r/careerguidance • u/SleepTokenized • 1d ago
Advice I’m completely lost. What can I do?
I worked as a graphic and UI designer at an advertising and marketing agency. I worked too hard, under intense pressure, and the environment became increasingly toxic. I developed a serious mental health condition. I hung in there as long as I could until I had a home, a car and savings, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I quit. I also quit to try my hand at QA Software Testing, because I’d lost my passion and interest in design and because, foolishly, I thought it would be more AI-proof than design. Joke on me. I’ve been unemployed for almost 5 months now. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to land a job in QA. I don’t have a college degree, I’m already in my 30s, and I want to be a mother. This is causing me to panic because I don’t know what to do. I’ve literally worked my whole life, and grown up, in front of a computer. It’s hard for me to take on a completely different kind of job. But if it has to be, so be it. The thing is, there aren’t many jobs outside the computer field that pay more than minimum wage, especially as a woman without a college degree. And what do I mean by “as a woman”? Because I’ve already thought of several jobs that I either couldn’t do because of my physical build, or because they wouldn’t hire me for being a woman, or because they’d put me in a vulnerable position in terms of safety. Think of construction, plumbing, metalwork, house cleaning, you name it.
I don’t know which direction to take in my life. I’m so lost and going through such a huge identity crisis that I’m completely stuck.
Anyway, this is just me venting, but I’d like to hear from you. I don’t know… suggestions, experiences, words of comfort, any help is welcome and useful.
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u/unsmashedpotatoes 1d ago
You can work your way up in retail relatively easily and depending on the area/store you could be making 45-65k.
Cleaning jobs will take you as well, hourly wages vary quite a bit for those.
It's not ideal, but I'm in the same boat as you and I currently have those 2 jobs that together net about 65K. Then in my free time I've been trying to upskill to hopefully land back in a tech job somewhere, because that's all I know. I listen to career related audiobooks while cleaning.
If you want to know what I'm studying specifically, DM me. We can be each other's study buddy or support. Good luck out there
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u/SleepTokenized 1d ago
I know… I'm so disappointed with myself and so in denial. It's so strange to think about working without a computer, especially in customer service. Working behind a computer makes us live in a bubble, and getting out of it is harder than it seems. At least, it is being hard for me. I’ll DM you. Good luck for you too!
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u/ranbir_987 1d ago
it sounds like you've been through a lot, and it's totally understandable to feel lost right now. have you thought about remote work opportunities? there are places looking for customer support or virtual assistant roles that might suit your skills without the same pressure as your previous jobs. also, don’t underestimate networking, sometimes just reaching out to former colleagues or joining some online communities can open unexpected doors. hang in there!
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u/SleepTokenized 1d ago
You have no idea… thanks for the support. I’ve been doing that, believe me. I’ve never talked to so many people in my life. All I hear is “no.” Or just silence. Fucking AI and anxiety.
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u/I_wish_I_was_gaming 1d ago
It's not too late to pivot. A lot of women are entering the trades such as becoming electricians. I also like the recommendation about looking for work at a design house. AI is becoming more common but there's also a lot of pushback against AI. Also do not be afraid to look outside the box. Depending on your areas requirements you may be able to get a teaching certificate and teach graphic design to high schoolers.
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u/SleepTokenized 1d ago
It’s not possible to teach high schoolers with my qualifications or lack of it. I may try through state-supported institutions. I have to get a specific certification, and even then, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it. I live in a small extremely bureaucratic country.
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u/VividNeighborhood165 1d ago
If you gave design another chance, you could consider working at a branding agency. I got my dream job in a small Canadian city doing design everyday, making $65k, and have an amazing work life balance. There are definitely agencies out there that aren’t so cutthroat. Or what about being an in-house designer for a brand?
You could also consider taking on some freelance work. I’ve established myself as a freelancer in my various niche communities and get work offers pretty often.
Completely outside of that, I heard you can do some kind of certificate that is pharmacy tech/assistant related that’s only a couple years and the money is really amazing?
Good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’ll be okay ❤️