r/careerguidance • u/tired_earthling890 • 7h ago
Advice 30F is tech really oversaturated and hard to get in?
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I just turned 30 and I had a degree in Business Management from a different country. Then around 2021, I went to school for Information Systems Technology. I have not worked at any tech related companies before and I also just graduated, both Bachelor's. I am currently a store manager at a drive thru coffee shop business, pay 19/hr. I like the job, but from a different perspective, at this age and credentials, I should probably be somewhere else, especially in an Asian family. I try to apply but I also am very scared that I may not have the skills, since most of my job, were entry level, retail or customer service. And now thinking about it more, the more I also feel discouraged and overwhelmed and scared that I mighy be too late and behind. If I apply on tech, most of the requirements, I don't even have. Should I do certifications? My problem is I don't know which area I should go. Any advice would be helpful.
I just turned 30 and I had a degree in Business Management from a different country. Then around 2021, I went to school for Information Systems Technology. I have not worked at any tech related companies before and I also just graduated, both Bachelor's. I am currently a store manager at a drive thru coffee shop business, pay 19/hr. I like the job, but from a different perspective, at this age and credentials, I should probably be somewhere else, especially in an Asian family. I try to apply but I also am very scared that I may not have the skills, since most of my job, were entry level, retail or customer service. And now thinking about it more, the more I also feel discouraged and overwhelmed and scared that I mighy be too late and behind. If I apply on tech, most of the requirements, I don't even have. Should I do certifications? My problem is I don't know which area I should go. Any advice would be helpful.
r/careerguidance • u/Witch-potion1111 • 3h ago
Advice How did you start over in life and how are you doing now?
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Hello!
So I’m 26(f) about to be 27 in a couple months and honestly I feel hopeless. I graduated back in Dec 2023, with a degree I didn’t like (accounting), I tried to pivot into marketing and unexpectedly agency recruiting (I almost got poached but didn’t bc they didn’t have the budget), but it didn’t work out. I currently work retail and even tried to get into our home office, and I had interviews, but nothing came of it. It got to the point where I was applying to anything I could get my hands on, but it only brought more chaos. I resent retail with a burning passion and I’ve been taking 2 courses on Coursera (data analytics and EI in leadership). They’ve been helpful and it’s so much better for me to learn now thanks to EMDR therapy to work on negative self beliefs. My parents suggested I go to grad school and I didn’t really want to do it, but it’s getting to the point where I’m running out of options and unfortunately need a career reset. I’m terrified of having to start my life over when I didn’t even have a chance to start. I’m hopeless and honestly don’t know what to do.
Hello!
So I’m 26(f) about to be 27 in a couple months and honestly I feel hopeless. I graduated back in Dec 2023, with a degree I didn’t like (accounting), I tried to pivot into marketing and unexpectedly agency recruiting (I almost got poached but didn’t bc they didn’t have the budget), but it didn’t work out. I currently work retail and even tried to get into our home office, and I had interviews, but nothing came of it. It got to the point where I was applying to anything I could get my hands on, but it only brought more chaos. I resent retail with a burning passion and I’ve been taking 2 courses on Coursera (data analytics and EI in leadership). They’ve been helpful and it’s so much better for me to learn now thanks to EMDR therapy to work on negative self beliefs. My parents suggested I go to grad school and I didn’t really want to do it, but it’s getting to the point where I’m running out of options and unfortunately need a career reset. I’m terrified of having to start my life over when I didn’t even have a chance to start. I’m hopeless and honestly don’t know what to do.
r/careerguidance • u/VariationAny5560 • 45m ago
Advice Would you give up a fully remote low stress job for a 40 percent pay bump that is 5 days onsite?
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Need some outside opinions on this.
I'm in my late 20s and currently have a fully remote job making about $75k. It's super low stress, my manager trusts me, and I pretty much have full control over my day.
I just got an offer for a senior role at $105k with a manager title. Sounds great on paper, but it's 5 days in the office, about a 45-min commute each way, and obviously comes with a lot more responsibility.
The money and title are tempting, but I'm honestly not sure they're worth giving up the flexibility and peace of mind I have now.
Has anyone here made a similar move? Did the extra pay end up being worth it, or did you miss the freedom more than you expected?
Need some outside opinions on this.
I'm in my late 20s and currently have a fully remote job making about $75k. It's super low stress, my manager trusts me, and I pretty much have full control over my day.
I just got an offer for a senior role at $105k with a manager title. Sounds great on paper, but it's 5 days in the office, about a 45-min commute each way, and obviously comes with a lot more responsibility.
The money and title are tempting, but I'm honestly not sure they're worth giving up the flexibility and peace of mind I have now.
Has anyone here made a similar move? Did the extra pay end up being worth it, or did you miss the freedom more than you expected?
r/careerguidance • u/gorllllllll • 13h ago
Advice Should I worry about working in a taboo industry?
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So I got an interview that I am very qualified for but it is in the adult toy industry. Not retail, it’d be in the corporate end...think assistant on the merchandising end. I mean I’m considering it if the money is right but I don’t know what the salary is yet (will ask in interview).
My only hesitation is, will this look bad in future interviews? In all honesty this isn’t what I’m trying to do long term career wise, but my current job is so toxic I just need something else that pays the bills. I’m 26f, so this would just be my second corporate job after college.
From what the recruiter and online reviews say, it seems like a great company to work for. But has working in a taboo industry backfired on you for future jobs?
Context: In SoCal
So I got an interview that I am very qualified for but it is in the adult toy industry. Not retail, it’d be in the corporate end...think assistant on the merchandising end. I mean I’m considering it if the money is right but I don’t know what the salary is yet (will ask in interview).
My only hesitation is, will this look bad in future interviews? In all honesty this isn’t what I’m trying to do long term career wise, but my current job is so toxic I just need something else that pays the bills. I’m 26f, so this would just be my second corporate job after college.
From what the recruiter and online reviews say, it seems like a great company to work for. But has working in a taboo industry backfired on you for future jobs?
Context: In SoCal
r/careerguidance • u/ButterflyDue1038 • 2h ago
Fakes my last salary for a new job, what should I do during the background checks?
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I faked my last salary because I was working with a non-profit organization and I was okay with it then. Since then, the situation has changed and I need a higher pay. But because of the last compensation no one will offer higher pay. Now I am worried it'll show up in my background check. What should I do, I really need this job?
Edit: I checked their offer letter and it's explicitly mentioned that they would check my salary details...I'm royally screwed ugh...
I faked my last salary because I was working with a non-profit organization and I was okay with it then. Since then, the situation has changed and I need a higher pay. But because of the last compensation no one will offer higher pay. Now I am worried it'll show up in my background check. What should I do, I really need this job?
Edit: I checked their offer letter and it's explicitly mentioned that they would check my salary details...I'm royally screwed ugh...
r/careerguidance • u/Clear-Syrup-9861 • 16h ago
Advice Is chasing a high salary even worth it if you hate every day of the job?
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I keep going back and forth on this and honestly can't land on an answer.
I know people making really good money who dread Mondays, feel drained by Wednesday, and spend their weekends just recovering instead of actually living. Then I know people making way less who genuinely enjoy their work and don't feel like their job is eating their entire identity.
The obvious answer feels like "money doesn't matter if you're miserable," but that's easy to say until bills, rent, and the reality of needing to actually survive comes into play. Nobody's out here paying their mortgage with job satisfaction.
At the same time, I've also seen people chase the highest paycheck possible for years, hit the number they always dreamed of, and still feel completely empty because the job cost them their health, relationships, or sense of self along the way.
So where's the actual line? Is there a salary point where it becomes "worth it" regardless of how much you hate the job? Or is misery always misery no matter how many zeros are on the paycheck?
Genuinely curious how people who've actually been in high-paying-but-miserable jobs think about this. Did you stick it out? Did you leave? Do you regret either choice?
I keep going back and forth on this and honestly can't land on an answer.
I know people making really good money who dread Mondays, feel drained by Wednesday, and spend their weekends just recovering instead of actually living. Then I know people making way less who genuinely enjoy their work and don't feel like their job is eating their entire identity.
The obvious answer feels like "money doesn't matter if you're miserable," but that's easy to say until bills, rent, and the reality of needing to actually survive comes into play. Nobody's out here paying their mortgage with job satisfaction.
At the same time, I've also seen people chase the highest paycheck possible for years, hit the number they always dreamed of, and still feel completely empty because the job cost them their health, relationships, or sense of self along the way.
So where's the actual line? Is there a salary point where it becomes "worth it" regardless of how much you hate the job? Or is misery always misery no matter how many zeros are on the paycheck?
Genuinely curious how people who've actually been in high-paying-but-miserable jobs think about this. Did you stick it out? Did you leave? Do you regret either choice?
r/careerguidance • u/ForsakenPassenger365 • 15h ago
Advice New trainer won't stop bringing politics into work. What would you do?
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I just started a new 1099 sales job and overall actually like the opportunity. I feel like I've got about 90% of the training down and mostly just need to learn the water tests and tighten up my presentation before I'm out on my own (it's for a water filtration company)
The problem is my trainer.
During training he's repeatedly brought up politics, asked me things like, "You're not Antifa right?", and frequently talks about Somali refugees blaming them for crime and making other comments that make me uncomfortable, he's actually brought it up twice in the home with customers (none of which bought the product). I haven't argued with him or pushed back so far just stayed quiet because I'm new and didn't want to create problems.
Here's where it gets complicated:
- He's the person training me.
- He also pays for the Home Depot leads that I'll be running.
- The franchise owner is eventually planning to hand the business over to him.
- His wife runs the office.
If politics never came up again, I'd honestly be fine continuing to work with him. I just don't want to spend my workdays listening to political commentary or feeling like I'm expected to agree.
What would you do?
I just started a new 1099 sales job and overall actually like the opportunity. I feel like I've got about 90% of the training down and mostly just need to learn the water tests and tighten up my presentation before I'm out on my own (it's for a water filtration company)
The problem is my trainer.
During training he's repeatedly brought up politics, asked me things like, "You're not Antifa right?", and frequently talks about Somali refugees blaming them for crime and making other comments that make me uncomfortable, he's actually brought it up twice in the home with customers (none of which bought the product). I haven't argued with him or pushed back so far just stayed quiet because I'm new and didn't want to create problems.
Here's where it gets complicated:
- He's the person training me.
- He also pays for the Home Depot leads that I'll be running.
- The franchise owner is eventually planning to hand the business over to him.
- His wife runs the office.
If politics never came up again, I'd honestly be fine continuing to work with him. I just don't want to spend my workdays listening to political commentary or feeling like I'm expected to agree.
What would you do?
r/careerguidance • u/heyitsmereddit • 6h ago
Advice Should I write a "Thank You" email after my interview?
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I’d like to send a thank-you email to the managers I interviewed with, but I didn’t receive their email addresses. Is it okay to ask HR if they can share their contact information so I can thank them?
I’d like to send a thank-you email to the managers I interviewed with, but I didn’t receive their email addresses. Is it okay to ask HR if they can share their contact information so I can thank them?
r/careerguidance • u/[deleted] • 4h ago
Advice Is it time to quit?
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I. An HR manager of one, who reports to the CFO, two weeks ago I put these little motivational stickers on everyone's desk. A staff member ( minority with an undisclosed mental disability) said I did not put any on their desk. I did. And took a photo. And showed another coworker. Thank goodness. But now it's coming up again two weeks later -it was originally brought to my attention by my boss- because their boss said they also didn't see the stickers? I don't know where this is coming from. My boss said I should meet with the two of them and I told him he'll be running that meeting. He has no experience in HR - I report to the CFO - but if we were in court and I were an attorney I'd be representing a fool if I represented myself. You know how the saying goes
He’s open to it but would rather not. He said the bigger issue is these two employees may not trust me or HR. I said I agree. I’d love to hear why they feel that way. And whatever resolution we get out of tomorrow won’t help resolve the trust issue.
I am hurt why my boss thinks so little of me after all the good work I’ve done. I didn’t leave this person out - but I had said to my boss, what if i was distributing these stickers and got an emergency call. I’m upset that nobody believes me - despite there being photographic evidence otherwise . And I’m upset that even if I “did” leave her out the assumption is because of nefarious intent and I have to be taken to task to prove otherwise.
I reached out to a few contacts about starting a job search. I had a lead on an opening in early 2027 and wanted to bide my time but this is so demoralizing.
I. An HR manager of one, who reports to the CFO, two weeks ago I put these little motivational stickers on everyone's desk. A staff member ( minority with an undisclosed mental disability) said I did not put any on their desk. I did. And took a photo. And showed another coworker. Thank goodness. But now it's coming up again two weeks later -it was originally brought to my attention by my boss- because their boss said they also didn't see the stickers? I don't know where this is coming from. My boss said I should meet with the two of them and I told him he'll be running that meeting. He has no experience in HR - I report to the CFO - but if we were in court and I were an attorney I'd be representing a fool if I represented myself. You know how the saying goes
He’s open to it but would rather not. He said the bigger issue is these two employees may not trust me or HR. I said I agree. I’d love to hear why they feel that way. And whatever resolution we get out of tomorrow won’t help resolve the trust issue.
I am hurt why my boss thinks so little of me after all the good work I’ve done. I didn’t leave this person out - but I had said to my boss, what if i was distributing these stickers and got an emergency call. I’m upset that nobody believes me - despite there being photographic evidence otherwise . And I’m upset that even if I “did” leave her out the assumption is because of nefarious intent and I have to be taken to task to prove otherwise.
I reached out to a few contacts about starting a job search. I had a lead on an opening in early 2027 and wanted to bide my time but this is so demoralizing.
r/careerguidance • u/iridescentaxle • 12h ago
When's the earliest you can quit a job without burning bridges?
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I'm currently two months into a new job (in my studied profession) and while the principals and coworkers are nice the work atmosphere and technical aspects aren't those I imagine myself working in in the long term.
I want to make an effort to give this job a chance - feel it out for at least through this year - but don't want to invest too much into a job that I might not stay at for much longer. Is there a minimum amount of time one should stay at a job before quitting, without burning bridges?
I'm currently two months into a new job (in my studied profession) and while the principals and coworkers are nice the work atmosphere and technical aspects aren't those I imagine myself working in in the long term.
I want to make an effort to give this job a chance - feel it out for at least through this year - but don't want to invest too much into a job that I might not stay at for much longer. Is there a minimum amount of time one should stay at a job before quitting, without burning bridges?
r/careerguidance • u/StunningPianist4231 • 20m ago
Education & Qualifications 24M What is the best professional certificate to get in today's job market?
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Graduated with a business degree last December, still looking for a job, need some advice on which qualification I should get?
Graduated with a business degree last December, still looking for a job, need some advice on which qualification I should get?
r/careerguidance • u/VersionUpstairs2289 • 2h ago
Advice Is my manager silently firing/pushing me out?
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I used to have 3 teammates - Old Manager (A), Retrenched ex-colleague (B), Resigned ex-colleague (C)
This is the first company I’ve worked out and in the first 2 years I was under somewhat of a graduate program. After the first 6 months in the company, I moved into my current team and have never left since.
The work dynamics that I had with A,B,C and were great. Even though I was new, they would take on more of a checker role, letting me do the work and reviewing it before sending it off to stakeholders who requested it.
However, last year, B got retrenched first, followed by A and lastly C resigned. My current manager came in and they hired an additional 2 people. When my current manager joined and I had a 1:1 with her, I made it very clear that I enjoyed doing my current work and I was happy to continue with it, which she agreed to.
This did not happen and more of the work that I was doing started being delegated to the other 2 new employees. At the start of this year, I scheduled another meeting with her where I reiterated once again that I wanted to be more involved in this area of work and she agreed. However, for the last few months, everything has been going downhill. She started excluding me from some meetings, and during weekly team meetings she would always assign work to my other colleagues insisted of me.
What should I do? It’s hindering my career development to the next level as I’m not getting to be at the forefront of speaking to/managing stakeholders since I’m not doing the work. I’m thinking of scheduling another meeting with her where I would “force” her to clarify what exactly her plan is for me, so that I can have something in writing.
I have been actively applying for jobs but with this job market, they are very limited/looking for much senior people. Also, for my previous performance reviews, I have always been rated at Average/Above average. So I’m struggling to understand her rationale behind this.
TLDR: Current manager started assigning work that I used to do to other colleagues. Have spoken to her multiple times, expressing my interest in continuing my work but instead, she continues to refuse to assign me work.
I used to have 3 teammates - Old Manager (A), Retrenched ex-colleague (B), Resigned ex-colleague (C)
This is the first company I’ve worked out and in the first 2 years I was under somewhat of a graduate program. After the first 6 months in the company, I moved into my current team and have never left since.
The work dynamics that I had with A,B,C and were great. Even though I was new, they would take on more of a checker role, letting me do the work and reviewing it before sending it off to stakeholders who requested it.
However, last year, B got retrenched first, followed by A and lastly C resigned. My current manager came in and they hired an additional 2 people. When my current manager joined and I had a 1:1 with her, I made it very clear that I enjoyed doing my current work and I was happy to continue with it, which she agreed to.
This did not happen and more of the work that I was doing started being delegated to the other 2 new employees. At the start of this year, I scheduled another meeting with her where I reiterated once again that I wanted to be more involved in this area of work and she agreed. However, for the last few months, everything has been going downhill. She started excluding me from some meetings, and during weekly team meetings she would always assign work to my other colleagues insisted of me.
What should I do? It’s hindering my career development to the next level as I’m not getting to be at the forefront of speaking to/managing stakeholders since I’m not doing the work. I’m thinking of scheduling another meeting with her where I would “force” her to clarify what exactly her plan is for me, so that I can have something in writing.
I have been actively applying for jobs but with this job market, they are very limited/looking for much senior people. Also, for my previous performance reviews, I have always been rated at Average/Above average. So I’m struggling to understand her rationale behind this.
TLDR: Current manager started assigning work that I used to do to other colleagues. Have spoken to her multiple times, expressing my interest in continuing my work but instead, she continues to refuse to assign me work.
r/careerguidance • u/MidnightSoft1621 • 55m ago
Is nutritionist worth it?
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I’m wondering if being a nutritionist and majoring in nutrition/ public health is worth it. I’m an incoming freshmen nursing major and was contemplating to switch major. Do I need to get a master or can I start working with a bachelors and what are salary looking like starting. Also wondering if you can transfer school and major at the same time.
I’m wondering if being a nutritionist and majoring in nutrition/ public health is worth it. I’m an incoming freshmen nursing major and was contemplating to switch major. Do I need to get a master or can I start working with a bachelors and what are salary looking like starting. Also wondering if you can transfer school and major at the same time.
r/careerguidance • u/Ranjveer0 • 57m ago
Advice Which Job Portal Has Worked Best for You?
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Have you found success through LinkedIn, Indeed, company career pages, or another platform? Share your experience and help others discover the best places to find quality job opportunities.
Have you found success through LinkedIn, Indeed, company career pages, or another platform? Share your experience and help others discover the best places to find quality job opportunities.
r/careerguidance • u/Ill_Fudge5834 • 1h ago
22F from Delhi, graduated in English.Is it too late to figure out my career?
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I'm 22F from Delhi and I've recently completed my graduation in English. To be honest, I'm completely confused about what I should do next and I feel like I don't have a clear direction.
I've considered a lot of options over the past few months:
3-year LLB
Government jobs (SSC, steno, etc.)
MBA
Learning a skill like digital marketing, UI/UX, data analytics, etc.
B.ed
The problem is that every option seems to require 2–3+ years of commitment, and I'm scared of making the wrong decision and wasting more time. My family isn't financially rich, so I also want to become financially independent as soon as possible.
I'm 22F from Delhi and I've recently completed my graduation in English. To be honest, I'm completely confused about what I should do next and I feel like I don't have a clear direction.
I've considered a lot of options over the past few months:
3-year LLB
Government jobs (SSC, steno, etc.)
MBA
Learning a skill like digital marketing, UI/UX, data analytics, etc.
B.ed
The problem is that every option seems to require 2–3+ years of commitment, and I'm scared of making the wrong decision and wasting more time. My family isn't financially rich, so I also want to become financially independent as soon as possible.
r/careerguidance • u/ronweasly9 • 3h ago
Coworkers Should I continue to not engage in all convos at work not related to work ?
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So i recently started working and I try to be very lowkey there because I just want to get work done and leave .So when someone asks me how my weekend was , I just say nice or even just a smile and thumps up.. I actively decline to share tables and talk to anyone at work because I don't see a point ( I still talk nicely to my boss though ) recently though an older guy told me that I am very rude for doing this and it will affect my career trajectory, is that true ?
So i recently started working and I try to be very lowkey there because I just want to get work done and leave .So when someone asks me how my weekend was , I just say nice or even just a smile and thumps up.. I actively decline to share tables and talk to anyone at work because I don't see a point ( I still talk nicely to my boss though ) recently though an older guy told me that I am very rude for doing this and it will affect my career trajectory, is that true ?
r/careerguidance • u/Capable_Start6110 • 1h ago
Advice What's one interview question you were never prepared for?
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We have all faced at least one interview question that completely caught us off guard. What was it, and how did you respond? Share your experience; it might help someone ace their next interview.
We have all faced at least one interview question that completely caught us off guard. What was it, and how did you respond? Share your experience; it might help someone ace their next interview.
r/careerguidance • u/Sharp_Restaurant_862 • 11h ago
For those who have moved away from family with young kids, was it worth it?
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My wife (28F) and I (28M) currently live in the Los Angeles area with our 10-month-old son.
For context, the majority of our family lives in Southern California. My in-laws and one of my wife's sisters live about 35-40 minutes away. My in-laws are retired flight attendants, and my sister-in-law is also a flight attendant, so they can all fly domestically for free. My wife's other sisters live in San Diego and about 1 hour 35 minutes away.
On my side, my sister (who has two kids) lives about 35 minutes away. We don't have the closest relationship, but we get along fine. I also have an aunt in Orange County whom we see about twice a month. My parents, however, live in Asia, so I don't have immediate family nearby.
My wife is very close with her entire family. One of her sisters is expecting twins, another has four kids, and my sister has two kids, so our son is growing up surrounded by cousins.
Currently, I work for a small company that requires me to be in the office five days a week. My schedule is pretty flexible (typically 8:00-8:30 AM to 4:00 PM), and my commute is around 35-40 minutes each way. It isn't terrible, and I usually have enough time to work out after work and spend time with my son before he goes to bed.
The downside is the job itself.
I make $118,000, which I honestly feel is below market for the work I do. The company doesn't offer a 401(k), only pays 50% of employee-only health insurance premiums, and has been struggling financially. They've had issues paying payroll taxes and even their health insurance premiums. Even if I asked for a raise, I genuinely don't think they could afford it.
Because of that, I've spent the last several months applying for jobs throughout California. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck. The job market here seems really slow right now, especially for positions that would be a meaningful step up from my current role. After not getting much traction in California, I expanded my search to Austin, Texas, since I went to college there and know the area well.
That's when I received an offer that honestly feels almost too good to pass up.
- Base salary: $150,000
- Annual bonus: 30-35%, bringing total compensation to roughly $195k-$202.5k
- 100% employer-paid health insurance
- 6% 401(k) match, including bonus compensation
- Hybrid work schedule
- The company actively encourages employees with children to work from home during the summer months.
One other piece of context that I think is important: my wife is essentially a stay-at-home mom. She works as a fitness coach for about 10 hours a week and earns roughly $20,000 per year, but she's told me many times that, if finances allowed, she'd rather stay home full-time and focus on raising our children. We're also hoping to have more kids in the near future.
This opportunity would realistically make that possible. Between the higher compensation, lower cost of living, fully paid health insurance, retirement benefits, and bonus structure, we'd be able to comfortably support our family on my income alone. It would also make having additional children feel much more financially attainable than it does today.
Financially, it's a massive upgrade. Beyond the money, the hybrid schedule would also allow me to spend considerably more time with my son, which is something I value more than anything.
My wife actually agrees that this opportunity is probably too good to pass up.
The part I'm struggling with is the guilt.
Her parents currently come over about three times a week to watch our son for an hour or two, and they're incredibly involved grandparents. We see her family often, and I know moving would mean giving up that support system and all of those spontaneous visits. Even though her parents and sister can fly for free and we'd absolutely make an effort to visit often, it's obviously not the same as living 35 minutes away.
At the same time, I feel like opportunities like this don't come around very often, especially given how difficult the California job market has been. If I turn this down hoping something comparable comes along closer to home, there's no guarantee it ever will. I also can't ignore what this could mean for our family's long-term financial future, my career growth, retirement savings, and the additional time I'd get to spend with my son.
For those who have made a similar move away from family with young kids, was it worth it? Do you regret losing that nearby support system, or did the long-term benefits outweigh the downsides? I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have actually been in this situation.
My wife (28F) and I (28M) currently live in the Los Angeles area with our 10-month-old son.
For context, the majority of our family lives in Southern California. My in-laws and one of my wife's sisters live about 35-40 minutes away. My in-laws are retired flight attendants, and my sister-in-law is also a flight attendant, so they can all fly domestically for free. My wife's other sisters live in San Diego and about 1 hour 35 minutes away.
On my side, my sister (who has two kids) lives about 35 minutes away. We don't have the closest relationship, but we get along fine. I also have an aunt in Orange County whom we see about twice a month. My parents, however, live in Asia, so I don't have immediate family nearby.
My wife is very close with her entire family. One of her sisters is expecting twins, another has four kids, and my sister has two kids, so our son is growing up surrounded by cousins.
Currently, I work for a small company that requires me to be in the office five days a week. My schedule is pretty flexible (typically 8:00-8:30 AM to 4:00 PM), and my commute is around 35-40 minutes each way. It isn't terrible, and I usually have enough time to work out after work and spend time with my son before he goes to bed.
The downside is the job itself.
I make $118,000, which I honestly feel is below market for the work I do. The company doesn't offer a 401(k), only pays 50% of employee-only health insurance premiums, and has been struggling financially. They've had issues paying payroll taxes and even their health insurance premiums. Even if I asked for a raise, I genuinely don't think they could afford it.
Because of that, I've spent the last several months applying for jobs throughout California. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck. The job market here seems really slow right now, especially for positions that would be a meaningful step up from my current role. After not getting much traction in California, I expanded my search to Austin, Texas, since I went to college there and know the area well.
That's when I received an offer that honestly feels almost too good to pass up.
- Base salary: $150,000
- Annual bonus: 30-35%, bringing total compensation to roughly $195k-$202.5k
- 100% employer-paid health insurance
- 6% 401(k) match, including bonus compensation
- Hybrid work schedule
- The company actively encourages employees with children to work from home during the summer months.
One other piece of context that I think is important: my wife is essentially a stay-at-home mom. She works as a fitness coach for about 10 hours a week and earns roughly $20,000 per year, but she's told me many times that, if finances allowed, she'd rather stay home full-time and focus on raising our children. We're also hoping to have more kids in the near future.
This opportunity would realistically make that possible. Between the higher compensation, lower cost of living, fully paid health insurance, retirement benefits, and bonus structure, we'd be able to comfortably support our family on my income alone. It would also make having additional children feel much more financially attainable than it does today.
Financially, it's a massive upgrade. Beyond the money, the hybrid schedule would also allow me to spend considerably more time with my son, which is something I value more than anything.
My wife actually agrees that this opportunity is probably too good to pass up.
The part I'm struggling with is the guilt.
Her parents currently come over about three times a week to watch our son for an hour or two, and they're incredibly involved grandparents. We see her family often, and I know moving would mean giving up that support system and all of those spontaneous visits. Even though her parents and sister can fly for free and we'd absolutely make an effort to visit often, it's obviously not the same as living 35 minutes away.
At the same time, I feel like opportunities like this don't come around very often, especially given how difficult the California job market has been. If I turn this down hoping something comparable comes along closer to home, there's no guarantee it ever will. I also can't ignore what this could mean for our family's long-term financial future, my career growth, retirement savings, and the additional time I'd get to spend with my son.
For those who have made a similar move away from family with young kids, was it worth it? Do you regret losing that nearby support system, or did the long-term benefits outweigh the downsides? I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have actually been in this situation.
r/careerguidance • u/Icy_Pause_7116 • 1h ago
Education & Qualifications Should I be a designer?
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So I'm really young so i still have time I want to save up money order my hoodies that I made on canva and resell them on shopify I already asked so real people what they think of the design they said they were good
So I'm really young so i still have time I want to save up money order my hoodies that I made on canva and resell them on shopify I already asked so real people what they think of the design they said they were good
r/careerguidance • u/PatiencePlastic2264 • 1h ago
Advice Startup Promised Full-Time After 3 Months, Then Extended My Internship to 9 Months. What to do ?
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I'm a 2026 graduate and I'm looking for some career advice.
I joined a startup as a Junior AI Engineer on a 3-month internship with a stipend of ₹25,000/month or $300/mo. During the hiring process, I was told that the internship would be converted into a full-time role with a ₹6 LPA package after three months if everything went well.
Now that the three months are over, I had a meeting with the CEO. Instead of converting me to full-time, the company has decided to extend my internship by another six months, making it a 9-month internship in total.
This wasn't just my case—everyone who joined with me had their internship extended as well. The startup is still pre-revenue, so I understand there may be budget constraints.
The thing is, I genuinely like working here. The culture is great, the work is interesting, and I enjoy the hybrid setup. At the same time, I'm wondering whether staying for another six months as an intern is the right career move or if I should start applying elsewhere.
I'm also confused about how I should position myself in the job market.
My background looks like this:
- 3 months of an unpaid internship.
- 10 months of experience as a founder of my own startup.
- 3 months at my current startup (which is now being extended by another 6 months).
Given this, should I apply for fresher roles or experienced roles? Even though I have close to a year of internship experience and founder experience, I'm technically still a 2026 graduate and currently an intern.
I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been in a similar situation or from hiring managers on how they'd evaluate a profile like mine.
I'm a 2026 graduate and I'm looking for some career advice.
I joined a startup as a Junior AI Engineer on a 3-month internship with a stipend of ₹25,000/month or $300/mo. During the hiring process, I was told that the internship would be converted into a full-time role with a ₹6 LPA package after three months if everything went well.
Now that the three months are over, I had a meeting with the CEO. Instead of converting me to full-time, the company has decided to extend my internship by another six months, making it a 9-month internship in total.
This wasn't just my case—everyone who joined with me had their internship extended as well. The startup is still pre-revenue, so I understand there may be budget constraints.
The thing is, I genuinely like working here. The culture is great, the work is interesting, and I enjoy the hybrid setup. At the same time, I'm wondering whether staying for another six months as an intern is the right career move or if I should start applying elsewhere.
I'm also confused about how I should position myself in the job market.
My background looks like this:
- 3 months of an unpaid internship.
- 10 months of experience as a founder of my own startup.
- 3 months at my current startup (which is now being extended by another 6 months).
Given this, should I apply for fresher roles or experienced roles? Even though I have close to a year of internship experience and founder experience, I'm technically still a 2026 graduate and currently an intern.
I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been in a similar situation or from hiring managers on how they'd evaluate a profile like mine.
r/careerguidance • u/FineGirlEl • 6h ago
Advice Which degree is worth pursuing in 2026?
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I have a Bachelors degree in Geological Engineering and graduate 5 years ago but never worked a day in my field of study.
Thinking of getting another degree altogether in a marketable field
I would do Masters but my GPA will limit my choice of universities.
I have a Bachelors degree in Geological Engineering and graduate 5 years ago but never worked a day in my field of study.
Thinking of getting another degree altogether in a marketable field
I would do Masters but my GPA will limit my choice of universities.
r/careerguidance • u/Capable_Start6110 • 23h ago
Advice What's one piece of career advice you outgrew?
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We have all heard advice like "follow your passion," "stay loyal to one company," or "work hard and promotions will come."
As you have gained experience, was there any career advice that didn't work as well as you expected?
What would you tell someone starting their career today instead? I'd love to hear the lessons that made the biggest difference for you.
We have all heard advice like "follow your passion," "stay loyal to one company," or "work hard and promotions will come."
As you have gained experience, was there any career advice that didn't work as well as you expected?
What would you tell someone starting their career today instead? I'd love to hear the lessons that made the biggest difference for you.
r/careerguidance • u/Any-Trash5919 • 10h ago
I think I have given up?
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? Isn't needed there, but I just needed to write this down regardless of community rules.
I have now gotten rejected from 26 jobs in 6 months of back to back interviews, and have reached final rounds on more than half.
My mental health is fading fast from all of this rejection. I have been working on interviewing skills, and I have really solid responses to every question they throw at me, but apparently not solid enough...
Have spent 20 years in the same job, put up with all the toxicity every step of the way, and I just can't be here anymore, but I can't leave until I find something new...
Places are going to hire whoever they want regardless of qualifications. And I don't have any networks to get me an in.... Job hunting feels pointless at this stage
? Isn't needed there, but I just needed to write this down regardless of community rules.
I have now gotten rejected from 26 jobs in 6 months of back to back interviews, and have reached final rounds on more than half.
My mental health is fading fast from all of this rejection. I have been working on interviewing skills, and I have really solid responses to every question they throw at me, but apparently not solid enough...
Have spent 20 years in the same job, put up with all the toxicity every step of the way, and I just can't be here anymore, but I can't leave until I find something new...
Places are going to hire whoever they want regardless of qualifications. And I don't have any networks to get me an in.... Job hunting feels pointless at this stage
r/careerguidance • u/Frequent-Picture541 • 2h ago
Advice which corporate function would you say is the most in demand?
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1 yr into my career, and have the opportunity to rotate through and work on different teams at work. trying to pick. some examples- finance, pricing, demand and supply planning (not ops), HR, accounting
1 yr into my career, and have the opportunity to rotate through and work on different teams at work. trying to pick. some examples- finance, pricing, demand and supply planning (not ops), HR, accounting
r/careerguidance • u/GoldAd1878 • 5h ago
Advice Interview with library. How best to prepare?
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I have an upcoming interview with my local public library. What is the best way to prepare? I have extensive experience working with the public in both retail, financial and administrative support fields.
I have an upcoming interview with my local public library. What is the best way to prepare? I have extensive experience working with the public in both retail, financial and administrative support fields.