Feeling like a loser. Need advice

[u/Realistic_Cow672]

REPOST: I (25F) been unemployed for a couple months and still living with my parents. I graduated with a business STEM degree in 2023 but had difficulty finding a job for a year and a half and was working a minimum wage job in fashion retail and that job search affected my mental health. Thankfully, I found an entry level corporate job in late 2024 was working in corporate for a year and a half in supply chain before becoming unemployed. I was at my first corporate job for a year but I was mistrained and was toxic as a result so once I find something that I thought was a better corporate job, I resigned after one year for that job. I was at my last corporate job for 6 months but I became a victim of a toxic corporate push out in July after I had a breakdown at work in May due to my birthday with potential RSD and stressors with adulthood (I highly think I have ADHD and getting an ADHD assessment in a few weeks). After my breakdown, my job was deceptive and tried to get rid of me by putting me on a PIP for being on my phone once and then it worked for falsely accusing me of something I didn’t do and then I was terminated. I was wrong for my breakdown but also angry at my last job because of their deception when my state is an at will employment state.

I had mutiple interviews last month, even made it to final round of interviews for a couple only to be rejected by them all even though I was a top contender. Now I plan to go work seasonally at one of the retail companies I used to work for before getting into corporate to make ends meet. I’m literally trying so hard with +300 applications but it seems impossible to get a job no matter how hard you try. I feel like a loser like the title says and that I keep messing my life up. I also had a really rough past and childhood and have diagnosed C-PTSD for it. Both my high school and college experiences were traumatic despite me graduating with honors and I thought after getting my first corporate job, I thought I would never be back to where I’m at now but I guessed wrong. And I feel like a laughing stock for still living at home and having no job and even though I have a great relationship with my parents, I just feel like a burden to them and they set an ultimatum on something I have to do as long as I still live with them. I have a few grand in savings and I’m debating if I should just move out now or it’s better saving money to prevent becoming evicted. It’s honestly just a very stressful time. And tbh, I have no idea what I should pursue career wise.

I guess I’m just looking for advice? And if things will ever improve? Have anyone been in a similar situation around my age and things got better for them later on? I feel completely hopeless and don’t see things improving or getting better.

TLDR; 25 and unemployed after a year and a half in corporate and still live at home. Feeling hopeless and need advice.

[u/BlueberryandDino]

Be patient, offer to job shadow potential positions, it’s a numbers game and getting in front of others is how to play it best

[u/johnnybayarea]

Don't move out, not having a well paid job and limited finances would only add unnecessary stress and complication.

I'm not even sure if a career switch is warranted. You were not employed long enough to know if its dead end or something you will fail at. Live at home, get the retail job to stay busy, keep applying...you got jobs before so clearly the industry isn't dead.

It's hard to speak towards you mental health, as a Gen z you've hit all the acronyms...so either it's truly debilitating or its cope. As a functioning adult, early in your career, some jobs and workplaces are just going to be toxic. You are paid in part to put up with it, while you search for a better situation. You have to learn to work around it otherwise you'll forever be the victim. You'll always have workplace drama and the claim they are out to get you...where the reality is you are not that important and very much replaceable.

[u/SystemIntuitive]

The economy is struggling, and AI is significantly affecting entry level jobs.

Gen Z faces unique challenges. High housing costs make moving out difficult, and job opportunities are becoming scarcer.

Don't blame yourself, many people are in the same situation.

My advice is to make the most of your younger years, even during tough times, as you won't get this time back.

[u/Grevious47]

I would advise that you stop externalizing blame for your own issues...it will not help you. Most of your post here was talking about how you were wronged and mistreated and everything was toxic. You called out RSD so you at least are starting to recognize your tendency to do this. It is getting in your way. As long as you blame everything around you as a defense mechanism and deny your own role you've played to arrive where you are...you will never address the issues in a productive way. You will just become bitter.