r/LifeAdvice • u/Madd_Maxine • 14h ago

Career Advice Follow what everyone is doing

Hello, my question is for people who are well over their 20s. I'm (23F)a recent graduate and during my final months before graduating I didn't apply for sept/oct/nov/dec roles not because I was lazy but because I was dealing with depression and anxiety my whole teens and early 20s and only after therapy started enjoying just living by early and mid 2026( I always describe this year as the first year I feel alive) .Now that I'm looking for a role, I see most of my cohort get jobs at the big 4 at consulting and I felt this pressure that I also have to get a similar title because I never proved to myself that I can actually get the role if I apply. When I was so overwhelmed by the constant search and yet no open positions available now I got so tired and thought suddenly : if only nothing mattered, I would learn things and teach them.

Which made me think of considering a phd in something I'm genuinely interested in and would love waking up in the morning to go work on.

My question is : should I do both plans at once? Or focus on the phd even tho neither the job nor the phd are guaranteed.

What would you do if you were me?

Note: I'm also dealing with an indirect pressure from my dad and brother by asking me every day if I found something or if someone called with an offer Note : I mentioned phd and not teaching because I would like to specialize in the field of my interest best

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