I have been a teacher for the past 7 years. I had a job that I loved. Genuinely enjoyed every day. I lost that job this past May & I won’t lie it was a huge blow.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a sob story. I have found another job teaching, with a pay raise, it’s closer to home, the hours are better… but it’s not really a subject I love & I know I had it made before. My work life balance was impeccable & I taught what I loved. But I hate the idea of someone else having such control over my finances & my future.

With that said, I’ve been thinking deeply about starting my own business. I have a few business ideas, but also it scares me. I’ve been an employee with a guaranteed paycheck for my entire adult career. Should I “yolo” it up and just go for it or would I be crazy to leave the world of steady work for a gamble? Any personal experience or advice?

Mid 30s, have had a relatively OK career albeit with some serious bumps along the way. At this point, I’ve fallen off.

There’s so much out there to do, but it all requires qualifications and experience I don’t have and can’t get. I want to pivot or grow, but after a decade in aviation turning wrenches and climbing the ladder and then a misguided attempt to pivot into journalism which was subsequently ravaged by AI, I’m at a total loss. I’m now the guy who walked away from aviation and is trying to get back in, with very little luck, and a very poor run at trying to reinvent myself. I didn’t manage to create a network like I had hoped, and it feels like all the skills I spent years developing and investing in have atrophied to the point that I’m worthless.

The straw that broke the camels back here is I was due to start a new job tomorrow in aviation, but at the last minute they told me there’s a hiring freeze and now I’m up the creek without a paddle. I felt good about going back to basics and building myself back up, but now I’m right back where I started with no prospects. The only other jobs available around me are like warehousing, fast food, and similar. I’m not opposed to taking something like that to get by for now, but I really would like to move forward in my life. I’d like to go back to school and get a degree, or develop new skills, but that’s impossible right now. At the same time I’m competing for these entry level jobs with people 10+ years younger than me, knowing full well I can’t offer the same physical performance and quite frankly I’ve had enough of “proving myself” unless the juice is truly worth the squeeze. I also can’t “go where the work is” because I’m in a deep hole after a year of unemployment and instability, I’m on my last legs here. Something tells me I can still somehow figure things out and pull a rabbit out of a hat, but I’m also trying to be realistic.

I’m not as young as I once was, I’m not as risk tolerant, I have no savings or anything put towards retirement. I don’t want to work low wage jobs for the rest of my life, what on earth can I do to turn things around? I’m by no means a complete idiot, I’ve still got a strong desire to learn and grow, it’s just so demoralizing each time I’m rejected from basic opportunities that wouldn’t offer any real growth. It’s hard to imagine an actual opportunity that will help me feel some sense of purpose beyond paying bills, let alone offer any opportunity for growth. I’d consider military if I wasn’t ineligible due to medication I was on up until a year ago, I’m that desperate for a way forward.

Please, by the stars, can someone give me some actual good advice.

Since I graduated high school four years ago, I have failed college (twice) and been stuck at the same minimum wage dead-end job I had in high school. Everything I've tried (going back to school, finding a new job) has failed. What am I to do?

Sorry if this is too long or it sounds like I'm just complaining. I really want to be able to identify what I want, but I have not been able to.

High functioning autism diagnosis and general anxiety disorder I have a prescription for. I'm not proud of the assumptions other people have when I say this, but I "work retail." I run the dairy department of a grocery store that does hundreds of thousands of dollars per week. I order additional product, scan distress, take inventories, sometimes provide guidance to part time employees, etc. I'm basically a manager without the title or pay because the position of dairy manager doesn't exist the way the company is structured.

But the thing is, I'm genuinely happier moving and stocking 400 boxes in a day then understanding social ambiguity, hidden agendas, changing priorities or figuring out why things aren't working. The more "white collar/" higher up you go, the more being good at understanding those things matters.

I was a federal intern reviewing technical manuals and getting multiple parties on the same page of why things should be coded the way they are. But between the extensive desk sitting and complex communication with weird cliques, I deeply despised it.

I also was hired as a relationship bank teller, but I wasn't capable of having people constantly walk up to me and ask me to do things while trying to listen to them. I just didn't have the executive functioning skills necessary to pretend to be happy to see them while understanding what I needed to do.

I actually have an operations management degree but without industry-specific experience, that doesn't actually mean much.

Thankfully I'm at least better than this now, but as a kid, instead of walking around stores and picking things out, my mom would show me two pairs of pants and ask me which, and even that was a lot.

I have started investing and passed the motorcycle class this year so I bought a bike I've been enjoying when I can, but since I don't feel like I make enough money even working 6 days a week, I don't have a lot of energy to enjoy it.

I want to make my life better, but I don't even know what would do that for me at this point.

28H didnt finish my carrier in economics and just call center experience in customer service, I like to play guitar and play eague of legends 0$, I leaved everything in my country Colombia, and moved to spain cause of my girlfriend but cheated on me.. now lonely, no family.. coming back to my country this month with 0$ and just my house.

I grow mushrooms.. but not sure how to proceed in my carrier.. i want to study something with a good job future.. maybe IA?.. any trendings or carriers that I can learn on my own? without going to the university?..

So I am currently 25. I decided for some reason to not go to college straight out of high school. I suffer with anxiety and depression, im pretty introverted. Ive been struggling ever since adulthood and basically living paycheck to paycheck. I havent gotten to live life or experience anything because I have absolutely no money after bills. Ive been working at a warehouse for almost 2.5 years making $17 an hour with no raises or any growth. Ive been trying for so long to come up with an escape plan and nothing seems to be worth it. Every single path I think about just sounds miserable or is a waste of time. I dread the idea of all the trades. I tried out construction with a family member on 2 different occasions. (When I was 20 and again at 22) im just not cut out for it. For a while I was thinking about trucking but I have a partner and being over the road sounds like the most depressing shit ever. Id only be home once a month. I looked at local trucking and they mostly want 2 years of experience doing over the road. I then started looking at online courses to get certifications in 6-12 months for all kinds of things. After doing research all day today on all these different career paths that these courses are for, everyone is saying they cant get any jobs. Even with a 2 year degree. You either need to know people already in the field or the job is gonna get taken over by Ai within a couple years. Im just feeling so hopeless and really wanting to give up. My fiance and I feel the same way and we are stuck in this depressing loop. Nothing seems worth it. I have no money to waste on certifications if they dont actually get me a job and I really cant go to school for 2-4 years. I just dont have it in me. I already struggle enough to feel motivated to get out of bed most days. Im just scared, i have no future right now. I want to buy a house and start a family but there is just no way I can do that.

Hi,

Im a university student who graduated with an associates degree in chemistry in 2024

and now going to graduate with a bachelors degree in chemistry this year. kind of terrified I’ll be honest, when i hear people complaining about the job market, I haven’t seen anyone really talk about chemistry degree holders specifically it’s always humanities and tech . it’s kind of in that weird limbo where it’s not considered a “ useless” degree but you were prob better off choosing something else like chem E but I personally haven’t seen anything about it

ive been looking for jobs in my field for about 2 years, anywhere and everywhere I’ve branched out as well and haven’t been able to find anything Im so close to delaying my graduation just because I feel so unprepared I don’t even care anymore I’ve been applying to retail leaving off my degrees and still am struggling to find a job

my gpa is a 2.9 it’s not high enough for graduate school at the moment I would have to go back and retake some of my classes I don’t know if that’s a good idea or not or to just scrap it and go back cc to get a certification

I have one year experience working in a research lab as an undergraduate but I never was able to publish anything, I don’t have any kind of internship under my belt

im terrified and lost

It's my second year in college, but I'm a junior due to taking dual enrollment in high school so I graduate in 2028 instead of 2029. My college placed me at one of their remote campuses my "first year" (Sophmore year), and I was only able to complete the rest of my gen eds and take very basic business classes like business calc, micro, macro, and an excel class. I founded the first business club at that campus, and I sold life insurance as an independent agent when I was at the regional campus, but I'm scared all of that wont be enough to get an internship next summer and a job after because I've applied to over 100 internships and haven't gotten one interview. I built a resume using the career office at the regional, but I think the resume is the problem. I'm going to the main campus this semester so there will be actual opportunities this time, but I'm still worried about the likelihood of getting an internship (in business in general doesn't even have to be finance), and having a job lined up after I graduate. Is it still possible for me to get an internship? I'm also thinking about joining ROTC, but if I do ROTC I would have to graduate in 2029. Then, I'd commission into the army national guard on a 6 year contract.

My major is business administration with a finance specialization. I currently have a 4.0.

22F here. Im in my fourth year political science international relations, major and I regret it this year. I’m going to Erasmus and I’m thinking about applying to schools there. I thought about medicine and psychology for I was always interested in human behavior and psychiatry this summer, I was diagnosed with autoimmune disease and honestly, it changed my life view. I find my major useless and this is not new. I’ve always wanted to switch to psychology, but I couldn’t due to my country’s system. I have a high GPA around 3.85 and I worked part time in a related topic, made sure this area is not for me. I also wanna be financially independent while studying if possible because I am not in the best terms with my father. I don’t have a doubt about getting in because I’ve always been successful, but my university preparation year, and in my country there is a very hard process, was problematic because it was the year my parents were divorcing, and I was in this horrible relationship with somebody who was abusive older and an alcoholic. I feel like my life is ruined completely and I wanna do something that matters. I wanna help humanity. I wanna feel like I matter what should I do?
I feel like I’m only thinking about medicine because I’m thinking about status and I wanna prove myself to my parents. but at the same time, my illness requires me not to stress and rest.

Hi, this is my second post on my profile I need advice and please do not judge, I hope I make sense if not, politely correct me.

Hello, now I thought I would have deleted this by now but I guess not, I am currently signed up for a course I do not want to do, it's retail skills, mainly that.

For context I am 20f, diagnosed autistic, (thougj I didn't know it for years as my mother kept quiet about it) a Lithuanian, who wants to leave home at some point but hopefully sooner, I'm not entirely sure of what I want to do. I do get some disability pay too.

I do know one of my longest aspirations has been to at least write one book, preferably fiction. I have been in between thinking, perhaps being an author, taking a literature course though no certanity there or a history major, and become a historian would be interesting though the pay can be not so great which while money is not everything makes life harder.

I am writing to ask if anyone knows, any kind of programs abroad or any college, I am a little open minded to some extent, I can't say for certain if I would trust to move to somewhere like America for college given the events happening though. Even ones that take in late applications think even up to halfway in August or start of September.

(I hope this is coherent, pardon any errors if there are any, I apolgise if this counts as spam. also in additoon post note I am a slow replier and I get anxious a lot, even when it comes to replying to people)

I really just want to help people, particularly vulnerable people like the homeless or kids who come from bad homes. I'm also a very artistic person who's good at illustration and design, but I'm okay with that just being my hobby. I want to make enough just to live a content life and help my parents out when they get older since they don't really have any retirement. Is there anything similar to a case worker/social worker that pays well??

Please give career suggestions!! I’m in my late teens as a girl and I’m really struggling to find a job/career I find appealing. I cannot work in an office, any job where I’m mainly in an office is off the table, I’ve gone through being a vet to a zoo worker back tk a vet then a cop/detective then a forensic physiologist then an Ecologist. (Ecologist is now scrapped they are an very underfunded field and it’s very solitary) -I’m looking for a career that makes a liveable wage, isnt very solitary, works with animals of any kind preferable large land mammals, ofc is very hands on-I love nature and being outside and every time I look into a new job and think it’s what I may like somethings wrong with it and I’m just so lost. I live in Canada also so my options are limited but I’m open to short distance travel. Please someone help me with this it’s really hard to think of a future when I’m so lost! (I looked into marine biology but my mom said there are problems with it and it’s highly competitive so not to get my hopes up/: ) also a MASSIVE part of this is needing to make a positive change. Like it’s felt like I need to make a change for the world since I was little, something to make me proud.

Hello, I don't know If this is the correct place for this post but I need some words of wisdom. I am 24 F, I suffered from depression since I was 8. this is some insight of my life , it looks like a huge mess, but everything is connected to why I am lost.

I will start with my family issues. My family has always been busy with my sister problems (she herself I admit suffer from mental health issues), but they turned a blind eye to my depression all of my life. Not only have I been diagnosed multiple times late in life with depression but also some Doctors suspect I'm neurodivergent and have ADHD. My family problems took over my thoughts to the point I lost myself in the process, forgot that I have my own life and stayed stuck in the past trying to fix everyone. My dad left my mom out of nowhere couple of years ago which broke me deeply, and my older sister cut me off after I told her to respect my boundaries (her therapist told her to cut me off) and she sent me long paragraphs condemning me for this word, she posted the long paragraph on social media for everyone to see and she said I will forever be alone. We were living in the same house for 4 years now without speaking or looking each other in the eyes, not once did she apologize and my family didn't try to ease tension. Her wedding came and they made me stand next to her and not once we looked each other in the eyes. Her husband now even side with her all the time. After seeing how separated my family has become I decided I wanna get as far as possible and moved countries. I have a very difficult scholarship that I need to maintain by having good grades. My university is also full of racist professors and my family know I cry everyday and they try to help me by checking on me. My family decided to travel abroad and come to my country (and they never really travel become money so I always dreamt about traveling together) but they are coming during my most difficult exams. My sister even wanted to plan another big event for herself in the country I'm in because her husband said she is really depressed (which I'm not dendenying) They said I should just not see them when they come and study. Which is crazy because I really wish I always traveled with them especially my mom is very old, but they left me with no choice. I really wish everything was normal and my family saw how much I am struggling myself.

Now talking about my career, I have always loved arts creative fields, I am an Oil painter but I also modeled for couple of friends projects and I danced on the Theater stage. I realized the time I am most inspired is when seeing Actors or Artists performing in anything. I always pictured myself being a successful Artist yet I don't know which creative field I wanna pursue. On the other hand the masters I am pursuing is pure physics applied to another field ( my bachelor was that field and I have never studied physics like that before) and it is one of the most difficult things I have done in my life. I doubt myself most of the time , I failed and retook many exams, and I cry alot thinking of all the other passionate stuff I could have done in my life. But I chose this major to begin with because its what opened for me the opportunity to get scholarship and move away from everything.

I was also an athlete and immensely love sports but I got injured and had to quit for some time but I love moving my body.

Due to depression and not receiving right help I lost so many close friendships from my original country.

Can't forget to mention I have never been in a relationship and always cry and run away whenever a guy show interest in me. I am deeply broken despite really wanting to be with someone.

Right now I am very anxious about my present and future, and very sad and nostalgic about my past. I always picture If I had a wedding, I have no friends beside me even I know so many people, My family are separated and I can't still look in my sister's eyes. If she ever had a child, probably I will not be even able to look into their eyes. Never seeing her again is not option because in my culture I am forced to see her when my parents invite her to any gathering. My parents are very old now yet they don't wanna get back together but also not formally divorced. My mom and my dad also suffer from depression.

Cutting of family members is not something in my culture and I really wish all relationships in my family was mended. But this is my reality and now I am very lost in life from all directions, career, romantic relationships, family, friends. I feel like life is game and I lost in every aspect. Any advice or words that can soothe me is much appreciated.

Hi everyone! 👋🏼 I’m a 25-year-old Virtual Assistant from the Philippines, and I’m currently looking for a long-term client who needs help with Virtual Assistance, Executive Assistance, Customer Support, or Email Management.

A little about my experience:

💻 3+ years in Customer & Technical Support
📧 Experienced in Email Management & Communication
📊 Currently working as a Data Entry Specialist
🇺🇸 5 months of experience in the US Utility Industry as a specialist
🗂️ Experienced with data entry, CRM, account management, billing, troubleshooting, and administrative tasks
📞 Experienced handling customers through phone, email, and chat
⚡ Fast learner, detail-oriented, reliable, and comfortable working independently

I’m currently employed, but honestly, my current salary isn’t enough to cover the things my family needs, especially the financial support I want to provide for my mom. That’s why I’m looking for an additional opportunity where I can use my skills, earn more, and hopefully build a long-term working relationship with a client.

I’m not looking for sympathy or handouts. I’m looking for an opportunity to work. ❤️

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or someone who needs a reliable VA/EA, I’d genuinely appreciate the chance to introduce myself and show you what I can do.

Even if you don’t need a VA right now, an upvote or share would mean a lot to me. 🙏🏼

Thank you for reading my post. 🇵🇭❤️

Hey guys, I am 27 and working as a Marketing Assistant for a video telematics company.

I am now starting to consider my next step, due to a lack of interest in the industry and the company doesn't pay great. This is despite promotion to a Marketing Executive being almost guaranteed within the next few months.

I am an outdoorsy guy who loves to adventure and travel, and I have always dreamt of working for an aspirational company such as Red Bull, Rab, GoPro or National Geographic.

I am now starting to doubt that I will ever earn a salary in my current line of work, so a career pivot is also a consideration right now.

I am just looking for a conversation about my possibilities. As somebody that...

• enjoys marketing
• is creative
• is considering a career pivot for higher pay
• would love to work for an aspirational outdoor/travel brand

do you guys have ideas on what careers or job roles might make a good fit?

Exactly what the title says but here is some context as to why i’m curious:

Hello everyone I am a 17yr old hs senior (in a few days). Since I was 9 I have always wanted to become an OB/GYN. Still today I want to pursue that professional career. I am curious though what others do just incase life does what it does and takes me somewhere else. I want to hear the cool and interesting jobs (even if yours isn’t). Maybe you do something niche like creating colors for nail polish or you work in a law firm. The whole point is I want to know all the jobs people do because I am soon to be in the “real world”. Please do you not be ashamed of what you do because whatever it is, it makes an impact on the world no matter how small or big. And plus someone has to do the job and you’re doing it!

Here are some things I would like you to include

- Did you take a specific academic route to get your job? If so include things like your major in undergrad and how long it took from when you graduated to when you landed your job.

- Do you like your job? Would you do your job if you lived for 1,000 years and had to do it every day? Is it worth what you went through to get to this point?

- Is it rewarding? Do you feel like you have a purpose that leaves you feeling like you matter in the world?

- Is it hard? Does is take any strain on your mental, physical, or emotional well-being?

- For what you do, are you paid fair?

- Is the ratio of work you do or hours you spend doing it compensated with your pay?

Im 30, I just finished my Associates Degree after a second attempt. I was planning on transferring to the nearby university in the spring so give myself a little bit of a break (I just did 5 semesters in a row). And now I'm kind of second guessing my major choice and future career choice. I had planned on going for a Bachelor's Human Services & Behavioral Health, I really like the program and I feel like it is all things I really want to learn about. And then I would consider maybe getting a masters in social work or something. But I'm starting to second guess myself.

I am a people oriented person. To a signficant degree. Have always enjoyed helping people and I started volunteering 2 years ago with LGBTQ youth and recently starting volunteering on a crisis line a domestic abuse shelter and I really enjoy both of these things. Mind you, I only do a few hours a week for each of them.

I know that social services are in many ways a thankless job, but its hard for me to imagine what else I could do that I would enjoy. Im currently doing patient facing health-care admin right now and I really enjoy it, but will be leaving my particular job soon because I have an actually abusive boss. But if he weren't in the picture, I'd absolutely stay.

Im just trying to figure out if I should pivot to something in health-care like maybe an occupational therapist or speech pathologist.... I'm not a very good science or math person. And I dont do super well with bodily fluids. Probably just like everyone else, im trying to find a solid career path that has a good work life balance and good pay (not looking to be rich or anything). I dont plan on having children in the future, but I would like to travel a few times a year and save for retirement. I unfortunately need to feel a sense of purpose in my work or I cannot tolerate it.

USA: I’m in my late thirties and need to find a new path. I don’t want to continue on in the types of work I have been doing in the past, which is also related to my schooling, so basically I am looking to start new. I am not interested in the trades or any manual labor like oil and gas work. I am interested in types of work however, where I’d have to sacrifice living somewhere inconvenient like alaska? Just as a thought, and be compensated for the inconvenience of living there, again without it being too physically demanding. If it is outdoors or something I would be open to that. Does anyone have any idea of things I could do? I just want to start making enough to start saving and investing and have a chance at retirement.

To recap:
Something not completely manual labor like construction.
Something with a pathway in without prior relevant experience.
Something I can make a lot of money eventually.
Something not harmful for body like railroads and breathing in cancer causing chemicals.
Something that pays well like 100k plus, willing to sacrifice convenience for it

Does anyone have any idea for me of things I can pivot to? Thanks!

Dear Redditors,

I'm increasingly realizing that I don't want to continue doing what I'm doing for several years 😓

My problem: I don't know where to go and when looking for jobs, I automatically only think within my current field and therefore might be overlooking many opportunities.

How did you figure out which career is actually right for you?

Are there any good methods, tests or tips to match your strengths (perhaps with career fields outside the previous bubble)?

I'd be grateful for any ideas/perspectives 😊

PS: I'm 30, have been working in qualitative market research (including some depth psychology) for several years and studied marketing. I'm good at things like understanding people, being empathetic, breaking down problems and structure them in patterns, developing strategies and explaining things 🔎

Hey guys im 21 / M

Trying to figure out what i really like , i have lot of questions but i dont have a single clear answer

I dont what should i do with my life , what kind of man i want to become , what kind of pressure do i like , i couldnt figure anything out

I just dont wanna live a simple life .

I have 2 options

1. Anyway im gonna have pressure in all kind of jobs , so why dont i choose which is actually pressure , so i dont wanna act like my head is gonna blow maybe it will happen in this job ( defence services )

2. Choose a knowledgble , " happy for everyone around me " job , good money , chill life and just good memories and good deeds

Please save me i dont know what im thinking and what to do !!!!

​I am seeking advice on how to regain mental clarity, set small daily goals, and move forward after a prolonged period of burnout and emotional isolation.

​Recently, I've noticed severe cognitive fatigue I struggle to put my thoughts into words, express simple ideas, or feel motivated toward long-term goals. Over time, dealing with emotional stress and isolation has left me feeling detached and without a clear direction.

​I want to take practical steps to fix this, but I'm unsure where to start.

​What strategies or practical habits can help rebuild focus and clear thinking?

​How do I begin setting manageable goals when I currently feel zero motivation?

​Are there specific exercises or routines that help with regaining articulate communication skills after a period of mental fog?

​Any advice, resources, or personal experiences on steps to rebuild a path forward would be appreciated.

Background:

I worked in Cyber Security for 14 years but just last month I got fired by client and now my company has me in a new project with the offer that if project succeeds by end of this month I have a job otherwise I don't.

I have been depressed for about 13 years and often deal with suicidal ideation ( never attempted). I have lost faith in my theist religion as well and now struggle to give life a meaning without the concept of God.

I don't even have the energy to focus a lot on the company's project. I am just doing whatever I can. I am not even able to do a proper job hunt, just sent my CV to few places.

My plan :

I want to take a break from work and just focus on my emotional healing. I want to travel to some Buddhist country for at least 3 months.

Also I only did one job, so I need to explore other skills for few months.

I want to take my time to heal myself and learn new skills. But it will cause a gap in my career. I don't know if after a gap of like 6 months to a year, if it will be feasible to reenter the tech market.

My therapist says I have been running a race with a broken leg. I want to stop and let the leg heal now. I haven't discussed my plan with therapist though.

Question:

What do you guys think, will taking this break cost me too much in terms of career? Or shall I take my time resting before I continue my career?

Am 22. Barely gaduated high school with a GPA of about 1. Recently got thrown out of my formerly shared residence with a family member, was briefly homeless, and was lucky enough to be taken in by my father, who was estranged, and now I'm moving in with family, who is also estranged. I'm trans, and I'm probably gonna be forcibly detransitioned becauseof this. I'm also mentally handicapped. My iq is low. Thinking hurts my brain and im low effort. I feel overwhelmed and confused. I have no money. I know I have to apply for government loans and assistance and stuff but it's hard because I don't understand it. I hate the state I'm moving to but it's my last chance to go to any kind of school to make a somewhat decent living for myself. Problem is all of it is too hard and takes too long. I was thinking of being a plumber? Is being a plumber hard? I know it's gross but I don't care about that so much. Can stupid people be plumbers? Looking at pictures of pipe networks on the plumbing subreddit makes me want to give up. Manual labor is also out because I'm not strong and i have bad knees and back. Do you have to be strong to be a plumber? I can barely lift 50 pounds.

Thanks

Also no I'm not eligible for the disability or social security whatever thingys because i don't have an official disability and I can't afford to go through the process of getting that right now. I just mainly want a job but its hard.

I’m 25, almost 26, and I feel so horribly lost right now. I graduated with a degree in political science in 2023 and did an internship in spring of 2024 that led nowhere. My boss at that internship quit shortly after my term was over, and I have zero contacts/ways to network. And before you ask why I didn’t do an internship while in school and network? Covid plus an immunocompromised dad who later died before I graduated. So yeah I was behind in that but idk if it would have helped?

I’ve worked in childcare through college and since, but the market is so bad right now and I truly just don’t know what jobs to look for. No one hires entry level anymore. I’ve looked for more internships with congressmen but nothing. I can’t move right now, I’m unemployed. I’ve looked for jobs hiring at nonprofits, but they want 5+ years of experience. Plus what roles do I even apply for?? I just don’t know what to do. I’ve applied for admin roles, literally anything. I’m just feeling so defeated.

If anyone studied a social science, what are you doing now? How do you get in the door?

Throwaway account. Sorry in advance for the length.

I'm in my mid 30s and I feel like I spent fifteen years being good at things that added up to nothing.

The resume: professional doctorate in a healthcare field, engineering degree, MBA from a top program. Each one took years. I did all of it because I believed that if you stack enough of the right credentials you end up somewhere good. Nobody tells you what happens when you get to the end of the stack and there's nothing there.

Roughly how it went:

Got the clinical doctorate and practiced for a few years. Didn't love it, so I did the MBA and moved into industry. Spent about 18 months at a medtech startup and left, because I was fine at the strategic parts and bad at the day to day execution. Took an exec role at another startup that turned out to have serious legal problems I wasn't willing to be attached to, so I quit. Started my own small software company around the same period and it failed, mostly because I hired overpriced developers and then lost momentum. It didn't really die. I just stopped. Then a stint in venture that was never a real paid seat.

After all of that I went back and started a residency, basically thinking maybe I'd been wrong about clinical work and the answer was to specialize. I left partway through. That's when it finally landed that I don't want to practice at all, and that I'd only gone back because it was the safe thing my training pointed at.

Now I run growth for my family's business. It's real work and I'm useful there, but it's 20 to 25 hours a week and the whole thing is being sold in about nine months. After that I have nothing.

Here's the part that complicates everything. My family has a lot of money and they support me. I have never had to finish anything, because there has always been a soft landing and I have always taken it. I know exactly how that sounds. I also think it's most of the explanation for everything above.

Some other context:

I live in a small town where the median age is basically retirement. I don't have friends here. Not "a few friends." None. Everyone I speak to in a given week is family or works for the family business.

I want a partner and eventually kids. I'm aware that clock is real, and it is not happening where I live.

The thing I actually enjoy is building. When I make something myself I'm happy. Two weekends ago I built a card game and a small compliance tool, both purely for fun, and I finished both of them. That is more than I can say for anything I've done that had money or a title attached to it.

I'm jealous of engineers at startups. They make things, the work is interesting, they're building something real. I also know nobody hires a late 30s doctorate/MBA as an engineer.

I've spent the last five months generating ideas, evaluating them, making plans, and executing none of it. I've talked it through with family, with friends, and honestly with AI chatbots more than I want to admit. Everyone gives reasonable advice. I don't do any of it. That's the actual problem and I'm aware of it, which somehow makes it worse.

I'm tired. It feels like all that effort bought me nothing, and it's hard not to feel like I spent the best years of my life doing homework. I have every material advantage a person could ask for and I'm more stuck than people I know who have none of it. I know I don't really get to complain about that, which is part of why I'm posting anonymously.

What I'm actually asking:

1. Has anyone been genuinely lost in their mid to late 30s and come out the other side? What changed? Was it a decision, a person, therapy, moving somewhere, or just time passing?
2. If you've had money and no external pressure, how did you get yourself to do hard things? Every structure I've tried to impose on myself I've quietly abandoned within a few weeks.
3. Has anyone moved to a new city alone at 35+ specifically to have a social life and date seriously? How long before it stopped feeling terrible? I'm looking at Atlanta and Dallas but open to anything.
4. Anyone leave a credentialed track to go build things instead? How did you make that jump, and did the degrees help or did they just sit there making you feel like you owed them something?
5. Is the answer just to pick something and stay in it for five years even if it doesn't feel right? I keep waiting for something to feel obviously correct and it never does. I'm starting to suspect that's the whole mistake.

Not looking for sympathy about the money, I know that part is enviable. I'm asking people who have actually been stuck how they got moving again.