r/careerguidance

I’m 23 and currently earn just over $100k in a specialised career I genuinely enjoy.

The lifestyle is strong:
- 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off
- 4–8 hour workdays
- Strong pension + progression
- Realistic cap around ~$175k within ~7 years

The main concern is stability. The industry is quite volatile - I’ve already been made redundant once (although I found work again quickly), and I’m not fully convinced about long-term security.

I now have an offer to retrain into a related field with significantly higher long-term earning potential and more international mobility. But the trade-offs are heavy:

- 2 years of full-time training (no salary, all expenses covered)
- Then ~5 years on $50k while a training bond is paid off

After that, earnings would return to my current level, with a higher long-term ceiling ($200k–$400k depending on country/route).

The offer is in the form of a legally binding contract, with job offer, from a leading national employer with one month to accept or decline.

So the decision is basically:

Stay where I am - strong income, great lifestyle, but capped growth and industry volatility
OR
Reset my earnings for ~7 years to unlock higher long-term upside and stability

From a financial/life strategy perspective, does it make sense to sacrifice your 20s income and compounding potential for higher long-term ceiling and stability, or stick with a strong but capped career while it’s already going well?

This is my first Reddit post so go easy on me 🫣

Edit: I’m blown away by 300 comments so quickly, I appreciate all the advice and will read them. Thank you!

I know this sounds silly, but I’m struggling with whether I should stay at my company long enough to hit my 2-year mark for 20% 401k vesting or just leave for my mental health.

I’ve been here about 1.8 years. When I first started, I loved the company. The benefits are outstanding, the workload was manageable, and I felt taken care of. Looking back though, that was kind of a double-edged sword because I barely had exposure to important work, meetings, or responsibilities. I asked multiple times to be included more or take ownership of things, but it was always “we’ll get you involved” and it never really happened.

Now both my old director and manager are gone, and I have completely new leadership. The new director and manager are actually understanding and realize I was never properly trained or exposed to a lot of things, but honestly that makes me feel even worse. They expect someone at my tenure level to know more, and I don’t blame them.

Meanwhile, the culture feels completely different now. Morale has gone downhill, promotions feel political, and it honestly feels like a boys’ club sometimes. I’ve watched people who deserved promotions get passed over because leadership is closer with someone else.

I feel overwhelmed every day. I’ve been crying constantly, having panic attacks, and I’m mentally checked out. I still have one experienced coworker I can technically ask questions to, but she’s very set in her ways and tends to just do everything herself and I don't want to add on her workload as she's also struggling with helping these new managers, so I feel stupid even asking for help at this point.

Part of me wants to push through a few more months just to get the 20% vesting, but another part of me wonders if it’s even worth sacrificing my mental health anymore.

Has anyone else stayed somewhere just long enough for vesting/benefits even when they knew they were done mentally?

I'm lead engineer on a Salesforce enterprise project I began in late February. It's a brand new build to handle the merged business of two companies. The customer looked at the project plan and insisted we cut one month out of it, which, obviously, rushed the project. We cut the timeline with the understanding that we could only maintain it if the customer delivered all their requirements on time. They missed every one of their deadlines and piled on more requirements for us to squeeze into the limited timeline. When I pointed out that their missed deadlines posed risk to the timeline, they aggressively told me it wasn't useful to point out the things that stress everyone out. I genuinely don't know how to handle a client this aggressive without the conversation going sideways.

They insisted we continue developing new functionalities through UAT. Several teammates and I have had to work six-day weeks for months, sometimes seven-day weeks, and had to work every day of the Labor Day weekend. At 8:30 on the day we began deployment, the client told us to change a basic setting that affects the way everything is priced and calculated. After deployment, their project lead noticed a single picklist she didn't like and said she couldn't sign off on a project that wasn't well built or well thought through.

At no point in this saga would the company listen to my entreaties to hold the client accountable. The reason my superiors gave me is that the client is paying so much money and our company wants future business, so we have to make them happy. Is this normal in consulting? If I leave for another consulting firm, will I have the same experience?

Yeah I choose this particular domain because I did internship on data engineer in hexaware and now at my job I'm doing hackathons and project related to gen ai

Please help?

Pushing 30. CS grad from '23. Homeless, addicted to drugs now. No work experience. Useless projects that could be vibe coded easily now.

No money. No savings. No shelter. Only recently got access to a phone.

I know I'm beyond deep fried. I won't be able to work. I won't be able to get a job.

Hi everyone, I'm sitting with a bit of a dilemma. A startup reached out to me and long story short I am now making a decision between my current, somewhat stable contracting role and joining a pretty well funded seed-stage startup. My current role gives me a great hybrid/WFH balance, a clean break at the end of the day, and leaves me mental energy outside of work to pour into personal creative projects and personal life.

The role I have is somewhat similar. I've been a contractor for a few years and while it does have it's shortcomings and general lack of respect from leadership, ultimately it has been fine, the work is cool and I can fully unplug at the end of the day.

From what I gather, the startup is doing quite well and expects for that to continue (about 2 years of runway before more funding is needed and actually had impressive term sheets on the table for series A). However, they normally operates on a 6-day fully in-person schedule. The role I could have is a super niche, cross-discipline skillset that apparently is quite rare. I had expressed some hesitation about a 6-day work week and they got back to me telling me they were able to accommodate me for a standard 5-day week.

It would be a 20-33% base pay bump from where I'm at now + equity. My major hesitation is that unseen mental tax. They emphasize an accountability-based culture (totally fair), which I take to loosely mean "deliverables are required by a certain deadline regardless of hours kept". I am worried about trading my current autonomy and creative peace of mind for what could be quite an intense workload. The work itself does seem really interesting and everyone was very nice. I'm not sure if they are bringing on more people with a similar 5 day work week but the fact that this is standardized as part of their expectations and I'd get an exception feels like a point of friction.

They told me performance evals would reflect that 5 day schedule as well which put me somewhat at ease. What would you do? I don't want to talk myself out of an amazing opportunity. My personal life and hobbies have always been important to me and are how I maintain balance. On the other hand, I've said for years I've been looking for a way out of the big tech contracting life and this does seem like a great opportunity to leave.

Recently a new manager was hired to overtake a role where the prior manager was leading that role for over 30 years. The new manager has absolutely no industry experience besides working with my director 10 years ago. There was a lot of trust built and now I feel like it’s all exploding .

It’s been a rough go for me because he is starting from below ground level and has no clue about our business. Recently we started 1-1 meetings together which is him asking me how to do everything and checking his work. It seems like this time is dedicated to me coaching him rather than building our relationship, goals of my own and trust. My level is lower at an Account Manager and he is the Sales Manager.

I want to speak with my director about how the call is actually me training him and helping him do his job all while I still need to do mine . It’s not an open discussion with him but an agenda telling me what my tasks are and how I can help him complete his. He talks at me instead of together . It has been so mentally draining.

How can I approach this with my director, when they are friends? I have already brought up concerns to him about his lack of commitment and reliability but that feels like it fell on deaf ears and no discussion of how to make things better. How can I approach this situation and make it better for me?

It’s been over 3+ years working in a coding-focused environment, and I don’t feel like continuing in development anymore. With AI impacting many tech teams and layoffs increasing, I’m looking for suggestions on stable and promising career paths that can still be useful but without coding involvement. Please suggest some good roles and career options. Any certification recommendations.

Hey guys. I’m currently 25F and working at a state job making 60k in MS.

For some background, I graduated with my bachelors at 22 with a BA in psychology, and was supposed to start med school soon after. I realized that wasn’t the path I wanted to take though, and it was something that was heavily put into me by my parents (this is a whole other story that would need to be posted separately). Anyways, I decided I didn’t want to pursue med and ended up going for a master’s in computer science, which I graduated with this past December.

I ended up getting a job fairly quickly and like I mentioned I work for the state making 60k. It’s not what I had hoped for considering I have a master’s degree, however I’ve been trying to remind myself to practice gratitude as there’s many people who are in worse positions. I currently have no car note, no debt, and a decent amount in my savings, yet k feel so behind in my career? I like where I’m at because of job stability, the amount of PTO and sick I get allocated per month (12 hours PTO, 8 hours sick / month that never “expires”). On top of that, I’ll be allowed 2 work from home days after 6 months of working at this company, so I got about 3 months to go for my remote days.

With all that being said, again, I’m so unsure as to why I’m so unhappy. I live in the cheapest state in the U.S so I’m able to save a decent bit per month (especially because my boyfriend helps pay rent). And because I work for the state, things move pretty slow here so more often times than not I don’t really have anything to do. This last thing shouldn’t matter but unfortunately I am a victim of comparison… but a lot of those that graduated around me are trying to pursue / have received a higher paying role than I with just a bachelors. And don’t get me wrong, I would be a lot happier for them if it wasn’t shoved in my face so much.

Should I go and pursue a different role in private sector? I want to grow in my field and eventually climb that corporate latter everyone speaks of, but at the same time, I wonder if I’m being too “eager” by trying to find a new role when I haven’t even been with my current company for 6 months. With the current job market, I’m afraid to get laid off as well which is why I like where I’m at…

I don’t know. I feel like I’ve rambled a lot in this post but I’m just unsure of what to do. I don’t want to be complacent in my field as again, I want to continue growing. But at the same time maybe staying here for a bit wouldn’t be so bad? Any advice? Any stories anyone can share with me? This is something that has seriously been bugging me and so I’ve finally decided to post on Reddit to get other thoughts. And again, I’m not trying to sound ungrateful. I’m very lucky to have a job, no car note, and no debt. I’m so thankful for those things, so please don’t misread me.

I’m in the position where I know my employer needs me for a certain amount of time on a particular project and my salary review is coming up. If they don’t give me what I’ve asked for, I’ll be looking elsewhere but I don’t explicitly want to threaten them with that off the bat.

How would you subtly make the threat? Any advice would be much appreciated!

I’m a 26-year-old software developer from Northern Europe currently finishing my master’s degree in HCI while working full-time as a consultant, and I have around 3 years of professional experience overall.

Lately I’ve been feeling extremely burnt out with my current project and work environment. The project is under-resourced, communication is chaotic, deadlines are unrealistic, and I feel emotionally exhausted almost every day. On top of that, I’ve been balancing work and studies for years now and genuinely feel like I need a break.

To make things harder, one of the clients has also made some inappropriate/flirtatious comments toward me (winky emojis, suggestive comments, repeatedly pushing afterwork invitations, etc.). After I kept things professional and didn’t engage with that behavior, communication has started feeling uncomfortable. I’ve noticed being excluded from relevant meetings/email threads and sometimes not getting responses to important work-related questions, which has made the situation significantly more stressful.

Others, including my manager, have acknowledged that the workload and client situation are difficult, but there’s not much they can realistically do at this point.

I already have approved leave from work for a few months later this year to finish my studies, and I’m now considering either:

• asking for an additional 3–6 month unpaid sabbatical leave afterwards, or
• quitting completely without another job lined up.

Part of the reason is honestly that I feel like I desperately need time to recover and rethink my direction after years of nonstop studying + working. I also want to travel, spend time abroad (partly in Canada with my partner), and figure out what kind of life/career I actually want long term.

I also honestly don’t really see my long-term future in my current country socially/lifestyle-wise, since I’m very extroverted and feel drawn toward trying life in a different environment and culture.

Financially:

• ~14k€ savings by the time I leave
• ~15k€ investments as backup
• low living costs while abroad (mainly with my partner or traveling in cheaper countries)
• unemployment support exists in my country if I eventually return

My family thinks I’m being reckless and that leaving a stable tech job in this market is a terrible idea. I understand the market is difficult right now, which is what scares me.

At the same time, I genuinely feel unhealthy staying in my current environment long term.

Would taking a sabbatical or even quitting in this situation be irresponsible career-wise, or does this sound reasonable given my age/situation/safety nets?

Got laid off recently and stayed professional through the entire transition period. A few weeks later, my replacement hire (lower position than mine) reached out to me on LinkedIn asking questions about some of the work I used to handle and asking for guidance.

Now I’m conflicted about what to do.

Part of me wants to politely help and stay professional. Another part of me feels like I shouldn’t be providing free training/support after leaving the company (especially laid off).

I’m also debating whether I should send a quick heads-up to my former boss just letting her know new person reached out to me, not in a dramatic way, but more professionally since I still respect the company and left on good terms.

Or should I just politely decline, stay quiet, and fully move on?

What would you do?

I was sadly laid off from a fantastic job in April due to unexpected geopolitical issues that happened this year. This caused thousands of people in the city (and probably country) to lose their jobs.

With so many people job hunting, it’s been SO competitive and difficult just to get someone to read your CV.

I finally got an offer. It’s quite a lot less than what I was earning before, but it’s a decent and liveable salary. The company is a startup, but not your typical “crypto bro” type startup. It’s something that I genuinely believe will be a huge success.

A day before this offer, I had an interview at a global, hugely successful company. The salary is the same as the role I had previously. I’m certain that the interview went extremely well, but I’ll only know on Monday or Tuesday what their decision will be.

I can’t be too picky about jobs right now, but it wouldn’t be a smart decision to join the startup if the other company gives me an offer.

What’s the best way to delay giving a response to the startup without missing out on the opportunity if I don’t get the other role? Or am I being too greedy and ungrateful?

Brief context I have a nice management role and salary plus benefits but I know the market is small. I also don’t love the state I live in to work. Knowing how good I have it, does it really make sense to move just to live in an area of the US I like?

My resume is strong and the field I work in is always looking for good consistent talent at my level.

I’m 24f. I’ve only worked at the bottom of the barrel. Waitressing, smoke shops, I drove a coffee truck, more barista jobs, busser at a wedding venue, banquet server at a country club…
I’ve gone about quitting said jobs the wrong way. I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now. I walked out of my last job for “forgetting” to pay me twice. (They ended up paying me later, but I didn’t want to get taken advantage of, and couldn’t handle the disorganization)
I truly want to go to school, but with my unemployment status, no family, and no references, it feels impossible to.
I desperately want to get into environmental science, archaeology, folklore, and I have businesses I want to open that give back to the community. I don’t need a degree to start a business, but I need money. And in order to get a degree, I also need money. I’ve applied to over 350 places, and have received 323 rejection emails, and no response to the rest. This includes McDonalds, Sonic, grocery stores both local and national, Starbucks, Barnes and nobles, maid jobs, janitorial work, administrative assistance, ect…. How in the hell can I make money when I don’t have the opportunity to do so? Please send advice. I’ve rewritten my resume 5 times. I’ve turned in printed resumes to businesses. This system is such a joke.
EDIT: I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the helpful responses I received from this post. I truly wasn’t expecting so many helping hands. I am relieved to know that there are so many more options and resources than I was aware of. You guys rock!🤘

No connection

Lately, I’ve realized that I feel completely disconnected from my colleagues at work. Part of that is probably my own doing. I work from home a lot, I rarely join team outings, and mentally I’ve just been exhausted because of everything that has happened recently.
A family member unexpectedly passed away not long ago, which hit me hard. Because of that, I had to reschedule an appointment with a client. I explained the situation respectfully, and the only response I received was: “Ok, make sure you document it in the file.”
Maybe it wasn’t intended badly, but in that moment it really made me question where the empathy is. I’m tired of feeling emotionally detached and monitored at the same time, as if I constantly have to prove myself.
The strange thing is: the job itself is good, the salary is good, and objectively there’s nothing wrong. But I simply don’t feel any connection with the people around me, and that starts to weigh heavily on me mentally.

I’ve been contacted by a reverse recruitment firm that offers to write my resume, apply for jobs on my behalf, coach me through interviews/assignments, and negotiate a final offer. In exchange, they require an up-front fee (few thousand dollars) and a percentage of the earned salary (6-percent of final negotiated salary).

The devil in the details of the service: this particular firm boasts a 91-percent success rate, they guarantee at least 20 first-round interviews within a 90-day period, and they say most clients get jobs around $90,000 per year.

I’ve heard of these kind of firms, but this is my first time interacting with one. I’m skeptical, and I find the fee a bit intimidating. Has anyone else worked with this kind of firm? If so, what was your experience, both positive and negative?

I just turned 20 and have one semester left then I graduate with my bachelors in October. Despite everyone I know already looking for a job, I dont feel ready yet. In fact, I honestly dont know if i like what ive been studying since I was 17 anymore....lol. I feel like my mind has gone to this clean slate where nothing seems interesting to me. Ive been wondering fuck should I have studied xyz instead etc

Im feeling A LOT of judgement and pressure from uni peers and parents to start looking as im nearly done but im so stressed.

Everyone is telling me the economy in Aus is fucked the cost of living crisis you might as well start working which I understand completely but then it goes back to my issue of me honestly not liking my degree at all anymore.

A lot of peers in my third year classes are all 22/23 and IK a 2 and 3 year age gap is literally nothing but I feel like I could do so much growing as a 20 year old within the next 2 years before I start working full time.

They also already have offers or chronically are trying to find work.

I just dont know how id grow after I graduate?? Travel? I dont have the funds. Post grad, to do what though??

Help.

I live in the UK. I Have a Bachelors in Leadership and Business Management but don't really want a career in that field. I was recently thinking pursuing a career in Sports but I don’t want to go to uni again. I love sport it has been part of me my whole life especially Football and Basketball. I also enjoy going ton the gym. What career options with sport I can go for and what will be the best courses or certificates I can do. I am also 22 years old. Thanks in advance

Hello everyone, I've been job hunting for a while and got another generic rejection email to a position I really liked. I sent a kind reply thanking them for considering my application and that I would really appreciate their feedback, as I really liked the job and their project and am still interested in similar positions.

I didn't expect this, but they replied very positively and agreed to a short feedback call later on today.

I'm really glad about it, but now I don't know exactly what to expect haha.

What kind of questions could I ask them to get the most out of it for my future job hunt?

Appreciate any suggestions!