u/Plus-Candle-4410

Last week I met up with an old friend. We were kinda close in high school, but lost touch after that. He has been working as a janitor at a hospital after high school, and never went to university. I got a degree in industrial engineering. I learned that he makes almost twice as much as I.

To be clear, I am not saying he doesn't deserve it or that he should be making less because he's a janitor. Nothing like that. From what he told me, he works hard, and it is an essential job. But he also got lucky. He said he got the job because one of his relatives was a doctor and was good friends with the head of that hospital.

Me on the other hand. It took over two years to find a job. I was looking way before graduating. Even than I only got my job because I also got lucky. One of my mom's friends knew someone who owned a small business. So that's the reason I got the job. I have been working for almost 2 years, and I hate it. I work 50 to 60 hours a week with no overtime. Job is very stressful. I make like 60 percent more than the minimum wage of my country. It's not enough for me to live on my own. I have been looking for other jobs but they are not much better; every place asks for specific experience. And the pay isn't that much higher.

I know I shouldn't compare, but I can't help it. I studied hard in high school to get into a good university. I studied hard in university to get a good GPA and gain useful skills. My friend didn't care much about studying in high school. Got a janitorial job through family connections and now lives a good life. My work is causing me a lot of stress I am losing sleep. I live at home because I can't afford rent. I know his job is difficult too, but I would rather do that. More pay, better benefits, work hours are stable, job security (as long as you do it right), and he can leave his job when his shift ends I often have to take it home.

And again, I am not saying I should get paid more than him because I went to uni for engineering, and I know a lot of people struggle at the beginning of their careers, but still. I hate that the difference in our life quality is so wide.

I know job hopping is the best way to get your wage up but I need more experience to get out of entry-level positions. Even then, larger companies might not consider me because I don't have corporate experience.

I don't really know what advice I am looking for. This is more of a vent.

Last week I met up with an old friend. We were kinda close in high school, but lost touch after that. He has been working as a janitor at a hospital after high school, and never went to university. I got a degree in industrial engineering. I learned that he makes almost twice as much as I.

To be clear, I am not saying he doesn't deserve it or that he should be making less because he's a janitor. Nothing like that. From what he told me, he works hard, and it is an essential job. But he also got lucky. He said he got the job because one of his relatives was a doctor and was good friends with the head of that hospital.

Me on the other hand. It took over two years to find a job. I was looking way before graduating. Even than I only got my job because I also got lucky. One of my mom's friends knew someone who owned a small business. So that's the reason I got the job. I have been working for almost 2 years, and I hate it. I work 50 to 60 hours a week with no overtime. Job is very stressful. I make like 60 percent more than the minimum wage of my country. It's not enough for me to live on my own. I have been looking for other jobs but they are not much better; every place asks for specific experience. And the pay isn't that much higher.

I know I shouldn't compare, but I can't help it. I studied hard in high school to get into a good university. I studied hard in university to get a good GPA and gain useful skills. My friend didn't care much about studying in high school. Got a janitorial job through family connections and now lives a good life. My work is causing me a lot of stress I am losing sleep. I live at home because I can't afford rent. I know his job is difficult too, but I would rather do that. More pay, better benefits, work hours are stable, job security (as long as you do it right), and he can leave his job when his shift ends I often have to take it home.

And again, I am not saying I should get paid more than him because I went to uni for engineering, and I know a lot of people struggle at the beginning of their careers, but still. I hate that the difference in our life quality is so wide.

I know job hopping is the best way to get your wage up but I need more experience to get out of entry-level positions. Even then, larger companies might not consider me because I don't have corporate experience.

I don't really know what advice I am looking for. This is more of a vent.

My son studied Chemical Engineering in university. He went to a good school, had a good GPA, and did 3 internships. He loved chemistry, and he loved working in labs (at least that's what he told us). He graduated over a year ago, he was supposed to start working at a company where he was already working as an intern. But before he graduated company got into financial trouble so they canceled his position.

After graduation, he tried to find a job in his field for a few months, and I think he got two interviews. After that, he started working at my husband's dad's furniture company. My father-in-law has a small furniture company. My son asked for a job there, and my fil said yes. He has been working at the warehouse for almost a year now. I don't mind him working there but I don't think he's trying to find a job in his field. I know it is his life but I am worried. Work isn't too demanding, but he also just makes a bit over minimum wage, which is not enough to live on his own here.

I know he can't put this on his resume if he wants to find a job in his field. And I know employers can be cruel about large gaps in resumes. I don't want him to one day wake up and feel like he wasted his potential. How should I talk to him? I tried a few times, but he always says he's tired and pushes me away.