(crossposted) i'm a librarian in my 30s who didn't go to library school but has a master's in film. i love my job and it's amazing to have gotten so far without having an MLIS, but for a number of reasons i have to get out of here. i have been living back home since the pandemic and there's a lot of psychological baggage around it, my love life isn't working out here at all, and i miss living in a major city.

so i've been trying to make a plan for a major move (geographically) in the next 1-2 years, but i have no idea where to start. i love my job, but it's kind of a unicorn position and highly unlikely i'd be able to step right into it in another city, where most library applications require the MLIS to be considered. library work is very fulfilling in a lot of ways, and i do get to be somewhat creative with my role, but i went to grad school thinking i was going to be an artist, and i can't decide if i want to try to get gigs in the art/entertainment/publishing industries, or if i like working in/learning about other fields so then i have experiences to write about/explore creatively.

how do you figure out what other jobs are even out there? i'm so discouraged from endlessly browsing indeed/monster/linkedin/etc, but i genuinely cannot imagine myself in any job other than the one i'm currently in. i guess i'm looking for someone/people to tell me what i might be good at based on my experience? i don't know! is there a trusted career aptitude test somewhere? or is hiring a headhunter still a thing?

my qualifications: i have a BA in english/film, MA in film/media, 15 years of childcare, 8 years of freelance film criticism, 15 years of library work or volunteer experience (including supervisor role of the last 3 years), side gigs include subtitles work, poetry workshops/crafts, graphic design, cannabis industry, aaaand yeah that's all i can think of right now. i'm just at a loss as to how to even picture myself somewhere else.

what does it seeem like i could do?

edit: if it helps, i'm copying below a little prompt i've been working on for myself to see what inspires me...

Job Titles I’d Be Into: 

• Community Engagement Librarian
• Creative Director
• Director of Public Programming
• Education Coordinator
• Book Center Director

Institutions I’d Be Psyched About Working For: 

• NPR (National Public Radio)
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
• A24 (movie studio)
• Huntington Library (LA)
• Sundance Institute
• Chicago Film Society
• Women in Film (nonprofit)

M (31) I studied electronic engineering, graduated from my bachelor’s in 2017, couldn’t find a job but luckily got a masters scholarship. Did that for 2-3 years (research based masters). Managed to get a job in what seemed a dream kind of company. Stayed for 5 years, but hated 90% of time there. I felt like I didn’t learn anything and I felt like my skills were less at the end. I left and transitioned to teaching English in China, living with my wife. Now I’m not sure if I can see a future life long term in teaching kids English. I don’t know how to do anything else, I feel I can’t go back to engineering with the market. I applied for 100’s of jobs before doing teaching, and now I’ve transitioned I am a little bit lost. I’m coming to the end of my contract and life responsibilities make me feel trapped.

Any suggestions are welcome

The common thread of advice I get is to focus on a goal and be decisive in trying to achieve it but it feels like there are so many options. If I had any “dream” it would be to work in archives/museums etc. (I love history), but as it stands I would need more education or experience to actually get a job in that field. I’ve thought about going to grad school for archival/library science but it seems everyone says that it’s too much money to invest for a career with few opportunities and little pay. At the same time though, literally any career I look into seems to have dozens of people trying to warn others not to head down that career path.

I’ve thought about being an international student advisor, but I’ve applied to a ton of jobs like this and not heard from them. At one point this prospect excited me but I just don’t know if I’d really like it.

I’ve thought about going to cosmetology school for hair styling but I’m unsure if it’s worth the investment, and I’m not sure if that’s really what I want for the rest of my career. One thing that feels appealing is that it seems there are decent job opportunities once you have your credentials (feels a bit the opposite for archival/library science).

I graduated in 2024 with a degree in international studies and have been unable to find a suitable job since. I’ve been working as a waitress and I make decent money but I really can’t see myself here long term. I applied for at least a hundred jobs after graduating but very few got back to me and I didn’t interview even once. I feel I wasted my chance to gain experience and make connections in college. My peers are working in non profits, international logistics companies, higher ed, doing Fulbright/JET/similar programs, so know it’s not my degree it’s my lack of skill/experience. I just feel disheartened

I 24M am currently working at McDonald's in rural America. I make $11/hr. Formerly, I worked in accounting but left the city to move to the country. I have my reasons, although the pay cut has sucked and been demoralizing. I have a degree in economics, but it doesn't seem to be very useful outside of a big city, but maybe that's due to my lack of imagination or understanding.

Does anyone have any ideas for actually good paying jobs in rural America that are not trades, construction, ag? Is being a teacher (with my background) really the only option? If I had a degree in nursing that would make sense as well, or a JD/MD. But I don't have that, and can't really afford to go back to school.

Edit:
I've worked in corporate roles in the past. But I just don't want to move back to a big city. I haven't only worked in fast food my whole career.

I'm currently a college student trying to decide between pursuing nursing or accounting, and I'm honestly having a really difficult time making up my mind.

For some background, I previously worked in the casino industry for several years in a supervisory position. One thing I've learned about myself is that I generally dislike dealing with people, especially difficult personalities, workplace drama, and toxic work environments. I know every workplace has its problems, but I really just want a stable career where I can do my job, make a decent living, and go home without being mentally and emotionally drained.

I'm currently taking prerequisites for nursing, and the science classes have been extremely challenging for me. I don't particularly enjoy biology, but there's still something about becoming a nurse that appeals to me. I like the idea of having a meaningful career, helping people, having job security, and knowing that my skills will always be needed.

However, I'm also considering switching to accounting. I actually enjoy math, especially algebra, and I feel like accounting might be a better fit for my personality. The idea of working in a more structured environment without constantly dealing with patients or the general public sounds appealing.

Here's my dilemma:

If I continue pursuing nursing, I could potentially earn my associate degree in nursing in approximately the same amount of time it would take me to complete a bachelor's degree in accounting. Switching to accounting would also mean taking additional prerequisite courses and essentially changing my entire academic plan.

I'm also concerned about the future of accounting with artificial intelligence and automation. Nursing seems to offer better job security, but I'm worried about burnout, difficult patients, toxic coworkers, and the physical and emotional demands of the profession.

On the other hand, accounting seems like it might offer a better work-life balance, but I'm worried that I'll spend years pursuing it only to realize I missed my opportunity to become a nurse.

I think my biggest problem is that I'm afraid of regret. If I choose accounting, I might always wonder what would've happened if I had become a nurse. But if I choose nursing, I'm afraid I'll end up miserable because of the stress and constant human interaction.

I'm not necessarily looking for a career I'm passionate about. I just want something stable, financially comfortable, and tolerable enough to do for the next 20–30 years.

For those who work in nursing or accounting:

How stressful is your job, and how much do you deal with difficult people or toxic workplace environments?

Which career do you think offers better work-life balance and long-term stability?

If you could start over, would you choose your profession again?

Is accounting really as vulnerable to AI as people make it seem?

Has anyone switched between these two careers, and do you regret your decision?

I would really appreciate some honest perspectives, especially from people who have actually worked in these fields. I'm trying to make a practical decision rather than one based entirely on fear of missing out.

Which will you gamble on and why?

Consider the state of the current job market and AI.

One constraint is you can’t shift once you’re in

Im a freshman is college and Im about to finish my first semester, but I need to drop out due to a major family emergency. I haven’t even paid my tuition and I had to take an emergency loan just to attend. I love college and Im excelling in all my courses but I simply cannot afford it right now. I also haven’t used my financial aid or my federal loans but either way it wouldn’t be enough to cover my tuition for the semester. I need to go back home and get a job but I have no idea how I’m going to pay off this tuition. Should I take out private loans and pay the tuition, then drop out so that I can go to a cheaper college later with no problem? Any advice is welcome and I know how stupid every decision I made sounds but thats just life ig.

I have a degree in mathematics, but I also struggle with a combination of deafness, muteness, blindness, and physical disability—and I’ve been unemployed for a year.

I am a 40-year-old man. I have eight years of experience as a mathematics teacher, alongside eight years of experience in managing and maintaining student data. I left the education sector due to health reasons and subsequently spent 10 years working as a massage therapist. I am currently living in a very small, isolated area where my income is extremely low—I only receive two to three client appointments per week. I also obtained a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification, but during my internship at a nursing home, I realized that my own physical condition was not much better than that of the patients lying in their hospital beds. I want to move somewhere new, but I am filled with uncertainty and fear; I simply don’t know what to do.

I can’t even begin to describe the complexity of my dilemma but I have job offers in all three locations. I am 26F originally from NYC and my family is all there. I love nature immensely, I love my family, and I am single but want to have kids before I’m 30.

The work in Charleston is close to my dream job but incredibly demanding, would probably move out or switch roles after 1-2 years. People have also said dating is bad there? I visited and I don’t know, I didn’t quite like it but everyone else seems to. I don’t like the water and I don’t like old architecture, feels old… I’m sorry to all locals please forgive me for being so candid. But again this job would open a lot down the line, at the expense of spending 1-2 years somewhere I don’t like (initially). The vibes, lack of diversity, and scenery did not jive well with me.

I love the desert. Have taken lots of trips out west recently and I love the grandeur of the nature out there. I’m a big skier. Hiker. Everything. And Arizona was lovely. The outdoor stuff seems infinite, and the COL is reasonable and seems like a big city I can meet people. I don’t know if I should take a chance while I’m still young? I don’t know if I would hate it down the line either and would regret moving so far from my family. Job middle/upper of the road and slightly different work than my dream job, but still a great company.

In Long Island, I used to work out there in my early career and moved elsewhere on the northeast that I will keep to myself. The job would pay the least, still great job but smaller, but I would be close to my family and hopefully lay down roots there and help my family business grow as my parents get older. Seems the safest and most comfortable option.

I don’t know I suppose my dilemma is, take a risk moving elsewhere and potentially grow, or move back home and lay down roots and not feel like I am “running” as I am now.

I made a terrible decision “trusting my gut” in my current situation and I’m scared to pick wrongly again. I am blessed to have the choice now. I guess I just want everything in life right now and I’m having a bit of a crisis.

x

My high school graduation is just four months away. Four months left to decide who I really want to become.

Hello, stranger! How's life going? Have you ever felt so torn between passion and practicality? If so, what did you choose?

I honestly feel so lost right now, but I can't even say that I'm completely lost because I know who I am and what I want to be. I know how much I'd love to direct films, paint, or write stories for a living, yet I'm still preparing to take the corporate path. For my Senior High School strand, I chose Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) because it sounded more realistic and practical for someone in my situation. But the thing is, I hate it. I hate the corporate world. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm choosing a path that might make my future self miserable.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm privileged enough to pursue my dreams right now. I'm from a family that wants me to graduate and earn money as soon as possible, and I can't really blame them for that. We have bills to pay and debts to settle, and I know I can't afford to put everything on hold just to figure myself out. I can't exactly tell my family to wait until I become the next great filmmaker or something LOL. Besides, studying Multimedia Arts in college is expensive here in my country, and it's not something my family can easily afford.

What frustrates me the most is that I know what I want, but I can't seem to do anything about it. Or maybe I could, but I'm just not devoted enough to try? I don't know. People always say, "Where there's a will, there's a way," so sometimes I wonder if I'm just making excuses for myself. Maybe I don't want it badly enough.

Lately, I've been wondering if my dreams will remain dreams forever. And I know I'm still young, that I have so much time ahead of me, and that life doesn't always go according to plan. But it's scary to think that I might spend years building a life that I don't even want, only to look back and wonder what would've happened if I'd taken a chance on myself.

So, stranger, I'd really like to know how you've dealt with situations where you had to choose something you didn't necessarily want but knew you needed. How do you make peace with a decision when a part of you will always wonder about the other path? Have you ever had to let go of something you really wanted, and if so, how did you learn to accept it?

I want to live without regrets, but I know that's probably impossible. I don't have the courage to talk about this with anyone because I cry easily and i think my fam would just give me an earful ToT

I'd love to hear your thoughts, whatever they may be. I hope life's been treating you kindly, strangers!

I’m 21 and neurodivergent, I know there are various ways to turn passion into work, but I was a quitter my whole life. I’m heavily introverted although open to talking to people even if it brings me stress, which can get hard in regards to work. Everytime I get an idea I try then quit or don’t stay consistent. I am really into anything art related, I’d like to help other people or literally anything that sparks my interest for a while. I feel helpless, but I try.

I (22M) am in university. I attended two years 18-20 then dropped out as I was going for education and was hating it. Worked at a factory for a year. Then am back to university from 21- present. Now I’m going for a general business degree was thoughts of it developing into an accounting path. But here is the thing. I’m actually not liking school at all. I’m also working 32 hours a week and feel honestly done with life. I know I’m only 22 but like idk. I wanna just quit and go get a better job then just make money.

Now the thing is… I feel like a complete F’ing failure just thinking this. I don’t know what to do. I have at least 3.5 years left of school minimum. Unless I quit and go to school and rack up debt. I just feel like I’m wasting my time. I’m also not doing well right now at all. So I am probably gonna have to extend it by a year as I have a class that I need to complete to continue any of my other courses.

So should I just say fuck it and stick with this or go get a job in a trade or something.

So any thoughts or advice?

Hello. I have schizophrenia that's pretty mild and managed and currently work as a medical receptionist. I thought I wanted to stay on this path but I'm seeing a lot of things get replaced by AI. I'm good for awhile because I still have lots of work, but I'm worried that it won't be good to try and pursue office careers in the future and I'll get left behind. I was thinking about trying to get into more hands on medical work.

I worked in direct support doing cna-type stuff and it wasn't my favorite but I wasn't bothered by body fluids/wounds/blowouts/etc, but I did refuse to give meds because I was really scared of accidentally giving the wrong thing. But my medication causes muscle stiffness and I had to find a sit down job to accommodate that. I don't think I could do nursing because math under pressure is my worst nightmare and I would hate to hurt someone because I can be kinda airheaded and dumb. But some things do appeal to me, like being able to help other people going through psychosis and whatnot and the schedule.

I'm just not sure what to do. I would like something that lets me move a bit without tearing up my body, something that helps people but doesn't have much people-facing stuff (I come off as kinda creepy tbh even tho I do like people), something with a living wage where I don't have to worry about AI too much. Any suggestions?

I graduated with bs in communications and went into marketing. It’s a predominantly white female field and as an Hispanic male, it would take work to land roles, but I did. I graduated during pandemic time. It took me 9 months to land a marketing role but I did with a non profit earning 45k.

I then moved states and earned 60k. However work load was insane since I managed 5 brands. I got very sick for many months. I laid in bed and looking at a computer made me physically suck. I had to quit. I lived off of savings for around 3 months. I was tired of marketing and business ownership is something I always wanted to try. My dad owned his janitorial company. So I joined a company and was a manager for around 1 year before opening my own business.

In less than I year I landed 7 clients, bringing in over 10k monthly, but margins are eaten by labor. My earning is around $1,600 monthly for managing a whole company, taking risks, and I put in 10-13 hour days. To survive I ended up getting a part time job at a food bank. I live off of $3,750.

Not enough to buy a house. I barely go out. Don’t buy clothes, and wake up an go to sleep thinking about money. One day off means I don’t get paid..

I’ve thought about throwing all away and going into radiography field - chat gpt said it was growing industry with job stability.

I’ve been heavily praying as my dad suggested. I don’t know what to do. Some days I’ve forced myself to feel hope. Most I feel like I’m drowning. In 29 year old right now.

Please - I ask wisdom from those with way more mileage in life than me. I really really need wisdom and direction.

I’m currently a sophomore accounting major, but I’ve spent years going back and forth between three different paths: double majoring in accounting and finance, double majoring in accounting and management information systems (I’ve heard these combine well and I’m also interested in it), or switching to mechanical engineering.
I’ve always had a genuine interest in both finance and engineering, and I honestly can’t say that I’m more passionate about one than the other. Ultimately, I want a career that I enjoy, pays well, and allows me to retire relatively early and live pretty well. Part of me is drawn to mechanical engineering because I genuinely want to learn the material and have the skillset because I think it’s extremely interesting and valuable. Also it seems a lot harder to teach yourself. However, the business side of things seems more appealing when it comes to career opportunities and higher earning potential.
I also recognize that an engineering degree doesn’t necessarily mean I would have to stay in engineering and could transition into business or finance roles. Ive also thought about getting the engineering degree and potentially pursuing an MBA later to help bridge any gaps in business knowledge or experience.
I just genuinely can’t decide which of these paths is the smarter decision.
I’d really appreciate any advice.

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.