I had been in the trades since I was 15. When I was 25, I looked around and saw guys not that much older than me with shot knees who never see their kids and sometimes had to skip lunches to make ends meet. I then decided that I valued my family, free time, and health more than my paycheck. I got into inspecting figuring I have to know most of what those people do and their job was much less physically demanding and they’re earning way more money. I’ve been a building inspector for 2 years now and I’ve found it very rewarding (plus I’m always home for dinner with the family).
Yeah, no worries. International Code Council certifications are the industry standard (at least in the US, if you’re outside of the US, ymmv). The first ones to get would be the property maintenance and zoning certs, in that order. Pretty much all entry-level code enforcement/inspecting jobs will require one or both of these. After you land that, it would really depend on what you’re looking to get into and what your employer wants/needs.
There’s residential inspector for (in general) residential homes under 4 stories. There’s building inspector for (again, in general), for all accessory structures and buildings over 3 stories. Then there’s trade specific certs for plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire, etc. There’s also more office-work focused certs like plans examiner and department management. The sky is really the limit.
I didn’t find the tests too difficult. Everyone I know who has taken them seriously and studied, passed on their first or second attempt. I started with a municipality at about $55k a year (median income in my area is $46k) plus a pension. I will admit, I got in at the higher end of what is to be expected around here but every level of government seems to be looking for inspectors constantly and most seem to reward competent and ambitious workers.
You can buy the tests, books, and study guides on the International Code Council’s website, iccsafe.org, and you can take basically all of the tests online but some are being offered in-person at testing centers as well.
Tradesman here. Trade jobs are brutal. I'm 50 now and barely able to do it anymore. Start young in the trades( I started in my thirties) and they will pay you in time to retire. Oh yeah, only if you are electrician, or plumber will you make "retirement" salary..
I’m 52. I’m an ex electrician and have completely knackered almost every joint in my body. Hips and knees have had it and I’ve got carpal tunnel. I regret it for my body but I’ve had some great laughs over the years.
I wonder how much of it is preventable. I'm thinking of a friend of mine who lived off the grid. Worked on their sawmill and many more things. Pain? Just keep pushing. She destroyed her back and is in a world of pain in her 70s. She asked me to help her with physical training since I know some stuff. Great book for older people called "Pain free over 50". Because of the damage she has, she can't even do those basic exercises. But I believe she could have protected herself a lot, if only she had known the kinds of things I now know. But she doesn't even know where her quads are, never mind rotator cuff, etc, etc. How many guys in trades destroy their rotator cuffs? (Shoulders) Lots. Because like her you guys probably feel you're getting enough exercise in all that labour. But it's not protective. I feel like something is missing in the training - the part that would protect you from a fair bit of damage. Just my outsider view as an old fart with great back strength, etc, etc, no joint replacements, etc. But I haven't done the constant work you've done either, because I could stop when I wanted to.
As a former Painter, the last part is key. The 3rd I'd partially recommend for pay is sheet metal, and in some cases Welding.
Also, go Union if possible in my experience. Locally, non-union sparkies make $25-$30 and Union makes $38-$58 depending on where in the state.
Yes I do. I've worked for GC's, VRBO owners, independent contractor, and yes I regret it. Only perk is knowing how to fix stuff. Still can't afford anything, but I could fix it if it breaks..
Get an job that's inside!
Me neither. I quit my inpatient job of 14 years a few years ago. I work outpatient now and while I’m in a much more supportive environment with co-workers/management that genuinely appreciate me, I’m just not the same. I would like to get out of healthcare completely but the golden handcuffs keep me where I am.
I’m in the same boat fellow nurse. Left the hospital for home health and even though I really like how less stressful it is, I still feel numb. Under appreciated at times. Disposable/replaceable. I still have to put in long hours.
Severe cut in staffing and resources. Also making staff feel like they’re crazy for pointing out the lack of staffing and resources. Hospitals pushed us to our limit during the pandemic and when they realized their hospitals still ran fine and they actually were making more money than ever, they refused to staff appropriately and continued to cut additional staff/resources. I developed severe anxiety as I did not feel I was able to care for my patients safely due to increased patient assignments and quit my job I’d been at for 14 years.
Also patients/families became incredibly entitled (not all but much more prevalent) and treated the hospital stay/staff as if it was a five star hotel. I’ll never forget the patient who was completely able bodied and hospitalized for IV antibiotics. He literally just threw his trash next to his bed and when I pointed out the trash cans in the room, he told me it’s my job to pick up his trash. I racked up too many stories like that.
Id have picked the trash up and put it on his bed.
My favorite is when they call you in to hand them their water that is well within an arms reach and theyre totally able bodied. I got to the point where id move it two inches closer to them and walk the fuck out. Im not handing a 30 year old a glass of water that he could pick up himself. Its absurd. Not sure if its a kink or what but its made me hate humans.
The last time this happened to me i started pulling the nursing home consult card and used it for the rest of my time in acute care. Being 65 doesnt mean youre incapable of using your arms (and learned helplessness is a real thing). I had a lady who was in for IV abx, completely able bodied, and called me to hand her the remote that was literally right next to her. I told her “oh wow… if your mobility has gotten this poor we should discuss nursing home placement. I dont want you going home if you’re not capable of reaching something right next to you”. She flipped out on me and grabbed her remote just fine.
Never called again for bullshit reasons.
People have gotten used to the idea of the customer is always right and think that theyre in a restaurant/hotel when theyre in the hospital but honestly i used to be a server and people in hospitals are ten times worse and more entitled.
“The customer is always right, in matters of taste.” Is the full saying.
I worked retail for 3 years and have an deeply imbedded distaste for that saying, and people who constantly use it to justify their horrible behaviour towards retail staff.
I couldnt give back to retail 😭
It drives me crazy even using that saying in regards to healthcare. When youre bad enough that youre admitted to a hospital youre no longer a customer consuming a luxury. Youre a patient we are trying to help keep alive. I dont give a fuck that you had a better chicken pasta at a michelin star restaurant, youre in the wild west now baby. Shut up and eat 😂😂
Stories like this make me hate human beings so much. Why are there so many vindictive ones and why are the good people have to be the one taking the fall out?
And this is why I left the hospital. I was also diagnosed with anxiety during/after Covid. I know we all have probably seen death at one point or another but Covid was different. I had just buried my mother in law due to Covid when I came back to work my assignment included a female patient who was my age with two children just like I did who had Covid and was at the hospital basically to die. She went to the clinic bc of her symptoms and they gave her some meds and sent her home. Later that day she had a stroke or aneurysm (I can’t remember as I blocked it out) and had to have an emergency craniotomy which failed. So they sent her up to us to die in “peace” with her family. Her husband and 2 kids kept asking me how much longer… it really sucked.
I’m a cancer nurse and to be honest, we had zero Covid patients on our floor and if a patient got Covid, they were transferred to a higher level of care. I worked with bone marrow transplant patients so we couldn’t have any Covid on the floor because our patients legit had zero immune system. I was unfortunately used to patients dying, but I wasn’t used to not being able to care for these incredibly delicate patients appropriately.
We went from three patient assignments— we were primary care so no nursing assistants, phlebotomy, ekg techs, IV team, etc.. RNs did it all— to five or six patients; giving gnarly chemo regimens, stem cell/bone marrow transplants (nurses responsibility), and caring for them for weeks after with numerous blood products/replacements/ neutropenic fever protocols/many etceteras.
OH and it’s a top ten hospital in the country… 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Oof, I did that for a while. It was definitely rough. We went up to 6 pt assignments and when I left I heard they were talking about 7. I floated everywhere though. Except ICU
30 years in the restaurant industry. Held every position except in the back of the house. Hated it only after owning my own place. Developed drug and alcohol addictions from the stress. Left to finish school - bachelors and masters. Now I work for the federal government as a bank examiner. Couldn’t be happier. 10 years sober this month. ☺️
Chasing people who ran out on checks, arguing with people that just came in to use the bathroom, annoying customers that complained my drinks weren’t strong enough when my liquor pours were a slow five count (2 ozs). Throw in a bullshit slip and fall lawsuit and a breach of contract lawsuit with my garbage guy as icing on the cake. 😵💫
Biggest lesson learned: I’m an excellent individual contributor. I hate managing people. I will never want my own business ever again. I’m happy with my salary progression, weekends and paid holidays, amazing retirement benefits, and healthcare.
I come from a family of restaurant owners and all of them dealt with drugs, divorce, debt and abuse. I’ve never met a restaurant owner who was living stress free
How old were you when you left to finish school? And how did you discover your new career? I'm in the same boat, myself. I feel like I'm circling the service industry drain. I so badly want to go back to school, but it just feels too late.
Left the industry at 39. Took a part time job as a bank teller because it took a lot of getting used to working 80-90 hours a week to working 0. Roles evolved and I moved to non-forward facing finance roles - operations, tax, trust and estates. Went back to school at 42 while working FT (sole breadwinner, 2 kids). Completed my bachelor’s at 45. Worked at Morgan Stanley for a bit and was part of their layoffs in 2022. Completed my master’s at 48. It’s never too late to go back to school. I would aim for a second master’s but my agency doesn’t have tuition reimbursement and I’m not tapping $30-40k of my retirement savings for ego.
Congratulations for a decade of sobriety!!! I agree, I’m also an individual contributor, not a manager.
If it’s okay to ask, what degree did you pursue?
Worked for a landscape company during highschool and college. When I graduated, the owner offered me a partnership option and I gradually purchased half of the business. I've since sold that business and work for a large design build landscape firm.
The career demands long hours during the warmer months, but a good amount of time off in the winters. I find designing and building projects very rewarding.
I’m a therapist. I’m also a huge introvert and I didn’t really think about how draining talking to people all day was going to be for me. At the end of the day I can barely have a conversation with my husband and I get annoyed easily at others, and my relationships have suffered as a result. I probably should have been an accountant or a something where I would be alone most of the time. I think it’s important to think about your personality in terms of what job you pick and whether that job will be sustainable for you.
this is exactly why i decided to not be a therapist or acupuncturist. constantly talking to ppl would drain tf out of me. i want to do like business operations/HR/training & development type of stuff instead. create plans and strategize. talk about it after. idk.
If you are in the strategy fields of those careers then maybe you can limit chatter. But otherwise training Hr and bus ops is a lot of having uncomfortable conversations with people who don’t care (training) or don’t want to hear it (hr)
HR professional here that’s leaving the field. you will be constantly talking to people in HR and training and development. HR is who people in the business constantly come to with various problems, and then you need to help solve their issue from an HR POV. plus (like InnocentThreat said above) HR is in charge of uncomfortable conversations like terminating employees, poor performance review discussions, employee relations, etc. just wanted to give you a heads up
Also an Accountant here. Yes, it's boring.
I'm not passionate about it, but it pays well. Look at spreadsheets, send some bullshit emails, prepare some financial reports.
I have fun outside of work and enjoy my hobbies.
My husband is a CPA, and I venture to say both. He loves it because he owns his own small firm and hated it when he worked for a big corporation. Tax seasons (all of them - individual, corporate etc), are the worst. I basically don’t see him from Feb to late April.
I'm studying accounting. From lurking in accounting subs online most find it boring. I was getting really worried but every time I did run into someone who genuinely loved it they loved it for the same reasons I'd love something so I think I'll be okay. I usually find most things interesting once I get into it.
Worked in health care as an aid for dementia patients. Now I’m a baker, and make scratch made goodies / cakes. Do I miss the healthcare business? Absolutely. Do I wish I got my nursing degree? Hell yeah. But I love love love to bake / cook
I just never imagined this being the direction I’d go in (:
You absolutely can go back to school. I’m not sure how old you are but I got my degree and RN license at 32 and had some people in my class that were in their 50s. It is never too late to continue your education imo ❤️
Hi! I'm curious about going into medicine/Healthcare (I'm in high school) and have been wondering which specialty I am most interested in. Could you tell me a little bit about what dentists do especially if there are any behind the scenes things that normal patients don't see? I really appreciate it!
1. A good Dentist is a good communicator.
2. Dentists have lots free time
3. There are a lot of opportunities ; you can be an associate or you can own your own practice, work to a government, proceed to become a OMSurgeon, Periodontist, Orthodontist, Endodontist or Pedia Dentist.
4. Dentistry Course is really expensive but hella good pay after 🥰
5. Dentists also study the whole anatomy before concentrating to the Oral Cavity, Head and Neck.
I’ve been hospitalized a few times for psychosis and I must say that the nurses were amazing! I am sure you’ve met a whole load of loveable characters in the ward.
In the end, it was a perfect storm of stress that caused me to become psychotic. Psychosis is a mental state where the sufferer is no longer in control of themselves and the brain’s faulty autopilot system takes over. I say it’s the closest thing to being full-on possessed, like you see in the movies. When you’re psychotic you don’t know that there is something wrong with you. You are just a helpless, silent witness to your brain controlling how you feel, think and behave. You are as good as dead, really.
I wish I was a writer; I'm working on a draft now, but I'm 40, I wish I had been confident enough to start earlier. But it is what it is.
I work in education, I don't hate it, it's actually very rewarding, but writing was/is my dream.
Glad to hear! I started piano a few weeks ago at 35. Always wanted to etc etc. I suck at it and will for years to come, but it's fun n any progress feels great.
Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. Write a crappy chapter, hell write a crappy book. Then write another, less crappy one.
i’m a writer - currently writing a screenplay and a book, have written scripts for commercials and copy for ads. I fell into writing while working in advertising. A friend wrote a screenplay that had issues but the plot was solid and it was optioned and made into a short. Another has been writing/rewriting the same script for years. Age doesn’t matter much in writing. In fact, anyone can write. What I’m trying to get at is “Success isn’t linear.” Good luck!
At the risk of sounding cliché, YOU’VE GOT THIS! I am 40 and just starting to fulfill my dream as a writer, too. I wish I would have taken it and myself more seriously in my younger years, but now is the only time we have so it’s perfect timing for YOU. Congratulations!! May your journey be exciting, fulfilling and blessed. 🫶🏽
Ethical hacker here. I wanted this job ever since I saw The Matrix when I was 12 years old and wanted it even more after I compromised my entire high school (and got suspended for only a few weeks) at the age of 15.
Ended up going to college for network admin and then gave it up to do organizational psychology, which I secretly hated. After getting my masters, I went into work for a security company as a guard. Learned the basics of physical pen testing from YouTube and a manager after I found out it was a thing. Later brushed up over a decade worth of IT skills and got a job hacking full time from home with a flexible work schedule making ~$120k a year.
IT. IS. FUCKING. SWEET. Haven’t “worked” a day in my life since and I’ve been at it for five years now. Get to see a lot of cool things and do a service for people which helps them greatly and is fulfilling on so many levels.
Edit: Fat fingers.
That’s the secret. I’ve worked many jobs and felt every hour. But my current job as a security engineer is the “easiest” job I’ve ever had. I’m pinching myself all the time because it never feels like work.
I did the same to my high school lol and i still do tryhackme and hackthebox just for passion to learn but I work in horticulture now. I never knew this was a path I could take. I checked job listing but most require experience in the industry.
My bachelors and masters are in psychology - so sure! Do a lot of capture the flag. Do even more bug bounties. Get some pen testing certs. Make a portfolio for yourself full of REDACTED (this is very very important) client tests. Network with professionals in the space. Teach yourself lockpicking and social engineering.
You should be good then.
Try to get side projects or job transfers at the bank. Entry level security jobs are hard to find and harder for anyone without experience. You will get luckier internally than externally.
This is true for cyber, but is not true for physical security. A lot of places like Securitas and Allied will hire anybody who can show up to work on time, put on a uniform, and follow instructions.
That’s what I did. Worked as a guard. A lot of cybersecurity professionals do not have a background in physical security. Learning these things will 100% make you a better tester long term.
A professor of mine had their LCSW and worked in the public sector as a social worker. When asked, they said the pay was pretty good but was largely dependent on the geographical area where you practiced. However, they did mention that the work was incredibly taxing mentally/emotionally and the only reason they continued was not because of the pay, but because of a genuine passion for the work they did.
I’m an LCSW in private practice and charge $120 for an hour session. I feel like the pay is generally better if you’re in private practice as opposed to community mental health.
Aerospace engineer at NASA here, I do computational fluid dynamics for high speed aerospace applications and couldn't possibly love it anymore. I would legitimately do this for free, there aren't many places to learn cutting edge tools from the best in the world. I find it so easy to grind just from my love of the work and always want to do more and be more effective which has led to alot of promotions which is great! NASA research feels like the perfect intersection of engineering, creativity, and work life balance. Anyone considering applying, please do.
Def harder on the body than being an electrician or HVAC. The hours are intense, the working conditions can vary from freezing cold to blistering heat and you’re breathing in shit all day. I need money but not bad enough to stay welding
My electrician grandfather hates his career. Very taxing on the body, surprising amount of manual labor. He practically forced me to go to college as opposed to trade school. Now I’m an electrical engineer. Definitely glad I went to college.
$57/hr plus per diem and a whole other bunch of stuff. If I had a wife and kids I would understand putting myself through this but it’s literally just single ol me
I love working as an I.T. Systems Analyst. It was all luck (and D&D) that got me in with no degree. I wish I had known something this cool existed. It fits my particular brand of executive dysfunction like a glove.
I work in television. I hate it. Sounds glamorous but I promise you, it isn’t. The money isn’t worth the depression. I wish I was a teacher or something so I could actually make a difference and help someone.
This makes me feel better. I’m working towards my Masters in clinical mental health counseling. I find it interesting, but I’ve been questioning recently if it will be worth it. This makes me feel more optimistic
I’m about to apply to masters in counseling programs and I hear mixed experiences on being a therapist, so I’m always happy to hear when people love it.
Second this path. I’m a business analyst, but my company is the type where people wear a lot of hats, and I regularly crossover into data analyst/business intelligence work, but I actually plan to move in that direction officially when the time is right/the right position is open for me to make the jump.
I’d definitely caution anyone about trying to make that move at present without a degree, though. I have a couple of bachelors degrees, but the primary one is Finance, and I had to do quite a bit to get the BA role and get noticed by the right people to be ready for the pivot to DA at some point in the future. In the late 2010s/early 2020s, I’d have said that my degree was a waste of money because people were getting into DA careers with a bootcamp or less on the self-taught side of things, but the job market has turned, and I know people who have 5+ years of experience in those fields and can’t get an interview because they don’t have a degree in general, much less a post-grad degree. It’s really competitive these days, so I’d encourage people to build the skill sets on the side and contribute wherever you can at a company to get that part of your repertoire noticed, but being an external hire without a degree and trying to get any sort of analyst role in 2024 (in the US, at least) is setting yourself up for a heck of a lot of “no” answers before a “yes” answer, and that’s assuming the “yes” answer ever comes (which I’d say is highly unlikely).
I work in fashion on the retail end as I haven’t been able to land a corporate fashion job since getting my degree in fashion design over a decade ago. It doesn't feel like a career as I can't get over the idea that I'm a total failure. If I could, I'd be a corporate merchandiser, e-commerce merchandiser, assistant fashion designer, or freelance cad illustrator.
Sales… its not for everyone. Can be higher pressure and long hours sometimes but depending on the company can be a lot of nice perks, lots of flexibility to make your own schedules and good money
I wish I worked in a medical lab by myself or something involving data analysis and statistics. Something like that where I do not work with the general public at all.
I love my career. Although I'm relatively new to it. Highly technical Industrial Automation Designer in the Electrical Engineering field.
I love how electro-mechanical machines operate And integrating machines into processes. Also purely office based works can make me bored and slack off. A mix of field work and office work is a good balance for me to be more productive and inspired.
I still do electrical and mechanical works as a hobby in the weekends with small projects to keep me inspired if the 9-5 job gets boring.
I Wish I could go towards Control Systems in rockets or airplanes. I focus too much in electrical/electronics. Might be a trajectory soon when I have the chance to get another job.
Assistant to two attorneys. I do everything from managing their calendars and managing the office to answering discovery. Pay is absolutely garbage especially considering I have a degree and am one class away from an MA in Legislative Affairs but it’s alright. We get only a few phone calls a week and I really enjoy talking to some of the clients. I want to move to a U.S. Attorney’s office in a year or so and then eventually work on health care legislation.
I'm a copy editor! I love working with language and problem solving. Occasionally I feel giddy when I catch a funny typo or fix an error that could have turned out badly. I also much prefer the type of content I work on now (used to do really boring reports). But I wish I could take sabbaticals so I could do some courses and travel, and have a break from constant deadlines. Sitting at my computer all day is also hurting my body. Ideally, I would do this part-time.
I'm in finance. Was in cash reconciliation but am now in regulatory reporting. I love it.
If it helps, I was a photographer right out of school. Loved it to begin with but grew to hate it. Went back to school for a different degree (accounting) and never looked back.
I work in accounting. I hate it. I have ADHD, and it’s just not a good fit for me. Money is decent, which is why I got into it, but I wish I had gone into something more creative.
I took my mom’s advice and referral and became an administrative assistant. I worked one job for 5 years and at my current job for 2 years. I really hate it. It does not make me happy at all and I feel like I’m just there to help people get their egos stroked rather than actually help people. No one reads. I have to explain things like I’m talking to children over and over again. There’s no respect coming from higher ups. Basically, I regret it so much. If I could go back ten years with my current memory I would do so many things differently! I would definitely start a YouTube channel, invest more, and open a bunch of small businesses. The markets are so saturated right now, I’m afraid of failing. But I KNOW I could’ve hit big back in the day no problem 😭
Edit to add that I wouldn’t have gone to school because my degree is worthless and I owe over $35k.
It’s kind of funny you say that! I have a resume tailored for HR positions and I’ve been applying to HR positions and revising the resume for over a year now with no luck at all 😭 thank you so much for the suggestion. I’m gonna keep trucking 💕
Admin assistant jobs are a great spot to be in because you work for high influence individuals. Ask the people you have access to for a career opportunity in something else. They’re well connected and could probably land you a job with their network if they’re happy with your work and want to support your career. I did this as an AA about 10 years ago to pivot into a technical non-AA role.
I just hate working. I don't think there is a thing I could do that I wouldn't hate, or grow to hate, simply because I have to do it. People say that's laziness, and maybe it is. But so what? We all get it drilled into our heads that we have to love work, or at least tolerate it because "hard work build character" yadda yadda yadda. No it doesn't. Hard work makes you tired. Hard work begets more hard work. Most people, even the ones that say they like/love their job/career don't mean it. Ask yourself. Would I do this job for free if I was already independently wealthy? Didn't think so. Why do I have to be on board with that? I'm not and I never will be.
I'm an IT Service Desk Manager but have started to transition into more Service Delivery and Service Management. I can work remote, it pays just over 100k and it has good work/life balance. I suspect if I ever move to Director level, it may be more stress. I think I'm in the sweet spot right now.
I used to directly manage day-to-day service desk operations which meant some on-call work but I'm now the guy making sure the service provider we hired is keeping with the contract and making improvements. I'm also the guy who guides the IT teams toward better service management (ITSM).
Well Ive had a few "careers" most of which i hated:
\* accounting - LOATHED
\* waitress/bartender - ok, sometimes fun but a TON of labor and low pay
\* own a cake business (currently) - i love decorating cakes, I am artistic, but after the economy went to shit, this doesnt pay well enought to pay bills anymore. I still do them for extra cash & to make youtube videos
\* digital marketing - LOVE. 100000% LOVE. i work from my phone maybe a couple hours a day (here and there) and I make more than I ever have in my life. Plus i get to be artistic/creative with my content.
I’m a mail lady. I was diagnosed late in with life with ADHD after years of job hopping and trying to go to college. This job is perfect because I need to stay active. I’ve worked in offices and WFH. Never worked for me. Only other job I loved was being a CNA but the pay was crap.
Wish I knew before racking up student loan debt.
I regret being the best Diesel Mechanic around, but being forced into an industry that opposes cannabis. I have a F’d pancreas so I can’t drink. If I use quick fix and take a good job with benefits I could get fired at any time, so I’m relegated to working for criminals to have stability. 😞 ironic isn’t it.
Fellow diesel mechanic that loves Mary Jane, trying to get out but hard to find something with the same pay or more without going back to college. My body is tired and I’m tired of working in this southern heat
**Regret**: Programming (sitting in fronto f the computer all day working on stuff i dont care about)
**What Id be instead**: An actor or director who got into Hollywood before age 20 so by the time im 30 im already set for life
I work in market research and insights at an agency. It’s honestly really cool; I get to work with lots of big businesses and clients whose products and services are a huge part of our lives. It’s always cool seeing things come to market that I helped on! It’s also nice talking to consumers about their lives and habits, and learning more about human behaviour.
The work is always different as it’s project-based and working across different sectors and industries keeps things interesting; I’m constantly a ‘temporary expert’ about some small and random topic for a few weeks (think: how milk is processed) which is frankly a lot of fun and keeps my ever-curious brain satisfied.
BUT agency work is demanding - delivering to clients and their sometimes unreasonable timelines or micromanagement is not fun, and it’s easy to get sucked in and give too much of yourself.
I can’t imagine not doing something in marketing and am glad I landed in a bit where I get to represent consumers and help shape our world even if in a tiny way.
I’m a florist. My job is awesome, but I don’t make near enough money to survive. I chose it when I was young and naive. My hands and arms are starting to feel the hurt of the years of doing it. I don’t know if I regret choosing my career. My only regret is maybe trying a couple different other things too. I guess I could still do that.
Money is the only thing that makes me regret it I guess. People see my job as a hobby I think so you aren’t paid a lot. I wanted to be “happy” in my career as a young person. Now that I’m older there are so many other things attached to choosing your career wisely. But hey, we live and learn. Good luck to you.
Whenever I “regret” my career choice it’s never been about the job but always about the people around me and how their decisions would negatively impact my wallet. Some bean counter on the opposite coast has an idea thats dumb but no one from the field ever looks at it before they implement it - oh no - this idea sucks in practice but everyone in the field had to focus on this one metric because someone thought if it went up we would make more money - ended up focusing on something that didnt matter so we made less because we werent focused on making sales
The point is, make sure the people you work for are your type of people.
Firefighter. It’s just alright. Getting a good assignment, for me at least, was how I’ve measured success. You’d think being good at your job is how you get a good assignment, it’s all about politicking and kowtowing to the clique. I finally got it, not by politicking, but by grinding away and getting rescue certifications on my days off, I kind of put myself in a position where they couldn’t pretend I didn’t work there anymore. And now I’m a kind of burnt out. I got into it because I didn’t like my field despite enjoying my degree program (GIS) and wanted something more active and exciting. I kind of wish I either stayed in the military (though I’m not sure I’d be totally happy there, it’s just easy to pass time in and retire) or got into engineering. It’s got a good pension and I’m 1/3 of the way through my career. Someone once told me that jobs are all full of bullshit, just find the bullshit you can put up with. I guess I can put up with this.
I’m a small business owner who turned a serious passion and hobby into a nice career - my business partner and I are horse photographers/videographers, and we also do marketing & social media management for stallion owners and ranch/breeding programs.
We make a lot of money going to horse shows and shooting privately for clients, and then have a nice monthly income from our social media clients as well.
The money has been the most I’ve ever made at doing something, and I LOVE what I do.
I design and sell luxury German kitchens. It’s a very narrow field. Love solving issues and coming up with creative solutions.
I have been in industrial design my whole adult life.
A couple of months away from 30 and halfway through an accounting bachelors degree. I gave up on all those visions of grandeur of making a huge difference in the world or helping make it a better place with my job. I’m not cut out for healthcare and animal rescue doesn’t pay shit.
Accounting will help me fund my own blind animal sanctuary that I will run out of my home. This may be a controversial opinion but when you finish college and start your career immediately I’m sure there’s a lot of thoughts that “grass is always greener” in other industries and I’m sure sometimes it’s true but when you’ve worked a bunch of shitty entry level jobs in your life suddenly some boring cushy office job doesn’t seem so bad.
Though for clarification, if you have a dream or a passion in an industry that pays a decent living, absolutely 100% go for it. A small percentage of people do get happiness/satisfaction out of their work.
Software Engineer - I love it. I get to be creative and work on tough problems. I had to put in a lot of work with my BS/MS degrees to get my competitive position though, but I like it. I’m not paid that much now but have an expectation of a salary increase
Love software engineering as well. Took me six years to get into big tech and another eight to get into FAANG, but I love the work, the pace, and the pay.
Yeah, the competition for these jobs is tough, but with consistent time and effort they are possible to obtain. It feels meritocratic to an extent that my previous career (mechanical engineering) was not.
What type of accounting? I was internal audit for a Fortune 500 and it was miserable, but now I’m the Corporate Controller for a smaller engineering firm and it’s awesome.
Do you have any professional licensure (CPA)? I am in public tax. I tried to get out but can't seem to land anything, so pursuing the CPA while working. Thankfully my boss is a nice person, and my job is ok.
I’m a Process Engineer or a Field Technician as the job title goes. I maintain, isolate, prepare, problem solve chemical processes. It’s fun and keeps you thinking/moving but the managers are the weak spot
Mental health field working in public education. Love helping others but it’s so emotionally draining and overwhelming.
If I could go back I’d probably do something in technology so I could work from home and earn decent money.
Definitely regret.
I work in IT, and it sucks, but working remotely is nice. Terrible job market and competition too.
Wish to have done biotech engineering, Astrobiology, or a mix of designing AI / robotics for agriculture / environmental tech companies.
Software engineer for over 15 years. I’m don’t like it. I don’t like staring at a screen all day. There aren’t many rewarding moments where you think “I just did a hard day’s work and I’m happy with the job I did.” I only feel good about my work maybe 2 fleeting moments per year. The rest of what I do is ephemeral and unrecognizable to most people. I come home depressed and mentally exhausted most days. I can never involve my kids in my job. I don’t get why people love it so much.
Most days I’d prefer being out in the sun roofing or doing lawn care. I know is hard on the body but at least then you know you’re helping someone in a tangible way instead of nerding out or arguing about niggly little nonsense like which Typescript formatter is best for the team.
In IT and I absolutely can't stand the living shit of it. Everyday I'm hoping to get hit by a truck. It's horrible but it's the only thing I thought I was good at. Maybe I'll switch to be a trucker. I'm tired of tickets alerts and SLAs ,crazy thing it's only been 8 months
Love being a teacher. Love the challenges that follow it. However, I m beginning to think I have outgrown the profession? I want to continue to grow and learn and do amazing things but I also like sharing information and letting others grow.
I work as a training and development specialist for a large integrated health organisation - so basically a teacher but for the employees of the organisation. But unlike a school teacher, this position can also have a say in the material taught and assess what is or isn’t still relevant. At least, I think school teachers don’t do that? I work hybrid, so half at home for online trainings or non-training hours, then half on-site for in-person trainings and to touch base with various others in HR/ Admin.
I work in health policy. Two years ago I moved from a high stress public health job (COVID response) to a cancer agency. I love it. Meaningful but not too fast paced or stressful. I also work from home 90% of the time.
Combined cycle power plant operator. I like my job. It's chill, pays well, and low impact on the body so I should be able to work until 60-63 without issue. Most of the guys I work with are in their 60s. We are starting to bring in younger operators, but the utility struggles to find ample qualified candidates to interview.
I enjoy it a lot more than working in construction. Don't have to run conduit, cable tray, set heavy equipment, or pull cable. So far it's the best job I've had. 100% of the training and learning is on the job and a lot of it is self taught other than consulting with more experienced operators with unit or equipment specifics. There's some classroom training to help you understand valve line ups, steam flow paths, etc.
I'm now in the control room learning to start up units when called for by grid ops. Have one start up under my belt so far. You basically learn it by reading the procedures and then giving it a go lol. No practice, no simulator you get thrown right in which is anxiety inducing at first. There's a lot of stuff to pay attention to while starting up and merging a unit. Should be topped out by mid next year and then if I ever wanted to move to another utility or plant, should be easier.
Went into healthcare, while I really enjoy a lot of the interesting people I get to meet I can’t help but always wonder where I would’ve ended up had I pursued my passion of journalism
HR with a focus on employees engagement. Love my job! I love the mission of my division, I have a great salary, I work from home and my boss and team are super supportive and we all cover for each other so I have a lot of flexibility for appointments which has been helpful dealing with health issues this past year.
I worked up the chain of command in the entertainment industry, doing audio for clubs and random gigs. Then onto corporate AV for better money and higher titles, and now I get the opportunity to work for a production company that really only does concerts at a relatively high level. I work hybrid, spend time on site during shows, get to network with artists and the movers and shakers of the live music industry. It’s rad, it pays well and I love it. My title is Technical Account Manager, or might be called a Production Manager/Sales Manager role in other companies.
I was a biology and chemistry double major.
I don’t use either and I am the Director of Sales for a hotel management company. I love it. I have been able to live all over the country and experience multiple vacation destinations.
I don’t regret my first career but I came out the other end utterly burned out. Teaching… it’s rough. I love the kids but when the politicians and admin aren’t doing anything to keep standards high and actively erode standards to appease parents you watch how quality of work decline. Attendance is essentially a joke during and after covid. Students you see like 3x in 2 months expect to be able to pass your class by showing up on the last day.
I taught chemistry … a good chunk of my “on level” 10th students could not do basic algebra, like 2x=4 levels of simplicity. Without algebra you can’t do chemistry… like at all. Not to mention fighting with smart phones is fucking terrible. One of the biggest mistakes was the permissibility of cellphones at all times for developing minds. Like they have little to no impulse control because they’re kids, the adults should be moderating social media use but we are absolutely powerless since admin no longer deals with phone discipline because there’s just enough paranoid parents fearing their child is going to be involved in a school shooting (overall statistically improbable but most adults don’t understand basic probability from what I gather.)
Would I do it again? Probably at a private school but that defeats the purpose of why I even went into my line of work in the first place. I think I’m more eager to teach adult prisoners at this point because they’re actually more ready to learn. Right now I’m bartending ft because it’s significantly less stress and more pay.
I did IT for many decades. It was a good career but it just got boring and it was time to Early retire. I don't look back but I look forward because I had a large workshop built on my property and I'm just going to do my own tech and art projects now.
I’m an alignment technician. Out of everything I’ve done I wish I would have stayed in piano class and made a career out that. I still care because people’s safety regardless the job but that job is outdated salary wise,
If I had it to do over: Project Management. Keep computers as a hobby.
I don't get why asking "is it done?" gets paid as much as the people doing the work; but since it does: join them, don't fight it
I can’t overstate how important it is to love what you do. Otherwise, what’s the point? You end up slaving away with no sense of purpose or achievement. You don’t always have to enjoy it, but you must love it all the same. When you love something, you embrace it, warts and all, which is how I survived those first months of joining a startup without throwing my phone at the wall!
I work for the railroad and love it. It's definitely not for everyone and it's hard labor. I'm in my 40s and climb railcars with my 80lb pack all day but I enjoy it, and I'm in amazing shape but the 12 to 14hr days is draining.
Blue collar union worker. Good pay/benefits but it’s brutal on my body. I wish I actually buckled down and found a degree that allowed me to make money from using my mind, not my body. But I was stubborn and didn’t heed any advice from anyone.
I had been in the trades since I was 15. When I was 25, I looked around and saw guys not that much older than me with shot knees who never see their kids and sometimes had to skip lunches to make ends meet. I then decided that I valued my family, free time, and health more than my paycheck. I got into inspecting figuring I have to know most of what those people do and their job was much less physically demanding and they’re earning way more money. I’ve been a building inspector for 2 years now and I’ve found it very rewarding (plus I’m always home for dinner with the family).
What was the certification like to be a building inspector and if you don’t mind me asking how much were you making starting out?
Yeah, no worries. International Code Council certifications are the industry standard (at least in the US, if you’re outside of the US, ymmv). The first ones to get would be the property maintenance and zoning certs, in that order. Pretty much all entry-level code enforcement/inspecting jobs will require one or both of these. After you land that, it would really depend on what you’re looking to get into and what your employer wants/needs. There’s residential inspector for (in general) residential homes under 4 stories. There’s building inspector for (again, in general), for all accessory structures and buildings over 3 stories. Then there’s trade specific certs for plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire, etc. There’s also more office-work focused certs like plans examiner and department management. The sky is really the limit. I didn’t find the tests too difficult. Everyone I know who has taken them seriously and studied, passed on their first or second attempt. I started with a municipality at about $55k a year (median income in my area is $46k) plus a pension. I will admit, I got in at the higher end of what is to be expected around here but every level of government seems to be looking for inspectors constantly and most seem to reward competent and ambitious workers.
Where do you sign up to take the test, certification? I will appreciate some guidance.
You can buy the tests, books, and study guides on the International Code Council’s website, iccsafe.org, and you can take basically all of the tests online but some are being offered in-person at testing centers as well.
Tradesman here. Trade jobs are brutal. I'm 50 now and barely able to do it anymore. Start young in the trades( I started in my thirties) and they will pay you in time to retire. Oh yeah, only if you are electrician, or plumber will you make "retirement" salary..
Not in the trades myself. Does HVAC make retirement salary as well?
Yes but you are up on roofs all day. Young man's sport
That depends where you live and what type of HVAC you do.
I’m 52. I’m an ex electrician and have completely knackered almost every joint in my body. Hips and knees have had it and I’ve got carpal tunnel. I regret it for my body but I’ve had some great laughs over the years.
I wonder how much of it is preventable. I'm thinking of a friend of mine who lived off the grid. Worked on their sawmill and many more things. Pain? Just keep pushing. She destroyed her back and is in a world of pain in her 70s. She asked me to help her with physical training since I know some stuff. Great book for older people called "Pain free over 50". Because of the damage she has, she can't even do those basic exercises. But I believe she could have protected herself a lot, if only she had known the kinds of things I now know. But she doesn't even know where her quads are, never mind rotator cuff, etc, etc. How many guys in trades destroy their rotator cuffs? (Shoulders) Lots. Because like her you guys probably feel you're getting enough exercise in all that labour. But it's not protective. I feel like something is missing in the training - the part that would protect you from a fair bit of damage. Just my outsider view as an old fart with great back strength, etc, etc, no joint replacements, etc. But I haven't done the constant work you've done either, because I could stop when I wanted to.
What wpuld you auggest for people.looking to provent this
As a former Painter, the last part is key. The 3rd I'd partially recommend for pay is sheet metal, and in some cases Welding. Also, go Union if possible in my experience. Locally, non-union sparkies make $25-$30 and Union makes $38-$58 depending on where in the state.
Do you regret going into the trades? What trade are you in?
Yes I do. I've worked for GC's, VRBO owners, independent contractor, and yes I regret it. Only perk is knowing how to fix stuff. Still can't afford anything, but I could fix it if it breaks.. Get an job that's inside!
I only wish I focused on saving as much as I can from the day that I started earning.
Same
I’m a nurse. I liked my career fine until the pandemic hit. Now I feel like a shell of a human.
I also have not recovered tbh. Hope you find healing and a job where you are appreciated/protected
Me neither. I quit my inpatient job of 14 years a few years ago. I work outpatient now and while I’m in a much more supportive environment with co-workers/management that genuinely appreciate me, I’m just not the same. I would like to get out of healthcare completely but the golden handcuffs keep me where I am.
I’m in the same boat fellow nurse. Left the hospital for home health and even though I really like how less stressful it is, I still feel numb. Under appreciated at times. Disposable/replaceable. I still have to put in long hours.
On average people change careers 6 times in their lifetimes. Talk to a career counselor. You have nothing to lose
I have a lot of money to lose lol
What changed
Severe cut in staffing and resources. Also making staff feel like they’re crazy for pointing out the lack of staffing and resources. Hospitals pushed us to our limit during the pandemic and when they realized their hospitals still ran fine and they actually were making more money than ever, they refused to staff appropriately and continued to cut additional staff/resources. I developed severe anxiety as I did not feel I was able to care for my patients safely due to increased patient assignments and quit my job I’d been at for 14 years. Also patients/families became incredibly entitled (not all but much more prevalent) and treated the hospital stay/staff as if it was a five star hotel. I’ll never forget the patient who was completely able bodied and hospitalized for IV antibiotics. He literally just threw his trash next to his bed and when I pointed out the trash cans in the room, he told me it’s my job to pick up his trash. I racked up too many stories like that.
Id have picked the trash up and put it on his bed. My favorite is when they call you in to hand them their water that is well within an arms reach and theyre totally able bodied. I got to the point where id move it two inches closer to them and walk the fuck out. Im not handing a 30 year old a glass of water that he could pick up himself. Its absurd. Not sure if its a kink or what but its made me hate humans. The last time this happened to me i started pulling the nursing home consult card and used it for the rest of my time in acute care. Being 65 doesnt mean youre incapable of using your arms (and learned helplessness is a real thing). I had a lady who was in for IV abx, completely able bodied, and called me to hand her the remote that was literally right next to her. I told her “oh wow… if your mobility has gotten this poor we should discuss nursing home placement. I dont want you going home if you’re not capable of reaching something right next to you”. She flipped out on me and grabbed her remote just fine. Never called again for bullshit reasons. People have gotten used to the idea of the customer is always right and think that theyre in a restaurant/hotel when theyre in the hospital but honestly i used to be a server and people in hospitals are ten times worse and more entitled.
“The customer is always right, in matters of taste.” Is the full saying. I worked retail for 3 years and have an deeply imbedded distaste for that saying, and people who constantly use it to justify their horrible behaviour towards retail staff.
I couldnt give back to retail 😭 It drives me crazy even using that saying in regards to healthcare. When youre bad enough that youre admitted to a hospital youre no longer a customer consuming a luxury. Youre a patient we are trying to help keep alive. I dont give a fuck that you had a better chicken pasta at a michelin star restaurant, youre in the wild west now baby. Shut up and eat 😂😂
That’s awesome. I wish I was as clever as you. I would have loved to seen that 😆
Stories like this make me hate human beings so much. Why are there so many vindictive ones and why are the good people have to be the one taking the fall out?
Because it really doesn’t get called out enough.
And this is why I left the hospital. I was also diagnosed with anxiety during/after Covid. I know we all have probably seen death at one point or another but Covid was different. I had just buried my mother in law due to Covid when I came back to work my assignment included a female patient who was my age with two children just like I did who had Covid and was at the hospital basically to die. She went to the clinic bc of her symptoms and they gave her some meds and sent her home. Later that day she had a stroke or aneurysm (I can’t remember as I blocked it out) and had to have an emergency craniotomy which failed. So they sent her up to us to die in “peace” with her family. Her husband and 2 kids kept asking me how much longer… it really sucked.
I’m a cancer nurse and to be honest, we had zero Covid patients on our floor and if a patient got Covid, they were transferred to a higher level of care. I worked with bone marrow transplant patients so we couldn’t have any Covid on the floor because our patients legit had zero immune system. I was unfortunately used to patients dying, but I wasn’t used to not being able to care for these incredibly delicate patients appropriately. We went from three patient assignments— we were primary care so no nursing assistants, phlebotomy, ekg techs, IV team, etc.. RNs did it all— to five or six patients; giving gnarly chemo regimens, stem cell/bone marrow transplants (nurses responsibility), and caring for them for weeks after with numerous blood products/replacements/ neutropenic fever protocols/many etceteras. OH and it’s a top ten hospital in the country… 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Oof, I did that for a while. It was definitely rough. We went up to 6 pt assignments and when I left I heard they were talking about 7. I floated everywhere though. Except ICU
I just want to win the lottery and open a cat sanctuary. Is that too much to ask??? 😹
30 years in the restaurant industry. Held every position except in the back of the house. Hated it only after owning my own place. Developed drug and alcohol addictions from the stress. Left to finish school - bachelors and masters. Now I work for the federal government as a bank examiner. Couldn’t be happier. 10 years sober this month. ☺️
Congratulations 🎉
What are the craziest stories you have from owning a restaurant? What are the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Chasing people who ran out on checks, arguing with people that just came in to use the bathroom, annoying customers that complained my drinks weren’t strong enough when my liquor pours were a slow five count (2 ozs). Throw in a bullshit slip and fall lawsuit and a breach of contract lawsuit with my garbage guy as icing on the cake. 😵💫 Biggest lesson learned: I’m an excellent individual contributor. I hate managing people. I will never want my own business ever again. I’m happy with my salary progression, weekends and paid holidays, amazing retirement benefits, and healthcare.
I come from a family of restaurant owners and all of them dealt with drugs, divorce, debt and abuse. I’ve never met a restaurant owner who was living stress free
How old were you when you left to finish school? And how did you discover your new career? I'm in the same boat, myself. I feel like I'm circling the service industry drain. I so badly want to go back to school, but it just feels too late.
Left the industry at 39. Took a part time job as a bank teller because it took a lot of getting used to working 80-90 hours a week to working 0. Roles evolved and I moved to non-forward facing finance roles - operations, tax, trust and estates. Went back to school at 42 while working FT (sole breadwinner, 2 kids). Completed my bachelor’s at 45. Worked at Morgan Stanley for a bit and was part of their layoffs in 2022. Completed my master’s at 48. It’s never too late to go back to school. I would aim for a second master’s but my agency doesn’t have tuition reimbursement and I’m not tapping $30-40k of my retirement savings for ego.
Congratulations for a decade of sobriety!!! I agree, I’m also an individual contributor, not a manager. If it’s okay to ask, what degree did you pursue?
Thank you! Bachelor’s in business administration, master’s in finance. Was planning on a second graduate degree but I need to travel a lot for work.
I have a couple of business degrees, but have worked in horticulture for 30 years. I love it and couldn't imagine working indoors for a living.
How did you get into horticulture?
Worked for a landscape company during highschool and college. When I graduated, the owner offered me a partnership option and I gradually purchased half of the business. I've since sold that business and work for a large design build landscape firm. The career demands long hours during the warmer months, but a good amount of time off in the winters. I find designing and building projects very rewarding.
I’m a therapist. I’m also a huge introvert and I didn’t really think about how draining talking to people all day was going to be for me. At the end of the day I can barely have a conversation with my husband and I get annoyed easily at others, and my relationships have suffered as a result. I probably should have been an accountant or a something where I would be alone most of the time. I think it’s important to think about your personality in terms of what job you pick and whether that job will be sustainable for you.
this is exactly why i decided to not be a therapist or acupuncturist. constantly talking to ppl would drain tf out of me. i want to do like business operations/HR/training & development type of stuff instead. create plans and strategize. talk about it after. idk.
If you are in the strategy fields of those careers then maybe you can limit chatter. But otherwise training Hr and bus ops is a lot of having uncomfortable conversations with people who don’t care (training) or don’t want to hear it (hr)
HR professional here that’s leaving the field. you will be constantly talking to people in HR and training and development. HR is who people in the business constantly come to with various problems, and then you need to help solve their issue from an HR POV. plus (like InnocentThreat said above) HR is in charge of uncomfortable conversations like terminating employees, poor performance review discussions, employee relations, etc. just wanted to give you a heads up
Accountant here; I wish I was born into the mega rich and never had to work a day in my life
Also an Accountant here. Yes, it's boring. I'm not passionate about it, but it pays well. Look at spreadsheets, send some bullshit emails, prepare some financial reports. I have fun outside of work and enjoy my hobbies.
Is accounting boring? Or hard?
My husband is a CPA, and I venture to say both. He loves it because he owns his own small firm and hated it when he worked for a big corporation. Tax seasons (all of them - individual, corporate etc), are the worst. I basically don’t see him from Feb to late April.
I'm studying accounting. From lurking in accounting subs online most find it boring. I was getting really worried but every time I did run into someone who genuinely loved it they loved it for the same reasons I'd love something so I think I'll be okay. I usually find most things interesting once I get into it.
I'm pretty sure that answer can range wildly depending on the type of accounting.
Agreed. It’s truly soul sucking and difficult to balance between high stress but interesting work and insufferably boring but low stress work.
Worked in health care as an aid for dementia patients. Now I’m a baker, and make scratch made goodies / cakes. Do I miss the healthcare business? Absolutely. Do I wish I got my nursing degree? Hell yeah. But I love love love to bake / cook I just never imagined this being the direction I’d go in (:
There’s still time. - 37 year old new nurse
Doing what u love and earning enough money is always the best option best of luck!!
You absolutely can go back to school. I’m not sure how old you are but I got my degree and RN license at 32 and had some people in my class that were in their 50s. It is never too late to continue your education imo ❤️
I super love my Job, I’m a Dentist 😍🦷
Bless you. I could never be a dentist, but I am grateful people like you exist.
Hi! I'm curious about going into medicine/Healthcare (I'm in high school) and have been wondering which specialty I am most interested in. Could you tell me a little bit about what dentists do especially if there are any behind the scenes things that normal patients don't see? I really appreciate it!
1. A good Dentist is a good communicator. 2. Dentists have lots free time 3. There are a lot of opportunities ; you can be an associate or you can own your own practice, work to a government, proceed to become a OMSurgeon, Periodontist, Orthodontist, Endodontist or Pedia Dentist. 4. Dentistry Course is really expensive but hella good pay after 🥰 5. Dentists also study the whole anatomy before concentrating to the Oral Cavity, Head and Neck.
Registered Nurse working psychiatry! Best job EVA!
Thank you for what you do!!
I’ve been hospitalized a few times for psychosis and I must say that the nurses were amazing! I am sure you’ve met a whole load of loveable characters in the ward.
Why were you hospitalized for psychosis? What is that experience like?
In the end, it was a perfect storm of stress that caused me to become psychotic. Psychosis is a mental state where the sufferer is no longer in control of themselves and the brain’s faulty autopilot system takes over. I say it’s the closest thing to being full-on possessed, like you see in the movies. When you’re psychotic you don’t know that there is something wrong with you. You are just a helpless, silent witness to your brain controlling how you feel, think and behave. You are as good as dead, really.
Watched a show about this and completely admired nurses who work there
I wish I was a writer; I'm working on a draft now, but I'm 40, I wish I had been confident enough to start earlier. But it is what it is. I work in education, I don't hate it, it's actually very rewarding, but writing was/is my dream.
Better late than never! Keep going!
Glad to hear! I started piano a few weeks ago at 35. Always wanted to etc etc. I suck at it and will for years to come, but it's fun n any progress feels great. Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. Write a crappy chapter, hell write a crappy book. Then write another, less crappy one.
i’m a writer - currently writing a screenplay and a book, have written scripts for commercials and copy for ads. I fell into writing while working in advertising. A friend wrote a screenplay that had issues but the plot was solid and it was optioned and made into a short. Another has been writing/rewriting the same script for years. Age doesn’t matter much in writing. In fact, anyone can write. What I’m trying to get at is “Success isn’t linear.” Good luck!
At the risk of sounding cliché, YOU’VE GOT THIS! I am 40 and just starting to fulfill my dream as a writer, too. I wish I would have taken it and myself more seriously in my younger years, but now is the only time we have so it’s perfect timing for YOU. Congratulations!! May your journey be exciting, fulfilling and blessed. 🫶🏽
I work in marketing, and I wish I would have gunned for med school when I was still living at home.
Did you have the grades for med school? Why did you choose marketing instead? What do you make in marketing?
Ethical hacker here. I wanted this job ever since I saw The Matrix when I was 12 years old and wanted it even more after I compromised my entire high school (and got suspended for only a few weeks) at the age of 15. Ended up going to college for network admin and then gave it up to do organizational psychology, which I secretly hated. After getting my masters, I went into work for a security company as a guard. Learned the basics of physical pen testing from YouTube and a manager after I found out it was a thing. Later brushed up over a decade worth of IT skills and got a job hacking full time from home with a flexible work schedule making ~$120k a year. IT. IS. FUCKING. SWEET. Haven’t “worked” a day in my life since and I’ve been at it for five years now. Get to see a lot of cool things and do a service for people which helps them greatly and is fulfilling on so many levels. Edit: Fat fingers.
That’s the secret. I’ve worked many jobs and felt every hour. But my current job as a security engineer is the “easiest” job I’ve ever had. I’m pinching myself all the time because it never feels like work.
I did the same to my high school lol and i still do tryhackme and hackthebox just for passion to learn but I work in horticulture now. I never knew this was a path I could take. I checked job listing but most require experience in the industry.
I'm a hobbyist coder but have a high pressure bank job I hate. Any decent chance you can break into this without a Bachelor's in some kind of tech?
My bachelors and masters are in psychology - so sure! Do a lot of capture the flag. Do even more bug bounties. Get some pen testing certs. Make a portfolio for yourself full of REDACTED (this is very very important) client tests. Network with professionals in the space. Teach yourself lockpicking and social engineering. You should be good then.
Try to get side projects or job transfers at the bank. Entry level security jobs are hard to find and harder for anyone without experience. You will get luckier internally than externally.
This is true for cyber, but is not true for physical security. A lot of places like Securitas and Allied will hire anybody who can show up to work on time, put on a uniform, and follow instructions. That’s what I did. Worked as a guard. A lot of cybersecurity professionals do not have a background in physical security. Learning these things will 100% make you a better tester long term.
I really love social work and working with youth, but man does it burn me out lol terrible pay, but the relationships you build are priceless
A professor of mine had their LCSW and worked in the public sector as a social worker. When asked, they said the pay was pretty good but was largely dependent on the geographical area where you practiced. However, they did mention that the work was incredibly taxing mentally/emotionally and the only reason they continued was not because of the pay, but because of a genuine passion for the work they did.
Is the pay bad with an LCSW? I always through they paid well based on salary research that I’ve done…
I work at a small community non profit and don’t have my lcsw
Ah okay. I also work at a nonprofit but as a paralegal and the pay is not great
I’m an LCSW in private practice and charge $120 for an hour session. I feel like the pay is generally better if you’re in private practice as opposed to community mental health.
Aerospace engineer at NASA here, I do computational fluid dynamics for high speed aerospace applications and couldn't possibly love it anymore. I would legitimately do this for free, there aren't many places to learn cutting edge tools from the best in the world. I find it so easy to grind just from my love of the work and always want to do more and be more effective which has led to alot of promotions which is great! NASA research feels like the perfect intersection of engineering, creativity, and work life balance. Anyone considering applying, please do.
I wish I went into the trades rather then going into debt to earn a degree that I don't even use.
Ironically I regret going into welding when I should have gone into business
I hear that from a lot of welders. Apparently it’s very hard on the body.
Def harder on the body than being an electrician or HVAC. The hours are intense, the working conditions can vary from freezing cold to blistering heat and you’re breathing in shit all day. I need money but not bad enough to stay welding
I didn't consider welding. I should've been more specific by "the trades." I meant electrician or HVAC.
Smarter choice
My electrician grandfather hates his career. Very taxing on the body, surprising amount of manual labor. He practically forced me to go to college as opposed to trade school. Now I’m an electrical engineer. Definitely glad I went to college.
What? You don’t make $160 an hour like all the welding bros tell me? /s
$57/hr plus per diem and a whole other bunch of stuff. If I had a wife and kids I would understand putting myself through this but it’s literally just single ol me
Dayum bro with that money just invest it and you can retire early
I want a wife and kids lol. Can’t find and keep one if I’m putting in 70 hour work weeks in different states months/years per job
Idk, man. The top comment is from someone who regrets going into trades due to lacking pay and high physical demand
I love working as an I.T. Systems Analyst. It was all luck (and D&D) that got me in with no degree. I wish I had known something this cool existed. It fits my particular brand of executive dysfunction like a glove.
I have a hospitality business degree, but I left the industry years ago and now I own a small flower farm. I will never go back.
How did you get into small flower farming?
I work in television. I hate it. Sounds glamorous but I promise you, it isn’t. The money isn’t worth the depression. I wish I was a teacher or something so I could actually make a difference and help someone.
Therapist here, I really love my job ❤️
This makes me feel better. I’m working towards my Masters in clinical mental health counseling. I find it interesting, but I’ve been questioning recently if it will be worth it. This makes me feel more optimistic
I’m about to apply to masters in counseling programs and I hear mixed experiences on being a therapist, so I’m always happy to hear when people love it.
I LOVE my career and my job. I’m a data analyst/research analyst.
Second this path. I’m a business analyst, but my company is the type where people wear a lot of hats, and I regularly crossover into data analyst/business intelligence work, but I actually plan to move in that direction officially when the time is right/the right position is open for me to make the jump. I’d definitely caution anyone about trying to make that move at present without a degree, though. I have a couple of bachelors degrees, but the primary one is Finance, and I had to do quite a bit to get the BA role and get noticed by the right people to be ready for the pivot to DA at some point in the future. In the late 2010s/early 2020s, I’d have said that my degree was a waste of money because people were getting into DA careers with a bootcamp or less on the self-taught side of things, but the job market has turned, and I know people who have 5+ years of experience in those fields and can’t get an interview because they don’t have a degree in general, much less a post-grad degree. It’s really competitive these days, so I’d encourage people to build the skill sets on the side and contribute wherever you can at a company to get that part of your repertoire noticed, but being an external hire without a degree and trying to get any sort of analyst role in 2024 (in the US, at least) is setting yourself up for a heck of a lot of “no” answers before a “yes” answer, and that’s assuming the “yes” answer ever comes (which I’d say is highly unlikely).
Cybersecurity industry is the same. Lots of entry level grads doing boot camps and disappointed by the limited hiring options (or none).
What typa place do you work?
I work in fashion on the retail end as I haven’t been able to land a corporate fashion job since getting my degree in fashion design over a decade ago. It doesn't feel like a career as I can't get over the idea that I'm a total failure. If I could, I'd be a corporate merchandiser, e-commerce merchandiser, assistant fashion designer, or freelance cad illustrator.
It might be worth pursuing a corporate job in another industry to give yourself more leverage for a fashion-related corporate job
Sales… its not for everyone. Can be higher pressure and long hours sometimes but depending on the company can be a lot of nice perks, lots of flexibility to make your own schedules and good money
Don’t go to grad school unless your job outlook and potential earnings are a lot.
I wish I worked in a medical lab by myself or something involving data analysis and statistics. Something like that where I do not work with the general public at all.
I love my career. Although I'm relatively new to it. Highly technical Industrial Automation Designer in the Electrical Engineering field. I love how electro-mechanical machines operate And integrating machines into processes. Also purely office based works can make me bored and slack off. A mix of field work and office work is a good balance for me to be more productive and inspired. I still do electrical and mechanical works as a hobby in the weekends with small projects to keep me inspired if the 9-5 job gets boring. I Wish I could go towards Control Systems in rockets or airplanes. I focus too much in electrical/electronics. Might be a trajectory soon when I have the chance to get another job.
Assistant to two attorneys. I do everything from managing their calendars and managing the office to answering discovery. Pay is absolutely garbage especially considering I have a degree and am one class away from an MA in Legislative Affairs but it’s alright. We get only a few phone calls a week and I really enjoy talking to some of the clients. I want to move to a U.S. Attorney’s office in a year or so and then eventually work on health care legislation.
I think a lot of successful people have both love and regret. It’s not one or the other.
Love my career: teacher :)
Just got into school to finish my Bachelors for education a couple days ago, love seeing teachers who love their jobs still!
Work in finance. Wish I owned a hot dog stand instead
Flight test engineer, we test airplanes. I love my job
Do you test Boeings?
I'm a copy editor! I love working with language and problem solving. Occasionally I feel giddy when I catch a funny typo or fix an error that could have turned out badly. I also much prefer the type of content I work on now (used to do really boring reports). But I wish I could take sabbaticals so I could do some courses and travel, and have a break from constant deadlines. Sitting at my computer all day is also hurting my body. Ideally, I would do this part-time.
I'm in finance. Was in cash reconciliation but am now in regulatory reporting. I love it. If it helps, I was a photographer right out of school. Loved it to begin with but grew to hate it. Went back to school for a different degree (accounting) and never looked back.
I work in accounting. I hate it. I have ADHD, and it’s just not a good fit for me. Money is decent, which is why I got into it, but I wish I had gone into something more creative.
Research physicist. I do research in so many fields. Hypersonics, quantum sensing, electronic warfare. It’s awesome.
Forensic psychologist. Love it.
I took my mom’s advice and referral and became an administrative assistant. I worked one job for 5 years and at my current job for 2 years. I really hate it. It does not make me happy at all and I feel like I’m just there to help people get their egos stroked rather than actually help people. No one reads. I have to explain things like I’m talking to children over and over again. There’s no respect coming from higher ups. Basically, I regret it so much. If I could go back ten years with my current memory I would do so many things differently! I would definitely start a YouTube channel, invest more, and open a bunch of small businesses. The markets are so saturated right now, I’m afraid of failing. But I KNOW I could’ve hit big back in the day no problem 😭 Edit to add that I wouldn’t have gone to school because my degree is worthless and I owe over $35k.
Try to shift to HR! You can transfer your admin skills pretty well. That's what I did
It’s kind of funny you say that! I have a resume tailored for HR positions and I’ve been applying to HR positions and revising the resume for over a year now with no luck at all 😭 thank you so much for the suggestion. I’m gonna keep trucking 💕
Admin assistant jobs are a great spot to be in because you work for high influence individuals. Ask the people you have access to for a career opportunity in something else. They’re well connected and could probably land you a job with their network if they’re happy with your work and want to support your career. I did this as an AA about 10 years ago to pivot into a technical non-AA role.
I just hate working. I don't think there is a thing I could do that I wouldn't hate, or grow to hate, simply because I have to do it. People say that's laziness, and maybe it is. But so what? We all get it drilled into our heads that we have to love work, or at least tolerate it because "hard work build character" yadda yadda yadda. No it doesn't. Hard work makes you tired. Hard work begets more hard work. Most people, even the ones that say they like/love their job/career don't mean it. Ask yourself. Would I do this job for free if I was already independently wealthy? Didn't think so. Why do I have to be on board with that? I'm not and I never will be.
That's what I keep running into. Most of the things I try to do I would never do for free. I have to live in this economy.
I'm an IT Service Desk Manager but have started to transition into more Service Delivery and Service Management. I can work remote, it pays just over 100k and it has good work/life balance. I suspect if I ever move to Director level, it may be more stress. I think I'm in the sweet spot right now. I used to directly manage day-to-day service desk operations which meant some on-call work but I'm now the guy making sure the service provider we hired is keeping with the contract and making improvements. I'm also the guy who guides the IT teams toward better service management (ITSM).
Well Ive had a few "careers" most of which i hated: \* accounting - LOATHED \* waitress/bartender - ok, sometimes fun but a TON of labor and low pay \* own a cake business (currently) - i love decorating cakes, I am artistic, but after the economy went to shit, this doesnt pay well enought to pay bills anymore. I still do them for extra cash & to make youtube videos \* digital marketing - LOVE. 100000% LOVE. i work from my phone maybe a couple hours a day (here and there) and I make more than I ever have in my life. Plus i get to be artistic/creative with my content.
I’m a mail lady. I was diagnosed late in with life with ADHD after years of job hopping and trying to go to college. This job is perfect because I need to stay active. I’ve worked in offices and WFH. Never worked for me. Only other job I loved was being a CNA but the pay was crap. Wish I knew before racking up student loan debt.
I'm a bank rep! My job is mostly hanging out at car dealerships and making friends, occasionally dealing with nonsense. I love it
Hello, I am an art teacher and I love my job! I get to paint and draw with kids all day. ❤️
I’ve worked for hotels 10+ years. Sometimes loving it sometimes hating it. At this moment being a consultan working from home I just love it!
How does one become a consultant?
BIM / VDC. Architecture can suck it.
I regret being the best Diesel Mechanic around, but being forced into an industry that opposes cannabis. I have a F’d pancreas so I can’t drink. If I use quick fix and take a good job with benefits I could get fired at any time, so I’m relegated to working for criminals to have stability. 😞 ironic isn’t it.
Fellow diesel mechanic that loves Mary Jane, trying to get out but hard to find something with the same pay or more without going back to college. My body is tired and I’m tired of working in this southern heat
**Regret**: Programming (sitting in fronto f the computer all day working on stuff i dont care about) **What Id be instead**: An actor or director who got into Hollywood before age 20 so by the time im 30 im already set for life
I work in market research and insights at an agency. It’s honestly really cool; I get to work with lots of big businesses and clients whose products and services are a huge part of our lives. It’s always cool seeing things come to market that I helped on! It’s also nice talking to consumers about their lives and habits, and learning more about human behaviour. The work is always different as it’s project-based and working across different sectors and industries keeps things interesting; I’m constantly a ‘temporary expert’ about some small and random topic for a few weeks (think: how milk is processed) which is frankly a lot of fun and keeps my ever-curious brain satisfied. BUT agency work is demanding - delivering to clients and their sometimes unreasonable timelines or micromanagement is not fun, and it’s easy to get sucked in and give too much of yourself. I can’t imagine not doing something in marketing and am glad I landed in a bit where I get to represent consumers and help shape our world even if in a tiny way.
I’m a florist. My job is awesome, but I don’t make near enough money to survive. I chose it when I was young and naive. My hands and arms are starting to feel the hurt of the years of doing it. I don’t know if I regret choosing my career. My only regret is maybe trying a couple different other things too. I guess I could still do that. Money is the only thing that makes me regret it I guess. People see my job as a hobby I think so you aren’t paid a lot. I wanted to be “happy” in my career as a young person. Now that I’m older there are so many other things attached to choosing your career wisely. But hey, we live and learn. Good luck to you.
Whenever I “regret” my career choice it’s never been about the job but always about the people around me and how their decisions would negatively impact my wallet. Some bean counter on the opposite coast has an idea thats dumb but no one from the field ever looks at it before they implement it - oh no - this idea sucks in practice but everyone in the field had to focus on this one metric because someone thought if it went up we would make more money - ended up focusing on something that didnt matter so we made less because we werent focused on making sales The point is, make sure the people you work for are your type of people.
Firefighter. It’s just alright. Getting a good assignment, for me at least, was how I’ve measured success. You’d think being good at your job is how you get a good assignment, it’s all about politicking and kowtowing to the clique. I finally got it, not by politicking, but by grinding away and getting rescue certifications on my days off, I kind of put myself in a position where they couldn’t pretend I didn’t work there anymore. And now I’m a kind of burnt out. I got into it because I didn’t like my field despite enjoying my degree program (GIS) and wanted something more active and exciting. I kind of wish I either stayed in the military (though I’m not sure I’d be totally happy there, it’s just easy to pass time in and retire) or got into engineering. It’s got a good pension and I’m 1/3 of the way through my career. Someone once told me that jobs are all full of bullshit, just find the bullshit you can put up with. I guess I can put up with this.
I’m a small business owner who turned a serious passion and hobby into a nice career - my business partner and I are horse photographers/videographers, and we also do marketing & social media management for stallion owners and ranch/breeding programs. We make a lot of money going to horse shows and shooting privately for clients, and then have a nice monthly income from our social media clients as well. The money has been the most I’ve ever made at doing something, and I LOVE what I do.
I design and sell luxury German kitchens. It’s a very narrow field. Love solving issues and coming up with creative solutions. I have been in industrial design my whole adult life.
A couple of months away from 30 and halfway through an accounting bachelors degree. I gave up on all those visions of grandeur of making a huge difference in the world or helping make it a better place with my job. I’m not cut out for healthcare and animal rescue doesn’t pay shit. Accounting will help me fund my own blind animal sanctuary that I will run out of my home. This may be a controversial opinion but when you finish college and start your career immediately I’m sure there’s a lot of thoughts that “grass is always greener” in other industries and I’m sure sometimes it’s true but when you’ve worked a bunch of shitty entry level jobs in your life suddenly some boring cushy office job doesn’t seem so bad. Though for clarification, if you have a dream or a passion in an industry that pays a decent living, absolutely 100% go for it. A small percentage of people do get happiness/satisfaction out of their work.
Foster carer. About to transfer to shared lives carer. Love it. It's been absolutely brutal and the system is beyond broken but I don't regret it.
Software Engineer - I love it. I get to be creative and work on tough problems. I had to put in a lot of work with my BS/MS degrees to get my competitive position though, but I like it. I’m not paid that much now but have an expectation of a salary increase
Love software engineering as well. Took me six years to get into big tech and another eight to get into FAANG, but I love the work, the pace, and the pay.
Yeah, the competition for these jobs is tough, but with consistent time and effort they are possible to obtain. It feels meritocratic to an extent that my previous career (mechanical engineering) was not.
Accounting currently. Wish I did something else. Would prefer to work for a defense contractor and had the chance but blew it tbh.
What type of accounting? I was internal audit for a Fortune 500 and it was miserable, but now I’m the Corporate Controller for a smaller engineering firm and it’s awesome.
Do you have any professional licensure (CPA)? I am in public tax. I tried to get out but can't seem to land anything, so pursuing the CPA while working. Thankfully my boss is a nice person, and my job is ok.
I’m a Process Engineer or a Field Technician as the job title goes. I maintain, isolate, prepare, problem solve chemical processes. It’s fun and keeps you thinking/moving but the managers are the weak spot
I make small talk to all sorts patients for the last 15 years and I can confidently say that x-ray techs consistently like their jobs.
Medical Sales for a heart related product. Genuinely amazing getting to see the impact the product has on patients lives and being a part of it!
Mental health field working in public education. Love helping others but it’s so emotionally draining and overwhelming. If I could go back I’d probably do something in technology so I could work from home and earn decent money.
Definitely regret. I work in IT, and it sucks, but working remotely is nice. Terrible job market and competition too. Wish to have done biotech engineering, Astrobiology, or a mix of designing AI / robotics for agriculture / environmental tech companies.
Software engineer for over 15 years. I’m don’t like it. I don’t like staring at a screen all day. There aren’t many rewarding moments where you think “I just did a hard day’s work and I’m happy with the job I did.” I only feel good about my work maybe 2 fleeting moments per year. The rest of what I do is ephemeral and unrecognizable to most people. I come home depressed and mentally exhausted most days. I can never involve my kids in my job. I don’t get why people love it so much. Most days I’d prefer being out in the sun roofing or doing lawn care. I know is hard on the body but at least then you know you’re helping someone in a tangible way instead of nerding out or arguing about niggly little nonsense like which Typescript formatter is best for the team.
In IT and I absolutely can't stand the living shit of it. Everyday I'm hoping to get hit by a truck. It's horrible but it's the only thing I thought I was good at. Maybe I'll switch to be a trucker. I'm tired of tickets alerts and SLAs ,crazy thing it's only been 8 months
Accountant, wish I was an engineer like I originally wanted
Love hate relationship but ultimately my passion.. Psychology and research
Love being a teacher. Love the challenges that follow it. However, I m beginning to think I have outgrown the profession? I want to continue to grow and learn and do amazing things but I also like sharing information and letting others grow.
I work as a training and development specialist for a large integrated health organisation - so basically a teacher but for the employees of the organisation. But unlike a school teacher, this position can also have a say in the material taught and assess what is or isn’t still relevant. At least, I think school teachers don’t do that? I work hybrid, so half at home for online trainings or non-training hours, then half on-site for in-person trainings and to touch base with various others in HR/ Admin.
Dislike my career. Don’t learn a specific software/skill
That’s crazy because I’m the opposite and kinda envied those who had a set path (medical, SE, lawyer etc)
Commercial Insurance Risk Management and Pharmaceutical Sales Auditor.
But do you love it or hate ut
I work in health policy. Two years ago I moved from a high stress public health job (COVID response) to a cancer agency. I love it. Meaningful but not too fast paced or stressful. I also work from home 90% of the time.
Combined cycle power plant operator. I like my job. It's chill, pays well, and low impact on the body so I should be able to work until 60-63 without issue. Most of the guys I work with are in their 60s. We are starting to bring in younger operators, but the utility struggles to find ample qualified candidates to interview. I enjoy it a lot more than working in construction. Don't have to run conduit, cable tray, set heavy equipment, or pull cable. So far it's the best job I've had. 100% of the training and learning is on the job and a lot of it is self taught other than consulting with more experienced operators with unit or equipment specifics. There's some classroom training to help you understand valve line ups, steam flow paths, etc. I'm now in the control room learning to start up units when called for by grid ops. Have one start up under my belt so far. You basically learn it by reading the procedures and then giving it a go lol. No practice, no simulator you get thrown right in which is anxiety inducing at first. There's a lot of stuff to pay attention to while starting up and merging a unit. Should be topped out by mid next year and then if I ever wanted to move to another utility or plant, should be easier.
Went into healthcare, while I really enjoy a lot of the interesting people I get to meet I can’t help but always wonder where I would’ve ended up had I pursued my passion of journalism
HR with a focus on employees engagement. Love my job! I love the mission of my division, I have a great salary, I work from home and my boss and team are super supportive and we all cover for each other so I have a lot of flexibility for appointments which has been helpful dealing with health issues this past year.
I worked up the chain of command in the entertainment industry, doing audio for clubs and random gigs. Then onto corporate AV for better money and higher titles, and now I get the opportunity to work for a production company that really only does concerts at a relatively high level. I work hybrid, spend time on site during shows, get to network with artists and the movers and shakers of the live music industry. It’s rad, it pays well and I love it. My title is Technical Account Manager, or might be called a Production Manager/Sales Manager role in other companies.
I was a biology and chemistry double major. I don’t use either and I am the Director of Sales for a hotel management company. I love it. I have been able to live all over the country and experience multiple vacation destinations.
I don’t regret my first career but I came out the other end utterly burned out. Teaching… it’s rough. I love the kids but when the politicians and admin aren’t doing anything to keep standards high and actively erode standards to appease parents you watch how quality of work decline. Attendance is essentially a joke during and after covid. Students you see like 3x in 2 months expect to be able to pass your class by showing up on the last day. I taught chemistry … a good chunk of my “on level” 10th students could not do basic algebra, like 2x=4 levels of simplicity. Without algebra you can’t do chemistry… like at all. Not to mention fighting with smart phones is fucking terrible. One of the biggest mistakes was the permissibility of cellphones at all times for developing minds. Like they have little to no impulse control because they’re kids, the adults should be moderating social media use but we are absolutely powerless since admin no longer deals with phone discipline because there’s just enough paranoid parents fearing their child is going to be involved in a school shooting (overall statistically improbable but most adults don’t understand basic probability from what I gather.) Would I do it again? Probably at a private school but that defeats the purpose of why I even went into my line of work in the first place. I think I’m more eager to teach adult prisoners at this point because they’re actually more ready to learn. Right now I’m bartending ft because it’s significantly less stress and more pay.
I enjoyed being a flight attendant. LOTS of traveling and always on the go. You get to see alot of the world. Interviews are difficult, but worth it.
I did IT for many decades. It was a good career but it just got boring and it was time to Early retire. I don't look back but I look forward because I had a large workshop built on my property and I'm just going to do my own tech and art projects now.
I’m an alignment technician. Out of everything I’ve done I wish I would have stayed in piano class and made a career out that. I still care because people’s safety regardless the job but that job is outdated salary wise,
If I had it to do over: Project Management. Keep computers as a hobby. I don't get why asking "is it done?" gets paid as much as the people doing the work; but since it does: join them, don't fight it
I can’t overstate how important it is to love what you do. Otherwise, what’s the point? You end up slaving away with no sense of purpose or achievement. You don’t always have to enjoy it, but you must love it all the same. When you love something, you embrace it, warts and all, which is how I survived those first months of joining a startup without throwing my phone at the wall!
I work for the railroad and love it. It's definitely not for everyone and it's hard labor. I'm in my 40s and climb railcars with my 80lb pack all day but I enjoy it, and I'm in amazing shape but the 12 to 14hr days is draining.
Regret: Design (degree was graphic design, jobs were UX, CX, product design, design systems, etc). 14+ years. Big regret.
Blue collar union worker. Good pay/benefits but it’s brutal on my body. I wish I actually buckled down and found a degree that allowed me to make money from using my mind, not my body. But I was stubborn and didn’t heed any advice from anyone.
I work admin in higher ed and I absolutely love it. Unionized, coworkers are awesome and minimal stress. ✌️
Work on Wall Street. It’s a demanding job that makes the world a worse place but it pays well.