Career Transitioning & Finding Purpose
Several individuals are seeking guidance on career transitions, exploring new fields after feeling unfulfilled or burned out in their current roles. Many express a desire for more meaningful work and better work-life balance.
SOURCES (60)
“TLDR: What questions would you ask yourself before making a career switch and going back to school? Hi there. I (22FTM) have been an esthetician for about 3 years now. I’m good at it, have an established clientele, and do find enjoyment in what I…”
“I’m in my early 30s and recently went back to school part-time for a degree in SCM after not finishing college the first time around. Currently, I work in territory sales for a large beer distributor in the Northeast, managing a route of ~80 off-premise and on-premise establishments. Before that, I was the lead buyer and department manager for multiple retail beer stores. Between the two, I have about 7 years of experience in the beer industry, with experience in purchasing, inventory management”
“I’m 32 and live in Nova Scotia. I was laid off from my previous marketing/project manager job almost 2 years ago and haven’t been able to find a new position. I started bartending again in the meantime, but it’s becoming unsustainable and is fuelling a lifestyle I don’t want long-term. I’ve also realizing that I don’t want to go back to marketing, so I’m trying to figure out what direction to take instead. Considering going to university, but I don’t have any savings and taking on significant de”
“Does anyone had any advice that might help me figure out a career path? I am 34M and recently quit my good paying sales job without having a plan. I know, not a good idea to quit without having a job lined up. I discussed this decision with my wife before quitting and we both agreed that she would go back to work full time while I took care of our child. I very much regret my decision, but I could not handle sales anymore. I feel lost and am really struggling to find a path forward. I thought I”
“I did my Masters in Organisational Psychology only to realise that I’m more inclined towards marketing. I’m currently looking for a job but I’m afraid given the shitty job market that no one would hire me because I got no previous job experience and a degree that’s not really related to Marketing. And I have limited time to look for a job as I’m on a Graduate Visa. So, I just want a bit of guidance about the job situation and about the career switch that I wanna do from psychology to marketing.”
“I’m currently in marketing and as many of you have probably seen it is the first to get cut when the economy is bad, the pay has dropped and become stagnant and plenty of burn out since we are expected to produce the same results with leaner teams. I’m mid-late 20s, single and with no kids so I have the opportunity to possibly go back to school and choose a higher paying career field with more stability. My initial thoughts were: A) go the part time / evening MBA route to switch to either busine”
“I’m 25 and looking for some career advice. I have a BS in Exercise Science with a Psychology minor and have been working in senior living/memory care for almost 3 years. My experience has mainly been in activities/resident engagement, but I know I don’t want to stay in activities long-term. I’m interested in moving into something with more career growth, ideally a corporate or hybrid position in healthcare, wellness, senior living, or a related field. I’m open to different types of roles and don”
“What career paths did you decide to go for and why? I just graduated in May with my BBA in marketing, I still fully intend on pursuing marketing, but I’m also considering back ups since I still haven’t gotten a job in the field tha I studied for, however I never thought this far and I feel lost as too alternative routes I can go down that still leave me financially stable, especially as someone who’s a first gen and didn’t grow up financially stable, Also please don’t suggest sales, anything but”
“What career paths did you decide to go for and why? I just graduated in May with my BBA in marketing, I still fully intend on pursuing marketing, but I’m also considering back ups since I still haven’t gotten a job in the field tha I studied for, however I never thought this far and I feel lost as too alternative routes I can go down that still leave me financially stable, especially as someone who’s a first gen and didn’t grow up financially stable, Also please don’t suggest sales, anything but”
“I’ve gone through multiple career changes since I was 25 (currently 33). From non-profit work, to factory work, and now a part of sales for manufacturing companies; I’ve had multiple experiences and leadership opportunities with each position. I’m currently contracted by a Chinese manufacturing company. They have been kind to me, but kindness does not pay my bills. I am both salaried and commissioned by this job. I love this job very much, but there have been some issues on the backend where I’m”
“I’m 25 and in the middle of a career transition, but I’m still trying to figure out what I actually want out of a career. I’ve talked to a lot of people about this and gotten wildly different answers, which has left me debating a few trade-offs: High pay / Long hours: Is grinding early on worth the paycheck? Growth vs. Stepping stone: Better to find a company to grow with, or use a role as a launchpad for the next big move? Work-life balance: Is lower pay worth more personal freedom? I know find”
“I’m 25 and in the middle of a career transition, but I’m still trying to figure out what I actually want out of a career. I’ve talked to a lot of people about this and gotten wildly different answers, which has left me debating a few trade-offs: High pay / Long hours: Is grinding early on worth the paycheck? Growth vs. Stepping stone: Better to find a company to grow with, or use a role as a launchpad for the next big move? Work-life balance: Is lower pay worth more personal freedom? I know find”
“Hi! I’m 24F and have been working in marketing for about two years now. I’ve realized that, while I’m good at it, I absolutely despise the industry. I’m exhausted from juggling 10+ roles within a two-person department, the constant AI-slop, and the pressure to “go viral” rather than actually market around what consumers need. The endless quick-turn trends that ultimately provide no real value to anyone… bleh. I’m very empathetic and analytically driven, and I’d really like to transition into som”
“Please comment and share your journey submitted by /u/UnderstandingNo2008 [link] [comments]”
“I’m leaning towards wanting to leave my buyer role but not sure what other role/industries I could translate into. I enjoy talking to people and don’t have a lot of that in my current role. What are some roles that I could look into? submitted by /u/Ryanf_2413 [link] [comments]”
“I’m looking to be a career switcher! Currently in marketing looking to pursue a MAcc. Curious your age and previous work experience. I’m 30 and nervous about switching 😅 And congrats to you!”
“I'm currently job hunting & I have previous experience in international sales, quotas, handled full sales cycles, initiated marketing campaigns to increase revenue, cold called, consulted on products, moved products into lateral & verticals, and expanded into new territories. Eventually, I got burned out by unrealistic quotas, once I was laid off I returned to school full time to study accounting. Now that I am job hunting the only jobs returning my calls are sales. I don't mind”
“Hi all, I’m a 31 year old on the vendor side of market research. I’ve been at the company 8 years - really the only place I’ve been at post-college. I was promoted to Director in March this year. I had been wanting to leave to try something different but thought the promotion would be a good stepping stone. After starting the position, I got a new boss and the company made a ton of changes. I’ve been through changes here but this is by far and away the largest change. All the senior folks I work”
“I’m generally very capable and adaptable, and I learn new things quickly. What are some ideas for a midlife job/career change that are a step up from lowest entry level/unskilled but not “needs a new degree and experience?” I’m thinking of things for which one can be certified in a matter of months and not for many thousands of dollars. For example, a fire extinguisher service tech or an insurance agent getting the basic certification. What other options might be out there with a minor retooling”
“SUGGESTIONS NEEDED!! I work in event/growth marketing and I’m burnt out by corporate life, especially the lack of work-life balance, after-hours expectations, and constant fear of layoffs. I want to be a mom someday and don’t feel like this lifestyle is sustainable. I enjoy strategy, problem-solving, variety, and project-based work, but want something with better balance, more stability, and clearer boundaries. Has anyone made a career change into something they love that has some aspects of wha”
“I bloody love marketing. I currently do UGC for brands but would love to divert into the actual marketing scene. I think I have the thinking style which would thrive in that type of environment (relational , weirdly good pattern recognition, analogical , contextual etc) or specifically something working with the strategy. My only issue is I tend to over analyse, which I think could be a common downfall of those with AuDHD hence my query Sk for those who do have it, how have you found working in”
“I’m 26F and tired of the analysis paralysis I feel trying to choose a career. I’ve spent most of the last five years working retail. I always knew I didn’t want to stay in it long-term, but mental health issues through my teens and early 20s delayed school and career planning quite a lot The field I was most interested in was diagnostic imaging/sonography. What appealed to me was the combination of technical work, helping people, decent pay, job stability. Unfortunately, the program is extremely”
“Will be looking to start my MBA next year to pivot away from marketing and the creative burn out. I have a few fields I’m considering but would like outside input. Which field do you think is best to get into right now? submitted by /u/Low_Wasabi_8481 [link] [comments]”
“I'm 25F, with 4.5 years of experience working in an MNC. My background is in operations and management, and I have a bachelor's degree in business. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my career and what I actually want to do long-term. My current role isn't particularly technical, and while I've gained professional experience, I often feel like I'm just going through the motions. When the work becomes repetitive and there's no more learning, I start losing interest”
“I’m 27 and completely lost career-wise, so I’d love to hear from people who have been in a similar situation. I studied marketing and communications, then briefly worked as a Community Manager at a startup before my probation period ended because of budget cuts. After that, I found a long-term freelance contract with a company that assigns me their own clients. For the past 4 years, I’ve been consulting entrepreneurs on marketing, communication and developing their projects. I also have another”
“Hey sales brothers and sisters. Need advice on how to position myself for career growth within sales and what sort of roles I should be going after. I have been in a North American Sales Lead (I know weird title) for about 10 months. I sell an extremely niche, technical input, into a niche industry. I started in this role after working 10 years in operations in the same industry and using the products I currently sell. I'm at a small mom and pop shop, 7 total sellers, remote, but with travel”
“Have been planning on it and working towards it for over a year and a half. Should be fully transitioned in another year or so.”
“I am in the same path as you but still figuring out at 45! Tired of min. Wage job!”
“Hello! Anyone who has insights on shifting career? I am a 5yrs experienced Supply Chain Professional. Any suggestions na maganda career path for someone like me who wants to shift? So tired na being in Supply Chain. 🥺🥺🥺 submitted by /u/Plenty_Molasses_8629 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! Sorry if this post doesn't really fit this sub, I just thought that this sub would make the most sense to post in. So, I'm (21M) thinking about leaving college because I'm just done with it. I'm studying mechanical engineering and I'm at my 5th semester. I know I'm almost done with it but I just can't handle this anymore. I'm so far behind with my studies that if the bar at this university wasn't set so low I'd have probably dropped out at the 1st o”
“Hi everyone, I’m currently 29 (female) and have been working in Customer Experience (CX) for a while now. I graduated back in 2018 with a Diploma in Business Studies, but I honestly feel stuck and really want to transition out of CX into something else. I've tried searching for transferable skills online, but whenever I apply, it feels like companies are hesitant or "scared" to take a chance on someone pivoting from a non-traditional background. For HR folks or anyone here who succ”
“For those of you that have left the field after being established, what have you changed to? What was your pathway? Have you regretted the change or has it been a breath of fresh air? submitted by /u/Eatyourvegetables999 [link] [comments]”
“I’m seriously considering getting out of the industry I’m in and would love some advice from people who have made a career change. I currently work in disability care and youth work, and honestly, I’m burnt out. I’m over the constant challenging behaviour, verbal abuse, aggression and emotional stress that comes with the job. I know it’s part of the industry, but I’ve reached the point where I don’t want my career to revolve around managing behaviours and being abused at work anymore. I also wan”
“Hey everyone, I’m 33 and looking for some honest advice, reality checks, and perspectives from folks working in travel, tourism, or anyone who has made a major career pivot in their 30s. I’m currently working in Sales Operations and CRM Management, but over the past few years, I’ve come to a hard realization that I am deeply unhappy with what I do. To make matters worse, my current field has been hit with frequent layoffs, and grinding through continuous corporate instability for a path I don&#”
“Hi everyone. I’m 22 and finished my bachelor’s in marketing this past December. When I was looking at job options last summer, I noticed almost all entry-level marketing roles were heavily focused on social media and content creation, which really wasn't for me. What I actually loved in undergrad was the market research side—designing surveys, running focus groups, analyzing the data, and generating strategic recommendations for companies. I also really liked when I was in intense situations”
“I’m from Alabama and looking to make a career change into sales. I was in college but took a summer job at a nonprofit working with adults with disabilities, and that turned into 4 years with the organization. I’m ready for a new career path with more growth and a better salary. I’m willing to start entry-level and work hard, but I don’t have a degree and can’t do commission-only. I need some type of base salary, even if it’s small to start. If anyone has recommendations for companies or sales r”
“Hello audience, I’m working into sales domain for 7 years, and for last 4 years the industry I’m working is HRMS. I’m loosing my interest into sales and want to explore other fields to get involved but not getting any idea of what should I explore. Please anyone can guide on switching from sales a profile where there is not a pressure of achieving the target based on sales number. submitted by /u/Guilty_Value_4803 [link] [comments]”
“Been thinking this through for myself…. submitted by /u/Mediocre-Couple-1341 [link] [comments]”
“I'm really lost in my life right now as I'm deciding what I want to do with the rest of my life... submitted by /u/Charm-Note300 [link] [comments]”
“Im 27 years old have no degree and have been working with my current company for 5 years now. I started out in marketing doing pop ups at dispensaries and helping out in production (making roughly $18/hour). after 6 months of doing this they promoted me to Sales (making $50k / year with no commission) and gave me this wild pitch on how great it'll be and the money i would make. Fast forwarded to present day I have worked my tail off and been able to get $75k base salary with a very low commi”
“Hello everybody. Looking for advice. I have been a full-time bartender for 12 years. Over the years I have made a humble network of successful mentors whom have been my regulars and I have decided to leap into a sales rep position for a general contractor. They specialize in high-end luxury residential homes, commercial, anything and everything. It is commission only, however I’m not too stressed since I can get my main income from bartending while I gain experience. I live in a busy location in”
“I have my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods. Currently, I am working in nutrition marketing/advertising, but I don't like it that much. I like to help people more than trying to "sell" something. I don't have my RD or the money to do my master's. I'm quite lost as to what I can do with my degree. I am very passionate about holistic health and functional, natural medicine. Any advice? Any help is appreciated. submitted by /u/lbeans8 [link] [com”
“My son is looking into a psychology field. We really don't know how to guide him through this properly. Right now he wants to get a bachelor's at A&M and then the rest at Baylor. Since his dad and I don't really know the right steps to take were worried that he'll take classes that are unnecessary, and end up paying for things that he didn't need. We're in the north Texas area just outside Dallas-Fort Worth. submitted by /u/renjake [link] [comments]”
“Good morning everyone! I hope you’re doing well! I am in need of some career advice. I’m a 27F with a B.S in Media and Entertainment (yes it is a B.S not a B.A). I was a Covid graduate that fell into marketing/advertising after graduation and I can confidently admit I’m over it. I’ve been in the corporate space since I graduated as well and I think the burnout and screen fatigue is getting to me. Tbh, I’m torn between starting over (healthcare pivot) or getting a meaningful masters or certificat”
“FTM here, quit my job to take care of my child . I have 13 years of work experience in the freight forwarding industry (various roles). I don't want to go back to that industry anymore. I want to change my career which will align with my child's life and I want to have a better work life balance. I am confused between pursuing the teaching profession or project management. I know the compensation difference is a lot but I do wanna hear from moms who are working as a school teacher and a”
“Hello! I am a 22 yr old female, I'm about to graduate from school studying sales. I have experience doing sales at 2 well regarded organizations and I know I could get my foot in the door at some pretty high OTE companies. The issue is, I hated cold calling this summer and I wasnt great at it this time. I was good at it when I was doing it for a non-profit- everyone was so much kinder on the phone haha! But at a tech company selling to tech people who hated my guts? Nope! I have no idea what”
“Hello! I’m F20 and currently studying Pharmaceutical Science in college. I’m in my Junior year of my undergraduate degree, and I have realized I lie to myself that I like my degree. I know it’s for stability in the future, because becoming a pharmacist is pretty stable. But I lie to myself that I enjoy pharmacy and health science. I think I might enjoy psychology and therapy possibly as a career. Last summer I did an internship at a physical therapy clinic and my favorite part was forming relati”
“I’m trying to figure out whether what I’m going through is a genuine career realisation or just some kind of midlife crisis. Here’s my story. I’ve been working in marketing since I finished engineering. Over the last seven years, I’ve primarily worked across content marketing, SEO, content distribution, growth, and CRO. I also did a master’s in digital marketing in Ireland. On paper, my career looks like a fairly standard marketing career. But when I look at the kind of work I’ve consistently en”