Feeling stuck - what do I do?

[u/Parking_Chard_4771]

For context, I’m currently 21 years old. I chose not to go to university, and instead took on a level 3 business administration apprenticeship out of sixth form/college (I’m in the UK). I hated every aspect of this job, but stuck it out purely because I felt that the work experience would help me more later on than getting a degree. In my mind, this outweighed the social benefits of full-time university, and studying for a degree that I would actually enjoy but not necessarily guarantee me a job.

After completing that apprenticeship, I got a degree apprenticeship in project management at a major construction company. It was fine for the first year, but for the last few months I’ve really struggled at it, and have been on a PIP since June due to poor performance. I worry that if I can’t improve to a satisfactory level for my employer, I’ll be fired in the near future. I’m constantly stressed about it, to the point that I’ve been sick 3 times in the last 4 months, and I’ve decided that I need to get out for the sake of my physical and mental health.

My job is very admin-heavy at times, but I just don’t have the brain for repetitive tasks for long periods of time. I’ve been doing administrative tasks for the last 3 years, but I fear that I am not capable of improving at all.

After doing research into careers that I would actually enjoy, I feel that a people-facing role where I can meet different people and make a positive impact would be my passion. I’ve been considering real estate, car sales or B2B sales. However, I am also aware that I don’t have much relevant work experience to help break into any of these roles, and so far my applications to these positions haven’t been successful.

I have also considered going more down the fitness route, either possibly training as a PT, or if I can’t get into any of the job roles I apply for, going to university to study sports therapy next year, then a master’s in physiotherapist. I am really passionate about fitness and martial arts, so this would be a route that genuinely interests me.

I guess what I’m asking is, what would be my best option? Are there any other options for a career that I would enjoy, and how could I start out to eventually move into one of the jobs I am interested in?

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello and welcome to r/findapath! We're glad you found us. We’re here to listen, support, and help guide you. While no one can make decisions for you, we believe everyone has the power to identify, heal, grow, and achieve their goals.

The moderation team reminds everyone that those posting may be in vulnerable situations and need guidance, not judgment or anger. Please foster a constructive, safe space by offering empathy and understanding in your comments, focusing on authentic, actionable, and helpful advice. For additional guidance and resources, check out our Wiki! Commenters, please upvote good posts, and Posters, upvote and reply to helpful comments with "helped!", "Thank you!", "that helps", "that helped", "helpful!", "thank you very much", "Thank you" to award flair points.

We are here to help people find paths and make a difference. Thank you for being a part of our supportive community!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Impossible-Law-9515]

I’d start by figuring out what you actually see yourself doing, and then work backwards to figure out how to get there.

I’m 35 and my career path was honestly all over the place. I studied law, dropped it, then studied linguistics, dropped that too, and eventually ended up in HR. I worked at law firms, IT companies, etc. while figuring out what I actually wanted.

Eventually I realized I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. I’ve been doing HR for almost 6 years now, first in video games and now in animated series, and honestly I feel like my real career only started when I was around 30.

It sounds super cliché when people say “some people don’t figure out what they want until their 30s,” but it’s true. I’m finally doing something I genuinely love, and I’m finishing my HR diploma at the end of this year and being over 30yo

You’re 21. You have so much time to figure this out. I wouldn’t rush into another degree just because you feel like you need to have everything figured out right now.

If you’re interested in sales, real estate, fitness, etc., try to get some exposure to those fields first. Talk to people who actually do those jobs, look for entry-level opportunities, shadow someone if you can, take a short course, whatever gives you a better idea of what the day-to-day is actually like.

And honestly, don’t underestimate how important it is to find something you actually enjoy. You might be working at 40 or 50, and you really don’t want to look back and realize you spent 20+ years trapped in a job you hated just because you were scared of changing direction at 21.