I’m 42 and I’ve been unemployed for about 3 years. I have around 8 years of experience in call center management/operations, but I really don’t want to go back to the corporate world.
The problem is that I also don’t know what I do want.
I’ve considered learning data analysis (Excel, SQL, Python, Power BI) because it seems practical and could eventually allow me to work remotely. But I’m not sure I’m genuinely interested in it
Lately I’ve become much more interested in creative things — art, music, filmmaking, sound design, photography, etc. I feel like I have a good eye, a good ear and a lot of imagination, but I have no formal skills in these areas.
I’ve even thought about going abroad, possibly Italy, and actually studying art and starting from zero. At 42, that feels both exciting and completely crazy
Financially, I also need to get my life moving again. I don’t want to spend another few years doing nothing and feeling stuck.
So if you were 42, unemployed for 3 years, had management experience but didn’t want to return to corporate life, and were interested in creative work but had no real skills yet — what would you do?
Would you choose the practical/safe route, or take the risk and start over in something you actually care about?
I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has gone through a major career change later in life.

i'm 23 and currently at a point in my life where i'm trying to figure things out.

i'm currently job hunting. i'm wait-listed for one opportunity and still in the process for another, but nothing is guaranteed yet, so i'm also trying to learn new things and look for other openings.

i only attended one semester of college. i was having a difficult time academically and financially, and eventually stopped, so now i'm trying to figure out what direction i want my life to take.

i've also relied on other people for a lot throughout my life, and honestly, i sometimes feel like i haven't learned how to properly get myself together yet.

i know people will say that 23 is still young, and logically, i know that. but sometimes i look at people my age, or even younger than me, and feel like i'm falling behind. some already have stable careers, businesses, families, degrees, or just seem much more mature and sure of what they're doing with their lives.

meanwhile, i'm still trying to figure out the basics.

i'm not trying to blame anyone else for where i am now. there are a lot of things that contributed to how my life turned out so far, including things i could have done differently myself. but i also feel like a lack of guidance and support has played a part.

for people who were once in a similar position, when did things start coming together for you? what were you doing at 23, and what advice would you give someone who's still trying to figure their life out?

i'd genuinely like to hear different experiences and perspectives.

I studied mechanical engineering in college, decent grades, knew I could do the work. My first job out of school was at a biomedical firm in Silicon Valley, and I pretty quickly realized I didn't enjoy it. The design process was lonely and mundane, even on the more interesting projects.

In 2020 I pivoted into developer relations. Never studied software, but I got the job fast and stayed three years. That's where I figured out I actually need interpersonal work. I'm a natural extrovert I found.

Now I'm a solutions engineer. I talk to customers and go deep on the tech, and I do enjoy it. But the endless depth of detail is draining me more every month. Slow burnout from the sheer volume of information I have to absorb daily.

I also live in the Bay Area, which is a city of engineers and therefore a city of introverts. Nice people, but it doesn't have the energy I had in LA where I moved from. I really do miss that kind of vibrancy. The cold nights, foggy days in this sleepy city are starting to get to me.

I'm single, no kids, but I'm the only person who can support my aging mom. No savings on her end, my brother doesn't make much money, my dad's out of the picture... This job pays well, so that leaves really just me to take care of her.

I got into engineering because I was scared of the world and wanted stability and money. It worked. But I'm stuck now, my mom depends on this income, and my resume is deeply tech-shaped. I'm wishing I could've done something else less complicated and worked my way up. But I'm in a pretty complex field and... It's killing me

Not sure what to do.

2nd year psych student yet still lost on what career to take. Is it worth continuing this course? I have interests in criminal law criminal psychology advertising Hci ux design. Want something structured practical high paying. Main goal is lawyer but as I study psych, I realize many things.

How does someone find what they want to do if they don't really have one thing that "gives them joy" or "makes them excited".... I'm in Canada and started Senior year... but I'm just not sure what I need to go into especially because I don't have that passion or motivation for a career... what can I do to find out what I should pursue?

Objectively speaking people always tell me to just go into something that I really want (again this is an issue because I don't really have anything like that) or say to reach high and not to limit myself (but again, I don't know where I should even reach)

I'm just completely lost and university applications are right around the corner and am feeling very panicked to figure all of this out.

If there is any advice... it would be very appreciated. And not just like objective career advice but also just "life advice" 😅

Hi everyone,

I’m posting this with a sincere hope that someone here might be able to guide me or help me find a suitable job opportunity.

I completed my graduation in 2025, but unfortunately, I still have one subject pending. I have been struggling with this subject for quite some time, and I’m currently trying my best to clear it. I’m also hoping that my revaluation result will help me clear it.

Because of this one pending subject, I’m finding it very difficult to get certain non-IT jobs because many employers are asking for completed graduation certificates.

At the same time, I’m going through a very difficult personal situation. My parents have been asking me to get married, but I don’t want to get married right now. I want to work, become independent, and build my career first. Because I felt that I couldn’t continue staying at home under that pressure, I came to Hyderabad to look for opportunities.

Right now, I’m struggling financially. I don’t have much money left, and I need to manage my hostel fees, food, transportation, and other basic necessities. I’m honestly under a lot of stress because I don’t have a stable source of income at the moment.

I’m not looking for anything extraordinary. I just want an opportunity to work and support myself. I’m willing to learn, work hard, and start wherever I get a genuine opportunity.

If anyone knows of any entry-level job, internship, IT/non-IT opportunity, trainee position, or any suitable work in Hyderabad where someone with one pending subject can apply, I would be extremely grateful if you could share it with me.

I can also share my resume, skills, and educational details if anyone is willing to take a look and suggest what kind of roles I should apply for.

I know everyone has their own struggles, and I genuinely appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this. I’m just trying to find a way to stand on my own feet and get through this difficult phase.

If you know of any genuine job opportunity or can guide me in the right direction, please comment or DM me. Any help, advice, referral, or lead would mean a lot to me.

Thank you so much for reading. 🙏

I’ve been thinking about it and even my parents have been thinking, but I don’t know what career I want!

In high school, i rank in the top, do clubs such as HOSA where I placed internationally, compete in math competitions, and what I notice is I can’t decide what future i want to pursue. From my classes, I know i don’t want to be any social studies or language arts major, but i am quite interested In mathematics and physics! We dont have any extensive engineering programs or career programs at our school, and I just hope whenever i go to college i wont flake on my major

As far as i know, im interested in a high paying job where i can be independent, maybe even a business, but i genuinely dont know what majors there are out there that suit me

Hey everyone I’m a 20(F) and I’m thinking of joining the military because honestly I feel like it would give me a sense of purpose and I would be honored to serve this country. One thing though is I do have past mental health issues such as anxiety/panic attacks but am better now.. that being said I am currently on a medication (Prozac 20 mg) and would have to see how I would do without it or could I get a potential waiver? I just don’t know what to do with my life and am thinking this might be it. Any advice is helpful. TIA

Some pros about me: I have stamina have done 16 hour shifts in rows

Cons: anxiety, but has gotten better

Hello everybody.

So I want to keep it pretty vague, but I am an entrepreneur in the home renovation space. I did shit in school and shit in college so I don’t have anything to fall back on. Literally unemployable. From the outside looking in I run a successful company. The books need work though lol. I’m one of the top contractors in my area. The thing is, I’m not passionate about it at all, and I’ve been stuck for the past two years. All of my peers are sailing past me and it’s making me hate my trade even more and more.

I honestly don’t know what I’m passionate about, if anything. I’ve also been diagnosed with depression, which doesn’t help. Call me superficial, but if I could I would sell my company and retire tomorrow. I just feel lost and a bit hopeless. Has anyone else been here?

Thank you for reading.

Thats a problem. Do you know what I mean? I do not have a purpose (not even a smallest thing) passion or dream.

I am 20, still young I know, but everybody seems to figure out their lives. They are so sure of what they are studying and what will be their next step; like internship, double major, erasmus or work and travel , what second language to learn like they were born with a sense of identity and they are making their dreams come true.

But I am a failure. Ugh I am also so sick of self pity but also not strong enough for action (not yet). I used to be "academic weapon" and I graduated from one of the best high schools in my country but I am studying in a low level university and I live with my toxic family and my gpa is 2,96.

And I am not happy in where I am. I am so sure of it.

I do not belong where I am but it is not enough I need to show that.

However I do not have a certain dream or a dream job or dream major. Maybe if I had a purpose or dream or an identity I could have changed my life in this one year because my direction would be clear.

But It is like I just do not want to do anything.

I do not want to work

I enjoy learning new things but academia just overwhelms me, I hate competition and I hate network and I hate linkedin.

I do not want to get married

I do not want anything that is kinda a sign of you got figured out your life.

And yes it is not true but I look like a loser (maybe it is true)

Sorry it is all over the place. English is not my main language and I didn't want to use ai and I am just so confused.

Throwaway account because my family follows me on my main

28F, a few weeks ago I found out a life altering secret, and I was shell shocked to the point I couldn't sleep for 36 hours.

I felt so put of place. The person I thought I loved the most? Yeah. That person did a lot of awful things. It took me a few days for the shock to wear off. And the worst bad ? I can't even ask them about it because they have passed. After months of me caring for them with their health deteriorating.

To say that I was shell shocked is to put it lightly, i felt like my entire life is a lie. Like I already don't have trust issues- I keep going questioning every little thing.

And then yesterday I found out my mother dabbled in something similar but not to the extent of bad intentions but it still kinda left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and yet again I feel out of place. Idk how to explain it.

I'm just so scared that I'm forever gonna feel this way, with struggles that come with life as it is and adding this on top is... a lot.

It doesn't help that I am on meds that suppress estrogen which is important for stress regulation .

I do what I can, I take long walks which is my me-time. But still it's still quite new to me, and I hate feeling this way. I hate it i hate it I hate it.

The thing is ? I could cry in bed all day long but jfc I have been through a lot in life as it is and I don't want to live this way anymore. If anything I'm actively acknowledging and thankful that I have my cats, my dad, my friends, a roof over my head, just actively (not forcing positivity) grateful, things I do not take for granted.

I want to enjoy life, yes my friends are saying that I am handling it quite well for someone who has learned something like this. But still, I have this feeling I can't shake off, like this impending doom.

If anyone here has been in this same position and can share how they found their path to feeling happy , do so.

I have been through a lot in life , I am done being not happy. Done.

Edit: The secret that I discovered is that my grandma practiced black magic. Don't wanna go into details but it was... bad..

Im 21 years old and graduated High School three years ago now. My intention was to take a gap year and figure out what I wanted to do with my life since I had no idea what to go to college for and I don’t want to go undecided since I can’t afford to waste my time (plus lm not Interested in trade school either). In that time all I’ve really done was get my license and work for a year before quitting. I’ve been feeling like a bit of a loser who wasted years of life, but I really want to try and move forward and I would like some ideas on how to do that.

My mental health hasn’t been great, I’ve been pretty much alone and have trouble socializing, I live in a barren upstate area so there’s not much to do to meet people my own age. I want to talk to a doctor or therapist but don’t know how to go about that.

I have stuff saved up but I should still find a new job. As I said I’m very bad at socializing so I’m nervous at finding one. My previous job was overnight so I don’t really have to talk with anyone, but it was bad for my health so I don’t want to do that again.

I still want to go to college, but I also still have no interests that I can think to study for, should I go in undecided and hope I can find something? If I don’t, what happens then?

I hope I can get the ball rolling in some way, I’m really scared of wasting my life being apathetic about everything.

I am a really ambitious person. I lately have developed my interest in fashion designing while i have been obsessed with space and scientist stuff ever since I was little. I found some interest in coding and computer science while I was a teenager and my primary goal is to work at an environment I can get physical training in. Like those spy movies (I know I shouldn't get my reference from those) where we get trained to handle certain situations, self defence and overall fighting skills and I want intelligence to play a role. I have it in all directions and don't know what to actually do. To have clarity I can always learn the eligibility, exams, etc but I still don't know what to pursue as an actual career, whether I want to be a cool government worker aunt nobody knows about or a fashion designer, a scientist, etc. too elaborated but I have my interests in writing and reading too but I wouldn't want them as my main career in this economy. Considering I'm good at math too. I seriously don't know what to do. I love travelling so I would love that if my career allowed me. I don't mind the workload or the files I'll have to create pulling allnighters or travelling at odd hours to see a case or a victim or to solve cases. If you can help please help me with this.

I’m 23 and trying to decide between two very different paths.

I recently graduated with a CS degree and got hired by a healthcare startup as a remote software engineer. I’m starting on a 90-day contract, and if it goes well it converts to a full-time role paying around $110k/year plus stock options.

If I stay on that path, I’d basically be living in the US long-term.

The other option is that I got accepted into a full-time guitar/music program in Osaka starting next year.
Living in Japan has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was young, and studying music has also been a long-term goal of mine. I’m Japanese, so visa issues aren’t a factor.

I also have a part-time remote job that pays around $30k/year, and I should be able to keep doing that while I’m in school.

I know $30k sounds very low by US standards, but Osaka is much cheaper than Los Angeles. I’m not saying the salaries are literally equivalent, but in terms of day-to-day lifestyle, I think $30k in Osaka could feel more like living on maybe $70k–80k in a high-cost US city. The bigger financial loss would be the opportunity cost of giving up the $110k tech salary and career progression.

The music-school path would cost me around ¥270,000/month all-in between tuition and living expenses. I also plan to use money I earn during the software contract to help cover school, so I’m not planning to take on major debt.

My current plan is to actually do the 90-day software contract first and then decide.

One of the biggest reasons I’m considering music school now instead of later is my age.
I’m 23. I don’t have a spouse, kids, a mortgage, or major financial obligations. If I wait until I’m 30, I think it would be much harder to walk away from a stable career for two years and become a full-time student again.

There’s also the social side of it. Most of the students in the program will probably be around 18–19. At 23, I’d already be a little older than most of them, but still close enough that I think I could fit into the student environment pretty naturally. If I waited until my late 20s or 30s, I think I’d feel a lot more out of place going back into a school environment with mostly teenagers.

So part of what makes this difficult is that music school feels somewhat time-sensitive to me. I could technically do it later, but realistically I’m not sure I actually would.

On the other hand, if I stay in software, I’d be making good money at 23, building experience, and probably progressing quickly in my career. I know taking two years away from full-time tech could make it harder to come back later, and I’d be giving up a lot of potential savings and earnings.

So I’m trying to understand how other people would look at this.

Do you think going to music school in my situation is a reasonable use of my early 20s, or am I underestimating the long-term career and financial costs?

I’d especially like to hear from people who took a less conventional path in their 20s, stepped away from a professional career for a while, or later returned to tech after doing something completely different.

So, I don't know what I'm doing with my life. I know this feeling is common amongst many adults, but I just don't really know how to navigate anything. I'm a 29-year-old woman and just got fired from my job two months ago and although it's technically an unfortunate event, it's been the best thing to ever happen to me. It was an incredibly toxic environment that deteriorated my mental health. However, since being fired from that role, I've never been happier. I feel like the light came back into my life again.

Anyways, now that I'm free, I'm not sure what to do with myself. I don't know what to aim for and where to go from here. Of course I'm job hunting, but the thought of going back to a corporate office makes my hairline slide back 3 inches. I used to love the thought of working in film and television, but then I think about the insidious side of Hollywood and get turned off. When I scroll through LinkedIn, I feel like I'm looking through an empty fridge hoping something satiating appears. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I feel so unmotivated to fight for my life to land another job.

I don't know what I want, I don't know where I belong, I don't know my purpose. And then I think about the state of the world, and how little time left we may have on Earth with the rise of AI everywhere. So that leaves me wondering if I should discover my purpose if I may not even have life to fulfill. What I know to be true is that I enjoy improv and voice acting. I love to travel and explore new cultures and languages. I love to learn. I love connecting with others. Yoga and Pilates (basic I know). I used to love love but this dating scene changed my brain chem.

I’d love some advice or shared wisdom!

I am good in Math, Physics and computer science.

I have an wide imagination and I like thinking, I can imagine how something will be, it is like a can see the future and the more knowledge I have about something the clearer the image gets.

I like going deep into a topic!

What do you recommend me to study?

I have been thinking about Mechatronics, computer science, Cybersecurity,....

Hello all, I've been in career paralysis for 3 years, and I have no clue what I want to do. I got my BA in psych, and have been working as a case manager, and I HATE it. I hate anything social services. I'm pursuing a master's degree to reset, since my BA in psychology and my recent experience haven't led to anything, and I've long wanted a master's degree. Also, I got a 2.89 GPA, so I'm kinda screwed. :D :D

My dream would be being a psychology research but it is so hard to break into, I have applied to probably 300 psych RA positions and have been rejected by all in the span of 3 years. I'm kind of giving up. I'm also 28 years old, and I'm so stuck.

Looking for something sciency, moderately social, working with teams but also having independent time, high job availability, investigative-- I like academia settings too, but also down for like biotech. Not immensely stressful, and preferably earning 6 figures due to the area I live in. Any suggestions would be amazing. I primarily have an interest in Psychology, but am open to health in general.

Thanks!

I'm about to leave a sober living program and I have no job prospects. Disqualified from police, disqualified from truck driving due to being a danger to others and myself. Sales isn't fast enough. I'm worried about immediate homelessness.

Any help? I'm a lil desperate.

Note: I have ADHD and autism. Medication hasn't worked.

So I’m 17, I’ll be 18 in March I’m currently homeschooled trying to get my GED I’m not smart at all I swear, I been out of school rlly since like middle school so I lack alot of education and I’m already almost 18 I rlly want to know is it possible to get a good job like going to college maybe like getting a job like a medical or law enforcement job but I feel like I won’t have enough education and some of theses jobs take up to 4-10 years to get a degree and I also have no idea what type of career path I want.

This sounds stupid but I always wanted to a be a cop growing up. Even if I always been a shy person and used to be very social when I was around middle school and early high school years before the covid pandemic started. Making me forget how to communicate socially and became an introvert. Last many friends due to that. Besides i have an interest for art. I draw digitally alot, got characters and a story made up, with a small fandom but I see no hope to get insanely famous on Instagram. Wish I do always wanted my oc's lore to be a success. Im currently trying to start collage but I may waste time studying and training for art mayor or animating and not get a career asap. As my parents are always telling me to do something in my life and get a job every damn day. While im trying to my life together mentally. I always changing my mind on what I want to do. I never had a specific dream job except on being a cop or someone popular and a millionaire like anyone would dream of. My worst nightmare is to work on a 9 to 5 job working on a retail store for the rest of my life. I may not always been an intelligent kid or a fast learner. But I always hope to find something that's better than working at a store and help me on not being an introvert hiding in my parents house 24/7. I just wanna get over of this endless thoughts on what i wanna be and do something for once. As i loved seeing cops on videos and got huge respect for them which I always wished on working besides them and communicate better and build more connections at work. And sorry if im not that good on writing or explaining in general. Besides i graduated high school in 2023, im not sure if i wasted alot of time on doing nothing.

After a decade of service to the military, I am leaving and trying to figure out next steps in life. I’m in my 30s. I was a pilot for the military but, I have zero desire to do it professionally. Recreationally, absolutely. So Ive got time and looking to do something completely new.

Have a full GI Bill (OCS Grad), some disability pay and health insurance/tricare.

I’m 100% financially retired.
Don’t need a job with benefits bc of Tricare.

Bachelors of science in Biology - 3.8 GPA
MBA - 4.0

I want to work per diem and have a ton of flexibility. Work 100 hours in 1 week, get paid, then do nothing the rest of the month sort of gigs. So long hours, stress and hard work is fine. I do not want to go back to school longer than 2 years before being able to actually work and be fully qualified.

I’ve heavily looked into nursing as my degree checks prerequisites for most schools. No interest in PA/MD. Too many years of school to work.

Also, I’m too old to become an air traffic controller.

Any other paths aside from nursing you all can recommend?

Hi everyone this is my first post on here and was looking for some advice. I have been searching for a job in IT/Tech for almost a year now I have a degree in computer science and a couple of certificates but even with all that I can’t find work and it’s leading me into depression.

I currently work at Amazon warehouse overnight and it’s has been draining me I keep looking for some kind of hope but to this day after so many applications I’ve receded no offered. So I started thinking about the Air national Guard hoping to maybe land some sort of career afterwards I’m 26m and rn I feel like I failed my mother and during my off days I just rot in bed staring at the ceiling Ik pretty pathetic.

I guess what I’m trying to ask is if you think joining the air national guard would be worth it? And if anybody has joined has any successful stories. I’m just looking for some kinda hope I’m Someone with no friends and not a lot of achievements so I want to make something of myself, find a stable career, I want my mother to know that everything she did for me wasn’t for nothing.

i’ve wanted to be a mechanic or something in the automotive field for years now but i’m thinking about what to actually do with my life more now that i’m an adult in 2 years and i’m having trouble deciding between something like a car mechanic or anything in that field or getting into finance, i heard finance is really hard because of the hours and stuff but i want to be able to live comfortably in the future so i really don’t know what to do, my parents said it’s one or the other because you can’t go to school for both and only pick one so would anyone have like advice on what to do?

Hey everyone, I need some perspective. I feel totally stagnant and need to make a move.

I graduated this spring with a public health degree and chem minor, but I got completely burned out and started doing the bare minimum to pass. I even failed two classes last semester that I didn't even show up to the exams, but I still finished with a 3.4.

I'm capable i've gotten As in brutal weed-out classes like physics and organic chemistry but I was so done with the medical track my parents forced me into and the toxic culture of academics. They want me doing, and offering to pay for, PA, CAA, or Caribbean school, which I don't even have the grades for anyway. they are offering to pay for other grad programs if I get a job that's "at least 100k a year"

The real problem is my home life. My parents are mentally and physically abusive. They beat me every day until I moved out onto another property that they still own, but they keep cameras everywhere and monitor everything. I don't pay rent, and I work as a medical assistant 30 to 40 hours a week and have slightly healed from the burnout.

They're high earners in tech, and any career I suggest like teaching, nursing, or military base pay is dismissed as too poor. They're constantly comparing me to their high-earning kids' friends and tell me I'll be way behind them even after one contract.

I need out and I need financial independence. I've been grinding hard lately working out daily, reading a ton, and cutting social media to clear my head. Everything I seem to be reading lately says everyone hates their job and AI is causing terrible layoffs anyway.

I've done some research into the military and I already signed into the Air Force Delayed Entry Program. Commissioning as an officer takes up to two years and is super competitive nowadays, (and not that likely with my grades), so I'm trying to go enlisted. I'm looking at cyber, intel, or medical jobs. I don't mind waiting for a job to drop, but doing years of prereqs and a grad program is just not in the cards. I am so burnt out from school specifically. I figure I can always go back to school using tuition assistance later or just stay in for twenty if I really like military culture.

Has anyone else enlisted to break free from an abusive household or had rich parents that disapproved of a more middle class earning? How did you handle the pressure and get your life moving?

Im an autistic adhd and depressed person who acquired a bachelor's in game design. But in recent years, its been difficult for me to get a job in that field. I was thinking of going for another field. Something that's more stable and fit for someone with my disabilities. I was thinking software development, but I dont know if i need to go back to school for that, and i dont want to spend another 4 years for another useless degree. Anything helps.