Leaving corporate America and trying to figure out what is my next step? WWYD?
So I (22F) have been in my first corporate role out of college for 7 months now. I love my coworkers and managers, I love the company and the benefits, but I absolutely feel like the work is sucking my soul out of me. I hate staring at a computer, having pointless meetings, trying to meet all these arbitrary goals and KPIs. Long story short, it’s the actual work/corporate grind that I hate a lot, not the people or setting. So if I don’t like it here I don’t think I will anywhere. Sucks I got a degree in international marketing, I am really using that, and don’t want to at all anymore. I feel like a spoiled brat wanting to leave this role while so many people can’t get a job. But alas, I was slipping into such horrible depression and anxiety again, I knew this wasn’t right for me. Since I respect my managers so much, I put in 2 months time to give them ample time to find a replacement and they were very grateful and understood that I am transitioning into something else. To make my life easier, I told them I have a role lined up in social work, which isn’t a total lie or total truth. Which leads me to my WWYD? In my mind I’m seeing 3 options once I quit.
Option 1: full fledge into social work. I’ve thought long and hard about this and this is the industry I want to transition into. I know it’s “low pay high burnout” which is true and not true. Climbing the “education ladder” can get you to a very decent comfortable salary, esp if you work all the way up to your LICSW. I’d start in a $22(ish) position, but most companies do tuition reimbursement, most community colleges are really affordable, and I don’t have any major financial constraints, so long story short I could support myself off of this even if I’m kinda broke, could always bartend 2 nights again too for extra money. I have a social work company that I was referred to and interviewed for and they don’t have an opening yet but told me I’m the first call when they do. So that’s great but not set in stone tho which sucks. The social work role is a residential case manager for girls 14-21 who self elect themselves into the program. Not an emergency placement location, which can be a very different setting, for context.
Option 2: travel. I have about 15k saved up and really want to see Southeast Asia. I feel like it’d be a totally life fumble and regret if I didn’t do it while I have the time, ability, and money. I would do a budget trip staying in hostels, getting cheap street meals, just living in the day to day. I really want to see Vietnam the most. I have one friend that might come with me, really trying to convince him. He’s been wanting to quit for months now and I think he should and just come w me. But even if he doesn’t, I might do this alone. I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. And everyone says you meet so many people along the way. And all the opportunities of jobs and schooling and such will still be waiting for me afterwards. I’ve never been to asia and am such a sucker for history, mountains, and the ocean, so Vietnam sounds like my dream destination. I don’t wanna move away from my home and family but I do have a desire and drive to just travel and see other cultures and bring pieces and bits of the whole world back home with me. And I haven’t been on a big international trip since I was abroad in college, I recently visited a cousin in Hawaii, and it resparked my travel bug.
Option 3: kinda combine social work, schooling, and bartending. Work part time bartending and part time social work so I’d be making more money. And go back to school. This is pretty similar to option 1 I know but two part time jobs is definitely different than 1 full time and 1 part time. Plus schooling on top of that. But I wouldn’t start school until Fall 2027 so I’d have a lot of time to figure out that additional piece. I’d probably be making more money too doing them both part time than just social work full time and bartending part time. I am also trying to move into an apartment of my own at some point so the more money the better. But I also am trying to prioritize my next steps in my career so I am still totally fine staying with my parents at home a little longer. Life isn’t bad at home by any means, just slow and boring. Not for nothing, I also MISS the service industry. Talking to people, being around all types of people, just engaging with humans. I miss it, in the office it’s like we’re all robots who only talk about corporate life and rarely have small talk about real life.
Anyway, the invisible option 4 of staying at my corporate role is out of the option. I already put in my 2 months (managers agreed to be references since they appreciate the way I’m leaving very much) so something new is coming my way come September. Idk if it’s gonna be Vietnam, starting a new job in a new city (the social work role is in a city I’ve been to many times but never lived in, plus I’ve only been there being 21+ a few times so it’s like a whole new experience lol), or maybe it’s back to the service industry while I figure out the next best steps. I would appreciate and love any advice, personal experiences, devils advocate questions, support, questions, comments or concerns! My friends and family are supportive of whatever I choose, I just need to actually choose for myself and just do it.