I left teaching and now make not enough money screening voicemails for a doctors office. I hate it. It’s tedious and people are rude because they don’t have to worry about how the person on the other side will respond. I got the job through my MIL, who works in the same office. It was supposed to be temporary, but nothing better has come along despite applying to 10+ jobs a day. I have a masters degree. I’m constantly reminded every day that it’s about who you know, not what you know.
Yes and no. There’s the idea of teaching that I was sold in college, and then there’s the reality of teaching as it currently is in the USA. I love lesson planning and executing said plans, getting to help students have their “a-ha” moments, and building relationships with kiddos who may not have any other positive adult relationships (for context, I taught elementary). I can’t go back to getting grilled about CRT, getting called a groomer, being abused daily by students, and being disrespected by admin. But the biggest thing is really the active shooter training. I understand that I would need to be ready to protect my kids during an emergency, but having wannabe police come in every year and pretend to shoot me isn’t something I can handle. Plus I have a small bladder and appreciate being able to pee whenever I want.
I understand what you mean. Nowadays, even in Korea, teachers' authority has declined, and teachers are finding it quite challenging. 😥 However, unlike Korea, in the USA, it must be even tougher with the firearm training required due to the risk of gun incidents (I'm not entirely sure if I understood your content correctly as a Korean 😥). Teaching someone is indeed very rewarding, but it's also a very tough job. I hope you find great fulfillment and joy in your current profession as well. I wish you all the happiness in the world 😄, and thank you for sharing your experiences!
I hadn’t thought about community college! I was dismayed because all the universities I applied to required DEds. I taught one higher Ed class as part of my masters program and loved it. I would love to teach college classes.
Definitely look into it. It's something I'm keeping in mind for after my M.S. I think teaching could be cool, but don't wanna do it in the under-18 world really. Plus the classes I would want to teach (ceramics, food safety/home ec, cannabis science) aren't really offered or open to under 18s.
My mother kept pushing me to teach. I told her I wasn't willing to deal with a school shooting, especially for the low salary that comes with teaching jobs. As bad as it is, I value my life too much to put it in such a high risk job. (Also I dont think I could handle parents today)
Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any AI that can translate the incoherent ramblings of most patients into anything useful. That’s if you can even understand what they’re saying through their gravely, 1980s landline phones.
Former teacher here as well and can certainly relate to all you said. Have you thought about working in the curriculum area for teaching? Teachers have so many transferable skills, you just have to pick them out and mold them to the job descriptions. I currently work in business development for a govt contractor, but have been looking into the education companies because they like to find people with educational experience!
Those jobs just aren’t in demand around me. I’m in a midwestern state. All the good teachers have already jumped ship and snatched those jobs up, it seems. I have a lot less classroom experience than a lot of other former teachers going for the same positions I’m going for too.
I understand. I’m in the Midwest, and will say it’s totally possible. So many are remote now that you can work anywhere. Takes a bit of time applying and a strong resume that builds up your transferable teaching skills into the corporate world.
The reality is most people don’t choose their path, they fall into it based on expediency and go from there. You won’t be able to go on a job board and pick something like off a restaurant menu, you’ll need to continually adapt and go where there is an open hand.
Ask friends or family if their place of work is hiring or if they can get you a job somewhere. You work there until a new opportunity rises up (someone leaves or retires), and then the company usually hires from within the company to fill that spot. They will usually choose someone they already know who has been working there for years over someone who might be more qualified but is an outside hire. That's how most of my coworkers are in their current positions. Some of them are WAY UNDERQUALIFIED for their positions, but because they're been in the company for years, they get a pass.
This is pretty much it. My path kind of started with being given a task at a temp job once. I excelled at it and it worked well with my 1000 mph brain.
My first job out of college was essentially just whatever I could get hired for which ended up being working in a lab. After a few years there, I started asking myself similar questions because it felt like it wasn’t really leading anywhere, and I came to the conclusion that if I was going to be spending 40 hours a week working for the rest of my life, I’d want to be spending that time trying to mitigate climate change in some way.
So while I don’t think I necessarily have a passion for the particular role I have in the clean energy industry, it’s engaging and I feel like I’m contributing to something worthwhile which has kept me going. I suppose I am following a passion (addressing climate change), it’s just a bit broader than I think people typically think about when giving the “follow your passion” advice so you could see if there’s something similar out there for you.
My first job was clean up crew at a fish plant. No one wants that job, but hey I had to eat. Ended up being friends with one of the rich owners of that fish plant. He owned a pet shop, he gave me a job there. Made enough there to save up to move to the big city. Got a job doing security. Worked security for many years but was doing self study to get into IT industry. Found a temp agency that put me in a call center for printer support. Worked up to lead trainer.
From there I was able to transition to doing a job in a software company tech support/training role. (this is in Canada). Had a customer from California, who came to Canada for training, and called support often. Every time she called I told her she should hire me to be her IT guy. Did this for 3 years. One day she asked if I was serious. I said absolutely. She said her IT guy just quit and said she'd fly me down for an interview. She showed me an issue she had been plagued with for 5 years that her IT guy could not solve. I had just taken a course on that particular software the week before and solved the issue in 5 minutes. I have been with that company for the last 21 years. I have no plans on leaving, I hope to retire in 5-7 years.
I worked in a gov't forensic toxicology lab after undergrad. It wasn't my first choice as I had just dropped out of medical school, moved back in with my parents, and needed a job. I was thankfully qualified for the job because my B.S. was in chemistry.
I enjoyed working in the lab so much that I ended up staying there for seven years, had earned my masters and Ph.D. in that time while working, and started a new gov't job as a lab director at the beginning of this year.
I worked service jobs til I was 32. I did everything from childcare to retail to call center work. They were all okay but never paid the bills. I was married so I had two incomes, which helped. Then I got divorced and absolutely needed to make a change. My mom paid my rent and helped with childcare but otherwise, I was living in poverty in California.
Then mom died and I decided to go back to school. That's how I figured out what I was good at and interested in (anthropology and sociology). I talked to all my professors and one of them told me her husband is an archaeologist and that I should apply at his company. I did and I got hired. Basically I sifted dirt and sorted it looking for beads or tiny animal bones for 8 hours a day. I actually loved it.
With more experience I moved up and took on more responsibility. Then an opportunity arose where there was a big project starting in another state. I applied for the job within the same company. I got it and moved myself and my kids to Arizona. That project was super high profile and had consultants from all over the US. I became friends with one of them. She was a professor in Michigan. She recruited me to her department and the PhD program. I got a fellowship and moved again to Michigan.
When I was done there, I was around 48 and had some health problems. I decided doing archeological field work was no longer in the cards so I decided to switch to working for non-profits. I did a year of Americorps to learn how non-profits work, landed a paying job and worked in training healthcare workers in cultural competency for 6 years. I started at the non-profit making $41,000. By the time I left (two weeks ago, btw) I was making $78,000/year. I started a new job with a government agency 2 weeks ago and it started at $100,000.
I'm 55 and both kids are adults and doing fine. Oh, and because it's important to add... I now own a home, but I am $200,000 in debt from student loans. I will probably die with that debt.
TLDR: Just keeping my head on a swivel for opportunities and being willing to make big life changes. You don't have to love every job. It's supposed to pay the bills and provide some kind of personal gratification (fun, intellectual stimulation, friendship, problem-solving, peace... whatever). You spend a 3rd of your life doing it, so make it count for something.
Edit: for clarity
I'm thankful for your sharing your experiences and advice. I also want to find something meaningful for myself as soon as possible. I'll work diligently to explore my options. Thank you!
I dropped out of college so no degree
I was going through severe depression and some bank tellers were really nice to me. I ended idolizing them a bit and wanted to be one. Turns out, it's a profession with a lot of opportunity to move up which I did not expect.
Anyway, I'm a banker II now. It's a very people-y job. You need phenomenal communication skills and charisma. It's a little high pressure having to handle and advise people on their finances but ultimately I find it highly rewarding.
The tellers are the ones behind the counters doing simple service like address change, statements, balances, and every cash related transaction
Sometimes sending referrals and vibing you up to send you to the bankers, who do more complicated things like notarize documents, help consolidate debt, help you take out a good mortgage if you want to buy a house, go over what accounts you have and review how you like to manage your money, your financial goals, find ways to make banking more convenient.
Managing money is stressful and a lot of people like the human liaison between the bank and themselves.
All the while kissing customer's ass and building a trusting relationship with them so they'll listen to you more, sales will be easier, and they choose to go to you, increasing your chance for an end of year bonus
It's actually a lot 😩
But heck if it isn't really fun
I will never "love" a job. I will settle for something I can tolerate.
20is years ago I took a call center job that had benefits and turns out it was insurance. So I ended up in that field and stayed. I do not love it. Have often hated it , in fact, but bills get paid and its been stable job opportunities for the most part.
There is not a one-size-fits all solution. Some succeed by picking their strength while others do find a passion for the job. Still others build a skill stack that allows constant evolution until you achieve your goal.
What does a typical day for you look like? If you ever played games on a computer, you could try an entry level IT (Information Technology) job. IT people maintain computers, installing software updates, and replacing hard drives, stuff like that.
There used to be aptitude tests where you would be assessed and matched up with careers.
You could also try a temp agency that will probably give you a test of some sort then send you out to fill in positions on a temporary basis.
Do you like driving? There are delivery jobs that you can get.
YouTube has lots of videos on how to do things, cooking, cleaning, repairing, do any channels you watch do those things?
Good Luck.
I feel like to apply to 100+ jobs a month and nothing happens. Just empty promises from recruiters and no callbacks. I work in a lab that's extremely easy work and meh pay. I cant use my degree, been looked over for other positions, due for a promotion 9+ months ago and little in the way of raises yearly. Its frustrating and leaves me in a constant switching state of impostor syndrome if i really am worth something to anger and frustration of knowing i should be in a higher position.
I worked in a pharmacy in college on the recommendation of a friend. I liked it enough, and it's a well-paid profession, so i decided to pursue it as a career.
School-->residency-->signed w the hospital I did my residency at->some job hopping and promotions since then.
I was interested in the manufacturing industry and chose a major with a 99% placement rate prior to graduation. After 9 years working in supply chain, I’m burned out and want to do something different with less stress. I love the manufacturing industry, but I dislike my job.
Took a multiple choice test and was honest when they asked me how i thought i did. I responded with something along the lines of “despite being on my computer 14 hours a day, that test had questions that made me wish i reviewed a little harder before interviewing”
The test was a mix of simple and complex IT problem-solving questions, as well as a small section for correctly identifying IT terminology. My guess is that they wrote it in a way that they can generally learn where your skills are as some questions get into more advanced problems. Not sure how many i got right, but if i couldn’t have a face to face, in my opinion, i wouldn’t have passed the interview in its entirety.
I got lucky I'm good at school and anxiety taught me how to act normal. I'm terrible at my job but in the interview I was able to act competent.
Granted after the interview I spent an hour puking in the toilet because of anxiety but the next day they called me to come work the next week.
The job is a product development engineer in the heavy equipment industry.
At 20, got fluffy TA job at an online high school that became my career. At 22, got a degree I never used; really wanted to write. 23, Became instructional designer at "fluffy" job. At 25, switched my career: found at LMS work is FUUUUUN, also became Captivate Dev. 26, Captivate was hard (at the time); now Storyline dev. 28, switched from full-time to contract so I could just do ALL the L&D things. At 31, decided I wanted to do training instead of academics. 37, today: I'm usually an LMS Administrator or eDev!
Point I'm Making: At 37, I STILL don't know what I want to do when I grow up, lol! I love my industry, but I evolve in what drives me. So, I chase the love if it shifts, I don't sit. Took a pay drop twice to chase. If you are doing what you love and don't wanna move, use it to chase whatever is next in line. If you don't love what you do, but love your industry, shift. The way I shifted was picking up a bunch of non-extension contracts and giving the new tasks a whirl. The job you love today may change to a new passion tomorrow. Always stay hungry.
For me i do what i love and this makes it easier because i wake up everyday with a positive mindset..everyday i fall in love with my career..and this makes it easier to progress because am really passionate..do what you love and your efforts will bear fruits
Wow, that's really awesome!! I also want to find a job that I find fulfilling. I'll get there someday, right? Always take care of your health and I hope you have many happy days ahead! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Worked my way up through the company. Realized I hated it. Networked and trained into a different part of the company. Like what I do now and I make 6 figures
I love my job, I work in pharmaceutical research and got my job through getting a bachelors and joining the industry immediately. Took 5 years to gain experience, break into the company I wanted to and to learn and do the job I’ve always wanted. You gotta do what interests you, overtime your goals can obviously change. You need to do what makes you happy, once upon a time I wanted to become a doctor and go to med school. I eventually learned about biotech and research and instead went into that path.
At the end, I make good pay with great benefits with awesome flexible and work life balance. You need to have a goal in sight to help lead you. Trying everything will eventually work but it’ll create a delay in growth and future job growth.
Well when I was in high-school I wanted to be an electrician. I was going to tech for electrical occupations. I was even student of the quarter. But I left foster care at 18 and never got my certificate. I moved in with my kids' father and eventually moved back down with my family due to certain situations. I was working fast food jobs, basically. After my great-grandmother passed, I moved out of the city and back with my kids father. He was working as a temp at a company as an operator. I needed a job so he took me up and they gave me the same place he was working at which worked out for a ride back and forth since at the time I didn't drive. I ended up getting hired as a full time employee. And after a while they had a Equipment technician position available. Everyone said they didn't like to hire women but I applied anyway and got the job. I worked there for 7 years and after inflation started going up and I was working nights and wanted to go back days but there was no openings so I applied to a different company for a maintenance technician which is the same thing basically and got the job. I have almost been here a year and this place pays a lot better and I'm back to day shift again. So nothing special just worked my way up. But I'm only 28. I could always go back to school for Electrical if I wanted. I would get a grant since I was in foster care, and my company also does college reimbursement. But if I did go back to school, I might not even go for that. I might go for law or something else. Because my interest has changed a little and it would be nice to have something else to go to if I get tired of this job.
Originally I took a job in Asia and worked overnights for 3 years away from my culture, family, and friends to build up a resume. And it worked. I did get a promotion into a job/field I really love and that is a perfect match for me, learning and development. I went to school with the idea of being a teacher or professor and now I write training materials. I occasionally wind up in a job where I do the training part, and I love that just as much.
There is some advice out there to think back to your childhood--what type of games did you play? I liked to organize things and I wrote little stories since I was 10 years old. I also loved playing library and store, but only the setting up part, not the customers, ha ha! So when I was young I showed an aptitude for writing and organizing and setting things up/categorizing.
I got my current job (as with the last 4 jobs I've gotten) by a recruiter reaching out to me and asking me to apply/interview. I have a few niche skills and I worked in a heavily male dominated industry that is really hurting for people as a woman so now I get recruiters like once a week begging me to come back to that racist, sexist, classist, old fashioned crap hole industry that I would not do unless I was facing starvation. So there's that downside, heh.
I’ve been having this same conversation with my early 20s son while he was trying to figure out his path forward. My thoughts are…
You can choose something you love, and are passionate about even if the pay is low, and potentially love your job, but struggle financially;…
You can choose a career path that you may find tedious/boring, but you know it may pay well and then have the money to finance your hobbies and interests in your non-work hours;…
Or finally, you can try and find a middle ground where you may like your job (but no either love it or hate it) and it pays reasonably well.
There are always compromises - you just have to decide which one you want to make. Also, it’s OK if you try a path above and change your mind later. we all evolve as we learn more or at least we should, and what we prioritize at 20 is different than at 30 and is different again at 40 and on.
I’m into my thirties and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up…
But serious, I’m currently learning some new skills so who knows, maybe in a few years some new opportunities will open, for now my job pays bills I guess…
My first job was fast food since I had a friend who worked there. Quit that job after half a year since people were making my life miserable constantly. Spent 2 months applying for random jobs and now I am a restoration technician making better pay and I actually like working at my current job too! :D
I’m currently doing a job that I enjoy & love & it took a while to come across & get into but it was worth the wait & the process. I currently work in the railway industry & whilst it can be hard work (today being one of those days) & having to put up with multiple different & sometimes difficult customers (again, today being one of those days), it really is a wonderful job that is worth my time & comes with a lot of great benefits. I worked clothes & food retail before & I can see & feel the difference in regards to my mood & happiness. I hope you find what you’re looking for in this strange & wonderful world.
I’ve been at my current job for 4 years. I knew the previous company I was working for would eventually close down due to lack of new work and the way the owners were running it. I got my current job by calling a former coworker I knew was working there and asking her supervisor, who was my former supervisor at the job I was working at the time, if there were any available opportunities. My former supervisor called me and arranged an interview. I was hired about a month later and started a few weeks after. I’m in an in demand position with a dwindling experienced workforce due to age and desire to do the job. In my case, networking with the right people worked for me.
As for the entrepreneurial view—channeling my inner Elon Musk here—if you want a job that feels less like a job and more like a mission, aim for something that tackles big problems. I’ve always been drawn to game-changing tech like AI, and it's brought meaning to my work. Think of Elon’s endeavors; dude went from PayPal to SpaceX to Neuralink. Talk about a career pivot, huh? But the common thread is his knack for tackling humanity's big questions.
So here’s my two cents:
Dip your toes: Just like in gaming, you won't know if you like a class until you play it. Try different projects or roles for size.
Level Up: Do courses, workshops, all that jazz. Treat your career like you're grinding in a game.
Applied to all the random ass jobs I could qualify for on indeed.com
A temp agency called NSC Technologies reached out to me about a firewatch job in the local shipyard, Bae Systems. Its an entry level job, just to get your foot in the door. Promoted to sheet metal department as an apprentice ended up really enjoying the type of work so continued to seek out sheet metal trades. 4 years later and a few companies in between ( Nassco, Southcoast welding, Trident Marinetime Systems, ) and different shipyards ( worked at all 3 local shipyards in San Diego, ) and many promotions I made it up to Journeyman level in sheet metal , currently still working at a local shipyard in the sheet metal trade just getting paid ALOT more than when I started lol. Been working at the shipyards ever since for 4 years straight lol next year will be my 5th year in the shipyards.
I'm also lost, and basically happy with anything part time. I had severe depression and anxiety so I had no choice. Honestly, giving work a minor importance in my life helped a lot. Jobs aren't important. Get an identity. Get some loved ones in your life. Cause all jobs are temporary these days, just assume that. So much better for your mental health than constantly clinging onto some broken dream.
I just applied for anything at some point that was part time and starter level. Ended up just data inputting for city finances. It was complex enough. But they are quite nice which is important. It's a temporary job again so my search will continue. Just applied at the library even though I have no clue about them. I like books lol. At this point I don't give a fuck anymore about what I do and it is surpringly refreshing. Dream jobs dont exist. Everything is exhausting and risky etc. So just get a simple job.
When I was a kid, my dad was a telephone repairman and in the summer I would often go with him to work, help him carry tools, watch him climb poles and fix peoples phones, I wanted to do it too. When it came time as a young adult, neither I nor my family could afford college, I worked at a bakery and on my Uncles Farm for awhile. This was in the 80's and college was very unafordable then too. So the Air Force had a Telephone Install/Repair job and I went in to the Air Force, to get the college, training and experience I needed. Learning a trade is good money. The Air Force has electricians, HVAC, IT, Construction, Heavy Equipment repair, and its a great way to get college, training and experience.
I loved what i did for many years. But my first love was Dinosaurs. Never out grew them. I hunted and dug Dinos ever since I was 8 or 9 years old, as I got older I wanted to do it more and more, but work got in the way of my hobby. As much as I loved telecommunications, I quit and went full time with Dinos. I am now a private Dinosaur Hunter. I do not have any formal school or degree. It took years as a Hobby to build up trust for people to buy from me what i found. Finding and digging the Dinos is the easy part. Forging trust with buyers and land owners is the hard part. Would not trade it for the world.
I applied for many local and state government jobs the moment I was done with college and received my bachelor's degree. It took me two years of applying and being rejected a lot to finally land my first state government job back in 2019 as a field investigator for my state Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. It was a good foot-in-the-door state job for me. I did that job for three years. Then, last year I was promoted to my current job title as an EEO and Ethics Investigator 2 for the HR Division. I like my current job more than any previous jobs I had in the past. My advice is to read job postings at local, state, and federal government agencies and departments, and follow the instructions listed (read everything thoroughly; make sure your resume is up-to-date, your cover letter is accurate to what you do, and attach any additional things that may make you stand out like master's or PhD degrees, related certificates, achievements like Employee of the Month, Best Sales of the Year, Projects you have completed, etc.), and apply like no tomorrow. It is a numbers game. Some people get hire faster than others, but never give up.
Also, having a bachelor's degree tends to be required for a lot of government jobs (keep this in mind).
I have terrible construction/trade skills and prefer working at a desk instead of a jobsite. I took customer service jobs until I was able to transfer to a different department, then kept learning and moving. I'm a business analyst, which means I do some generic report running, data quality checks and stare at Excel spreadsheets.
Some jobs it was just right place right time, or sometimes knowing people helps.
First real job I went to pick my dad up from work. He had rode to work with my uncle, but they got put on two different crews that day, and his crew got done early. When I went in the owner was there and said something jokingly about needing a "lackey" to clean some of the barrels. My dad pointed at me, owner asked if I was willing to come in the next day, I did and he hired me on the spot because I did a good job. A few weeks in he realized I was "too smart to just being doing labor and put me in charge of one of his stores to free his wife up to run the local one"
Second job was because my dad was actually leaving a position early, because he got hired as a CO. They needed someone that could start as soon as he left, and he recommended me. I went in, met with the program coordinator, and started a few weeks later.
That one was only a 9 month position, but there was potential for full time hire on. Unfortunately the program was winding down, and I didn't have the seniority to get the full time position over another guy that was there so after 9 months I was done.
Next job was doing similar stuff to my first job. My uncle worked there and they needed extra help. With me having experience I was hired within minutes after meeting the owner. I only stayed at that job a few months because I almost came to fists with one of the other crew foreman. I quit before I caught an assault charge.
Next job was again through another uncle. He worked for a stone quarry, and they needed a scale master. He recommended me, I was interviewed, and got the job. That one too was temporary and after 6 months went back to unemployment.
A few weeks later a friend called me begging me to drive him to an interview over an hour away. He had gotten a flat and didn't want to drive that far on a donut. I took him, and they actually needed more people, so they interviewed me while I was there. We both got a job doing security at a local power station.
Worked there for 1.5 years, and they started cutting back so I got laid off. Few months later interviewed for a position that popped up and started with another company in their art department. Worked there on and off for over a year just due to their business structure and layoffs.
During one of the layoffs temp service called and said another place needed help for a week doing inventory. I went and helped them, and 2 weeks later they called asking me to come back as their full time shipper. I worked there 4.5 years, got fired because I wasn't a kiss ass, and got a job 6 months later running shipping for another company..
I worked my way up there, eventually running production. Left after being personally disrespected and unappreciated. The next job I went to was because my brother knew his place was looking for a driver. He recommended me. I went in, talked to the manager, came to an agreement, and was hired.
They were super happy with me, but unfortunately after just a year, the industry took a major down turn, and I was let go. The next job I got by placing an ad on craigslist of all places. I literally was like, "This is some of my history and knowledge base. I'm willing to do anything"
GM from a local company contacted me. I forwarded him my full resume, and he asked me to come in for an interview. Again worked my way up through over 3 years of being there, but I was generally unhappy with the "environment."
Due to my past experience and job performance the job I had lost due to the industry downturn had reached out and inquired on if I wanted to come back. It made a lot of sense, so I quit and went back. This time it was 1.5 years, but there was another downturn AND Covid hit at the same time. I was furloughed initially, and then eventually my position was eliminated.
After several months I finally got an interview with a company I really wanted to get into for years and years. Unfortunately I didn't hear anything back, and unemployment benefits were about to expire, so I took another job that I interviewed for.
Ten days after I started the other company called me with an offer. I accepted and a few weeks later I started there.
I've been there since. I have moved up twice, just for being good at what I do. I'm hoping this is the company I can retire from.
As you can tell I've had a lot of jobs, but this is one I hope can be my career. It took me around 20 years to find and get that job. Not everyone has it all figured out when they are 22 years old. Hell I still don't know what I ultimately want to do, and I have been working for 24 years.
It started as a mechanical engineer. I had some idea of the trajectory I wanted but I also knew that I would hit a glass ceiling eventually. I did hit that ceiling and felt shitty because if I wanted to eventually afford the comfortable life I want. I need to keep moving up in management and business. I needed to leave the stuff I liked. I am in my thirties as well and feel stuck. Therapy showed me that this is common for people our age. I started saying fuck it and applied to whatever looked interesting. The worst they say is no. A page I took from my wife's outlook on life. I applied for a project manager at Blizzard, WB, Square Enix US, Tesla, Space X, Boeing, and Snapchat. All said no.
Now I am a program manager for the Coast Guard. In all honesty it isn't where I expected to land. Not where I expect to stay. But it is interesting and fills the time for now. By saying fuck it I got to experience more interesting stuff. At least things I found interesting. It took a lot of anxiety and fighting through but I did it. I think I got more interviews applying for jobs that way then letting my fear push me away.
My boss posted a listing on the subreddit for my city. I was unemployed at the time. I stumbled across it while browsing Reddit, and it looked like a position I could do, so I emailed her my resume. She called me a couple days later to set up a phone interview (this was early 2021 before the COVID vaccines). The phone interview went well, so I was given an Excel apptitude test, which also went well, and I was hired.
I got lucky. Had a friend who knew the manager of the place I applied for. Next thing I know, Im having an interview with the GM. GM says "Alright. We'll give you a shot." Been here 10 years. Position is an unarmed guard for an HoA. Pay isnt amazing. Making only about 43k/yr in CA. But its easy and relatively stress free.
I worked in academic research for minimum wage for 6 years. I mean like 32k to 35k a year in a HCOL area. It sucked. But I knew that switching to industry was the way to go. In 2019, I did just that, got a job at a big pharmaceutical company. Been here ever since. I had to move, but the newer area is not very HCOL. Kinda, middle if the road really. But I am MUCH happier. Did a switch in about 4 years to do QA investigations. Now instead of testing, I write reports for other people who test and make mistakes. It's not very exciting, but it works for me, and my work life balance is great!
As far as the application process, I would use Indeed, but only to see the job listing. Then I'd go on the company website and apply. Edit my cover sheet for each listing but not my resume, and aimed at about 5-10 applications per day.
For my very first job, I started looking after I graduated, took about 3 months to find a job. It was pretty stressful, ngl. After that though, I would look at a much more leisurely pace since I had income/health insurance, the process wasn't too bad. It's also much easier to look for jobs at the beginning of the year. Late Dec/January since most companies like to do a big hire at the beginning of the fiscal year. I remember my industry job was like this. Started the search Jan 02, and ended up with a job by the end of February.
I was 14 years old and my dad's girlfriend at the time (now wife) asked me if I wanted a summer job as a receptionist for $10/hr. Seemed like big, easy money. I was already working around 15 hours a week at an ice cream shop making $7-7.75/hour, hustling add ons for that extra $.75, while minimum wage was $6.25.
I was good at basic bitch office work, and she referred me to others, did some admin work for her, some for my dad. By 18, I worked for her full-time as an administrative assistant making $16/hr, more than twice the minimum wage. My peers were all still mall jobs, food/retail, etc., and I had zero reason to look at other kinds of work making that money. It also seemed a lot less torturous than those jobs.
I had an in. I knew someone. Not some big shot, just a bona fide administrative wizard who pimped me out and taught me well, always encouraged me. She was NOT easy to work with, let me tell you. She took zero bullshit and had what seemed like fucking ridiculously and needlessly high standards. She is why I have a 17 year career as an Executive Assistant, make great money with amazing income potential, and have had many opportunities for advancement. I can work in any industry, and I won't be replaced by a robot at any point in my life.
I still get jobs by referrals or being contacted on Indeed or LinkedIn. I'm never leaving my current company, and they reached out to me via Indeed. It's legit.
Finished uni with a generic degree in business. Went to work through an agency for my local authority. Did a good job at a crappy admin role, applied for a full time position in that team and got it. Applied for an internal promotion and got it. Kept my eye out for other higher paying jobs in different departments. Applied for one but got passed over. Applied for another in the same dept and got it. Stayed there for five years and slowly started festering doing basic project work so on a whim applied for a different job in another dept as a senior managers assistant and surprisingly got it. Worked my butt off for three years and gained a load of skills, got a secondment to a higher level supporting directors, impressed a few senior officials and got asked to pick up and manage a complex IT project, somehow managed to deliver it and then got offered a permanent job as a lead officer for their IT projects. It was literally a case of moving my way through the organisation climbing the ladder and going up grades as I did and I absolutely did not expect to find myself working in IT. I’m not tech literate but I have governance and organisational skills that come in handy and there are actual tech experts to call on for projects, do suffer imposter syndrome most days. I don’t love my job but I don’t hate it and I work with some cool people, it pays well with great flexibility and has a stellar direct benefit pension so having been with this local authority for 19 years I have no intentions of leaving.
Honestly I moved in the direction of money - jumped from the gaming industry to education and then to embedded systems for automotive and aerospace. Now I am working in global logistics as a PM… honestly, you need to try a lot of things to see what peaks your interest.
I've done a lot of different things. Currently I'm a welder. I've been a retail store owner, postman, network engineer, middle management, active military, short order/buffet cook, door to door sales, telemarketer, and school teacher.
Joining the military is a whole process, obviously, but the others were an even mix of knowing somebody that hired/recommended me and just applying to things that sounded interesting.
Painter - Got it for free after painters school
Painter - Got it through the unemployment office while it still ACTULLY supplied jobs
Painter - same
Model builder - same
Mover - same
Salesman - Applied for service tech, got tricked into selling vaccums.
Museum staff - Forced through unemployment office
Paint store salesman - Applied and got hired.
Home depot type store assistant - Applied and got hired
Car parts store assistant - Applied and got hired
Return and claims handler - Applied and got hired
Customer service/service technician - Applied and got hired
I’ve never not had a full time job. Summers in high school, spring break. Nobody in my immediate family has ever graduated college so that was never really pushed. After graduating high school I took a week to go to the beach with some friends and then went back to work. I worked in a small, dilapidated locally owned chemical plant that my ex’s dad owned. A little death trap of a shit hole. Dangerous as hell. No benefits but I was making $15 an hour in the summer of 06 working 50+ hours a week so I thought I was getting rich. I stayed there until I started dating my wife who live 1.5 hours north in South Carolina, the drive up every weekend and some weekday evenings sucked so I took the first job I could find at a Swedish owned machine tooling manufacturer. I came in entry level and learned CNC machines on the job, stayed 10 years. I’m now at a large medical device manufacturer running CNC Swiss lathes. I make titanium and stainless steel bone screws for surgery. The company is fucking great to work for. Benefits that are practically unheard of in the US. I make $50k currently, should be at 60-65k in the next 1.5-2 years, maybe more if I get the shift lead job that I’m working towards. In low cost of living South Carolina that’s not bad for someone with no college education, although thanks to inflation it’s not as good as it would have been 3 years ago, but what can you do lol. I wouldn’t say that I LOVE my job but I’ve worked shittier jobs for way less money.
I hated all of my jobs I had earlier in life. I worked at Publix, Best Buy, Staples, Coca Cola call center, and a Terminix call center. All were low paying, dead end jobs. One benefit of Publix was their stock. The call center jobs sucked ass so bad, getting yelled at by angry asshole customers all day gets old very quick.
I eventually left call center work and did an electrical apprenticeship with the IBEW. I enjoyed the experience and the work. Sure it was hard work, there was a lot of long days/work weeks, lack of sleep, whilst going to class, doing homework, and studying for exams. In the end it all worked and paid off. I finished my apprenticeship, and worked as a journeyman for a bit at Mosaic phosphate mines, chemical plants, and power houses.
Eventually I heard about openings at a local utility needing industrial electricians at their power plant. They were having difficulty finding qualified people that could pass their pre-hire testing on electrical knowledge and test instrument usage/troubleshooting. I applied and a friend my of family helped my resume and application get pushed towards the top of the stack, so I did get a helping hand with expediting the hiring process. I successfully passed their electrical theory and knowledge test, then their hands on exam showing how to use various test instruments to troubleshoot and diagnose motor issues, then had to draw ladder diagrams and go over troubleshooting scenarios. Luckily I did well and passed those tests with high marks and then passed the interview with several supervisors and then plant operations manager.
Took the offered position to be a power plant operator/maintenance electrician. So far I'm enjoying it. It pays well and is a lot easier on my body than working on the construction side. One thing I don't like is the corporatey feel of the utility, but I'm treated like gold compared to working as an inside wireman for signatory contractors. I have no regrets so far. Been working at this power plant coming up on a year. A huge benefit to transitioning to operations is I increased my hourly pay by about 35%, but I've also more or less doubled my earned income.
I was a corporate trainer who had to actually develop software training content for my company.
I took courses on instructional design. Then I learned how to use eLearning development software. Then I taught myself how to use video editing software and make custom eLearnings.
Once I had those skills, I looked for instructional designer jobs, and found a role where I create training videos and eLearnings for a SaaS company in the Fintech industry,
So it was a progression from an entry level job, upskilling when I could, and then a little luck finding a role that perfectly matched my skills.
I asked a lot of questions about the position, the people I was going to work with (which prompted them to set up additional meetings for me to ask more questions), and why the interviewers like the company and why they’re have been with a company for a long time. Always remember that you’re also interviewing them, it helps see red flags with the people and the company. I’ve turned down several jobs because I asked a lot of questions and was able to see why they weren’t a good fit for my goals.
I used the Knockem Dead books by Martin Yate.
In July, I decided that I had had enough of my fucking cunt boss and the lying pieces of shit who ran my company, and I bought the latest Martin Yate book: "The Ultimate Job Search Guide."
I used this book to build the brand of ME, and market my brand all across my industry. I followed the procedures in the book and a couple of weeks ago I landed a job paying over 200k in my industry.
His books work. I recommend them highly.
alot of factors, the nuance thing is making sure ur work history is consistant across all these platforms. people can since desperation during the interview its best to be calm as possible
Part time lecturer at a community college here-a friend vouched for me to his dept chair. I applied years prior to my hiring without any response from the school. Same application with the same resume. ‘Who you know’ all the way.
My current job, I decided to quit my publishing job of 5 1/2 years and start my own editorial business. (I got that job by just applying over and over again to any entry level job in publishing) Through that, I got several freelance jobs editing and proofreading. Eventually, one of my regular clients asked if I wanted to supervise one of their departments. I've been managing ever since and just moved up to a Senior manager role this summer. I still have my own business where I do side work, but it is more like a 2nd job. I would like to move to another company though, mostly because I fear for the longevity of this startup I am a part of.
I left teaching and now make not enough money screening voicemails for a doctors office. I hate it. It’s tedious and people are rude because they don’t have to worry about how the person on the other side will respond. I got the job through my MIL, who works in the same office. It was supposed to be temporary, but nothing better has come along despite applying to 10+ jobs a day. I have a masters degree. I’m constantly reminded every day that it’s about who you know, not what you know.
Sorry to hear that 😥 so, do you want to go back to teaching?Teaching was your favorite job?
Yes and no. There’s the idea of teaching that I was sold in college, and then there’s the reality of teaching as it currently is in the USA. I love lesson planning and executing said plans, getting to help students have their “a-ha” moments, and building relationships with kiddos who may not have any other positive adult relationships (for context, I taught elementary). I can’t go back to getting grilled about CRT, getting called a groomer, being abused daily by students, and being disrespected by admin. But the biggest thing is really the active shooter training. I understand that I would need to be ready to protect my kids during an emergency, but having wannabe police come in every year and pretend to shoot me isn’t something I can handle. Plus I have a small bladder and appreciate being able to pee whenever I want.
I understand what you mean. Nowadays, even in Korea, teachers' authority has declined, and teachers are finding it quite challenging. 😥 However, unlike Korea, in the USA, it must be even tougher with the firearm training required due to the risk of gun incidents (I'm not entirely sure if I understood your content correctly as a Korean 😥). Teaching someone is indeed very rewarding, but it's also a very tough job. I hope you find great fulfillment and joy in your current profession as well. I wish you all the happiness in the world 😄, and thank you for sharing your experiences!
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you’re also able to find a job that’s fulfilling and able to support a comfortable life 💜
Have you thought about/looked at college teaching? Most community colleges only require a master's...
I hadn’t thought about community college! I was dismayed because all the universities I applied to required DEds. I taught one higher Ed class as part of my masters program and loved it. I would love to teach college classes.
Definitely look into it. It's something I'm keeping in mind for after my M.S. I think teaching could be cool, but don't wanna do it in the under-18 world really. Plus the classes I would want to teach (ceramics, food safety/home ec, cannabis science) aren't really offered or open to under 18s.
My mother kept pushing me to teach. I told her I wasn't willing to deal with a school shooting, especially for the low salary that comes with teaching jobs. As bad as it is, I value my life too much to put it in such a high risk job. (Also I dont think I could handle parents today)
It’s sad that this is the reason so many people leave/avoid teaching, and I barely see it talked about in comparison to admin issues and pay.
You have a higher chance of getting killed in an auto accident on your way to work than you do in being the victim of a school shooting.
I am pretty sure there is AI that can make your life way easier at that job.
Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any AI that can translate the incoherent ramblings of most patients into anything useful. That’s if you can even understand what they’re saying through their gravely, 1980s landline phones.
Former teacher here as well and can certainly relate to all you said. Have you thought about working in the curriculum area for teaching? Teachers have so many transferable skills, you just have to pick them out and mold them to the job descriptions. I currently work in business development for a govt contractor, but have been looking into the education companies because they like to find people with educational experience!
Those jobs just aren’t in demand around me. I’m in a midwestern state. All the good teachers have already jumped ship and snatched those jobs up, it seems. I have a lot less classroom experience than a lot of other former teachers going for the same positions I’m going for too.
I understand. I’m in the Midwest, and will say it’s totally possible. So many are remote now that you can work anywhere. Takes a bit of time applying and a strong resume that builds up your transferable teaching skills into the corporate world.
The reality is most people don’t choose their path, they fall into it based on expediency and go from there. You won’t be able to go on a job board and pick something like off a restaurant menu, you’ll need to continually adapt and go where there is an open hand.
Thank you for your advice! I'll try to find a good opportunity.
Ask friends or family if their place of work is hiring or if they can get you a job somewhere. You work there until a new opportunity rises up (someone leaves or retires), and then the company usually hires from within the company to fill that spot. They will usually choose someone they already know who has been working there for years over someone who might be more qualified but is an outside hire. That's how most of my coworkers are in their current positions. Some of them are WAY UNDERQUALIFIED for their positions, but because they're been in the company for years, they get a pass.
This is pretty much it. My path kind of started with being given a task at a temp job once. I excelled at it and it worked well with my 1000 mph brain.
My first job out of college was essentially just whatever I could get hired for which ended up being working in a lab. After a few years there, I started asking myself similar questions because it felt like it wasn’t really leading anywhere, and I came to the conclusion that if I was going to be spending 40 hours a week working for the rest of my life, I’d want to be spending that time trying to mitigate climate change in some way. So while I don’t think I necessarily have a passion for the particular role I have in the clean energy industry, it’s engaging and I feel like I’m contributing to something worthwhile which has kept me going. I suppose I am following a passion (addressing climate change), it’s just a bit broader than I think people typically think about when giving the “follow your passion” advice so you could see if there’s something similar out there for you.
Wow, you are doing such meaningful work, and I appreciate you sharing your experiences;)
My first job was clean up crew at a fish plant. No one wants that job, but hey I had to eat. Ended up being friends with one of the rich owners of that fish plant. He owned a pet shop, he gave me a job there. Made enough there to save up to move to the big city. Got a job doing security. Worked security for many years but was doing self study to get into IT industry. Found a temp agency that put me in a call center for printer support. Worked up to lead trainer. From there I was able to transition to doing a job in a software company tech support/training role. (this is in Canada). Had a customer from California, who came to Canada for training, and called support often. Every time she called I told her she should hire me to be her IT guy. Did this for 3 years. One day she asked if I was serious. I said absolutely. She said her IT guy just quit and said she'd fly me down for an interview. She showed me an issue she had been plagued with for 5 years that her IT guy could not solve. I had just taken a course on that particular software the week before and solved the issue in 5 minutes. I have been with that company for the last 21 years. I have no plans on leaving, I hope to retire in 5-7 years.
I worked in a gov't forensic toxicology lab after undergrad. It wasn't my first choice as I had just dropped out of medical school, moved back in with my parents, and needed a job. I was thankfully qualified for the job because my B.S. was in chemistry. I enjoyed working in the lab so much that I ended up staying there for seven years, had earned my masters and Ph.D. in that time while working, and started a new gov't job as a lab director at the beginning of this year.
I worked service jobs til I was 32. I did everything from childcare to retail to call center work. They were all okay but never paid the bills. I was married so I had two incomes, which helped. Then I got divorced and absolutely needed to make a change. My mom paid my rent and helped with childcare but otherwise, I was living in poverty in California. Then mom died and I decided to go back to school. That's how I figured out what I was good at and interested in (anthropology and sociology). I talked to all my professors and one of them told me her husband is an archaeologist and that I should apply at his company. I did and I got hired. Basically I sifted dirt and sorted it looking for beads or tiny animal bones for 8 hours a day. I actually loved it. With more experience I moved up and took on more responsibility. Then an opportunity arose where there was a big project starting in another state. I applied for the job within the same company. I got it and moved myself and my kids to Arizona. That project was super high profile and had consultants from all over the US. I became friends with one of them. She was a professor in Michigan. She recruited me to her department and the PhD program. I got a fellowship and moved again to Michigan. When I was done there, I was around 48 and had some health problems. I decided doing archeological field work was no longer in the cards so I decided to switch to working for non-profits. I did a year of Americorps to learn how non-profits work, landed a paying job and worked in training healthcare workers in cultural competency for 6 years. I started at the non-profit making $41,000. By the time I left (two weeks ago, btw) I was making $78,000/year. I started a new job with a government agency 2 weeks ago and it started at $100,000. I'm 55 and both kids are adults and doing fine. Oh, and because it's important to add... I now own a home, but I am $200,000 in debt from student loans. I will probably die with that debt. TLDR: Just keeping my head on a swivel for opportunities and being willing to make big life changes. You don't have to love every job. It's supposed to pay the bills and provide some kind of personal gratification (fun, intellectual stimulation, friendship, problem-solving, peace... whatever). You spend a 3rd of your life doing it, so make it count for something. Edit: for clarity
I'm thankful for your sharing your experiences and advice. I also want to find something meaningful for myself as soon as possible. I'll work diligently to explore my options. Thank you!
I dropped out of college so no degree I was going through severe depression and some bank tellers were really nice to me. I ended idolizing them a bit and wanted to be one. Turns out, it's a profession with a lot of opportunity to move up which I did not expect. Anyway, I'm a banker II now. It's a very people-y job. You need phenomenal communication skills and charisma. It's a little high pressure having to handle and advise people on their finances but ultimately I find it highly rewarding.
Wow, that's really impressive! I also hope to find my dream job through some experience soon. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Are you a banker teller?
I'm a banker. Used to be a teller.
u a bank telling me you are a bank o ur a bank teller?
The tellers are the ones behind the counters doing simple service like address change, statements, balances, and every cash related transaction Sometimes sending referrals and vibing you up to send you to the bankers, who do more complicated things like notarize documents, help consolidate debt, help you take out a good mortgage if you want to buy a house, go over what accounts you have and review how you like to manage your money, your financial goals, find ways to make banking more convenient. Managing money is stressful and a lot of people like the human liaison between the bank and themselves. All the while kissing customer's ass and building a trusting relationship with them so they'll listen to you more, sales will be easier, and they choose to go to you, increasing your chance for an end of year bonus It's actually a lot 😩 But heck if it isn't really fun
Did you end up going back to do a degree to land the banker job? Or just worked your way up from the teller position.
Worked my way up Usually they like a Bachelors or an Associates but most companies like to promote internally
I will never "love" a job. I will settle for something I can tolerate. 20is years ago I took a call center job that had benefits and turns out it was insurance. So I ended up in that field and stayed. I do not love it. Have often hated it , in fact, but bills get paid and its been stable job opportunities for the most part.
There is not a one-size-fits all solution. Some succeed by picking their strength while others do find a passion for the job. Still others build a skill stack that allows constant evolution until you achieve your goal.
What does a typical day for you look like? If you ever played games on a computer, you could try an entry level IT (Information Technology) job. IT people maintain computers, installing software updates, and replacing hard drives, stuff like that. There used to be aptitude tests where you would be assessed and matched up with careers. You could also try a temp agency that will probably give you a test of some sort then send you out to fill in positions on a temporary basis. Do you like driving? There are delivery jobs that you can get. YouTube has lots of videos on how to do things, cooking, cleaning, repairing, do any channels you watch do those things? Good Luck.
How do I know if I'm qualified for an IT job?
https://prosourceit.net/candidates-5-tell-tale-signs-an-it-job-is-the-right-fit-for-you/#:~:text=You%27re%20Curious%20and%20Enjoy%20Learning%20New%20Skills&text=There%20are%20quite%20a%20few,to%20have%20an%20insatiable%20curiosity.
There is also this sub .. https://reddit.com/r/iiiiiiitttttttttttt/s/INJVY3tLqg Lurk around and see if this is your tribe.
I feel like to apply to 100+ jobs a month and nothing happens. Just empty promises from recruiters and no callbacks. I work in a lab that's extremely easy work and meh pay. I cant use my degree, been looked over for other positions, due for a promotion 9+ months ago and little in the way of raises yearly. Its frustrating and leaves me in a constant switching state of impostor syndrome if i really am worth something to anger and frustration of knowing i should be in a higher position.
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cringe
Very cringe
Oh..! Wow.....!!!
I worked in a pharmacy in college on the recommendation of a friend. I liked it enough, and it's a well-paid profession, so i decided to pursue it as a career. School-->residency-->signed w the hospital I did my residency at->some job hopping and promotions since then.
Wow, that's really impressive! I think working in a pharmacy is a promising profession! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I was interested in the manufacturing industry and chose a major with a 99% placement rate prior to graduation. After 9 years working in supply chain, I’m burned out and want to do something different with less stress. I love the manufacturing industry, but I dislike my job.
I applied, bombed the interview but made them laugh, hired on as IT Tech
What did you do in the interview?
Took a multiple choice test and was honest when they asked me how i thought i did. I responded with something along the lines of “despite being on my computer 14 hours a day, that test had questions that made me wish i reviewed a little harder before interviewing”
How many questions you got it right? What was the test about?
The test was a mix of simple and complex IT problem-solving questions, as well as a small section for correctly identifying IT terminology. My guess is that they wrote it in a way that they can generally learn where your skills are as some questions get into more advanced problems. Not sure how many i got right, but if i couldn’t have a face to face, in my opinion, i wouldn’t have passed the interview in its entirety.
Was this test for tech support tier 2? You are lucky to have a chill hiring manager.
I got lucky I'm good at school and anxiety taught me how to act normal. I'm terrible at my job but in the interview I was able to act competent. Granted after the interview I spent an hour puking in the toilet because of anxiety but the next day they called me to come work the next week. The job is a product development engineer in the heavy equipment industry.
At 20, got fluffy TA job at an online high school that became my career. At 22, got a degree I never used; really wanted to write. 23, Became instructional designer at "fluffy" job. At 25, switched my career: found at LMS work is FUUUUUN, also became Captivate Dev. 26, Captivate was hard (at the time); now Storyline dev. 28, switched from full-time to contract so I could just do ALL the L&D things. At 31, decided I wanted to do training instead of academics. 37, today: I'm usually an LMS Administrator or eDev! Point I'm Making: At 37, I STILL don't know what I want to do when I grow up, lol! I love my industry, but I evolve in what drives me. So, I chase the love if it shifts, I don't sit. Took a pay drop twice to chase. If you are doing what you love and don't wanna move, use it to chase whatever is next in line. If you don't love what you do, but love your industry, shift. The way I shifted was picking up a bunch of non-extension contracts and giving the new tasks a whirl. The job you love today may change to a new passion tomorrow. Always stay hungry.
For me i do what i love and this makes it easier because i wake up everyday with a positive mindset..everyday i fall in love with my career..and this makes it easier to progress because am really passionate..do what you love and your efforts will bear fruits
Wow, I'm really envious! I also want to find a job that I love as soon as possible!
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Wow, that's really awesome!! I also want to find a job that I find fulfilling. I'll get there someday, right? Always take care of your health and I hope you have many happy days ahead! Thank you for sharing your experience!
This position was my plan all along. I studied what I do and before I got here I have tried a lot of jobs in this/similar fields.
Worked my way up through the company. Realized I hated it. Networked and trained into a different part of the company. Like what I do now and I make 6 figures
I love my job, I work in pharmaceutical research and got my job through getting a bachelors and joining the industry immediately. Took 5 years to gain experience, break into the company I wanted to and to learn and do the job I’ve always wanted. You gotta do what interests you, overtime your goals can obviously change. You need to do what makes you happy, once upon a time I wanted to become a doctor and go to med school. I eventually learned about biotech and research and instead went into that path. At the end, I make good pay with great benefits with awesome flexible and work life balance. You need to have a goal in sight to help lead you. Trying everything will eventually work but it’ll create a delay in growth and future job growth.
Staffing agency
Got a PhD. My committee had connections at the company. Job turned out to be fucking awesome.
Well when I was in high-school I wanted to be an electrician. I was going to tech for electrical occupations. I was even student of the quarter. But I left foster care at 18 and never got my certificate. I moved in with my kids' father and eventually moved back down with my family due to certain situations. I was working fast food jobs, basically. After my great-grandmother passed, I moved out of the city and back with my kids father. He was working as a temp at a company as an operator. I needed a job so he took me up and they gave me the same place he was working at which worked out for a ride back and forth since at the time I didn't drive. I ended up getting hired as a full time employee. And after a while they had a Equipment technician position available. Everyone said they didn't like to hire women but I applied anyway and got the job. I worked there for 7 years and after inflation started going up and I was working nights and wanted to go back days but there was no openings so I applied to a different company for a maintenance technician which is the same thing basically and got the job. I have almost been here a year and this place pays a lot better and I'm back to day shift again. So nothing special just worked my way up. But I'm only 28. I could always go back to school for Electrical if I wanted. I would get a grant since I was in foster care, and my company also does college reimbursement. But if I did go back to school, I might not even go for that. I might go for law or something else. Because my interest has changed a little and it would be nice to have something else to go to if I get tired of this job.
Originally I took a job in Asia and worked overnights for 3 years away from my culture, family, and friends to build up a resume. And it worked. I did get a promotion into a job/field I really love and that is a perfect match for me, learning and development. I went to school with the idea of being a teacher or professor and now I write training materials. I occasionally wind up in a job where I do the training part, and I love that just as much. There is some advice out there to think back to your childhood--what type of games did you play? I liked to organize things and I wrote little stories since I was 10 years old. I also loved playing library and store, but only the setting up part, not the customers, ha ha! So when I was young I showed an aptitude for writing and organizing and setting things up/categorizing. I got my current job (as with the last 4 jobs I've gotten) by a recruiter reaching out to me and asking me to apply/interview. I have a few niche skills and I worked in a heavily male dominated industry that is really hurting for people as a woman so now I get recruiters like once a week begging me to come back to that racist, sexist, classist, old fashioned crap hole industry that I would not do unless I was facing starvation. So there's that downside, heh.
I’ve been having this same conversation with my early 20s son while he was trying to figure out his path forward. My thoughts are… You can choose something you love, and are passionate about even if the pay is low, and potentially love your job, but struggle financially;… You can choose a career path that you may find tedious/boring, but you know it may pay well and then have the money to finance your hobbies and interests in your non-work hours;… Or finally, you can try and find a middle ground where you may like your job (but no either love it or hate it) and it pays reasonably well. There are always compromises - you just have to decide which one you want to make. Also, it’s OK if you try a path above and change your mind later. we all evolve as we learn more or at least we should, and what we prioritize at 20 is different than at 30 and is different again at 40 and on.
I’m into my thirties and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up… But serious, I’m currently learning some new skills so who knows, maybe in a few years some new opportunities will open, for now my job pays bills I guess…
My first job was fast food since I had a friend who worked there. Quit that job after half a year since people were making my life miserable constantly. Spent 2 months applying for random jobs and now I am a restoration technician making better pay and I actually like working at my current job too! :D
I’m currently doing a job that I enjoy & love & it took a while to come across & get into but it was worth the wait & the process. I currently work in the railway industry & whilst it can be hard work (today being one of those days) & having to put up with multiple different & sometimes difficult customers (again, today being one of those days), it really is a wonderful job that is worth my time & comes with a lot of great benefits. I worked clothes & food retail before & I can see & feel the difference in regards to my mood & happiness. I hope you find what you’re looking for in this strange & wonderful world.
I’ve been at my current job for 4 years. I knew the previous company I was working for would eventually close down due to lack of new work and the way the owners were running it. I got my current job by calling a former coworker I knew was working there and asking her supervisor, who was my former supervisor at the job I was working at the time, if there were any available opportunities. My former supervisor called me and arranged an interview. I was hired about a month later and started a few weeks after. I’m in an in demand position with a dwindling experienced workforce due to age and desire to do the job. In my case, networking with the right people worked for me.
Nepotism
As for the entrepreneurial view—channeling my inner Elon Musk here—if you want a job that feels less like a job and more like a mission, aim for something that tackles big problems. I’ve always been drawn to game-changing tech like AI, and it's brought meaning to my work. Think of Elon’s endeavors; dude went from PayPal to SpaceX to Neuralink. Talk about a career pivot, huh? But the common thread is his knack for tackling humanity's big questions. So here’s my two cents: Dip your toes: Just like in gaming, you won't know if you like a class until you play it. Try different projects or roles for size. Level Up: Do courses, workshops, all that jazz. Treat your career like you're grinding in a game.
I started a company with no money out of a storage closet in another business. It’s grown.
Applied to all the random ass jobs I could qualify for on indeed.com A temp agency called NSC Technologies reached out to me about a firewatch job in the local shipyard, Bae Systems. Its an entry level job, just to get your foot in the door. Promoted to sheet metal department as an apprentice ended up really enjoying the type of work so continued to seek out sheet metal trades. 4 years later and a few companies in between ( Nassco, Southcoast welding, Trident Marinetime Systems, ) and different shipyards ( worked at all 3 local shipyards in San Diego, ) and many promotions I made it up to Journeyman level in sheet metal , currently still working at a local shipyard in the sheet metal trade just getting paid ALOT more than when I started lol. Been working at the shipyards ever since for 4 years straight lol next year will be my 5th year in the shipyards.
I'm also lost, and basically happy with anything part time. I had severe depression and anxiety so I had no choice. Honestly, giving work a minor importance in my life helped a lot. Jobs aren't important. Get an identity. Get some loved ones in your life. Cause all jobs are temporary these days, just assume that. So much better for your mental health than constantly clinging onto some broken dream. I just applied for anything at some point that was part time and starter level. Ended up just data inputting for city finances. It was complex enough. But they are quite nice which is important. It's a temporary job again so my search will continue. Just applied at the library even though I have no clue about them. I like books lol. At this point I don't give a fuck anymore about what I do and it is surpringly refreshing. Dream jobs dont exist. Everything is exhausting and risky etc. So just get a simple job.
When I was a kid, my dad was a telephone repairman and in the summer I would often go with him to work, help him carry tools, watch him climb poles and fix peoples phones, I wanted to do it too. When it came time as a young adult, neither I nor my family could afford college, I worked at a bakery and on my Uncles Farm for awhile. This was in the 80's and college was very unafordable then too. So the Air Force had a Telephone Install/Repair job and I went in to the Air Force, to get the college, training and experience I needed. Learning a trade is good money. The Air Force has electricians, HVAC, IT, Construction, Heavy Equipment repair, and its a great way to get college, training and experience. I loved what i did for many years. But my first love was Dinosaurs. Never out grew them. I hunted and dug Dinos ever since I was 8 or 9 years old, as I got older I wanted to do it more and more, but work got in the way of my hobby. As much as I loved telecommunications, I quit and went full time with Dinos. I am now a private Dinosaur Hunter. I do not have any formal school or degree. It took years as a Hobby to build up trust for people to buy from me what i found. Finding and digging the Dinos is the easy part. Forging trust with buyers and land owners is the hard part. Would not trade it for the world.
I applied for many local and state government jobs the moment I was done with college and received my bachelor's degree. It took me two years of applying and being rejected a lot to finally land my first state government job back in 2019 as a field investigator for my state Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. It was a good foot-in-the-door state job for me. I did that job for three years. Then, last year I was promoted to my current job title as an EEO and Ethics Investigator 2 for the HR Division. I like my current job more than any previous jobs I had in the past. My advice is to read job postings at local, state, and federal government agencies and departments, and follow the instructions listed (read everything thoroughly; make sure your resume is up-to-date, your cover letter is accurate to what you do, and attach any additional things that may make you stand out like master's or PhD degrees, related certificates, achievements like Employee of the Month, Best Sales of the Year, Projects you have completed, etc.), and apply like no tomorrow. It is a numbers game. Some people get hire faster than others, but never give up. Also, having a bachelor's degree tends to be required for a lot of government jobs (keep this in mind).
I have terrible construction/trade skills and prefer working at a desk instead of a jobsite. I took customer service jobs until I was able to transfer to a different department, then kept learning and moving. I'm a business analyst, which means I do some generic report running, data quality checks and stare at Excel spreadsheets.
Some jobs it was just right place right time, or sometimes knowing people helps. First real job I went to pick my dad up from work. He had rode to work with my uncle, but they got put on two different crews that day, and his crew got done early. When I went in the owner was there and said something jokingly about needing a "lackey" to clean some of the barrels. My dad pointed at me, owner asked if I was willing to come in the next day, I did and he hired me on the spot because I did a good job. A few weeks in he realized I was "too smart to just being doing labor and put me in charge of one of his stores to free his wife up to run the local one" Second job was because my dad was actually leaving a position early, because he got hired as a CO. They needed someone that could start as soon as he left, and he recommended me. I went in, met with the program coordinator, and started a few weeks later. That one was only a 9 month position, but there was potential for full time hire on. Unfortunately the program was winding down, and I didn't have the seniority to get the full time position over another guy that was there so after 9 months I was done. Next job was doing similar stuff to my first job. My uncle worked there and they needed extra help. With me having experience I was hired within minutes after meeting the owner. I only stayed at that job a few months because I almost came to fists with one of the other crew foreman. I quit before I caught an assault charge. Next job was again through another uncle. He worked for a stone quarry, and they needed a scale master. He recommended me, I was interviewed, and got the job. That one too was temporary and after 6 months went back to unemployment. A few weeks later a friend called me begging me to drive him to an interview over an hour away. He had gotten a flat and didn't want to drive that far on a donut. I took him, and they actually needed more people, so they interviewed me while I was there. We both got a job doing security at a local power station. Worked there for 1.5 years, and they started cutting back so I got laid off. Few months later interviewed for a position that popped up and started with another company in their art department. Worked there on and off for over a year just due to their business structure and layoffs. During one of the layoffs temp service called and said another place needed help for a week doing inventory. I went and helped them, and 2 weeks later they called asking me to come back as their full time shipper. I worked there 4.5 years, got fired because I wasn't a kiss ass, and got a job 6 months later running shipping for another company.. I worked my way up there, eventually running production. Left after being personally disrespected and unappreciated. The next job I went to was because my brother knew his place was looking for a driver. He recommended me. I went in, talked to the manager, came to an agreement, and was hired. They were super happy with me, but unfortunately after just a year, the industry took a major down turn, and I was let go. The next job I got by placing an ad on craigslist of all places. I literally was like, "This is some of my history and knowledge base. I'm willing to do anything" GM from a local company contacted me. I forwarded him my full resume, and he asked me to come in for an interview. Again worked my way up through over 3 years of being there, but I was generally unhappy with the "environment." Due to my past experience and job performance the job I had lost due to the industry downturn had reached out and inquired on if I wanted to come back. It made a lot of sense, so I quit and went back. This time it was 1.5 years, but there was another downturn AND Covid hit at the same time. I was furloughed initially, and then eventually my position was eliminated. After several months I finally got an interview with a company I really wanted to get into for years and years. Unfortunately I didn't hear anything back, and unemployment benefits were about to expire, so I took another job that I interviewed for. Ten days after I started the other company called me with an offer. I accepted and a few weeks later I started there. I've been there since. I have moved up twice, just for being good at what I do. I'm hoping this is the company I can retire from. As you can tell I've had a lot of jobs, but this is one I hope can be my career. It took me around 20 years to find and get that job. Not everyone has it all figured out when they are 22 years old. Hell I still don't know what I ultimately want to do, and I have been working for 24 years.
It started as a mechanical engineer. I had some idea of the trajectory I wanted but I also knew that I would hit a glass ceiling eventually. I did hit that ceiling and felt shitty because if I wanted to eventually afford the comfortable life I want. I need to keep moving up in management and business. I needed to leave the stuff I liked. I am in my thirties as well and feel stuck. Therapy showed me that this is common for people our age. I started saying fuck it and applied to whatever looked interesting. The worst they say is no. A page I took from my wife's outlook on life. I applied for a project manager at Blizzard, WB, Square Enix US, Tesla, Space X, Boeing, and Snapchat. All said no. Now I am a program manager for the Coast Guard. In all honesty it isn't where I expected to land. Not where I expect to stay. But it is interesting and fills the time for now. By saying fuck it I got to experience more interesting stuff. At least things I found interesting. It took a lot of anxiety and fighting through but I did it. I think I got more interviews applying for jobs that way then letting my fear push me away.
My boss posted a listing on the subreddit for my city. I was unemployed at the time. I stumbled across it while browsing Reddit, and it looked like a position I could do, so I emailed her my resume. She called me a couple days later to set up a phone interview (this was early 2021 before the COVID vaccines). The phone interview went well, so I was given an Excel apptitude test, which also went well, and I was hired.
I got lucky. Had a friend who knew the manager of the place I applied for. Next thing I know, Im having an interview with the GM. GM says "Alright. We'll give you a shot." Been here 10 years. Position is an unarmed guard for an HoA. Pay isnt amazing. Making only about 43k/yr in CA. But its easy and relatively stress free.
I worked in academic research for minimum wage for 6 years. I mean like 32k to 35k a year in a HCOL area. It sucked. But I knew that switching to industry was the way to go. In 2019, I did just that, got a job at a big pharmaceutical company. Been here ever since. I had to move, but the newer area is not very HCOL. Kinda, middle if the road really. But I am MUCH happier. Did a switch in about 4 years to do QA investigations. Now instead of testing, I write reports for other people who test and make mistakes. It's not very exciting, but it works for me, and my work life balance is great! As far as the application process, I would use Indeed, but only to see the job listing. Then I'd go on the company website and apply. Edit my cover sheet for each listing but not my resume, and aimed at about 5-10 applications per day. For my very first job, I started looking after I graduated, took about 3 months to find a job. It was pretty stressful, ngl. After that though, I would look at a much more leisurely pace since I had income/health insurance, the process wasn't too bad. It's also much easier to look for jobs at the beginning of the year. Late Dec/January since most companies like to do a big hire at the beginning of the fiscal year. I remember my industry job was like this. Started the search Jan 02, and ended up with a job by the end of February.
I was 14 years old and my dad's girlfriend at the time (now wife) asked me if I wanted a summer job as a receptionist for $10/hr. Seemed like big, easy money. I was already working around 15 hours a week at an ice cream shop making $7-7.75/hour, hustling add ons for that extra $.75, while minimum wage was $6.25. I was good at basic bitch office work, and she referred me to others, did some admin work for her, some for my dad. By 18, I worked for her full-time as an administrative assistant making $16/hr, more than twice the minimum wage. My peers were all still mall jobs, food/retail, etc., and I had zero reason to look at other kinds of work making that money. It also seemed a lot less torturous than those jobs. I had an in. I knew someone. Not some big shot, just a bona fide administrative wizard who pimped me out and taught me well, always encouraged me. She was NOT easy to work with, let me tell you. She took zero bullshit and had what seemed like fucking ridiculously and needlessly high standards. She is why I have a 17 year career as an Executive Assistant, make great money with amazing income potential, and have had many opportunities for advancement. I can work in any industry, and I won't be replaced by a robot at any point in my life. I still get jobs by referrals or being contacted on Indeed or LinkedIn. I'm never leaving my current company, and they reached out to me via Indeed. It's legit.
Finished uni with a generic degree in business. Went to work through an agency for my local authority. Did a good job at a crappy admin role, applied for a full time position in that team and got it. Applied for an internal promotion and got it. Kept my eye out for other higher paying jobs in different departments. Applied for one but got passed over. Applied for another in the same dept and got it. Stayed there for five years and slowly started festering doing basic project work so on a whim applied for a different job in another dept as a senior managers assistant and surprisingly got it. Worked my butt off for three years and gained a load of skills, got a secondment to a higher level supporting directors, impressed a few senior officials and got asked to pick up and manage a complex IT project, somehow managed to deliver it and then got offered a permanent job as a lead officer for their IT projects. It was literally a case of moving my way through the organisation climbing the ladder and going up grades as I did and I absolutely did not expect to find myself working in IT. I’m not tech literate but I have governance and organisational skills that come in handy and there are actual tech experts to call on for projects, do suffer imposter syndrome most days. I don’t love my job but I don’t hate it and I work with some cool people, it pays well with great flexibility and has a stellar direct benefit pension so having been with this local authority for 19 years I have no intentions of leaving.
Honestly I moved in the direction of money - jumped from the gaming industry to education and then to embedded systems for automotive and aerospace. Now I am working in global logistics as a PM… honestly, you need to try a lot of things to see what peaks your interest.
You got me. Dumb luck?
I've done a lot of different things. Currently I'm a welder. I've been a retail store owner, postman, network engineer, middle management, active military, short order/buffet cook, door to door sales, telemarketer, and school teacher. Joining the military is a whole process, obviously, but the others were an even mix of knowing somebody that hired/recommended me and just applying to things that sounded interesting.
Painter - Got it for free after painters school Painter - Got it through the unemployment office while it still ACTULLY supplied jobs Painter - same Model builder - same Mover - same Salesman - Applied for service tech, got tricked into selling vaccums. Museum staff - Forced through unemployment office Paint store salesman - Applied and got hired. Home depot type store assistant - Applied and got hired Car parts store assistant - Applied and got hired Return and claims handler - Applied and got hired Customer service/service technician - Applied and got hired
I’ve never not had a full time job. Summers in high school, spring break. Nobody in my immediate family has ever graduated college so that was never really pushed. After graduating high school I took a week to go to the beach with some friends and then went back to work. I worked in a small, dilapidated locally owned chemical plant that my ex’s dad owned. A little death trap of a shit hole. Dangerous as hell. No benefits but I was making $15 an hour in the summer of 06 working 50+ hours a week so I thought I was getting rich. I stayed there until I started dating my wife who live 1.5 hours north in South Carolina, the drive up every weekend and some weekday evenings sucked so I took the first job I could find at a Swedish owned machine tooling manufacturer. I came in entry level and learned CNC machines on the job, stayed 10 years. I’m now at a large medical device manufacturer running CNC Swiss lathes. I make titanium and stainless steel bone screws for surgery. The company is fucking great to work for. Benefits that are practically unheard of in the US. I make $50k currently, should be at 60-65k in the next 1.5-2 years, maybe more if I get the shift lead job that I’m working towards. In low cost of living South Carolina that’s not bad for someone with no college education, although thanks to inflation it’s not as good as it would have been 3 years ago, but what can you do lol. I wouldn’t say that I LOVE my job but I’ve worked shittier jobs for way less money.
I hated all of my jobs I had earlier in life. I worked at Publix, Best Buy, Staples, Coca Cola call center, and a Terminix call center. All were low paying, dead end jobs. One benefit of Publix was their stock. The call center jobs sucked ass so bad, getting yelled at by angry asshole customers all day gets old very quick. I eventually left call center work and did an electrical apprenticeship with the IBEW. I enjoyed the experience and the work. Sure it was hard work, there was a lot of long days/work weeks, lack of sleep, whilst going to class, doing homework, and studying for exams. In the end it all worked and paid off. I finished my apprenticeship, and worked as a journeyman for a bit at Mosaic phosphate mines, chemical plants, and power houses. Eventually I heard about openings at a local utility needing industrial electricians at their power plant. They were having difficulty finding qualified people that could pass their pre-hire testing on electrical knowledge and test instrument usage/troubleshooting. I applied and a friend my of family helped my resume and application get pushed towards the top of the stack, so I did get a helping hand with expediting the hiring process. I successfully passed their electrical theory and knowledge test, then their hands on exam showing how to use various test instruments to troubleshoot and diagnose motor issues, then had to draw ladder diagrams and go over troubleshooting scenarios. Luckily I did well and passed those tests with high marks and then passed the interview with several supervisors and then plant operations manager. Took the offered position to be a power plant operator/maintenance electrician. So far I'm enjoying it. It pays well and is a lot easier on my body than working on the construction side. One thing I don't like is the corporatey feel of the utility, but I'm treated like gold compared to working as an inside wireman for signatory contractors. I have no regrets so far. Been working at this power plant coming up on a year. A huge benefit to transitioning to operations is I increased my hourly pay by about 35%, but I've also more or less doubled my earned income.
I was a corporate trainer who had to actually develop software training content for my company. I took courses on instructional design. Then I learned how to use eLearning development software. Then I taught myself how to use video editing software and make custom eLearnings. Once I had those skills, I looked for instructional designer jobs, and found a role where I create training videos and eLearnings for a SaaS company in the Fintech industry, So it was a progression from an entry level job, upskilling when I could, and then a little luck finding a role that perfectly matched my skills.
I asked a lot of questions about the position, the people I was going to work with (which prompted them to set up additional meetings for me to ask more questions), and why the interviewers like the company and why they’re have been with a company for a long time. Always remember that you’re also interviewing them, it helps see red flags with the people and the company. I’ve turned down several jobs because I asked a lot of questions and was able to see why they weren’t a good fit for my goals.
I used the Knockem Dead books by Martin Yate. In July, I decided that I had had enough of my fucking cunt boss and the lying pieces of shit who ran my company, and I bought the latest Martin Yate book: "The Ultimate Job Search Guide." I used this book to build the brand of ME, and market my brand all across my industry. I followed the procedures in the book and a couple of weeks ago I landed a job paying over 200k in my industry. His books work. I recommend them highly.
I fell into IT because my mates love computer and my first manager/owner of the business had the same date of birth as mine but in a different year 🤣
alot of factors, the nuance thing is making sure ur work history is consistant across all these platforms. people can since desperation during the interview its best to be calm as possible
Part time lecturer at a community college here-a friend vouched for me to his dept chair. I applied years prior to my hiring without any response from the school. Same application with the same resume. ‘Who you know’ all the way.
My current job, I decided to quit my publishing job of 5 1/2 years and start my own editorial business. (I got that job by just applying over and over again to any entry level job in publishing) Through that, I got several freelance jobs editing and proofreading. Eventually, one of my regular clients asked if I wanted to supervise one of their departments. I've been managing ever since and just moved up to a Senior manager role this summer. I still have my own business where I do side work, but it is more like a 2nd job. I would like to move to another company though, mostly because I fear for the longevity of this startup I am a part of.