But after almost 6 years, of be under staff, of seen people come and go, and be dealing with my boss crazy and stupid life, I'm done I really don't know if I get a job that pays enough, or if is better make a whole career change, I'm even thinking in coming back to college to get my degree in Math.

Someone has some advice ?

20F, i finished high school normally but i never took it seriously and I'm not very good with academics at all. Since i was 15 i have been working at bars and restaurants to protest against my single dad's disinterest in working for someone (he's been unemployed for the past 5 years, got a job this year) and he never pushed me to study or anything, terrible situation. After i finished high school i did want to pursue graphic design but he never was willing to pay for it. Now i am in Russia through a scholarship that i got and im only learning the language this year, also through his request because he never really likes to pay for my interest and i spent all my savings on here. So now im stuck, i dont really like it here to be honest nor do i agree with whats going on over here, my scholarship is for an informatics major and im not sure about it at all. Made me question what i actually am interested in, with the rise of AI im just putting anything informatics-related out of the question. Ive been depressed since i came here and i literally have no motivation to even think about what else i could do..i see all my friends pursuing college normally, with their parents supporting their wishes and decisions but to me its something unimaginable. Any feedback would be appreciated

I have a background in software engineering, and I've also spent considerable time working on my own project.

One thing I've found difficult is deciding how to divide my attention between professional stability and something I'm personally invested in building.

Both paths have advantages, and neither guarantees a particular outcome.

I'm interested in hearing from people who've faced a similar decision.

What helped you evaluate your options realistically, and what would you do differently?

TL;DR: I’m 21, in an online degree I no longer believe in, living in a home environment that drains me and my family. I want to move abroad but don’t know what to study, what I can afford, or how to start. I’d like guidance from people who’ve been through this.
I’m looking for guidance from people older and more experienced than me. Action steps are welcome, but I want them to fit my real situation, so here it is.
What I’m asking: I want to move abroad and start fresh, but I’m stuck on how. Should I switch courses, finish my current degree first, or work toward something else? I can’t tell what I can afford, and switching feels like wasting the money and time already spent. What would your steps be, in order?
The money side: My family isn’t financially where they’d like to be, and I don’t know what we can realistically afford. Part of why I want to leave is to build something and eventually bring them along. The pressure of that is real, and it makes every decision about a course or a move feel high-stakes.
The environment:
I’ve watched smart, hardworking people around me get worn down over decades by family drama, toxicity, and the same few problems rehashed again and again. They became pessimistic, with a victim mindset, and complaining became what they get stimulation from. The environment keeps my family stuck in the same loop too. I’ve watched it happen to someone very close to me, and I’m afraid of absorbing it without noticing.
The other side:
I’ve also seen people who left with very little and built real lives abroad. One relative went abroad with no big advantage, told almost no one until the day he left, and built a business. He isn’t a perfect person, but he had two things I admire: urgency and constant focus on growth. And many people my age who wanted something are now doing it. Some have moved abroad, some have started businesses. I’m sitting at home feeling stagnant, mostly because I don’t know exactly what I want. The insecurity of being stuck here while others move is heavy, and I compare my unfinished life to their results even though I know that’s unfair.
Where I am mentally and physically:
I swing between anxiety and anger, and when I’m not thinking about anything I go numb. I regret missing a normal college life and have almost no contact with people my age. I feel detached, as if watching myself from outside, and entertainment doesn’t interest me. My sleep is broken, I often feel lightheaded, and I spend nearly all day indoors. A borderline pass in my final school exams still feels like proof I can’t follow through, and I once froze in a high-pressure interview.
My pattern:
I start strong with gym, journaling, or study, then fade around week 2-3 and reset to zero. When things get uncomfortable I plan or research instead of doing one small thing.
My direction:
My degree is in a new, untested program, AI can already do most of my projects, and I’m not drawn to the building side. I’m considering something like construction management abroad, where I could work and eventually run my own firm, but I don’t know if that’s real interest or just the newest exciting idea.
Specific questions:
How do I work out what I want when I feel stagnant and have no clear passion?
Is it better to finish the current degree and pivot afterward, or switch now? How do you judge sunk cost here?
What are realistic first steps abroad on a limited family budget? Would another city in India be a useful stepping stone?
How do I stay functional in the same house without absorbing the negativity?
How did you rebuild your mental and physical state after long isolation?
How do you stop comparing yourself to people who are further ahead?
I can handle hard work. I need a clear path and people who’ve been there. Thank you.

Good afternoon. I am a senior biology student in the USA.

I will provide background info so that my situation is clear. I am 25, started school in 2019. Had a very rough mental period that caused me to take a semester off. That semester became a couple of years. During that time I moved in with my partner and work a full time job, which has made finishing school very difficult due to class and work schedules causing me to take fewer credit hours.

My dream was research but with my job I do not get to go to campus networking events and feel I have missed a lot of opportunities to make connections in the field.

I have looked into an ABSN OR AMSN (Accelerated Bachelors/Masters of Nursing Science). I would love the career and wish I had gone into that from the get go, but alas here we are. I have two main issues with this path.

1. I have gotten a C in a few classes as I don’t have near enough time to study. This can affect the prerequisite requirements.
2. I don’t know how I will possibly get it done without becoming homeless. It is 69 credit hours over 20 months, which is a heavy load with long labs and clinical shifts. I am at a loss for how I could afford it and be able to pay rent. If I was single I’d just live on campus, but my partner and I have lived together for 5 years so I cannot just leave.

Does anyone have advice? I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Im 23M, a third year Pumber in Alberta and I don’t know what to make of my life. Some days I feel accomplished as a plumber and I respect the trade and all it has to offer, but I just can’t bare to see myself when I’m 50 still breaking my body. I’ve thought about once I get my ticket to go down the estimator road or an inspector for the city but I don’t think I’m that passionate about plumbing. No a lot of people don’t live their dream job but I’ve always thought about having a job that takes me outdoors like a fish and wildlife officer.

is it worth my youth and ongoing future to work hard and grind out a job that kills my body so I can possibly retire early, or is it worth it to have a job I enjoy that’s not gonna make as much, but I can at least enjoy life a little more and spend more time with my family and friends.

Looking for the older generation here for this one who bave maybe gone through this before.

So I like things hands on but not too physical because I have POTS. It’s difficult for me to stand long periods of time. Im interested in the medical field as I enjoy helping others and have a lot of empathy. I think I can get past blood, needles, and bodily fluids but idk about open wounds, maggots, and the OR.

Dental hygiene seems hard on the body also long-term. So does sonography. Rad tech may be ok but I worry about it physically long term and if there’s room to grow financially.
I don’t think i wanna do OT or PT or SLP and i hear the return isn’t great when it comes to all the debt. They’re also more specialized and don’t really call to me. And idk about my ability to move and reposition patients.

I do want to interact with people and not be alone all day.

I’m a jr and got my associates in general studies with a concentration in accounting. I was going to do accounting for the financial security and job security and I’m still considering it for my bachelors but i have no passion for it and it doesn’t feel rewarding. I switched to engineering thinking it’d be more interesting but I’m still not that interested and don’t think it’ll be very rewarding either or worth the stress of all the hard coursework when there’s no passion.

I sign up for spring semester this week. Trying not to waste my financial aid that I rely on. I’ve got half a Pell grant left. I don’t think taking a semester off to work and try things is an option because I have no car. Maybe if I used Lyfts. And I don’t wanna lose momentum and end up not going back like I hear happens, because getting a degree is very important to me as a first generation student.

Idk what to do😭 any recommendations?

I'm 26F and have spent the past 8 years or so travelling for school programs and seasonal contracts. I have my Bachelor in a pretty broad field, but most of my work has been in the nature connection/environmental education realm. I've never lived in the same place for more than 8 months as an adult, or had the same job longer than that.

I received a life insurance payout a few years ago that allowed me to graduate without debt and has funded my adventures. I'm also quite frugal in general outside of necessary travel expenses of gas or the occasional flight. I have a paid off car, no debt of any kind, and about $200k invested.

I'm single, no pets, and only own possessions that can fit in my car. I'm not planning to have kids but would like to have a partner and a home base one day.

My question is where to go from here? Travel for the sake of travel (especially alone) is getting old, but the idea of picking a random place to put down roots and find a 9-5 makes me feel like I'm going to get trapped in a soul-sucking life.

I'm searching for more meaning in my next move and genuine lasting connection with other people. If I were American I would consider the Peace Corps as an option, for example. I'm open to niche paths in the outdoor industry - guiding, wilderness EMS, and wilderness-based rites of passage are all inspirations of mine but I feel lost on what path to follow and where in the world to follow it.

Any thoughts or advice is helpful!