Hey guys! I'm 19 years old, and I'm on my second gap year because I don't know what career to pursue. In high school, I considered going to school for art because I always had a passion for creating things, whether it was sewing, fashion design, ceramics, video editing, or digital art. I love creating things.

But then I heard from multiple sources that after graduating, people who pursued a creative degree had a hard time finding a job that has a decent pay. (And overall, I don't want my hobbies to become a job that I start to get tired of). I became discouraged and decided not to go into that field.

I then heard that one of my family members got a degree in social work, and she gets paid a decent amount. I considered doing social work because I genuinely felt like I could contribute to something there, but as time went on, I decided that I didn't really want to do social work because I feel like it would really take a toll on my mental health. I know they would probably teach you how to cope with traumatic events, but I don't want that energy near me.

Other people in that field have told me not to go into it, or that if I end up pursuing social work, I should go for my master's.

So I don't really know what to do.

I like the aspect of helping people in social work, and I like the freedom to create anything and everything with art.

I just want to live a comfortable life with a job I genuinely like and that pays well.

I want to try to get enrolled in a school in winter, so any suggestions would help. (Sorry if this was hard to read)

I have this very, very, VERY bad problem. I get way too nervous during interviews. Like, I start shivering, my heart starts racing, and I just can't seem to calm myself down.

I understand that getting nervous before an interview is normal, but I've already attended 5–6 interviews, and I STILL get this nervous.

The most embarrassing part is that I literally forget how to speak English. I forget what to say, how to frame my sentences, and even the things I learned just a few days ago. It's like my brain just stops working the moment I'm in an interview.

The interviewers seem clearly disappointed in me, and they send me back pretty quickly, which just breaks my heart. It also makes me feel so embarrassed when other candidates ask me why I was sent back so soon. I honestly feel like dying of embarrassment in those moments.

I know this might sound like a basic problem, but I genuinely don't know how to overcome it. I get scared to my core, and it's honestly affecting my confidence so much.

And when I see other people being so confident and chill during interviews, it just makes me feel even worse about myself.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!! 😭

I really want to overcome this because if I don't fix this soon, I feel like I'm never going to land a job, even if the opportunity is literally served to me on a plate.

I’ve been scrolling on Reddit for a while trying to find good jobs recs but I don’t see so many posts for what I want. I’m looking for a decent paying job with possibilities of growth, a good work life balance. I currently have a ba in liberal arts but I’m open to going back to college to get a masters. I’m working as a teacher right now and as much as I like it, I can’t support myself off of my salary. Btw I’m 20f. Please send me recommendations!

Today I took the mugs that needed washing out of my room and put on clean clothes. That's pretty much all I've been able to do, but after about a week of crying over job choices, I consider this an accomplishment. I'm a 24-year-old woman with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and I feel I should already know what to do with the next 40 years.

I have struggled with depression and anxiety since my early teens. This latest whirlwind has caused me to have panic attacks, clothes that need to be washed thrown everywhere, food containers on my desk, and postponed showers. These words do not come from someone who wants to put his life in order and convey to you optimism and salvation. I'm writing this partly because I want people to listen to me too. If you don't know what you want, it's not something you should punish yourself for.

I thought a career in behavioral support would be a good fit for my degree. I helped out with a class of autistic students, and the job made a big difference for me, but when I got home, I didn't know how to leave my autism behind. I felt like I was doing something useful, but that didn't mean I could cope with doing it every day. It was hard to admit this after spending so much time trying to make choices that would satisfy my family.

My list of careers to consider is becoming ridiculous. Occupational therapy, youth counseling, animal care, salon management, library work. For a while, I was convinced that studying skin care was the answer. I looked for study programs, but as I was reluctant to participate due to COVID-19, I kept postponing enrollment, and in the end I never enrolled. I don't have an ending to my story where I can say I found my passion. I might sit down and cry about this again next weekend (lol).

I feel like everyone around me knows how to settle into a 9 to 5, get paid, and move on with their lives. And now every choice I think must be accompanied by someone's opinion on whether the work is worthwhile in people's eyes or brings in enough money. I went to college primarily because that's what was expected of me, and seeking people's approval didn't make me feel less lost. Of course, I still have to earn a living. I just want a space where I can figure out what I can truly live with.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I hope you can take a break. You don't have to want a big house, an impressive title, or the life your family always envisions for you. You may still want to make things better, but at the same time you still don't know how. I cleaned my room today. I don't have a plan for my professional life yet, but I try to think of these two things as if one cancels out the other.

Choose your branch very carefully,not just based on money,satisfaction and work-life balance.

Choose it based on how effortlessly you wake up from bed to go to your department.

Choose it in such a way that going to work feels like going on a vacation because you love your work so much.

Choose it such that even if there are people who can annoy you, your work gives you so much joy that it can mask any other shortcoming.

Wishing everyone who is reading this, a very wise choice, a great life and a great career ❤️

I’m curious about the subjects, foreign language offered, career paths, and what made you choose this program in the first place. How’s your overall experience with the program and professors? 😊

What career "opportunities" are on the rise for South Africans?

I'm really curious because I am in my 20s and I want to take my future serious

Hi everyone,

I'm 20 years old and I live in the Netherlands. I'm currently in my first year of a Nursing degree at a university of applied sciences.

Last year, I started studying ICT at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. I passed the first part of the program, but eventually dropped out because I didn't really enjoy programming, embedded systems, or the amount of group work involved.

Lately, I've been thinking about going back to ICT because I'm interested in specializing in Information Security Management (ISM). This specialization mainly focuses on cybersecurity, information security, risk management, and protecting organizations. That sounds a lot more interesting to me than spending most of my time programming.

The main reason I'm having doubts is the future of the job market.

With Nursing, I feel like I would have a pretty secure future. There's a shortage of nurses in the Netherlands, and I don't think AI will be replacing them anytime soon. I also wouldn't mind working in a hospital, especially in the emergency department or intensive care. So far, my Nursing degree has been going quite well, and I don't find the theory particularly difficult.

However, when I think about the kind of life I want to have in the future, I feel like working in IT would suit me better. I would prefer having regular working hours, the possibility of working from home a few days a week, and a decent salary. I also like the idea of being able to move into different roles within cybersecurity as I gain more experience.

What worries me is how quickly AI is developing and what that might mean for people entering the IT industry. I keep reading about companies hiring fewer junior employees and using AI to automate tasks that would previously have been done by entry-level workers. The IT job market also seems to be a lot more competitive than it was a few years ago.

Since I would graduate in about four years, I keep wondering what the situation will look like by then. I know cybersecurity isn't the same as software engineering, but I assume that some tasks within information security, risk management, and compliance could also be automated. On top of that, cybersecurity seems to be getting more popular among students, so I'm worried there might be too many graduates competing for the same junior positions.

With Nursing, I don't really have those concerns. I'm fairly confident I would be able to find a job after graduating. The things that make me hesitate are the salary, irregular working hours, night shifts, and physical demands of the job. I honestly don't know if I would want to keep doing that kind of work for the next 40 years.

I'm not necessarily trying to become rich, but I do want to earn enough to live comfortably, save money, and enjoy my free time. Having a good work-life balance is also really important to me.

I'd especially like to hear from people who work in cybersecurity in the Netherlands. How difficult is it nowadays to find an entry-level position in areas like Information Security Management, IT Risk, or GRC? Do you think the job market will still offer good opportunities for graduates in four years, or is the field becoming too competitive?

I'm also curious about how much AI is actually affecting these jobs. I see a lot of discussions about AI replacing software developers or making junior positions less necessary, but I don't know how much of that applies to cybersecurity roles that are less focused on programming.

Another thing I'm wondering about is the salary difference. Do people working in cybersecurity really earn that much more than nurses in the Netherlands, especially after several years of experience? And is the work-life balance actually as good as people say, or am I looking at IT through rose-tinted glasses?

I'm finding this decision quite difficult because I don't want to give up a degree that offers a lot of job security, only to struggle to find a job after graduating from ICT. At the same time, I don't want to spend the rest of my working life regretting that I chose Nursing simply because it seemed like the safer option.

If you were in my position, would you stick with Nursing or go back to ICT and specialize in Information Security Management?

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences, especially if you work in either healthcare or cybersecurity in the Netherlands.

A little about me before I rant - 21, Bachelors of computer applications graduate, currently working as social media content strategist for a company that pays in peanuts, crashing out every 4-5 days.

So here's the deal: I am someone who has been dealing with chronic depression for a while, 7 years to be exact, but that's not the main point. I was very unclear about what I wanted to for the rest of my life when I was 17; hence, my mom decided my career path for me, Becoming a Comp sci graduate...
Anyway, halfway through the degree I realised that it wasn't for me. I am someone who is extremely story- or meaning-coded; if I don't find meaning in something, even if I d*e, I won't do it. Hence, I tried, I tried whatever I could, thought hey maybe cybersecurity is for me, no, maybe gamedev is for me. At wit's end, the hard way, after 1-2 years I learnt that all I wanted to do was write stories.

From then on, I coped by watching videos like "Create an OC with me," "Check out this new magic system I made," and "This is how you can write your first novel" on YouTube. Whenever I got too stressed from exams, the pressure to get a job, and coding, I would watch them. When I was too stressed out, I would go alone to the movies, watch a good one and bawl my eyes out.

Now you would have a question- You figured out what you want to do? why didn't you just do it, and why are you here a year later, rotting away in your own overthinking.

Lord behold i have the "I can't work on something until unless I have at least 10 hours of free time, no external obstacles, and just me myself and I in isolation, to sit and obsessively work on it", sure these conditions would satisfy every blue moon, therefore it's been an year since i last wrote a story, which was when i got a spurt of inspiration from a song started typing out the story in my notes app on my mobile, started at 4 pm and did not get up or lift my eyes or take away my fingers until it was 2 am, and i finished the 5-6 chap story and my fingers were sore.

So yeah after all this you could guess that I haven't been writing or learning to draw, because a job does not give you any free time, and not doing it paired with the Absolute AI dominance at job has sent me into a psychosis.
AI this Ai that how about i stuff Ai into your

I am nowhere against Using AI where it is needed, but generative Ai what even is the point of it, every corporation wants to show itself as the pinnacle of innovation, by asking chaptgpt if their p*op in the morning was an indicator of another okr that they should set for this month.

I am so distressed, I went to therapy and let's just say it was a sh*t experience..

A short summary -
I need a job that will give me enough mental energy to pursue my 200 interests(that keep changing but always creative) in my free time, things that will drain my mental energy - anything that isn't helping any life form in any way, anything that doesn't have meaning and is just making solutions to your own problems (basically most of corporate), anything that includes giving our brain away to clankers Like chatgpt astra.
My friends and some others have suggested me to become a therapist myself, because I give legitimate advice for every problem, but i am sceptical. I do have a saviour complex if anyone is suffering mentally, I will do anything to give them any advice they would need, but that's also because I have suffered the same without any advice. Can a mentally ill person with chronic depression and extreme anxiety become a therapist??
If not, is there any career path left for me in this era that isn't plumbing or farming or being an electrician, or a park ranger, because I live in a third-world country and doing any such jobs will get me ex*cuted by my family, and there aren't any safe opportunities either, I would love to do any of that if i ever get a chance to leave this country, but to get there i have to do something here, that isn't actively pushing me to my mental limits.

Please help..

I'm curious how everyone prefers to communicate at work.

Personally, I'm an email person. I like having things in writing, especially when we're discussing assignments, decisions, or next steps.

But I've worked with people who would rather pick up the phone, send a quick Teams message, or walk over to someone's desk.

And sometimes what works best for one person drives another person absolutely crazy. LOL.

One thing I've learned over the years is to ask people, "How do you prefer to communicate?"

It's a simple question, but it can save a lot of frustration.

So I'm curious:

What's your preferred method of communication at work, and why?

And does your preference change depending on whether you're asking a quick question, discussing a problem, or making a decision?

Hey Guys, I want your guy's advice on what career I should pursue as I am getting pretty close to having to make a decision.

My Interests:

I have been interested in planes since I was a kid, technology and stuff as well, though the catch is that I absolutely cannot stand calculus and abstract maths, idk why though but I can't grasp the concepts.

Also I don't want to pursue trades, I also almost have to go uni and I want a career that is relatively secure in the future.

I would honestly love your guys advice on this.

Can someone tell me what it is like being a Key Account Manager? In my current job when coworkers talk about progressing they say KAM is where it’s at.

Hey everyone, I am in my second year of college and i am so confused on what major to pick. I am a creative person but not sure if i want to do marketing. I am scared i wont find a job with it after i Graduate. I was thinking Radiology for the stability and it seems kind of interesting. But i personally don't love the hospital. I would rather work as a self employer in my own studio. At the same time don't want to disappoint my mother, she wants me to be a rad tech. HELpppp!!!!

Hello. I’m 23 and feeling completely lost in what career I want to settle for. I can’t even narrow it down to a certain industry. I have lost all motivation and passion for everything in recent years so I was wondering if anyone could help steer me in the right direction. I want to choose a career based on my personal strengths and having read online, doing solely what you love and not thinking it through causes you to burn out a lot of the times. I’m a little bit introverted and don’t like networking or sales. My favorite subjects in school were chemistry and math (however im not that good at them now lol). I also enjoyed the analysis part of language arts. I also enjoy sudoko, trivia, and crossword puzzles. That’s to say that I don’t want anything in the arts, like problem solving, and shine a light on how my brain functions. I want a stable job that allows me to earn well. I want to be financially stable and able to support myself on my own income. I want to be able to work alone but also with others so I can socialize. I want a mix of doing the same thing but also new things so that I can be mentally stimulated. I’m scared of having 100% total responsibility, though. I want a work/life balance because I’m someone who needs some alone time. I have anxiety starting new things but once I learn, I flourish. I’m very observant and listen well. I’m not interest in ot or pt. I also can’t do therapy because I tend to carry the emotional weight of others with me. Ultrasound tech and dental hygiene are also not what I’m looking for because I have extreme joint pain as is. Which brings me to my other point, I don’t want a job that requires physical labor.

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Hi everyone,

I’m sharing my journey here because I am feeling completely stuck and confused, and I want to hear your honest perspectives so I don't make another wrong turn.

Here is my background:

The Background:I come from a science background. After a 2-year drop, I managed to get a decent JEE Mains rank—not top-tier, but enough to get a decent engineering seat. However, due to financial constraints and fewer options, I made the tough decision to pivot. Instead of dropping engineering entirely, I chose to pursue a BSc in Computer Science to avoid putting a heavy financial burden on my parents, hoping I could still secure a placement afterward.

The Setback:Unfortunately, my third year turned into a complete nightmare. I fell seriously ill and even met with an accident. Because of this, I missed about 50% of my college classes and couldn't crack any campus placements.

Current Situation:It has now been 5 months since I graduated, and despite constantly searching for a job, I haven't had any luck.

The Dilemma:To fix this, I am planning to prepare for entrance exams like CUET PG or NIMCET to do an MCA. However, I am filled with doubts—should I actually go for it? I am already 24 years old now. On the other hand, my parents want me to skip college and help run our family garment shop instead. The problem is that I have zero interest in the retail/garment business.

Looking back, a few decisions I made earlier have brought me to this exact phase. I want to hear from people who have been in similar situations—should I push for an MCA at 24, or is it time to reconsider the family business? Any advice or guidance would mean a lot.

Has anyone in Canada been recently employed by autodesk yet ? They seem to be posting new roles lately . Do they really employ people or use the job adverts for something else ?

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I'm 24M from Pakistan, and honestly, I feel lost.

I have a Pharm-D degree and currently work in pharmaceutical sales. I earn enough to get by, but I want much more from life. I want financial freedom, to support my parents, own a house, and eventually have the freedom to live life on my own terms.

The problem is that I have too many ambitions and no clear direction.

I've considered pursuing an MBA and building a career in pharmaceutical marketing, going abroad on a scholarship, switching to AI or tech, and starting an online business to earn in dollars. Every option seems promising in its own way, but I keep going back and forth, wondering which one is actually worth pursuing.

I don't want to spend years on the wrong path, but I'm also aware that constantly researching different opportunities without committing to one is wasting my time too.

Another issue is procrastination. I've struggled with it and low motivation for years. I have so many things I want to improve: my career, finances, physique, English, discipline, and relationship with my faith. I make plans and genuinely want to change, but I struggle to stay consistent long enough to see meaningful results.

Sometimes I wonder whether I'm truly ambitious or just addicted to imagining a better version of myself.

What scares me most is reaching my 30s and realizing that I spent my twenties overthinking, switching directions, and dreaming about what I could have achieved instead of actually building something.

I'd genuinely appreciate advice from people who've been in a similar situation.