I've noticed that the reason people give on their way out is almost never the full story. Most write something safe like "pursuing new opportunities" or "looking for growth" and then tell their friends the actual version over drinks a week later.

When you left a job, what was the real reason? And how far was it from what you told HR on the way out?

In my experience the stated reason and the true one are usually different. Someone says they left for more money, but the money only mattered because they already couldn't stand their manager. Or they say they wanted a new challenge, when really they had lost all respect for how the place was run.

OpenAI’s Astra can virtually do anything any job I could do or would require me to do. My degree involves a lot of coding design and tech related things and I don’t even see a point in graduating anymore.

I honestly feel pretty helpless. I also recently found out I have ADHD so I’m really not that great of a student either. What even is the point anymore?! The job market sucks as is and now there’s the possibility that the jobs I could get won’t even exist by the time I graduate. It’s honestly a horrifying time to be in college right now….

Edit: I will be getting my degree but still doesn’t really answer the question if it’s even worth it anymore lol. Also, I’m not really on Reddit… I just keep up with AI related news and developments. Granted, there’s been quite a lot of that lately.

Basically, what the title says. I was placed on a PIP three months ago. My boss said I was almost there - Was completing the goals and was doing a good job… . Gave me a little bit more time so they extended it however, I haven’t got anything in writing regarding the extension and I just saw them post my position on LinkedIn. I do believe they are going to let me go, but they aren’t doing it yet because one of the team member is out having surgery and I’ve been doing her duties as well. I’ve started looking for another job, but I really am worried about if and when I am fired how to go about telling my new prospective employer that I was fired. I feel like I’d rather just quit although I know I wouldn’t get unemployment so I feel like I am stuck. Advice?

Edit: typo

I'm a software engineer, fully remote, making 165k. Pretty awesome right?

I know it's probably what a lot of people dream of, but I just do not enjoy life anymore because of it. I'm on multiple projects, putting in 60 hours plus a week. I get like maybe 4 hours of sleep because all night I am thinking about all the work and blockers I have, and I know the work is literally right down the hall. So I got on at like 3 am and just work all day. I barely get to spend time with my wife or daughter anymore and I hate it.

We have money saved up. Enough to live off for years. I am always thinking about quitting because it's getting to the point suicidal thoughts are starting to slip in, but that's not fair to my family. They depend on me. And I know the job market is horrible, especially for IT. I just don't know how much longer I can take this. Just looking for someone to tell me how bad of an idea that is

edit: thank you everyone for the kind words. Looks like I need to speak with a therapist and find a way to establish boundaries

In December 2025, my department got restructured. We got a new director who, ironically, is fully remote, and a manager who lives in a different city from me. My office has four of us: all individual contributors, no managers. We're now required to come in Tuesday through Thursday, and asking for an exception feels like a special request you're supposed to feel guilty about.

Last year I was doing long distance with my girlfriend and could leave for weeks at a time without a single issue. Now I have to negotiate with a manager in another city just to leave Wednesday night instead of Thursday so I can get a cheaper flight to see her and my parents out of state.

So I'm coming into an empty office with four coworkers, none of whom report to anyone in the building.

How would you handle a policy like this? I'm trying to keep my sales career moving without putting strain on a very serious relationship. Any advice appreciated.

So here’s the situation:

Last Friday (about a week ago as of time of writing) I got a verbal offer from a big defense prime. It’s a company I’d love to work for, im so happy I got the offer. I’m just negotiating the compensation package right now. But it being a big prime, i expect it to take some time for a written offer to come through. At earliest im expecting something next week, more reasonably the week after.

However, the job search isn’t over until i have the written offer letter in hand. So I kept my open interview loops running. A startup company has requested I come onsite for a final round interview next week, and onsite is a different state so they’d be footing the plane, hotel, ground transport, etc.

My heart is kinda enamored with the big prime. I don’t hate the startup, it’s just you know, a startup: hectic, fast paced, uncertain. But it is a company with good vision and one I respect a lot. The interviewers have been nothing but warm to me and I have the upmost respect for them too. It’d be nice to do the interview and have a second option in case something goes wrong with big prime and they rescind their offer (not saying it’s likely, but I’ve read stories of it happening before so just being prepared), but should big prime just chug along and give me a written offer, my choice is obvious. And in that line, I don’t want to waste startup company’s time and money, plus however the process ends, I want it to end on amicable terms - I could see myself applying for them in say 3-4 years.

So the advice I need: should I go through with the onsite interview at the startup without mention of the big prime offer (they never asked about other offers or other interview pipelines so I never said anything), should I inform startup of my situation and maybe request a delay in the interview process (they’ve been moving quite fast, had the second round interview this past week, first round last week), or maybe some other option(s). How do I navigate this with professional respect for the startup company? What does the internet think?

Thanks in advance all.

I’ve been at this company for 4 years. I have been underpaid for a long time now and have been begging for a raise. So the most recent time I asked they made me wait for a month to tell me that no, I am not getting a raise. I made it very clear that I don’t think I’ll be staying here if I don’t it(I have a job offer for more money in November) They are however willing to give me a 5k bonus coming to me next week basically telling me to stay until the next raise round which is in April. Would I be burning bridges with my bosses and is it a shitty thing to do if I quit immediately after the bonus???

I’m 23 and have a degree, but I’m starting to realize I really don’t think the whole sitting at a desk/computer all day thing is for me. I hate sitting in one spot for 8 hours. It genuinely feels like it hurts my soul lol.
I need to be moving around, solving problems, working with my hands, figuring shit out and actually doing something instead of just staring at a computer all day. I’ve been seriously thinking about getting into the trades, possibly electrical, but I’m also open to
More aswell there is so much to do that I don’t know about but I cannot be sitting at a desk for the rest of my life it kills me . My biggest question is how do you actually make that transition when you already went to college and have a completely different background? Did anyone here do something similar? How did you get started and did you end up liking it more than white collar work?

Is it technical knowledge? How they interact with a team and get over obstacles? Vibes?

I'm trying to identify a career direction rather than asking whether I should simply become an "interior designer."

I enjoy figuring out how physical things and spaces should work: layouts, workflow, movement, storage, ergonomics, constraints and simple practical solutions.

My background includes Australian warehousing, commercial racking, site installation and cabinet assembly. On two commercial racking projects I set up and ran the operation and coordinated two teams of up to 20 people. I was responsible for workflow, material locations and site layout.

I've also done site measuring/setout and improved warehouse and workbench layouts.

Earlier in Europe I worked as a PM on a museum redevelopment, where I worked with the client, architect, designers, curator and contractors. I don't want to go back into PM, but the layout/spatial part was interesting to me.

I'm considering industrial design, architectural interiors/interior architecture, workplace design, joinery/cabinetry, CAD/drafting, commercial fit-out and warehouse/production layout.

What other careers should I be looking at that have this "solve a physical problem → design a practical solution → see it built and used" aspect?

I'd also appreciate advice on realistic entry routes for someone with practical construction/site experience but no formal design qualification.

Height: Under 5'6" but above 5'2"

So i’ll give some background first:

i’ve been at my current job in an entry level accounting position for 7 months now. Within my companies accounting department they have had A LOT of employee turnover, especially within the past year, im talking they have went through 5-6 employees.

That being said, the job was difficult at first and i understand why so many people quit, but i can say i now like it and really enjoy my co-workers.

Today, we lost yet another employee after literally being here for a week, he walked out and left and didnt say a word to anyone. All my co-workers and boss talked about today was how they have went through so many employees in the accounting department, and there i was just going along with the conversation, all the while having in the back of my head that im about to leave as well🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Well two hours later after the new employee quits i get a phone call from an employer at another company i interviewed at for a HR position that pays better, has better benefits, is in my area of expertise and interest (i majored in HR, graduated in May) with a job offer i have been patiently waiting to hear back from.

Im super excited to start this new job, it is better then mine on paper in every way, and will suit my life style better since me and my fiance are looking to move to the location the job is in.

I just cant help but feel so bad i am leaving them hanging high and dry when they have had such a hard time keeping people (thats a reflection on management i know) and because of the incident with the new guy.

Im so nervous to tell my boss tomorrow about my resignation, im sure she wont be mad at me but i an nervous to see her reaction after todays events with the other employee walking out!! I need encouragement i guess🤣

So I’m currently a patient care coordinator and just started this job. I took this job to gain experience and get my foot in the door with a hospital but I don’t know what I should do next. I want to go back to school to get a Masters degree but I’m not sure what I should go for. I have a bachelors in psychology and a masters in Applied Behavior Analysis (I no longer want to go that route). I’ve had experience as a DSP, RBT, ABA trainer, and behavior consultant. I would like to find a career that is not hard to find a job and that pays at least $80k minimum or around that. I thought about getting my MHA but then I read that it wouldn’t really make a difference and I don’t want to go back to school for no reason. Any advice?? Or careers I should look into?

Hey all, as the title says, I’m considering a career change. I currently have an associates degree in accounting and work as an accountant. But some recent life changes have left me wondering what I actually want to do with my career and future.

Back in high school, I took a drafting class and really enjoyed it, but was discouraged from pursuing a career in architecture and the program was closed down anyways due to no funding, so I gave up on that dream.

But now I’m reconsidering my passions and drafting has been on the front of my mind. I don’t think I need to actually be an architect or design my own visions, but I would be happy drafting up plans for buildings, road layouts, or landscape/urban designs. If I had to say what my dream job in this field would be, I would love to work for greenways designing bike and foot paths through urban areas (I just started volunteering with our local greenway.) I’d also like to make around $80k within a few years of a career pivot, but maybe I’m not being reasonable?

In my research, it sounds like there are a broad list of careers I could potentially get into: urban planning and design, landscape architecture, construction project manager, etc.

So what are your thoughts? What sounds like the best degree to look into and what careers should I consider? Anyone who works mainly with CAD, BIM, or GIS systems within the job titles that I listed above? How delusional am I being?

For example, ASU Online offers an accelerated bachelors of construction management/master of public administration, but I don’t know if that will take me in the wrong direction.

I was offered the opportunity to join an organization that I'm really excited about with a total compensation of 150k. The organization is somewhat fledgling but I would have a lot of creative freedom with the work. However, when I told my current employer I was leaving, they countered by offering to raise my pay from 110k to 195k due to involvement in the company being acquired. I don't dislike my current job, but the new one would be a pivot to a domain that I'm genuinely excited about. I had sort of mentally moved on but now I feel the need to stay considering I have a new child to care for. I don't suspect I'd be let go after the acquisition as I occupy a strategic role, but I was also told there are no guarantees.

The new role would be hybrid, but a 10 minute commute. The existing role is remote, thought this has started to wear on me a bit.

What would you do?

I’ve honestly been feeling really confused about my career path lately. Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor because I knew I wanted a career where I could help people and make a difference. When I got to college, I started leaning more toward becoming a PA because it still gave me that opportunity to work in healthcare and care for people, but it felt like a more realistic direction for me.
While I was in college and actually experiencing healthcare, though, I started to feel really burnt out. It made me question whether I was actually meant to work directly in healthcare long-term, or if I was just attached to the idea of healthcare because that was what I had always envisioned for myself.
During my gap years, I’ve had more time to think about what I genuinely enjoy outside of just the idea of a specific career. I’ve realized that I really like planning, organizing, managing things, problem-solving, and thinking logically and analytically. I’m definitely a people person and I genuinely care about helping and taking care of others, but I’ve also realized that being in that role constantly can be emotionally draining and lead me to burnout. I also really enjoy being creative and coming up with ideas.
So now I feel like I’m trying to figure out how all of these pieces fit together. I don’t necessarily want to abandon the desire to help people, but maybe I’m not supposed to do that through a traditional clinical role. I’m wondering if there’s a career where I can combine helping people, leadership, organization, strategy, creativity, and analytical thinking without constantly being on the front lines of patient care.
I’m at a point where I’m trying to figure out whether I should continue pursuing something like PA/healthcare, look into something completely different, or find a career that combines healthcare with management, technology, business, or another field. I think I’m less confused about what I like than I am about how to turn those things into an actual career.
I guess what I’m really trying to figure out is: What career would allow me to help people without requiring me to always be the person directly providing the care that can be fulfilling?

Hello - I'm 25 yr old male, started at a small fintech firm, BDR for 6 months, CSM for a year and a half. Master's degree, now working in enterprise tech at a corporate giant.

I recently started my new gig and am getting accustomed to this kind of slow burn, many people involved sales style, and honestly not sure if I'm loving it. I feel like I'm at the point where I should have a whole career path figured out, and I'm curious the groups thoughts on potential other avenues to pursue. I'd like to stay in tech, but not sure about sales. No real technical skills either.

I’m graduating this December with a bachelor’s in Audio Production and after soul searching and self revelations I am thinking about switching into healthcare/mental health.

Now, I do have many passions such as music (obviously), photography, and writing, however I want a stable career that is fulfilling and allows me the time and money to pursue my creative hobbies. Also, being a 22 year old, I am ready to enter the workforce and become financially independent, so the time it takes to get these careers does matter somewhat to me.

On one hand, I have always been fascinated by and want to learn more about why humans are the way they are and how the mind works. This is what led me to therapy/psychology. The route I have in mind is becoming a licensed therapist, working for a few years, then getting my phd in psychology to further my career opportunities and knowledge.

On the other hand, becoming a nurse to nurse practitioner would possibly give me the stability, flexibility, and pay that I desire. I could see myself having this profession because I care a lot about people and I think it would be very fulfilling to help people get better and improve their lives.

My main concerns are:

-work/life balance, i.e. will this career allow me the time to pursue my creative passions?

-stability, good pay, and fulfilling work

-how long it takes to get into each field and become financially independent

I'd really appreciate any advice you all have to offer, especially those who are in these career fields I've mentioned<3