The best bet for the future is to pick a career path that is not massively over supplied with candidates. Once you get to that situation there's no system that will not cause most everyone to be unhappy.
> avoid shopping for a job when you’re unhappy with the one you have.
The problem with this is that bad jobs don't often turn into good jobs, so job hunting under those circumstances is usually the best option. I do agree that it's worthwhile to actively look for other jobs even when you're happy with your current one.
> I really was looking for a stable job, just to get more experience, save some money and eventually become an entrepreneur and create my own company.
I agree what others have written so I'll just add this. In my experience, you'll be happier following your own path rather than waking up one day and realising you've been following someone else's path. If that's what you're really looking for, then that should be a strong indication of what to do.
> getting to bounce around until we find something that sticks
This is an under-appreciated dividing line between the somewhat-rich and the somewhat-poor. Being able to choose a career that you can stick with and even be passionate about will put you in a much better situation 20+ years later than having to take the first work that comes along out of sheer necessity (often repeatedly and employers get more skeptical each time). Many people never escape that trap; even those that do find themselves many years behind their age-peers financially.
> The economy/job market isn't the greatest so be glad you're able to do something you semi-enjoy in a comfortable environment and make a decent income.
The economy will always be in the shitter and people will keep using it as an excuse to not find better opportunities. Find projects that you would like to work on and approach them. Lack experience ? start doing it on your own.
> I really think that I did very bad choice with my career.
Sadly, I have come to a similar conclusion: tech is a great way to earn money early (because the wages rise quickly), but the ceiling hits early and is quite hard to break through. Use those early years to save up money, then switch to something else.
> This is just incredibly frustrating and disheartening to read. How is one supposed to plan for a future in this career when your lifestyle can just disappear overnight?
Plan like everyone else in your country who has to deal with this uncertainty on significantly lower salaries.
Budget. Save. Trim expenditure.
And enjoy your career because you chose it as a career, not because it allowed you a lifestyle.
> I don't particularly love studying.
> I'm absolutely sick of living like a student
> It seems very lonely
Then don't do it.
> I don't have industry experience
No one starts out with industry experience. Get started.
Choose your company position carefully for interesting scope. Change jobs if you make a mistake.
Meta advice: choice is stressful and you sound stressed. Take a minute to reflect on the strength of your position and long term outlook. Looking pretty good! Now, take a breath, and tackle your choice problem as if you were helping a close friend with it.
"You plan to spend the best years of your life in a job you hate?"
Seems like most people do. So yeah.
I don't see growth potential anywhere. I'm constrained to my current area, can't put in many extra hours, and other family restraints. This is the best option I've seen.
> Alternatively you can always decide to work on something outside of work that can help sharpen your skills.
I do, a lot. It's all garbage, though, and no one really looks at it.
Don't get trapped into work you don't want, but perhaps don't quit your job yet, either. Don't wait. You don't want to be a near-40 year old loser like me before this hits you.
> But why would you want to limit yourself to those jobs?
You aren't limiting yourself to those jobs, you're constraining yourself to a geographical area (there may be any number of good reason for this) and optimizing your learning path for the jobs available in that area.
Even if it is sub-optimal in the costs/salary sense, there is much more to life.
Funny, but this is how I feel about my 11 year career spent with 3 huge corporations - that it has been largely a waste of 40-50 hours of my life every week. I've made 6 figures most of my career, and I've had plenty of time for my family. I'd trade the salary and benefits for something I was passionate about if I felt I could do it without being irresponsible to my wife and child.
I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side.
My sentiment is that it's worth trying when you're young because you might not get a shot when you're older.
> careers/jobs were just a necessary evil because it's almost impossible to survive without money
I don’t think this is incompatible with caring about your career.
My perspective is that I am very fortunate to have a job as a software developer, and that someday my luck may run out (bad economy, unexpected expenses, decreased demand for my skills, etc). My goal isn’t to be rich and live in luxury, my goal is to insulate myself from bad luck.
So at least for now, I would like to “advance my career” (especially since I’m in an entry-level role), just to give myself a bit of extra security.
>As a member of this demographic I'm seeing a huge reluctance for peers (and a reluctance in myself) to bite the bullet, swallow my pride, and take a minimum wage job until I can get better on my feet
Don't do it. Life is all about priorities and keeping your focus. Once you start mixing work and studies, both will suffer.
Go hungry, sell plasma, visit a food bank, do what you have to do. But keep your eye on the prize.
The best bet for the future is to pick a career path that is not massively over supplied with candidates. Once you get to that situation there's no system that will not cause most everyone to be unhappy.
reply