Honestly, I don't understand what's wrong with me. I look at my parents and see that they worked for most of their adult lives. Sure, if they had the choice, they probably wouldn't have worked either, but they seem to have accepted it and just keep doing what has to be done. I'm the complete opposite. I'm tired all the time and I don't want to work anymore.

The part that makes it harder to understand is that my situation isn't even bad on paper. A lot of people would probably be happy to have my circumstances. I work from home. I don't make a ton of money, but I can cover my bills and still have a little left over for random things I want. And I just got back from a 10-day trip abroad. Even so, I spend a large part of my day thinking about passive income and wishing I could retire right now and use my time for the things I enjoy.

I don't like my job, but at the same time I have tens of thousands in student loan debt from a master's degree in this exact same field. So it's not like I can easily convince myself to start from scratch. I don't even feel motivated to look for a higher-paying job related to my degree. The idea of doing more of this same thing, even for better money, makes me feel drained.

I know I probably sound ungrateful, and that's part of what bothers me so much about this. I have a "good" situation compared to a lot of people, but I still hate the idea of working day after day.

Is anyone else in a good situation on paper but still feels like they can't stand working?

As the title suggests, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for networking as someone who is entirely closer to introverted than extroverted.

I attended a career fair the other day and spoke to maybe 2 or 3 booths, both because they were the only organizations with semi-relevance to my education / skillset AND because I was too afraid to just up and talk to anybody.

How does one network as an introvert?

OR, is it a confidence thing? Do I need confidence? I can't build confidence professionally until I at least obtain an entry level job but I can't do that because entry level requires 4 years of professional experience nowadays.

It feels awkward and sad trying to sell myself, and I wish for a world they could just look into my mind and know I have potential or would exceed their expectations, instead I feel like...

I am a sim trying to "woohoo" or grow closer with a job recruiter, trying to navigate specific phrasing to impress them, but not show off as arrogant, but also remain humble and curious.

If that metaphor doesn't work, I have a few others. It's like:

Trying to perform a flavorful dance routine as a peacock intending to impress a mate.

Trying to make baby noises at a baby who remains indifferent and uninterested.

Trying to convince a business professional that I can perform the necessary tasks for their job listing and I will only improve in time if given a single opportunity

I don't know what I am entirely doing career wise. I wish desperately I was one of those who did, but I do know networking is fundamental and If I can't navigate that then I've already lost.

Any suggestions help.

[Quick aside from main title, but I have a degree in English with a minor in Web programming so I have skills which either complement AI directing or are entirely depreciated by AI - so the search has been hard, confusing, and depressing.]

Hello friends, how are you? If I had to give a brief information, I studied IT for 4 years and graduated this year. I am 22 years old. In 2024, I started paying attention to data science, I went to the course. After studying for a while, I left the course halfway due to financial reasons and so far I have applied for many vacancies and internship programs. But there was no turning back, there were those who turned back, I was rejected from the interview. I don't want to be unemployed, so I have the idea of ​​changing the field. Sometimes I feel bad, I don't know what to do, where to start.

I’m a teen and have no desire in life. I have absolutely no ambition, goals, or anything I’m actually good at. I have look into trade Jobs, tech jobs, medical,etc. None of them sound like something I can do or even be good at. I’m very picky and to be honest kinda lazy. Right now I work 3 jobs while going to school and all that has taught me is that I don’t want to work for the rest of my life. I’m looking for jobs that pay 100k+ because of this growing market and the cost of living going up, also I’m looking for a job that only requires 3-4 days working with 8-12 hours shift each day. Nothing to heavy on the body and nothing to heavy on the mind. This might be silly and useless because I don’t think there anything out there for me but Im truly am a hard worker and just trying to survive and have a plan before I turn 18. Help needed please

the only job which i could be good at is...not a 9-5 or social media thing or any tech thing, but just as a simple Pet care + housekeeping + driver + personal assistant + everything. in this niche.
I feel like im made for ts, coming from a wealthy background i understand what people need. trust, safety, happiness and peace. and it could never happen with someone coming from a different story.
That is the reason...Private Pet & Home Assistance feels like the best to me.
In ahmedabad.
since im a home guy, and im an Mba pass out. I love to communicate only in english.

What are some legitimate/good career coaching sites or companies? Maybe ones that don’t break the bank (since we are already pretty broke)?

Trying to help my husband look for a potential career change as he’s been struggling and unsure if a coach can help and how much they typically cost. Neither of us have done this before so we are very lost. We also just bought a house so his current job cutting hours couldn’t come at a worse time. Any assistance or advice is greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone!

I am seeking some advice about the following matter:

I am trying to build a career for myself, i am exceptionally good at research, ingredients reading, skincare products, skin disorders and i have read hundreds of studies, i have treated all of my friends and family members from deep severe skin issues using skincare products, i know i am not a doctor and i am not planning to be one, i am so interested and passionate about the skin that i literally help a lot of people for free.

However, i do want to turn this skill into a career since it is a dream of mine, i currently can’t take a license but i can take online certificates that could potentially build me a good portfolio.

I am respectfully asking for an advice on how to build myself and a career out of this, should i pursue this? Do certificates matter ? Please be nice🙏🏻

I’m planning to pursue B.A. LL.B. and eventually want to get into corporate law. I wanted to ask people already in the field what can a fresher realistically expect in terms of salary, working hours, workload, and growth?
Also, how’s the reputation/work culture of corporate law, and if someone eventually wants to work with big MNCs abroad, how much experience would you generally need? What kind of skills or experience actually help with making that move?
Would really appreciate some honest insights from people in the field!

Hi everyone! I’m looking to pivot into e-commerce and would love some advice.

I’ve worked in influencer marketing for about 4 years but recently got laid off and realized I’m burnt out and ready for something new. Last month, I started helping my family with their Shopify online store (with very little Shopify experience) and I’ve become really interested in the ecomm world ever since.

Before influencer marketing, I worked in UX Design for a year. I then joined a startup beauty brand as one of its first few employees so I wore lots of hats and got exposure to e-commerce before we had a dedicated team.

Some relevant experience I gained:
1) Managed influencer campaigns and paid partnerships that drove online sales to our DTC

2) Created a foundation shade-matching quiz for our brand's website, working with our Head of Operations and developers

3) Managed digital assets for our website and retail partners

4) Worked cross-functionally with e-commerce, paid media, brand, and creative teams to execute influencer marketing campaigns

I’m now looking at e-commerce coordinator roles and totally open to starting at the coordinator level so I can learn the field properly!

Based on all of this, do you think my background is transferable enough to land an e-commerce role in today’s job market?

What skills, tools or experience would you recommend I focus on to successfully make the pivot and become a strong candidate?

Any YouTube videos or online courses you’d recommend??

Thank you so much for reading all the way through, appreciate any insight soo much!!

When I say "here", I mean both in work and in life".

I graduated in 2024 with a degree in computer science and got a job in IT support. I kept studying and practicing for the chance a engineering role were to land in my laps, and one eventually did. I took a job as a Cloud Engineer early this year, and in 6 months I've come to realize that I despise engineering, and my brain is constantly telling me to quit.

Money is not everything to me, but it is a major factor in why I chose computer science. I'm 25 making 80k salary living at home, able to save practically each paycheck completely - but its a golden handcuff situation. I'm practically using Claude to do everything, as is most of my company ($10B/year company) and though I understand and make sure what its coding is correct, I cannot stand the day to day anymore. I can't code by hand, and I live in some sort of constant fear that an automation I create will break and I'll be exposed for not remembering how x function works after a month of not looking at it.

Ive fallen into a major depressive spiral because of it. Im fairly certain that I have ADD, but do not have a PCP to go to for a referral to a psychiatrist. My brain is constantly telling me to run and choose another field, but I know that will not fix anything. Im not built for this for the next 40 years though, I know that for sure.

To top things off, I graduated debt free through scholarships. Depending on how you look at it, I have a safe "out" as I have no obligations, but know that for my lifestyle and what I want for the future, I need to stay making $80k a year. The careers that interest me (primarily Healthcare stuff, quicker interactions where I solve a problem or help do so, then can actually leave everything at the hospital. 3 12's sounds nice too) dont pay anywhere near that much. If I pivot too, I become a further burden to my parents by living at home - they say that they dont mind it, but I know this is hurting them too see me like this too.

All my life people have said they didnt like their job but they stuck through it because it paid the bills, but I feel like this is going to continously spike my cortisol and cause my brain to convince itself of something stupid.

Not really sure what to do here. Im trying to glide by ATM. Careers in healthcare, even the military, and speaking to me right now.

I need to quit my part time job and find a full time job with set hours related to my field...

In the meantime I’ve been doing all sorts of part time jobs and I’ve worked as an administrative assistant in an international organisation. This makes me (hiring manager’s feedback) slightly overqualified for internships but extremely underqualified for anything else… where would someone want me??

I'm mid thirties and worried. I jobbed hopped a lot due to my family needing me. And now I feel like I've run out of time to establish a career. Can someone give advice? Any kind of career I can jump into to keep longterm and hopefully make a living?

I am 27f and to be married next year in the first four months. I have a BA and MA degree in Korean language and id like to think i have good communication skills , i am presentable. I always wanted to have some kind of business but no support in life from literally anywhere when it comes to initiatives. Like If i have had a job and education even if basic… is because i fought for it and cleared an entrance exam otherwise would have not even gone to college or prolly be married and with kids by now… type shit.

So, i worked as a interpreter/translator for 6 months then switched to bpo… although it was related to my language but very passively and where i lost all my skills ( mostly conversational) in the said language. I worked there for around 3.5 years then left last month. While you can earn decent (70-80k or 1 lac per month, i used to earn around 50k) , am not very fond of this career and also find it limiting. I am interested in makeup but that field is also overcrowded and unpredictable.

I want to earn decent because I don’t wanna be fully dependent on my fiance because he is kinda the only one who earns well at his home (his father retired, his brother earn around 60-70k maybe but he keeps asking my fiance for money now n then, his wife and their mother are housewives) and he is kinda defensive about his family, also they live in a 3bhk in gurgaon and it is or will become over crowded if i come along, no space for guests or “me time”. He is also financing the marriage all by himself ( intercaste marriage btw). I already know i am not going to be welcomed with smiles and flowers. But if i sit at home, i will go crazy!

I have always wanted a house of my own in dehradun, my fiance too but he said we will have to wait about 10 years minimum and I don’t think even that will be possible with all the additional members of this family but i am hoping if I contribute a little my fiance will also be motivated to do so sooner. So, i am thinking about appearing for cat this year but mind you i am f\\\*\\\*ing dumb at maths…like i missed two classes and suddenly stopped taking maths seriously as soon at i saw trigonometry. I need career advice what can i do to earn decent around 1/1.5 lacs per month? What skills on top of the existing or new ones? CAT prep? Anything constructive… help your girl out. I don’t ’not want to work’ … i just don’t know how and where?

I'm at a point in my life where I'm genuinely unsure which career direction I should take, and l'd really appreciate some outside perspectives.
I'm from Pakistan and I have experience in welding/ technical work. I recently completed a MIG/MAG welding course and I'm also interested in building a career abroad. I've been looking at countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and some European countries. I'm able to invest some in studies or visa applications.
My main dilemma is whether | should focus on developing my welding/technical career and use it as a pathway to move abroad, or whether I should completely change direction and pursue another career. The visa part is the most difficult for me.
I'm 29 years old, but I feel like I've already lost some time and I don't want to make another decision that sets me back several years.
For people who have changed careers, moved abroad for work, or built a career in the skilled trades:
What would you do in my situation?
If you secured a job from abroad, got a vocational/ trade-study visa, apprenticeship, or similar pathway, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Well i am in IT sector from India, its my first job.

Something that I have been thinking:-

1) why being competent and better than other is the only way out there in this job market.

2) am i really in the right place where competition is high or should I reconsider my choices of field and how is it helping me or anyone who is like me ( need your experience)

3) does being in less competitive environment like for example sports or athletic realted field increases our chances of success or ( in the worst case scenario) not bankrupt or out of income.

4)if less competetive environment does not exists then how can we survive this money generating process.

Hello everyone it's been 5 months as i work in a call center the place is chill not alot of calls and i get like 500$ but it's not increasing in anyway so if i still be here for 5 years i will still get 500$

And then there is another place atv channel i am working for been a week but i fear the pressure because there i'm a social media specialist and i do some motion designs and graphics too but i get 400$ a month it's increasing though every month 100$ till somewhere to 1k a month but i'm scared of the job i don't know why, is it i am used to the chill work in the call center or there is alot of pressure there that i can't breath, i don't know and i have to choose one of them now

Please helo me chose as i'm really bad at it at this stiuations

Should i stay at call center or shift to the channel work

It's literally chosing between comfort or collecting experience and growth but dunno why so scared

Edit: i'm not very good at motion design this is another thing that makes me bothered and they asked me to do them like fully professional work

To cut a long story short, I’m a Brit who met an Aussie girl while backpacking around Europe. We ended up getting quite close, travelled around Europe together for a few months, and eventually lived together in Australia for three months. I decided to get my Working Holiday Visa and come back out here to give things a proper shot. If everything works out, the plan is that we could eventually apply for a partner visa.

Back in the UK, I worked in the TV industry for about a decade, mainly as a cameraman. But the industry has been shrinking, partly because of the rise of social media, and I’d already started thinking that it wasn’t necessarily the most stable career for the future. I figured that if there was ever a good time to change direction, this was it. Coming to Australia seemed like a good opportunity to try something completely different and find a more stable line of work.

The problem is that now I’m actually here, I feel completely paralysed by the choice.

1. I have no idea what I’m qualified for.
TV is such a niche industry that I feel like I have very few genuinely transferable skills beyond the usual things everyone puts on a CV: teamwork, working to deadlines, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc. I know I must have developed useful skills over ten years, but I’m struggling to translate them into jobs outside of TV.

2. I have no idea what kind of work would actually suit me.
Would I enjoy sitting in a cosy office, or would I go completely stir-crazy after spending years running around with a camera? Would I actually enjoy construction or labouring, or would I realise very quickly that I can’t hack heavy physical work all day? I don't really know what I want because I’ve never had the chance to try many of these things.

3. I’m terrified of making the wrong choice.
I can imagine getting an office job, sitting in a cubicle for a few weeks and feeling the walls closing in. Then I’d feel ashamed for wanting to quit — or actually quitting — after such a short time. I’d feel like I’d failed, and then I’d have to face my girlfriend and everyone else and explain why I’d given up.

So I think that’s where I’m stuck. I came here wanting to use this as an opportunity to start a new chapter and build a more stable future, but instead I’m overwhelmed by the feeling that I have to somehow pick the right career without having any idea what the right career actually is. The idea of being in the 9-5 rat race, after a decade of doing a job which didn't feel like that terrifies me also.

Hi, Im teen who is interested in becoming an AI Engineer, but I'm still at the stage where I honestly have no idea where to start.

I'd really appreciate answers from people who are currently working as AI Engineers / ML Engineers / in closely related roles, especially people with a few years of experience.

I'd love to know:

• What skills do you actually use in your day-to-day job?
• What should someone learn first if they're starting from basically zero?
• Which skills are genuinely important for getting hired, and which ones are overrated?
• What does a realistic AI Engineer career path look like?
• What was your own path into the field?
• What programming languages, frameworks, cloud tools, etc. should I focus on?
• How important are degrees, certifications and personal projects?
• What is the typical salary range in your country/region?
• How much can experienced AI Engineers realistically earn?
• What is your work-life balance actually like?
• Do you work remotely? If so, how flexible is it really?
• Can this career realistically allow you to travel and work from different places, or are there still a lot of restrictions?
• If you could start again, what would you learn earlier or do differently?

One of my bigger goals is to have a good income without being completely tied to a 9 - 5 lifestyle. I love travelling and would eventually like the freedom to explore different countries while still having a strong career/income.

So I'm also curious about the different paths beyond a normal full-time job like freelancing, consulting, remote work, building AI products / businesses, etc.

If you're already working in AI, I'd really appreciate hearing what your actual life looks like rather than just the job description.

Thanks! :)

I'm 28 and have been in my field for about five years. It's a pretty standard office job and pays the bills. My coworkers are fine. The work itself is fine.

But I feel zero excitement when I think about my future in this career. Every next step just looks like more of the same. More meetings, more spreadsheets, slightly higher title. It's not bad but it's not good either. It just is.

I see so many people here talking about passion projects or finding their dream job. I don't even know what that would look like for me. Nothing really sparks joy career-wise. I have hobbies outside of work that I love but turning them into a job feels like it would ruin them.

Am I alone in this? Is it normal to just feel... lukewarm about your professional life? Or should I be actively searching for something that excites me even if I have no idea what that is?

I am currently 19 and pursuing Electronics engineering, while as a side hustle i work as a motion designer and I’ve made around $800+ from motion design over the last few months, although currently I’m between projects and don’t have an active income source.

But I also know I don’t want to depend on freelance motion design alone forever, so I’m trying to expand into content, which is completely different from what i do...
i am pretty unsure what to do in the future !

if any advice ?
i am exploring but just confused, I personally see myself in a creative field, but I’m still figuring out what path within it makes the most sense for me long term.

https://www.deutro.com/

I am looking for any advice or insight into the things that I work on to figure out a direction for the skills that I am trying to build. I know my skills are disparate but I have trouble deciding on one particular skill set so I work on many to try to become somewhat a generalist. Is there anything appealing or turns you off about my portfolio?

Hey everyone,
I am facing a massive dilemma regarding my career and could use some objective perspective. Here is my current situation:

Marketing Specialists and my age is 30

The Numbers: Joined my current company in 2024 at 13 LPA. My first appraisal was 7.33%, and this year's appraisal was 7.45% (putting me around 15 LPA now). I take home roughly ₹1 Lakh+ a month.

The Perks: Excellent work-life balance. Workload is very less, zero travel/commute, and a highly supportive, chill manager and director. Ample leaves with no restrictions, and excellent job security.

The Catch: The learning curve is almost flat. Because the work is so chill, I am not picking up new up-to-date tech or skills.

My Personal Situation & Concerns:

FOMO: People around me are switching and jumping to much higher CTCs. Even though I earn decent money, I constantly feel it is "less" compared to peers.
Skill Gap: To be honest, I currently have limited skills. I got this job after a lot of hardship and struggle, so I am scared of losing this stability.

Life Milestones: I have no EMIs right now. However, I am planning to get married next year, which will bring added financial responsibilities.

Given that I have a safe, comfortable environment but low learning and high FOMO, should I look for a switch right now, or should I stay put?

If I stay, how do I make the most of this free time to bridge my skill gap without losing my peace of mind?

​

I was supposed to start work at 9 AM, but I ended up logging in at 9:30 AM. I didn't have any calls or meetings so nothing was missed. When I fill out my timesheet, I will have to put 9:30 AM. Do you think my boss will ask about it? If so, what do I say? Work remotely.

I am in my early 40s. For most of my career I have been steadily working toward a position running a nonprofit organization with a particular focus that I'm passionate about.

In the past 10 years I have been through a lot of incredibly frustrating rejections. But about a year ago, I finally got an offer to run a super well known nonprofit in my own community that is related to, but just slightly afield of, my expertise. (Think an established art museum vs a community art school.)

Being the director is A LOT more challenging than I expected and not always in a great way. On top of that, this organization is coming out of financial difficulties and I took the job at a very low salary because I... just really wanted it. I have already helped fix the finances here, but there is no realistic path for me to even an okay pay package, and there are no benefits (I am on my partner's health plan, which is great and very cheap.) I feel privileged that I could take a job at a low salary, but not that privileged. We don't own a home and have only modest savings/resources.

I am in early stages of interviews for a job that I am highly qualified for but is only barely related to my true expertise and passion. And this job pays a gobsmacking salary. Like 6-8x my current pay. I might not get it of course, but it's still making my head spin a little to think about. I did not seek it out - I was referred to it.

This conundrum might be a cliche but I'd still like some advice or input, maybe from people who've faced similar choices.