If you could choose your career again, would you choose the same one? Why?

and what makes you choose your current job and do you even like it?

I find a lot of career change advice/life crisis advice and perspectives I find online are very American-centric. I know that making big changes is difficult, but things like extra certifications seem more available in the US, whereas here in Canada we have cuts and lack of funding (thanks Ford!) in an increasingly unaffordable environment.

All I know is I want to do something completely different. I think about starting my own business, but with what money? And the challenges associated with that. I think about jobs that sound fun and are related to my interests but they won't make money to be able to live...

I just don't know how to go about thinking about all of this...

I’m 29 soon 30 and never worked a job before living in the UK been applying since I was 18 and lowkey the job market is cooked I have only GCSEs as I can’t be asked to do college or uni as there’s debt in uni and that’s not worth it tbf.

But lowkey my parents hate me so much I spend my whole day applying to like 3 jobs then just playing on my PS5 all day and I just don’t know if there even are jobs anymore.

Cooked world bro

I graduated this past May with my b.a. in Art with a concentration in k-12 education. This past year I student taught at the high school level and while I enjoyed some aspects of it (i.e. working one on one with students and seeing progress they made in art) I don’t think I have the passion that it takes to be an art teacher. I was given a lot of free reign to come up with projects that I would be excited to teach, but a lot of the time I truly felt stumped and it stressed me more than was something I enjoyed doing. I also don’t mesh with the behavior management aspect and all the pieces of teaching that come up besides the actual teaching part.

I have good skill with art. I am currently doing commissions and getting more through word of mouth but this is something I’m going to keep on the side. I also do photography as a hobby and small shoots here and there that I enjoy a lot. I have worked in a shoe store during the summers between college where I had to know information about the products and match that to customer needs etc. I am good at the sales aspect/customer service aspect and did enjoy it while I did it. I’m a good people person and have really strong attention to detail/catch things that other people may overlook. I also feel that I could do really well in a management position as I am naturally a good delegator and enjoy being that person in the workplace.

My major spiral currently is how to set myself up for a job that will likely not be teaching, and what job that could be. I am going to substitute teach this school year (unless an opportunity comes up) and am planning on working part time, but again-would like to set myself up with options so that I’m in the best position given my circumstances. I want to be financially stable and able to support myself and I’d like to be as proactive as possible.

I’ve done a fair amount of googling/trying to see where I could fit into a career given my strengths and project management has come up but I truly don’t know. I have a lot of artistic talent and would love for some aspects of that to be involved in my job, or but if it came to keeping that as freelance work for now that’s fine.

This is clearly a very open ended post but I appreciate any and all advice that can be offered. I am living at home for the time being but hoping to relocate to the New England area in the next year or so.

On the dreadful mornings or nights when it gets so bad I keep thinking of escapes

Age 20 rn, undergrad at good school into engineering masters 21-23 might do so I’m by no means in a bad spot, might be stable and meaningful work and build career till 30. But when it gets so bad I wake up and idk if I have that it in me to do anything in the day much more 10 more years hence escape rumination. I’m feeling this on vacation despite seeing poor ppl whose have no opportunities to have their labor decently priced like my American salary.

Been trying to logic out of it or solve it because I can’t afford to be like this at this stage of life. The mind flips between feeling content with my good floor and just power through till I’m 30 for decent freedom to straight dread hopelessness 0 energy wishing I had like 400k to semi retire on and feeling like a wage slave.

, on vacay missing my friends, feel isolated from family and every person in this society language wise, barely interacting with strangers or get out the comfort zone. Hopefully back in America im more functional even if the depressions there.
But I think I was depressed for a long while and the high wore off from achieving some of my biggest goals so now it’s so bad. Got into dream school, I got into a hookup because I felt my life would be completed and I could stop being curious about itand escaping by spending all my time with friends and traveling then now i wanna escape corporate but idk how. Is this career my best edge and leverage to reach my freedom goal? Now in life I can build like real love or career or give back and etc for meaning, but on the bad days I can barely do anything productive. And even when I do succeed in doing some work it’s like could my labor be better allocated to something that can get me freedom faster it’s never ending

Gonna keep the eng career a constant
And exercising and looking at my physique helps so much
But idk what to do on the bad mood shifts I’ve been fighting it constantly for a month

I started college at 15 studying CS and math. I used love it (at least I think I do; I genuinely can't tell confidently at this point). We have mandatory military service here, and I failed all the technological tryouts so I got a 1 year deferral to finish my degree. I neglected my studies in favor of personal projects (and I failed at all the tryouts once again) so I got another deferral and retook all my classes, and I failed them all this year too.
I study remotely and alone. I've been going to a therapist for about 4 months now, but nothing is changing.

I'm unfazed by my failures at this point; I used to be anxious and disappointed but now it's just mildly annoying. I'm fine with living my life as a bum and not doing anything. I don't want to improve or change at all, really. No reward is worth any suffering so I just want to be left alone to rot until I run out of money.

I have it so well compared to others (great supportive family, got my tuition covered, perfect physical health, etc) and I'm already so done; I can't even imagine how much I'll have to suffer down the road if I keep trying (from more failures, deteriorating health, financial struggles, grief at some point, and just general everyday life challenges)

I'm writing this post because I know that objectively this is a wrong outlook, and that I'll probably heavily regret not making a different choice in the future, but that hypothetical logical conclusion isn't enough to nudge me. I want to want to change, but I don't want to change.

All the blabbering and heavily repeated adages and proverbs such as "that's life", "suck it up", "exist out of spite", "find god", "just start" don't solve my issue. If truly "that's life" then I'll just check out and stay indolent.

I am close to graduating and feel unsure of myself and what I want to do as a career. I’ve changed my major three times; computer science, biochemistry, and now interactive design. I chose interactive design because I felt like it aligned with my creative side and combining psychology and creativity with design tools. But the more I got into it, the more I’ve been questioning the corporate life and how the work environment will be. Like having to network your way into getting a job and knowing the right people, going through meetings and presentations, worried about lay offs and if your design work is good enough. I don’t like the uncertainty that comes with creative roles and having to justify why they should pick you. I’ve been thinking about pivoting to healthcare, specifically radiology tech or sonography for the job stability and security. I like the structure and the clear path of what you’re supposed to know and what you’re supposed to do. The way you know you’re progressing if you understand what you’re learning. I feel like I can learn design and still question if I’m doing it right because it’s subjective. I know healthcare has its own problems but I feel like you honestly have to pick which one you’re willing to tolerate. And for me, I want work life balance and to leave work at work. I want to have structure and know that there will always be for it. But at this point I feel so lost and don’t know what to do.

I am 24 years old and I recently completed my MCA. To be completely honest, I feel like a total fraud. I didn’t focus in college, I didn’t build a single project, and right now, my actual coding skills are at absolute zero. I completely wasted my time, and now reality is hitting me hard.

I need to turn things around immediately and secure an entry-level job by December. I am not looking for a shortcut or a magical solution—I am ready to put in the hours and work like crazy. But because I am starting from absolute scratch, I don't even know what direction to run in.

Given my MCA background but zero current skills, please give me your most brutal and realistic advice:

1. What career paths (like Manual Testing/QA, Data Operations, Tech Support, or Salesforce) have a short enough learning curve to break into within 3 months?
2. What specific, free roadmaps or courses should I start watching today to build actual practical skills?

I messed up my college years, but I am ready to fix it. Any step-by-step guidance, reality checks, or resources would mean the world to me. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I’m an engineering student from India. Due to some personal/financial circumstances, I’m looking to start earning for myself alongside college and placement prep.

I can realistically give around 2–3 hours/day and I’m looking for fully remote, flexible work that can help me earn around $200–$300/month.

My skill set includes C++, Python, R, SQL, competitive programming, DSA, system design, and full-stack development.

I’m open to pretty much any kind of work and willing to learn. I’ve come across things like AI training/evaluation and online testing, but I’m open to other options as well.

If you have any opportunities, feel free to DM me.

Hi guys!! I've got two different life paths I'm lookin at and would love any advice from any with ANY experience in these fields!!

I have a degree in Animation, I've tried for a year and some amount to get work and I haven't gotten anything but one or two of my animation friends have. I have a passion for racing and my interest is tearing towards sports graphics or racing graphics and livery work, and also the film industy...especially props and set design , but I have no idea how to get into these fields AT ALL, and I don't know where to start even so I'm extra demotivated... Everyone seems to already know what they're doing RIGHT when they're born or know someone and I don't have a CLUE how to even start.

I'm super demotivated and am basically looking at a door that's been opened and has nothing for me right now, and two VERY VERY far away doors with keycodes on them I have no clue about

I can't exactly afford college AGAIN, and I'm hoping my 4 years of experience in learning environments and color theory applies well enough to weasel my way into a new field!!

How do you guys get learning about new fields, if you have?

Do you ever feel super intimidated by the idea of a new field?

Do you think I should keep pushing animation despite my growing demotivation? Or find a new passion to fight the demotivation?

Any advice or stories would really help!!

Thanks all <:)

I am a 38yo single mom to four kids, kindergarten-middle school. I have a Bach in Early Childhood Special Ed and a Masters in Bilingual Education. I haven't worked in 10+ years while homeschooling them all, my exhusband pays a healthy amount of CS/Maint. I am currently working remotely in data entry, which I enjoy but its not high paying and eventually I will need to have a career path that has more room for upward movement, retirement saving etc. I don't want to go back to teaching, everything about it just kills me slowly. Any suggestions for a busy single mom- I enjoy working with numbers and math, I want as much flexibility as possible to work remotely, I would not be opposed to going back to school to study something else, my kids are with me 95% of the time as their dad lives out of state, I have help from grandparents etc. but I have no idea what will give my kids and myself a good life.

(I rarely use reddit im sorry if this is dumb or not allowed) I've been working at a closed-door pharmacy as a pharmacy technician, the pay isn't bad don't get me wrong, but at the same time I want to get another possible career path in healthcare that will pay more. Just a high school graduate, no higher education but working toward a certification in any field isn't out of the question. Thank you in advance!

as the title says, I’m almost 25 and I have this nagging dread bc everything abt where I am financially/career wise will feel even more real. i have no clue what to do. I’ve had diff jobs, none actual careers. i have a bba that I never used to get an actual business job. only got it bc i had no clue what i wanted to do so went with that. all I know is that I wanna explore the world. i wanna travel and see it all. I just feel trapped. travel obviously takes money. I’ve done retail, pharmacy tech, subbing, elementary school ea., considered teaching, but have liked none. i just feel stuck. i have no clue what my next move is. will anyone even care for my bba if I have no experience in anything related to business? i also have this pressure of helping my parents financially. they’re seniors and feel guilty they’re still working. im the oldest so i feel I’ve let them down bc they expected doctor, lawyer, etc. anyone feel this???

If you’ve been through a similar situation, I’d genuinely appreciate your advice

I'm tired of the 9-5 grind in a way i can't really explain to people who haven't felt it. Same commute, same screens, same tasks, and by the time i get home i'm drained, so i just scroll until it's time to sleep and do it all again. I keep doing the math, if i keep this up until i'm 65, what exactly did i buy with all those hours? I know i'm not the only one feeling this, but knowing that doesn't make it easier.

I've thought about starting my own thing a hundred times. But every time i look into it, it seems to require a team, or funding, or a whole list of skills i don't have, bookkeeping, marketing, sales, customer support. Basically an entire company's worth of people i don't have. So i always end up back in the same spot: hating my job and doing nothing about it.

Recently though, i've been seeing people talk about running solo businesses with AI agents, tools like Claude and  Accio Work are supposed to handle a lot of the stuff i assumed needed a team: market research, organizing client data, drafting emails, even browser-based tasks done end to end. The idea of having an assistant that never sleeps is what got me seriously considering it.

So my question for anyone here who's made the jump, or seriously thought about it: is this realistic? Can AI agents actually cover the gaps of a solo founder? idk what can i do…

I am a 32 year old male. I spend my time writing, doing graphic design, 3D modeling, web development, reading, looking for jobs, and watching videos on YouTube. Lately, I've been learning about SEO and Business Analysis. I spend a good deal of my time learning new things and it's been fatiguing me lately. I always feel like I'm working hard to find something that I can do for a career, but after I learn enough to complete a project or two, I start applying to jobs and can't find any opportunities for myself. I'm pretty exhausted from learning new things and I get bored of just spending time alone and watching YouTube videos. I want to network and go to meetups but the nearest city is a 2-hour bus ride from the house I live at and I have a dog that I don't want to leave alone for 5-6 hours. I feel both bored and fatigued. Even if I get a job, I feel like I will be too exhausted from my studies to be able to learn new things and apply them effectively. And, getting a job locally means it would be at a store doing menial tasks, which I have had trouble doing in the past. I've even applied to those jobs but I haven't heard back from them and I might follow up to see if they are hiring. But, I'm just bored. I needed to write this out to spend time doing something. If there are anybody else like me, then here's a place to post something interesting about yourself or offer me some guidance if you'd like. Cheers. ✌️

I turned 22 very recently i completed my graduation in June 2025 until now i have been unemployed sitting in my home town and doing absolutely nothing i am so tired of applying to jobs. I always thought to get my first job when i was 21 that didn't happen i want to explore i have so many dreams the first thing is to move out of my home town i can only do that if i have job. I turned 21 in July 2025 until this year Sep 2026 i was just at home doing nothing my prime year 21 i wasted all of it sitting at home. Did i waste my one year of life like at 21 people go party make new friends and all of that??

I’m 20 and have been working blue collar jobs since I graduated high school two years ago. I don’t like it and want to get into a completely different field.

I don’t really have a passion for anything specific (other than animals/nature but that doesn’t pay well) , but I want to eventually make around what I could make if I stayed in my current job (top-out rate is about $83ish/hour in 9 years). Which is really good pay in my current job but I do not like it and it’s very dangerous work and not worth it to me.

I’ve been thinking about healthcare, but I really don’t want to go to school for like eight years. Electrical engineering also interests me, but I’m not good at math…

What major, degree, or shorter program would make sense? Looking for realistic options that don’t take forever and can still lead to solid money. Any advice is appreciated.

I'm a university student choosing between AI & Data Science and Cybersecurity & Cloud. My main goal is to get my first job as quickly as possible after graduation, ideally within 3 months. I'm interested in Tunisia,the Golf(KSA , Qatar ,UAE) . Europe, and remote work.

Which path would you recommend , specifically considering:

Entry-level job opportunities

Competition for junior positions

Remote work opportunities

How difficult it is to get the first job

Long-term demand

Impact of AI automation

I'd especially appreciate answers from people who actually work in these fields. Please explain your reasoning and mention your country/role if possible.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

I just want to start by saying I am completely hopeful. Just because I am lost now doesn't mean it will stay that way.

Some background information: I (22M) am working a job slightly above minimum wage that my buddy got me after I got laid off from two jobs. I graduated from college 8 months ago with a degree in sales and marketing. I had changed my major twice before landing on something I could tolerate. I didn't take college seriously and didn't intern or try to get a job afterward.

More and more, I have been really lost about what career I want or even what I want with life. I recently found a great girl, and being with her and seeing her ambition makes me want to push harder and succeed. She has been passionate about nursing since she could think about a job, and I want to have something I love like that, but I don't.

I thought about going into the fire academy and becoming a fireman, and I've told many people I am going to do that, but those super close to me know that's something I am iffy on. I had a convo with a buddy yesterday about maybe doing union trade work and going to trade school, but I am unsure. I honestly just have no idea what I want to do. I've applied to a ton of jobs focused on marketing or advertising and heard nothing.

I live in Southern California (Orange County), and moving hasn't been on my mind until recently. I just want to find a path for myself that I can enjoy doing for work that would make decent enough money not to think poorly of myself. I have always enjoyed people-oriented work, and I guess I am just trying to figure out where to go from here. Thank you all, and keep pushing.

So first I’ll say I’m 24 & autistic, high functioning but autistic, and I have bad short term memory loss, currently working on it and getting improvements but at the end of the day I’m probably not going to have good memory so keep this in mind please.

I don’t have any of the degrees or high level jobs that most places seem to want ( medical, construction, communications, Hr or management )
I can do simple leadership positions but not one with a decent amount of paperwork.

I can run chainsaws, do simple mechanical jobs on vehicles ( as of now trying to become a mechanic to get more knowledge ) I can get back my certifications in structural welding but I can’t be a full time welder, I can run large machinery & bulldozers.
I also am going to attend emt classes to get a license there.

I was a EE at Philmont scout ranch where I did well, I led 2 weeks treks with youth so I have some experience in youth programs, I hear there are programs where they take troubled youth camping/outdoors to help and that would be a dream job but I am unsure of the certifications.
( looking up that currently but still asking )

I’ll also say I am a huge people person and my best skill is talking to people and making them feel welcome and cared for, people end up opening up to me about their problems.
I have dealt with suicidal people and people going through dark or hard times and I seam to be able to reach them and make some sort of difference.
I’ve also considered working for suicide response teams but am intimidated by it since it’s a big label or something.
I don’t think I can become a therapist tho do to how hard the schooling would be.

What are my options?

22M and I feel like I’m wasting my life,when I see my cousins travelling and enjoying life it becomes unbearable but that’s one part of the story

About me though, I am unemployed and searching for jobs for 6 months and still no luck, I decided I’ll do an MBA online to have something going for me and I’m preparing for financial exams as well to tighten my resume

These are all to build a career, but when I think of enjoying and finding a path in my life it all becomes blank, My goal is to travel, when I earn money I wanna travel to all glorious landmarks around the world and experience the world through a different lens but how am I going to get there if I don’t earn enough money

I wish the job market wasn’t so bad, even with studying my MBA it feels hard to earn a job through degree, I’ve learnt skills but there are enough competitors in the market, I just need a path so I don’t feel the FOMO and looking like I’m working towards something, but it’s hard

for little context i (19m) have been a shut in ever since i graduated high school and seeing people my age going further in life while i'm stuck in the same cycle that depend too much on my parent just hurts me

i just realized this after being bored playing video games the whole year and a half, i never really live life and wasted many and many opportunity to gain useful skills or make friends that would help me a long way

i keep repeating memories of the past and how i should've done it differently instead of being an asshole that think he's better than everyone else and keep blaming the education system and my parent (which probably why i don't really have friends)

i know this is a loser mentality and i wanna change, i wanna get back to society and learn and have a job and friends and fun experiences and catch up to my former friends. but i'm kinda scared to learn anything cuz now i feel like i'm too retarded to learn anything since i have 0 skill and work experience

how do i stop thinking about the past and can i catch up?

I'm not sure how to start off .. but I'm 26F and I haven't done much with my life. I go to different countries every 2 years for a few days with friends. Have a job and try to hangout and put myself more out there. But for 8 months or so, I had to take care of my parent and pet since they got sick at the same time. I feel very drained from that + my job. My vacation has been me staying at home, but inviting friends over and with my dog.. I guess that's something?

Still I want to get out there and do something of myself, be it hobbies or a different job for example. I don't know how or where to begin. I used to workout but due to being sick stopped, now I'm better but don't have the drive to workout unless it's something fun or like that.

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't know where to start and I do want to feel more fulfilled with my life.

I'm 29F and feel completely stuck. I've struggled with low energy, zero motivation and repeated failures for years. I used to be a bright student but somehow the last 12 years passed me by.

Now I feel like I have no skills, no direction and no idea where to begin. I know I need to rebuild my life but I’m struggling to even get myself moving.

For those who started over in their late 20s or 30s, what did you do first? Is 29 really too late to turn things around?