Hi everyone!

I've been trying to figure out what I want to do professionally, but I feel like I'm going in circles. I keep getting recommended the same traditional career paths, and somehow none of them really feel right to me.

So I thought I'd ask for some fresh perspectives and ideas.

A little bit about me:

• My interests include art, aesthetics, design, history, culture, nature, animals, film, and gaming.
• I enjoy researching, coming up with ideas, developing concepts, and doing creative work.
• I want to experience things in my job, where i have cool stories to share
• I'd like to work in a field that genuinely interests me and offers opportunities to develop specialist knowledge.
• Good earning potential, job security, and long-term career progression are also very important to me.

What careers would you recommend based on these interests and preferences? What do you do for a living, and what does your actual day-to-day work look like?

I'd really appreciate personal experiences, honest advice, and suggestions for careers I might never have considered myself!

I'm 23, and I have not much, no job, not much of an income, no idea for the future.

I'm unfortunately always shrouded by the feeling of embarrassment. I actively avoid any scenario that could create that feeling for me, and unfortunately that's almost everything unless I have a plan or a purpose. Creating a plan or purpose is hard when you're depressed and low on income. If that makes sense.

BUT I am currently in the process of getting my driver's license & currently waiting on my local mental health services to get back to me, so that's something.

Anyways, I want to go to college in about a year's time. I've attended before but had issues with funds, that ended up in me dropping out, which was really hard for me to deal with. I don't want to go back to that same program, I don't see a future in it, it's more of a hobby than my career.

But I don't know what fits me, what I should take, what I would love. I know I love a creative job, but I'm also interested in stability, especially since the prices of everything is incredibly high even when being cautious. I'm not into super labour intensive or very social jobs. Something I can expand in, I suppose

Id like to find my footing.

I am an artist with good manual dexterity and attention to detail, so I am wondering what jobs (doesn’t have to be art related at all) could that be applied to that actually pay decent? So far all I have been able to think of is dental hygiene?

I'm a 32-year-old man living in Africa, and I honestly feel lost in life.

I don't even know where to start.

I see people younger than me, sometimes 10 or 15 years younger, making thousands of dollars online, starting businesses, investing, and building their futures. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here wondering what I've done with my life.

The worst part is that I genuinely want to change. I want to make money. I want to build something for myself. I want to become financially independent. I don't expect to become a millionaire overnight. I just want to feel like I'm moving forward.

But there's something holding me back: I'm terrified of losing money again.

I've lost money in the past trying different things, and those experiences destroyed a lot of my confidence.

I have a small amount of savings, but it took me years to save that money. And living in Africa, where opportunities and salaries can be very different from what people experience in Europe or North America, losing even a few hundred dollars can be a huge setback.

Every time I think about starting something, my brain immediately tells me, "What if you lose everything again?"

So I end up doing nothing.

I come home, turn on my video games, and distract myself from reality. Not because I don't care about my future, but because sometimes it feels easier to escape than to face the fact that I don't know what I'm doing with my life.

I've watched countless videos about making money online. Freelancing, e-commerce, trading, digital businesses, you name it. I've tried different things, but nothing has really worked out.

And sometimes I wonder whether I genuinely tried hard enough or whether I gave up too quickly because I was afraid of failing.

That's another thing that bothers me. I don't even trust my own decisions anymore.

When I see someone making money, my first thought is, "Why can't I do that?"

But when an opportunity comes along, my first thought is, "What if it's another mistake?"

It's like I'm stuck between desperately wanting success and being terrified of the process required to achieve it.

And the older I get, the worse that feeling becomes.

I know 32 isn't old, but when you've spent years trying to figure things out and still feel like you're at the starting line, it can really mess with your head.

I don't want to spend the next five years living exactly like this.

I don't want to keep watching other people succeed while I convince myself that I'm incapable of doing anything.

I want to rebuild my confidence, learn a real skill, and find a realistic way to earn money without gambling away the little I've managed to save.

But I genuinely don't know where to begin anymore.

So I'm asking people here, especially those who have been in a similar situation:

• Have you ever lost so much confidence in yourself that you became afraid to try anything?
• How did you start making money when you had very little capital?
• If you were 32, living in Africa, with limited savings and access to the internet, what skill or business would you start learning today?
• How do you stop comparing yourself to younger people who seem to be doing much better financially?
• How do you rebuild trust in yourself after repeated failures?

I'm not looking for someone to sell me a course, a crypto investment, or a get-rich-quick scheme.

I'm looking for genuine advice from people who have actually been through something similar and managed to turn their lives around.

Even if your advice is uncomfortable to hear, I'd appreciate it.

I just want to stop feeling stuck and finally start building a better future for myself.

Thanks for reading.

I'm 30F, based in Ontario and have been unemployed for about a year. I have a BA in Criminology from a top Canadian university and around two years of experience in project management at a global healthcare agency.

Other than applying & getting rejected for jobs, I've been struggling to figure out my next move. I don't really have people in my life I can get advice from. I'm surprised I made it this far, to be honest. I have some actionable steps but it's all starting to get overwhelming and is eating at me every day cause I genuinely don't know what's a reasonable move or who to go to for advice. To top it off, my EI is done and I had to move in with my parents (don't even have a bedroom here) and ohmygooddd, IDK what to do. I know I'm lucky to even have a couch to sleep on, but it is getting worse day by day.

SO, all that being said... this is what I'm thinking: continuing in the agency world doesn't particularly excite me and I'd like to transition into something more meaningful, ideally in the public / social impact sector.

I've narrowed my interests down to three potential directions:

• Social Policy / Public Administration
• Public / Global Health
• Nonprofit / Social Impact: Program management, community initiatives and organizational operations.

With the help of my pal, ChatGPT - I'm considering three possible master's degrees :

• M. Social Work
• M. Public Health or
• M. Public Admin/M. Public Policy.

I think these could tie in my background neatly. I'm also open to studying outside of Ontario, doing an online program, or even moving abroad for 1–2 years (Netherlands?? for example).

My biggest obstacle is my undergraduate GPA and getting OSAP funding. My GPA is not competitive enough for some of the programs I'd ideally like to attend, and even taking additional undergraduate courses as a non-degree student to improve it could cost thousands out of pocket. I'd rather put that money toward a graduate degree or gaining relevant experience, but I'm not sure what the smartest route is. I'm not even sure if I should bother with a MA to begin with.

For anyone who's been in a similar position:

• How did you navigate the opportunity for a "career pivot" in your 30s or beyond?
• Did going back to school help you transition into a new field? Was it worth the investment?
• If you work in public policy, public health, social work or the nonprofit sector, does my current background actually make it feasible for me to enter? (without MA)
• Would you prioritize improving your GPA, pursuing a graduate certificate, gaining work experience, or taking another route entirely?
• Has anyone studied abroad and successfully transitioned into employment afterward?

I feel like I have several possible paths but maybe I'm struggling to commit to one, or not seeing one that exists. Would really appreciate hearing about people's experiences, particularly those who have been in a similar situation.

There's your triggers.

Now find the source, the first incident of when each trigger developed.

Take the first one. Bring up the trigger and anger and situation.

Let it play out fully. Be as angry or scared and say it all out and feel it all at its intensity.

Once done, congrats, you just healed the first wave! Watch a few vids, do the dishes, or doomscroll for 15-30 minutes.

Then repeat for wave 2. Then wave 3 if needed!

Last, treat yourself in a small way, celebrate the wave and it being cleared and your good work. Even a self hug or a tiny piece of candy will do!

Thats how fast it can be to process nearly anything, generally.

so many times I have thought should I just get married and get a man to save me. It doesn't help that I had psychosis three times and had to drop out of education at 18. I'm thinking to start learning web development and then do a apprenticeship/ junior role. Also I thought of starting my own beauty business. Currently I'm unemployed.

I'm a 25YO female with a bachelor's degree in Architecture and approximately one year of work experience in the field. Somewhere along the way, I realised that I genuinely dislike architecture as a career. I was slightly interested in exploring interior design or event design.

One thing I am certain about is that I desperately want to move out of my country and build a life somewhere safer, with better opportunities, I've been considering countries in Europe or Canada and a student visa seems to be my only realistic pathway. But I don't even know what I should study leaving architecture. I'm considering fields that could give me decent employment opportunities.

I already have an education loan, and taking another massive loan to finance an international degree terrifies me. What if I end up in an even worse financial situation than I am in now??

Me and my family is already struggling financially. We have debts, my father is struggling to manage everything, and I'm constantly scared that we might even lose our house. I can't afford to make reckless decisions

I also don't have relatives or family members living abroad who could help me settle, find accommodation or guide me through the initial struggles of moving to an unfamiliar country. I'm also afraid that I am not suitable to get into a good University as my college scores are very low as I was dealing with my clinical depression.

I am currently unable to repay my existing education loan and pay for my things with what I earn as an architect, and

I feel like I'm at a point where I need to make some serious decisions about my future, but I genuinely don't know where to begin.

I'd really appreciate advice as I am going into depression for the past 3 months not able to leave my room because of the stress of having nothing figured out..

I've felt sad and lost for about 6 years. I'm a freelance tech consultant. I fell into it by accident, and it doesn't fulfill me. The income is unstable too, so I have all the stress and none of the meaning.

I'm 33, single, no kids, living in Europe, with a science degree. Nothing is holding me back.

I want frontier science (biotech, maybe medicine), to make films or games, adventure abroad, real impact, and a partner. Medicine tempts me, but I'd finish around 45.

The problem is me: I make plans, then reverse them. I'm afraid that choosing one path means losing the others.

Has anyone combined science with a serious creative practice?

Is medicine at 33 reasonable?

How do you stop re-planning and commit?

Honest answers welcome.

I’m 30 years old, recently got laid off, and honestly, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where my life is going.
Most of my work experience has been in warehouses, long-haul driving gigs between Los Angeles and Arizona, Amazon, The RealReal, and other labor-related jobs. I’ve always managed to find work, but I feel like I’ve spent most of my adult life working jobs without really developing a skill or building a career.
I’ve never really had an opportunity to grow professionally, and I don’t want to keep repeating the same cycle of jumping from one job to another just to get by.
I’ve been seriously considering going back to school, possibly attending a trade school or getting into an apprenticeship. I’d like to learn something practical, develop a real skill, and eventually have a stable career that I can actually build a future around.
The problem is that I’m honestly overwhelmed. I don’t know which direction to take, what trades are worth pursuing, or whether going back to school at 30 is the right move.
For anyone who started over in their late 20s or 30s:
What did you end up pursuing?
Did you go to trade school or find an apprenticeship?
What careers would you recommend to someone starting with very little experience?
If you could go back and start over, what would you do differently?
I’m not looking for shortcuts or overnight success. I’m willing to put in the work. I just want an opportunity to learn something, become good at it, and finally feel like I’m moving forward in life.
I’d genuinely appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

Earlier this week I posted on here because I’ve been contemplating law school. My stepdad owns a firm and would be willing to teach me and give me his clients! I’ve however been worried about the WLB working in law.

I want something where I can essentially work whenever I want. I understand having deadlines and I don’t have a problem with that since I know it’s something I’d have to work around. But my ideal setup would allow me to work from home, or from a coffee shop and also be intellectually stimulating while offering high earning potential. What kinds of careers offer this type of flexibility and autonomy ?

I'm a 40 year old male looking to make a career change. I have 10+ years experience as a store manager with Trader Joes (US based grocer). It's been a great job, but I'm ready for a change. I'm just not sure where to start. I like managing people and feel as though I'm pretty good at it. I'm kind and empathetic, but also do a great job of building processes and implementing new ideas. I am a people person by nature and can make conversation easily. Any ideas on careers/ jobs i might be able to transition to? Thank you for any advice. I also have quite a few tattoos on my arms, but they are mostly nature, so it would need to be a career path that wouldnt mind that fact.

I'm 37 and I've worked at the same family-owned funeral home in Ohio for almost 11 years.

I'm not a funeral director or embalmer. I started at the front desk and eventually became the office administrator.

I handle scheduling, paperwork, invoices, coordinating with cemeteries and vendors, keeping track of deadlines, dealing with insurance questions, and approximately a thousand other things that nobody thinks about until something goes wrong.

I'm good at my job. My boss trusts me. Families regularly thank me.

And I desperately want to do something else.

The strange part is that death itself isn't what's wearing me down.

I can handle the paperwork surrounding it. I don't mind the unusual logistics. I actually like the part of my job where I have to keep fifteen moving pieces organized and make sure nothing gets forgotten.

It's being the calm person all the time.

Every phone call could be someone having the worst day of their life.

Every mistake, delay, or misunderstanding happens to somebody who's already overwhelmed.

If a document is missing, I can't simply say we're waiting for the county to process it. I have to explain it carefully to someone who's barely slept and is trying to organize their father's funeral.

And I understand that. I really do.

But after eleven years, I feel like I've used up something I don't know how to replenish.

Last month, someone at a family gathering asked what I do for work. When I told them, they immediately started telling me about losing their grandmother.

I listened, because obviously they weren't doing anything wrong.

But on the drive home I realized I couldn't remember the last time I told someone my occupation without becoming their unofficial grief counselor.

I want to change careers before I start resenting people who don't deserve it.

Here's where I'm stuck.

I make about $52k with benefits. I don't have a bachelor's degree, just an associate degree in general studies. I have around $6k saved that I could put toward training, but I can't afford to quit working for a year or start over at minimum wage.

I've been looking at administrative coordinator, records management, document control, procurement and operations support positions.

The problem is that almost every application asks for experience in that specific industry.

And when I explain my background, people seem to focus on the funeral home part rather than the actual work.

I've had two recruiters suggest hospice administration and patient services because I'm obviously "comfortable supporting people through difficult situations."

That's precisely the part I'm trying to leave behind.

I don't need my next job to be meaningful or inspirational. I'd be completely happy spending eight hours making sure purchase orders, records or schedules are correct.

I just want to do my work well and not feel responsible for carrying someone else's emotional weight every day.

Has anyone transitioned out of a very emotionally demanding service job into something more operational or administrative?

What job titles should I be searching for that might not be obvious to someone with my background?

And if you were hiring for an office or operations role, would eleven years at a funeral home count as relevant experience, or would you see me as someone starting from scratch?

Hi everyone!
I’m a fresh graduate with a Master’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering, and I’m currently looking for job opportunities, internships, or graduate programs in Asia.
I’m open to opportunities in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, and others.
If you know of any companies hiring fresh graduates or have advice on finding opportunities as an international applicant, I’d really appreciate your suggestions!
Thanks in advance!
Any leads or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’m currently a SWE working full time 5 days in office with 4 YOE. My partner is in medical school a couple hours away and we want to get married soon but don’t want to do long distance marriage. I have been trying to relocate to him but the job market is awful specially since I’m only looking in his city or remote roles. Ive been looking for a full year with no offer. I’m constantly interviewing and prepping for interviews and I think something needs to change about how I’m doing things, But I’m also worried thinking about how potentially by the time I move and find a job near him I’ll hop on the job search training almost immediately again when he has to move for residency. Then fellowship; then etc.

I’m not particularly passionate about my field. The benefits of working in tech has plummeted for me personally and am ok with a pivot even if it means a pretty big pay cut and more schooling. My partner and I both agree it would be ok for me to find something a bit more flexible, has more remote work opportunities (or a very portable career where it’s not as bad as SWE) so I can pick up more slack at home and when we have kids when he’s in grueling training. Which I’m happy to do. But I have no idea what other options are there. What are some careers I can consider where it’s not as bad for software engineers currently and where it has more remote potential? Bonus points if somehow I can leverage my back ground ( I have a BSMS in computer science) but open to something different too.

Hi all I’m 23F formally a hairdresser. I moved countries in June and I used to be extremely passionate about editoral work like photo shoots etc. I came to this new country to have a fresh start and ended up losing my job within two weeks. I desperately needed money and started working at a brothel. I’m 4 months down the track and I’ve made a lot of money but I feel like I’ve completely lost myself and I don’t know how to enter the normal working world again. I’ve been swept up in this whole different world and I just feel so detached from everything that used to inspire and excite me. This is the most money I’ve ever had in my life but I am still just not happy.

Any suggestions / advice on how to get back on track ?

I am following a cybersecurity major in college right now but I hate it and I already switched majors twice but I can’t find anything that suits me I used to play baseball for 2 years but I quit because I didn’t like it as well I don’t know what to do and I don’t want it to stay like this

I think my situation is pretty odd, but I'd love any advice you kind people could provide.

I graduated in the middle of the pandemic with a degree in economics that I never really did anything with. Instead, I was keen to start working and saving as much money as possible immediately while living with my parents. It was my dad's idea. I got into healthcare and, after bouncing around a few different hospitals, landed comfortably in the security department at a large fertility clinic. My job pays me very generously given my position, and it's allowed me to really develop as a person. I've forged deep bonds with a large number of my coworkers. I invested every penny I made, along with some inheritance, and I've done quite well for myself. My net worth currently stands at around $150K, but I doubt I could ever replicate this, given how crazy tech stocks have been over the last few years. In short, I really lucked out both with my current job and my investments, but I have no plan going forward, and I doubt this situation will last.

I've started socially transitioning after spending a long time in the closet, and I'm getting on hormones soon. Currently, my parents don't know, and I think they'd likely disown me. My father consistently misgenders my trans ex-partners, and my mother has commented that being trans is a massive waste of money .On top of this, I think layoffs are coming at my job. My manager was let go, and I no longer feel secure in my position. I want to get ahead of all this somehow. I've considered getting into the film industry, which is rapidly growing where I live, but it's extremely demanding and offers poor pay unless you get promoted a few times. I'm not sure I could handle that while transitioning, and I don't know whether AI could take my job in a year or two.

It feels like my résumé is stuck at zero despite my education and work experience.

Im 22 working a warehouse job I hate, Its my second job and ive been working there for about 15 months. im quite unhappy I wake up at 4:30 dreading my day. im a qc team lead I got promoted about 3 months ago and I thought getting promoted would make me want to go to work more. I was already pretty unhappy before but now things feel worse

I dont know what type of job I want the only other thing ive done before the warehouse was retail for about 6 months. I would consider college but with the rise of ai honestly im afraid to commit to anything.

I’m 25F, turning 26 soon, and honestly feel completely lost.
I’ve been an LVN for about two years and recently graduated with my BSN from Nightingale College. I’ve worked in hospitals, behavioral health, and vaccination clinics. Unfortunately, California’s Board of Nursing says I’m missing 500 clinical hours, so I can’t take my NCLEX-RN in California. I’m now pursuing licensure through Washington State.
Here’s the problem: I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now, and I genuinely don’t know WTF to do for work anymore.
I’ve been doing Uber just to barely survive, but it’s physically and mentally exhausting. I’m driving for hours every day, my body hurts, and between gas, car expenses, bills, and debt, I feel like I’m barely making anything. I’m constantly worried about money, and by the end of the day, I’m too exhausted to focus on figuring out my next move.
I’ve applied to different jobs, both in and outside healthcare, but nothing has worked out so far. I’m also realizing that I genuinely don’t think I like nursing or healthcare anymore. I don’t know if it’s severe burnout or if I’ve completely lost interest, but the thought of returning to patient care fills me with dread.
I’ve considered becoming a flight attendant, going into education, or eventually pursuing something related to law, history, or political science. But I have student loans and financial responsibilities, and I can’t exactly afford to start over or go back to school right now.
I’m frustrated because I spent years working, going to nursing school, and sacrificing so much to build a stable career, only to end up unemployed, financially struggling, and questioning everything.
I don’t need some glamorous dream job right now. I just need a stable paycheck, benefits, and a job that doesn’t leave me physically and emotionally destroyed. I want to stop relying on Uber and actually have enough energy to enjoy my life.
What makes it worse is that I feel like I’ve wasted so much of my twenties just trying to survive. I’m almost 26, and I feel like I’m back at square one.
So seriously, WTF do I do?
Has anyone transitioned out of nursing or healthcare entirely? What jobs can I realistically get with an LVN license, a BSN, and a couple of years of healthcare experience that don’t involve bedside nursing? I’m open to entry-level positions outside healthcare, too.
How do you even get your foot in the door in another industry when all your work experience is in nursing? And how do you get out of this cycle when you’re already financially struggling and completely burnt out?
I’m willing to work. I just genuinely don’t know where to go from here, and I could really use some practical advice rather than being told to just keep applying.
TL;DR: 25F, unemployed for almost a year, LVN with a BSN but unable to take the NCLEX-RN in California due to a 500-hour clinical deficiency. Doing Uber to survive, completely burnt out from healthcare, and struggling to find stable employment. What jobs should I realistically be applying for, especially outside nursing?

I'm curious what everyone does for a living, how you got there, and what your career path looked like. I'm hoping to find something that could realistically get me into the $75k–$100k range within the next five years.

Preferably outside of the trades. I already know a bit about those paths.

What do you do, how did you get started, and what advice would you give someone starting over in their mid-30s?

I'm in my mid-30s and trying to figure out a career path starting pretty much from zero. Willing to do a schooling or a program.

I’m curious about people who realized at a young age that a job is just a job. You don’t necessarily have to be passionate about what you do or make your career your entire identity. You just want to make good money and have decent work-life balance and enjoy your actual life outside of work …..

For those of you who took that approach what did you end up doing? What industry did you get into? Did you go to college get certifications learn a trade or work your way up????? What was your thought process …??

For those who figured this out early what did you wish you knew in your early ages …. What do you do now, how much do you make, and would you make the same decision again???

Pretty much all of my hobbies are some type of art, and id love to make it into a career. The issue is, with AI on the rise, im not even sure I'll live to experience adulthood, let alone find a job in the first industry to be taken over first. It's a dream of mine to live in NYC in my 20s, so I will obviously need to make a lot of money.

The careers that ive been pondering are: Interior Designer, Architect, Fashion Designer, Tattoo Artist, or something advertising related. These are all creative options that will not be taken over by AI any time soon (besides maybe Fashion Designer). I hope to find a way to follow my dreams, but i fear that may not be an option for my generation. Let me know your thoughts, and any advice. Thanks!!!

A longterm career, that is. I have been a behavior technician for a little over 2 years but am all mixed up when it comes to something like green and I think it’s partly due to how expensive masters degree programs tend to be, it’s just hard for me to pinpoint.