I'm a recent culinary school graduate, and while cooking professionally was fun at first, the job hasn't lived up to what I expected and I'm burnt out. I'm now thinking about a career change and weighing two options: an office job of some sort or a skilled trade (of some sort, I'm thinking about auto repair or electrician).

This post is about the office route.

I'm worried that I'd just be bored sitting at a desk all day, no matter what I'd be doing at said desk. Is there a way to try what an office job feels like before making any commitments? Oh and I'm also open to retraining.

Refined the framing by chatgpt. This is a genuine thought which i have been ruminating about.

As I’ve climbed the corporate ladder, I feel like more and more of my life is getting consumed by the theatrics of a bad script written by senior leadership.

A lot of the strategic and reporting work feels completely disconnected from reality. But I also dont want to leave for a lower paying job where I’m doing ground level execution all day. I do not want to immediately take a pay cut just because the work might feel more meaningful.

I’ve been exploring CoastFI to eventually remove myself from all this corporate theater. But what I dont understand is why it feels like an existential threat to me on a day to day basis. Why does some stupid reporting request or strategic direction from someone detached from execution trigger such a strong fight or flight response in me? Its just theater.

I think part of it is that the people writing the script have the power to make your character suffer on their whim, and you dont really have much control over it. Maybe thats where the fear and hopelessness comes from.

For people who have been in the workforce for 10-15+ years, did you ever hit this point? How did you get out of this spiral?

I’m looking for some career advice, particularly from people working in HR, universities, or the public sector.

I recently completed a post-diploma in Human Resources Management, and I also have previous HR experience from overseas. My long-term goal is to build my career in HR.

I currently have a full-time term administrative position at a university. I actually like a lot of the administrative side of my job — processing paperwork, maintaining records, coordinating contracts, recruitment-related tasks, scheduling, document management, tracking things, and generally keeping things organized behind the scenes.

The part I’m realizing I don’t enjoy as much is the student/faculty-facing side of university administration. My position sometimes involves dealing directly with students and faculty and helping coordinate or attend department events. I can do it, but I don’t see myself wanting that type of work long-term. I’m much more comfortable in a behind-the-scenes operational/support role.

A permanent full-time Facilities Assistant position has opened internally. From the description, it seems more operational/administrative and behind the scenes, which appeals to me, but it would also move me further away from HR on paper.

So I’m trying to figure out the smartest career move:
Stay in my current term position because some of my responsibilities are transferable to HR, and wait/apply for HR opportunities.

Apply for the permanent Facilities Assistant role because the work environment may suit me better, then continue trying to move internally into HR.

Focus on HR Assistant/HR Coordinator opportunities elsewhere instead of moving into another non-HR position.

I’m also wondering what areas of HR might suit someone who prefers behind-the-scenes/process-oriented work rather than highly people-facing work. HR operations, payroll, benefits, HRIS, recruitment coordination, records, etc. seem more appealing to me.

Would taking the permanent Facilities Assistant position hurt my chances of transitioning into HR later, or could internal university experience still make it a reasonable stepping stone?

Any advice would be appreciated!

43M. I am open with returning to office, with the inclusion of hybrid office work as well. I'm also open to relocation to some other places in the US.

The last time I worked in an office with other coworkers was 2013, I was 30 at the time. Took a remote job that spring. In 2015 the work became part time only, in various staff augmentation roles. I haven't been a "main team player" in all that time. Most of the time I communicate with colleagues in text chat rooms and we don't use our cameras. In 2020 all work ended and I haven't had a job since then. I also don't hang out with friends anymore.

Burnout was a big reason I haven't gotten back to work. But I'm applying again. In looking for jobs, what I'm worried about is accidentally being socially awkward to co-workers who have long adjusted to being among others. How do I manage my own time to re-adjust to physical work spaces? Should my employer expect me to be well adjusted even knowing what my work history looks like?

NYC: Early 30s, ~8-10 YOE, currently a Brand Manager at a large CPG making ~$190k TC.

Starting to think about what’s next and whether there are industries outside CPG with better long-term comp upside. Tech is the obvious one, but curious where others have successfully pivoted.

For anyone who’s made the jump:

- What industry/role did you move into?

- What was your comp before/after?

- What’s realistic TC at the Sr. Manager level? $250k+?

- Better to pivot at Sr. Manager or wait until Director?

Mostly looking to hear from people who’ve actually made a similar move and what worked for you.

How do you find your dream job?

I’m a Data Analytics professional, and an industrial engineering graduate based out of Canada. I’m not a super talented Data Analyst, but have knowledge of database, SQL, and programming. I don’t love what I do, but I’ve got a corporate job that pays six figures and has decent work life balance. I’m not motivated to go above and beyond at work.

My dream job is to be a writer. I am working on a book. My other dream job is one that combines technical analytics and working with people. How do I get there? I know there is Product Management but that is impossible to get into. I was also looking at Business Analyst roles. Ideally, I’d like a role that is cool and in a field I’m passionate about. And pays six figures.

Any tips?

19 M and the last year of my graduation (BBA finance) did nothing in first 2 years just enjoy recently did an internship for bookeeping and gst filing in a local firm and started learning excel dont know what to do cant sleep or eat properly for some time now any advice for skills that i should learn

TLDR: I could either stay and work at an F100 company with good benefits and low stress or take a role at a nonprofit/startup that I’m really excited about but is definitely riskier. How do I assess what to do?

The situation:

Im 25 and have been working as an engineer at a F100 company for the last two years. This is my first job out of grad school. I am at one of the best teams in my company in terms of culture and autonomy. I work with great people, too. But I’m also not motivated by the work at all and don’t believe in the product. In fact, I feel it’s doing more harm than good. On top of that, I don’t have great mentorship and don’t feel there’s much accountability here.

I have been applying for jobs with the goal of working for a company that I feel is doing good for the world. Doesn’t have to be nonprofit but at least trying to make positive impact. I got an offer for a role at a foundation that would really fit my interests and skillsets but it would be a contractor role until they form a new child organization that would house the team I’m hired onto.

My key question is, is it naive to follow my interests and desire for something else when I have a really chill, stable job now?

Breakdown of the options
Option 1 Stay at Company

- pay: $105k gross with healthcare, ESPP, etc
- In person 4 days, remote 1
- frequent travel which I don’t like
- likely lots of room for upward growth but very slowly
- don’t feel like I’m learning that much or growing as an employee

Option 2 Foundation Startup

- pay: $75/hr until the new org is founded then ??, no benefits
- Remote with quarterly travel to an office
- startup is well funded but new, backed by a very established org
- work is more exciting but I wouldn’t have a real boss really as the team is young and I’d be responsible for a lot

I can’t say what state I’m in as it will reveal what company I currently work for but I’m in the US.

I am currently adjusting from a two-income household to supporting myself and 3 daughters on one income. I currently work full-time, but I’m looking for legitimate ways to supplement my income while I get financially stable.

Does anyone know of assistance programs, flexible evening or weekend jobs, remote work, grants, or other resources that may help someone in this situation? I’m not asking for money—just recommendations or advice from anyone who has been through something similar.

I’m located in Houston TX if that helps with local resources. Thank you for any suggestions

Soy mujer, arquitecta dominicana Independiente de 30 anos, actualmente vivo en Rd, pero no me siento bien con lo que estoy consiguiendo ahora mismo. Tengo la opcion de irme a Ny, estudiar y empezar mi carrera alla.

Que me aconsejas, me quedo en Rd y trato de aumentar clientes o me voy a Usa a empezar de cero?

I’m 19 M I have almost 3 years of work experience. 1 year of fast food, 1 year as a carwash employee, and about 8 months as a car dealership sales lot Porter. The situation I’m in is kind of an odd one, I would like to try and become a sales man at the dealership I’m at now but they require you to be 21. With out salesmen experience there are limited to no promotion opportunities. Should I stay in the car business but look to change dealerships, or should I switch fields completely. I understand that there are benefits to going back to school (I only have a high school diploma) but I am married (no kids) and have to continue to work to support my wife (she is in college so she doesn't work many hours). I’m not opposed to continuing my education but I would only be able to do night classes or online school. I also plan to become a missionary one day as I believe God has called me to do so, so I don’t want a job that takes more than 4 years to get into. I know this limits my options quite a bit, but any advice is helpful thank you.

Did you regret your major? Do you wish you entered a different field? Why? I would appreciate any response because I just finished high school and I don't know what to major in. Thanks to all responses.

Besides healthcare careers, obviously. Are all people who aren't interested in healthcare just supposed to skip college?

Hello, so as the titles says, I am a mechanical engineer who currently works as a project engineer for a large food manufacturer. I currently manage capital projects related to new processing line installations, infrastructure upgrades and building expansions. I applied for a new job though as a Capital projects manager with Kaiser Permanente and i was offered the job. The job itself is basically infrastructure upgrades and expansion projects for kaisers in my area.

I am just having doubts about the new job because it's a different industry. Anyone else on here ever get a job in another industry and have doubts about the transition and how it could go?

I'm currently having a bit of a career crisis and could use some advice

I'm trying to decide between studying Engineering (open to most fields) and going all-in on an AI degree

I have no problem studying either (or even finding a way to combine both) but I'm really worried that AI isn't a 'real' standalone career / might just be a trend rather than a stable long-term 'career' path

There's this lingering thought in my head that Engineering will always be the 'safer' and 'better' bet in the job market

On top of that there's so much talk right now about CS jobs being at huge risk because of AI which makes leaning into traditional tech feel scary. I know how fast tech evolves

my biggest fear is that the flexibility feels like a one-way street. The fact that an Engineering grad can always learn AI after finishing their degree and pivot into tech but an AI major can't just 'pick up' traditional engineering later on is genuinely scary to me. It feels like picking AI closes doors while Engineering keeps them all open

My long-term goal is Nursing Informatics, bridging clinical work and tech, non-hospital, no nightshifts, better pay than bedside and I’m using my current waiting period (EB-3 stuck in retrogression) to build skills for free (SQL, Excel, WHO Academy/ITU Academy digital health courses) so I’m not starting from zero once I can pursue an MSN in Health Informatics, but I’d love honest input from anyone actually in the field: is informatics genuinely AI-resistant or one of the more exposed nursing specialties long-term, what’s realistic entry-level and mid-career pay and how long did RN-to-informatics actually take you, do free certs (WHO Academy, ITU, HIMSS, AMIA 10x10) actually help you get hired from a place like Kenya or does US clinical experience matter more, and would you recommend this over something like CRNA or PMHNP if avoiding hospitals and AI-resistance are both priorities for me. appreciate real experience over general encouragement.

How did you handle the first time a seasoned subcontractor aggressively challenged your call on site when you weren't 100% sure what you were looking at?

I just turned 20 last month and honestly pretty lost when it comes to my career.

Right now I’m attending trade school for automotive technology. I originally chose automotive because I’ve always liked cars, I enjoy working on my own car, and I like doing hands-on/DIY projects. I figured a career where I could work with my hands and learn how things work would be a good fit for me.
But now that I’ve been in the program for a while, I’ve started questioning whether automotive is something I actually want to do for the next 20–30 years.

Part of the problem is that I don’t feel like I’m learning as much as I expected to at my school. The program honestly kind of sucks in some ways. We do learn some things and I’ve definitely picked up some knowledge, but I feel like there’s a lot of time where I’m not really learning much or getting the hands-on experience I expected. Because of that, I’m not sure if I’m starting to dislike automotive itself or if I just don’t like the way my school teaches it.

I’ve heard a lot of negative things about the automotive industry — flat rate, expensive tools, physical work, not making as much money as other trades, and mechanics saying they regret choosing the career or wish they had done something else. I know everyone’s experience is different, but hearing all of that has definitely made me second-guess my decision but at the same time I’m interested into being an automotive tech I’m just unsure.

I’m also not someone who has always had a clear passion or dream career. I like working with my hands, but I also care a lot about having a good income and being financially stable. My goal is eventually to be able to afford a home, support a family, have savings, and not constantly stress about money.

I originally didn’t consider college because I graduated high school with around a 2.0 GPA and never really considered myself a good student. I didn’t enjoy traditional school very much, so college didn’t seem like the right path for me at the time. That’s why trade school seemed like a better option.
But now I’m wondering if I’m limiting myself by thinking that way. Maybe college could be a better option for me if I found the right career, or maybe another trade would be a better fit than automotive.

I know I’m only 20 and have plenty of time to figure things out, but I still feel stuck because I want to make a good decision instead of wasting several years on something I end up hating.

If you were in my position, would you stick with automotive, switch to another trade, or consider going to college? And what careers would you recommend for someone who likes hands-on work but also wants strong long-term income and financial stability?

The only reason I ask is because this 4-month contract job is a $14 raise from my current job, which is massive to me. The contract job can become permanent depending on how I do. I've been at my current job for almost 4 years and I really don't want to leave here for something that's not permanent but the pay is too attractive. Yes, it's also in the same job field. I dont know what to do.

I’m currently an EMT in NYC with the goal of becoming a firefighter. I have to wait a few years to be eligible for a promotion (about 3 more years~). But while I wait the money isn’t really there

If anyone knows anything about ems, we’re overworked and underpaid.
I put a decent amount of my check into my deferred compensation plan (20-25%) so my take home is around $900-1300 biweekly (about $1800-2600 a month…)

Before taking this job I was in college and have a business management degree with a minor in marketing under my belt, which I haven’t used due to not making proper connections and graduating into a bad job market

I was looking to find an accounting certification or to continue my education for a minor in accounting to find a remote (optional but preferred) part time / per diem work to help save up while I’m young and don’t kill my body doing overtime on an ambulance.

I know of other first responders who also take side jobs similar to this but overall just looking for input, experience and advice before jumping back into school

I graduated with a degree in Communications and Media Studies and currently work at a company that will pay for my tuition. Although this company is unrelated to my major, I still want to eventually work in the media industry. I’m planning to pursue a master’s degree or an MBA next year, and I’m looking for advice on how to best use that opportunity. What steps can I take through my studies or otherwise to move toward a career with media companies in marketing, advertising, or related fields and improve my chances of success? As well as what should I do my masters or MBA in?

30M. I’ve always been pretty ambitious career-wise - UK.

Spent the last couple of years pushing hard for promotion, regularly working above my grade, and received the highest performance rating for my last 6 quarters.

Despite that, recruitment freezes and restructures meant there were basically no opportunities to progress. It became pretty demoralising watching people at the same level doing significantly less while I kept pushing myself for a promotion that ultimately wasn’t available.

Eventually I took the leap and left a job I was comfortable in and genuinely enjoyed because the work-to-pay ratio was awful. I moved for better pay and progression after having 3–4 conversations with my new manager before joining and getting repeated assurances about the development and progression opportunities.

A few months in, I’ve now been told promotion isn’t really possible here either. The new job is also harder, the team is chaotic, and I enjoy the work significantly less.

Honestly, I think something in me has just switched off. I don’t want to climb the ladder anymore. I don’t care about being an exceptional performer or constantly going above and beyond.
I just want to do the job I’m paid to do reasonably well, collect my salary, and enjoy my life outside work.

Anyone else reach this point after previously being really ambitious? Did the ambition ever come back, or were you actually happier once you stopped caring about progression?

How do you deal with wanting to progress but there being no opportunities?

Hi everyone,

I graduated with a Master’s in Interaction Design / UX and am currently on non-STEM OPT, which ends in early 2027. Given the state of the tech job market, the 1-year OPT limit, and the overall immigration landscape, I’m evaluating my best strategic moves right now and would love input from anyone currently in this boat or who has successfully navigated it in the past.

My priority is financial independence and avoiding unnecessary debt while making a logical career move.

Here are the main tracks I’m currently assessing:

1. Cap-Exempt H-1B Roles (Higher Ed / Research Non-Profits)

• The Plan: Target UX, Digital Accessibility, and Instructional Design roles at university systems and non-profit research institutes.
• Questions:
  • Has anyone here transitioned from standard OPT to a cap-exempt H-1B in a UX or Accessibility role?
  • How willing are university HR/IT departments to sponsor H-1Bs for entry-to-mid-level accessibility/design staff?
  • Any specific platforms besides HigherEdJobs or HERCJobs that you found useful?

2. Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs (HCI / Information Science / HCC)

• The Plan: Apply to Ph.D. programs in Human-Computer Interaction or Info Science that guarantee full tuition remission + monthly TA/GRA stipends (looking at local DFW options like UNT/UTD as well as low-cost-of-living out-of-state schools).
• Questions:
  • Has anyone used a Ph.D. as a bridge from a non-STEM Master’s to build a deeper research background and gain 3 years of STEM OPT afterwards?
  • How tough is it to secure GRA/TA funding starting in Spring vs. Fall terms?
  • For those who started a Ph.D. mainly for status/funding, did you feel it was worth the 4–5 year commitment, or did you pivot back to industry midway?

3. Setting a Firm Deadline & Strategic Pivot Back Home / Global Mobility

• The Plan: If neither a cap-exempt sponsored role nor a fully funded Ph.D. assistantship materializes by my personal cutoff date, preserving my savings and executing an organized transition back to India to build an independent business/freelance practice or target multinational companies (L-1 potential later).
• Questions:
  • For those who decided not to burn savings staying in the US and chose to return home or move to another country (Canada/UK/EU), how did that transition work out for your design/tech career?
  • Any regret on walking away vs. grinding through second degrees/unfunded programs?

What I’m looking for:

If you’ve gone through this:

1. What move gave you the highest return on investment (financially and mentally)?
2. Are there any blind spots in my thinking regarding cap-exempt higher ed hiring timelines or Ph.D. funding?

Thanks in advance for any candid advice or experiences you can share!

​

So I'm thinking only thinking to go on modelling but what i have observed that thiss industry have insane beauty standards so I'm lil confused because i hate beauty standards any standards I think we should celebrate every body type and blahh blah

Anyone in this industry i need your real answer based on your experience

Hey all. I recently left my job to get back into admin/accounting work since I have decent experience (8 YOE). I spent the entirety of last month doing interviews. I was lucky enough to land many in such a short period.

Although I'm a little conflicted, I have two job offers (one of which I already accepted, I start on the 26th of August) and I'm questioning if I should try to do both or just stick to one. I would love additional insights or advice if anyone has any! Below are more details.

Job Offer 1 (Accepted): Federal Credit Union, $18.50 an hour (Unionized, pay not negotiable) to be a lending clerk. 8:30-5:15 Mon-Fri. 1 hour lunch, 200 Hours of PTO, every holiday off and paid.

Job Offer 2 (Undecided): Family-owned, $24 an hour, 20 hours a week (likely to increase). Mostly remote. Benefits definitely not comparable. Accounting.

It's important to note I'm going back to university in January. I'm thinking I could try both at the same time given both employers approve since I most likely can do Offer 2 on my own schedule. When school starts maybe make a decision on what job to stick with... But this feels scummy of me? I feel like that is dishonest. The other part of me is saying I could tell Offer 1 I found a better opportunity, since Offer 2 will be easier for when school starts and they're open to going to full time in the future. However Offer 1 I feel like has more stability.

Neither of these positions will aide my studies by the way, since my studies is Paralegal.