u/AbleBeginning7

For context, I live in Italy, I turned 22 recently and I've basically always been unemployed if we don't count basic short term jobs.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, I did make bad choices that I believe led me to this, and my country doesn't really help either...

It's been literal years of search with some months of temporary jobs in between (sadly Im not proud to say they were all from people recommending me, even though Im thankful to them). I apply online, in person, at places where I know they need help, and places with no signs, just to make sure I don't miss on anything.

They all ask for experience in the field, but with all due respect, if I can't get the experience in your little local activity, where am I supposed to get it?

My longest experiences were jobs with 48 hours per week with no days off, covering multiple position on my own, all for 600€, which wouldnt even be enough to pay rent if I wasn't living with my parents.

The other one was 40 hours per week for 400€, but since it was far, about 100 of those went into gas.

Both of the jobs didn't legally register all the weekly hours and paid partially in cash too so that the owners could pay less taxes.

I've been stuck in this loop for so long it feels like I'm lost, I can't lie that even though I never ask for anything and it is normal here to still be at parents house (the avarage age of leaving is 34), I mentally do feel like a burden.

My thoughts/plan on this situation is that I should make myself more valuable, and since university isn't an option for personal reasons, I thought about courses/trade schools.

I found and made some research on the platform Coursera, and since I also have some base knowledge of both, Im thinking of studying UI/UX and front-end dev. But Im not really sure about how much impact it can have? So my plan was getting the certificates as proof I did study the topic, and build a portfolio and case studies to prove I know what Im doing.

I know it might take some time but time passes anyways, so I'd rather do something instead of being immobile while "stuck".

My only doubt on these fields is that there's lot of saturation and AI advancing isn't helping either.

If you have any advice on some other platform or just general advice, any help of any way, I'd be really glad to hear it.

I'm just really scared about my future, especially cause theres no clear path and everything looks so unsure.

Thank you for reading all of this and hope I can find some help.

Ho compiuto 22 anni da poco e sono praticamente sempre stato disoccupato, escludendo lavoretti occasionali o temporanei.

Non farò sugarcoating, ho fatto delle scelte sbagliate che credo mi abbiano portato a questa situazione, e la cara Italia non aiuta di certo al momento...

Sono anni che cerco lavoro, con in mezzo qualche mese di lavori temporanei (purtroppo non sono fiero di dire che fossero tutti per conoscenza/raccomandazione, anche se sono grato a chi ha pensato a me in quei momenti). Mi candido online, di persona, nei posti dove so che cercano personale e quelli senza richiesta esplicita, giusto per essere sicuro. Praticamente tutta la mia provincia ha il mio cv da qualche parte.

Tutti chiedono esperienza nel settore, ma con tutto il rispetto, se non posso fare esperienza nella tua piccola attività locale, dove dovrei farla?

Le mie esperienze lavorative più lunghe sono state lavori di 48 ore settimanali senza giorni liberi, in cui ricoprivo diverse mansioni da solo, il tutto per 600€, una cifra che non basterebbe nemmeno a pagare l'affitto se non vivessi con i miei genitori.

L'altro lavoro era di 40 ore settimanali per 400€, ma essendo lontano, circa 100€ andavano in benzina.

Entrambi i lavori non registravano legalmente tutte le ore settimanali e venivano pagati in parte in nero, come standard nazionale d'altronde...

Sono bloccato in questo loop da così tanto tempo che mi sento perso. Non posso negare che, anche se non chiedo mai nulla e qui è "normale" vivere ancora a casa dei genitori alla mia età, mentalmente mi sento un peso.

Il mio piano è quello di rendermi più utile, aumentare il mio valore su quello che posso fare e, dato che l'università non è un'opzione per motivi personali, ho pensato a dei corsi/scuole professionali.

Come opzione interessante nonostante le critiche trovate ho trovato Coursera e ho fatto delle ricerche. Dato che ho anche delle conoscenze di base in entrambi i campi, sto pensando di studiare UI/UX e sviluppo front-end. Ma non sono sicuro di quanto impatto possa avere. Il mio piano era ottenere le certificazioni come prova di aver studiato l'argomento e specialmente costruire un portfolio e dei case study per dimostrare di sapere cosa sto facendo.

So che potrebbe volerci molto tempo, ma il tempo passa comunque, quindi preferisco fare qualcosa piuttosto che rimanere immobile e "bloccato".

Il mio unico dubbio su questi settori è che sono molto saturi e l'avanzamento dell'AI non aiuta di certo. (Anche se prendere certificazioni sul suo uso possa probabilmente aiutare dato che sta diventando praticamente un requisito in molti campi).

L'altra opzione che sto valutando, molto probabile, è quella di appoggiarmi a mi sorella in un'altra regione per poi trovare lavoro lì. Questo non cancellerebbe l'idea di una formazione insieme al lavoro, però richiederebbe più tempo.

Se avete consigli, anche solo riguardo altre piattaforme, corsi, consigli generali o qualsiasi tipo di aiuto, ve ne sarei davvero grato.

Sono molto preoccupato per il mio futuro, soprattutto perché non c'è un percorso chiaro e tutto sembra così incerto.

Grazie per aver letto tutto e spero di trovare un po' di aiuto.

For context, I live in Italy, I turned 22 recently and I've basically always been unemployed if we don't count basic short term jobs.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, I did make bad choices that I believe led me to this, and my country doesn't really help either...

It's been literal years of search with some months of temporary jobs in between (sadly Im not proud to say they were all from people recommending me, even though Im thankful to them). I apply online, in person, at places where I know they need help, and places with no signs, just to make sure I don't miss on anything.

They all ask for experience in the field, but with all due respect, if I can't get the experience in your little local activity, where am I supposed to get it?

My longest experiences were jobs with 48 hours per week with no days off, covering multiple position on my own, all for 600€, which wouldnt even be enough to pay rent if I wasn't living with my parents.

The other one was 40 hours per week for 400€, but since it was far, about 100 of those went into gas.

Both of the jobs didn't legally register all the weekly hours and paid partially in cash too so that the owners could pay less taxes.

I've been stuck in this loop for so long it feels like I'm lost, I can't lie that even though I never ask for anything and it is normal here to still be at parents house (the avarage age of leaving is 34), I mentally do feel like a burden.

My thoughts/plan on this situation is that I should make myself more valuable, and since university isn't an option for personal reasons, I thought about courses/trade schools.

I found and made some research on the platform Coursera, and since I also have some base knowledge of both, Im thinking of studying UI/UX and front-end dev. But Im not really sure about how much impact it can have? So my plan was getting the certificates as proof I did study the topic, and build a portfolio and case studies to prove I know what Im doing.

I know it might take some time but time passes anyways, so I'd rather do something instead of being immobile while "stuck".

My only doubt on these fields is that there's lot of saturation and AI advancing isn't helping either.

If you have any advice on some other platform or just general advice, any help of any way, I'd be really glad to hear it.

I'm just really scared about my future, especially cause theres no clear path and everything looks so unsure.

Thank you for reading all of this and hope I can find some help.

For context, I live in Italy, I turned 22 recently and I've basically always been unemployed if we don't count basic short term jobs.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, I did make bad choices that I believe led me to this, and my country doesn't really help either...

It's been literal years of search with some months of temporary jobs in between (sadly Im not proud to say they were all from people recommending me, even though Im thankful to them). I apply online, in person, at places where I know they need help, and places with no signs, just to make sure I don't miss on anything.

They all ask for experience in the field, but with all due respect, if I can't get the experience in your little local activity, where am I supposed to get it?

My longest experiences were jobs with 48 hours per week with no days off, covering multiple position on my own, all for 600€, which wouldnt even be enough to pay rent if I wasn't living with my parents.

The other one was 40 hours per week for 400€, but since it was far, about 100 of those went into gas.

Both of the jobs didn't legally register all the weekly hours and paid partially in cash too so that the owners could pay less taxes.

I've been stuck in this loop for so long it feels like I'm lost, I can't lie that even though I never ask for anything and it is normal here to still be at parents house (the avarage age of leaving is 34), I mentally do feel like a burden.

My thoughts/plan on this situation is that I should make myself more valuable, and since university isn't an option for personal reasons, I thought about courses/trade schools.

I found and made some research on the platform Coursera, and since I also have some base knowledge of both, Im thinking of studying UI/UX and front-end dev. But Im not really sure about how much impact it can have? So my plan was getting the certificates as proof I did study the topic, and build a portfolio and case studies to prove I know what Im doing.

I know it might take some time but time passes anyways, so I'd rather do something instead of being immobile while "stuck".

My only doubt on these fields is that there's lot of saturation and AI advancing isn't helping either.

If you have any advice on some other platform or just general advice, any help of any way, I'd be really glad to hear it.

I'm just really scared about my future, especially cause theres no clear path and everything looks so unsure.

Thank you for reading all of this and hope I can find some help.

Hello, I recently found Coursera as a platform and kept looking and researching info about it before taking a choice.

The main advice/idea on it that I found is that the certifications don't really hold value, but that what you learn can actually make a difference.

For context I just turned 22, I've been stuck for a lot of time with the only possibility being working for slavery type jobs with no income or personal time, so I'm looking for an actual change.

Im interested in UI/UX and front/full-end development, already have some very base knowledge of both and some foundations.

My personal thought up until now was that I should probably follow these courses, get the certification just as a proof I did follow AND understand the topics, while also building a portfolio, some case studies and just try to grow and do my best to find a position somewhere just to gain real world experience.

I'd like to know what you think, even not just following my personal situation which almost "forces" this change or any movement from my current position.

Hello, Im new here and as expected this is a common topic to talk about, especially since AI is taking over, be it as a tool, or as layoff excuse.

​

I always had some interest into this world, especially cause it combines my interests and built up knowledge and skills. But I never thought of it as a possible career path up until now, where I found myself completely uninterested over any other path or classic job.

​

For context, Im turning 22 soon and I recently started to learn both UI and UX, started little projects/redesigns, building a portfolio etc.

I tried both fully AI, fully "handmade", and a good mix of both which I personally find really interesting and sometimes frustratings especially for little details.

​

Im still at the very beginning of course, but this is why I have a doubt about this choice deep inside me: Before actually deciding and starting to dive deep into it, to make a bit of money, I sold AI made websites (only frontend, landing pages basically, since I didn't trust AI for the backend, nor security for more important projects).

In this very quick, temporary chapter, I made simple, and actually good looking sites with original ideas, and I managed to guide the AI the way I wanted and put my ideas on the screen as I pictured them.

As for both UI/UX, I made my choices based on my personal experience as a user and, basic logic and taste if it worked as it should and showed the right things in the right way, giving the right importance to each information.

I used to end my projects with the simple test of asking older relatives or friends to use the page or trying to explain me what a certain button does without knowing, basically if it was intuitive. And it worked.

​

​

So here's the thing. Im sure I made some mistakes here and there, and had a fairly simple solution for most of the stuff I created with AI. But if me, without experience, made them while keeping a fairly clean, fairly good to the eye look, and most of all working products... what stops companies to just say "that's enough, it works". Cause if we're being real, corporates don't really care that much about that, and by having a look around on the subreddit, I can see it's not just an impression.

​

I recognize that with the right knowledge and skill, AI is just a great tool that designers can use. But to some, it's just a product spammer to deliver more and more.

​

So after all this paragraph, my question is: Is it worth diving into UI/UX design in 2026, with the hope of finding a job?

​

Thank you for reading up to this point.