Feeling lost and dont know what to do in my life. Should l keep studying or find a job?

MrBarbs on 20/12/2022 - 16:58

Hi guys, l seeking the wise advice of the OzBargainers. I'm currently 21 years old and graduated with a Bachelor of Advance Science (Pre-med). After finishing High School, my aim was to become a doctor. However, because l didn't get the highest atar, doing this course would be my best option as it could provide me with the background knowledge of becoming a doctor.

Fast forward to now, I've realized that a career as a doctor is not for me. I did not enjoy what l studied and l believe if l would to continue that l would fail as the amount of knowledge that one must learn is incredible. When going to the doctors, l now appreciate the amount of endurance they must have gone through to become what they are.

So now I have this degree and l don't know what to do in my life. After graduating, I've been looking for a job like a Medical assistant or Research assistant (things of that nature) and having no luck. The competition in this field is so high with the pay being so low. Am l looking in the wrong areas?

I have to decide if I want to go back to studying or keep on trying to find a job. I've always liked computers, enjoying how they work and the software that runs them so maybe a degree in computer science would be beneficial for me to get a job in the field of IT. I have the opportunity to work as a Teacher or as Plumber (been working in this field for years now but not as an apprentice). I may like teaching but l definitely don't like Plumbing though it would be the easiest path for me to take as I've been working in it for years.

In summary, I need advice on a career path l should take. Keep trying to find a job in the field of my degree, obtain a new degree like computer science, or become a teacher or a plumber. Thanks for reading the story of my life and value any comment that you guys could give me.

Education & Work

Comments

  • ihbh on 20/12/2022 - 20:01
    +5

    Keep trying to find a job in the field of my degree

    Your degree taught you how to learn. Use that skill to apply to a job that you will enjoy and can find readily.

  • star-ggg on 20/12/2022 - 20:43

    You're young so definitely try IT if you think that might be your field. Enrol in comp sci and see if you enjoy the first year. There are many different fields to specialise in comp sci not just software development. Considering medicine is also a science you could very well find a niche area to specialise in that combines the two fields.

  • KaTst3R on 20/12/2022 - 21:02
    -1

    Investment banking takes in grads from different disciplines other than finance because the teams usually cover a wide range of sectors.

    If you are interested in IT, go for it. Best to do something you are interested in.

    As someone who makes hiring decisions, I usually question people when they state a gap year in their resume. Unless they can tell me the most interesting story or life experience, I generally assume people put a gap year in because they have been unsuccessful in finding a real job for the past 12 months.

    • MrBarbs on 20/12/2022 - 21:52

      How does one get into Investment banking, seems interesting?

      • KaTst3R on 20/12/2022 - 22:53

        Apply online for graduate programs. Do a psychometric test, some times required to write an essay of a given topic. There could be group interviews where people are asked to discuss a topic (usually a business case) and present. If selected into the short list, meet with team and MD.

        • greatlamp on 22/12/2022 - 09:07
          -1

          Downvote for accurate information. Classy

          • KaTst3R on 22/12/2022 - 09:18

            @greatlamp: Got used to it. Welcome to the internet.

          • exit on 24/12/2022 - 01:09

            @greatlamp: It’s not accurate. Investment banks do not do group interviews and they do technical interviews around finance concepts. Nothing to do with group interviews and business cases.

      • exit on 24/12/2022 - 01:10

        If you want to get into business, I recommend management consulting over investment banking instead. Much more variety of work which is suitable for someone who isn’t sure on what they want to do, and lower barrier to entry depending on quality of firm.

  • barbarella on 20/12/2022 - 21:21
    +2

    what about Radiology?

    • akanub on 20/12/2022 - 21:48
      +5

      that's a doctor.

      • altomic on 20/12/2022 - 23:46
        -2

        You dont need to be a dr to take the pics

        • singlemalt72 on 21/12/2022 - 13:52
          +9

          That is a radiographer

          • altomic on 22/12/2022 - 01:25

            @singlemalt72: Who works in radiology

            • siege on 22/12/2022 - 07:07
              +3

              @altomic: @altomic FTFY: Who works in radiography

              • altomic on 22/12/2022 - 10:56

                @siege: About half of the staff

              • buckethat on 22/12/2022 - 18:32

                @siege: TIL.. never knew they were different..

                Apparently radiogaphers make between 73k on average.. where as radiologist can make up to 450k.. so quite the difference.

            • singlemalt72 on 22/12/2022 - 08:35
              +2

              @altomic: Two related but quite different fields my friend

  • Dejy on 20/12/2022 - 22:03
    +8

    To be fair I think most people feel overwhelmed at some stage during their schooling, also I don't know many people who enjoyed what they studied.

    Stick it out, follow your initial aim.

    I went the engineering route and working in various roles from technician, engineering design to engineering management every role had perks and negatives. Throughout the whole process it's always had times when I though maybe I would've preferred another field or what if.. But I think it's normal to think this with the grass is greener on the other side mentality, but realistically work is work and you'll enjoy some aspects and dislike others it's never going to be 100% likeable.

  • nephilim on 20/12/2022 - 23:04
    +2

    Have you considered Allied Health? Masters of Occupational therapy or something similar
    Your 21, another 2 years of study won't hurt you

  • kouk on 20/12/2022 - 23:34
    +1

    You said you do not like plumbing, so no need to consider that again. Teaching can be rewarding, two of my friends have pivoted into teaching in the last few years after they were not able to break into their chosen fields. They are both happy but it's not without its own set of challenges.
    There are a few good options offered here already, I would suggest you still have plenty of time to figure it out and not to panic. If you believe you feel this way because you're overwhelmed, then maybe a gap year would be great for you.

  • altomic on 20/12/2022 - 23:47
    -1

    Study law. Pass bar, Get in to personal injury claims as you have pre-med to assist in that career path

  • fossilfuel on 21/12/2022 - 00:17
    +6

    I would go into IT. There's huge potential for growth and many new opportunities as technology advances.

    As much as I like teaching, I would not do it again. Teachers are overworked, undervalued and underpaid. The job is a split 50-50 between teaching and admin. It's not a 9-3 job, you may need to come in early for meetings, stay late for professional learning then mark/lesson plan at night. You might also use your school holidays to program for the next term.

  • Overclocked91 on 21/12/2022 - 07:04

    Studying pre-med, does that give you direct entry into medicine? Or do you need to sit GAMSAT? I would continue on and not break. Push through. If you have a break for a year or whatever, you may find you won't want to go back.

    • MrBarbs on 21/12/2022 - 08:13

      Nope, it does not. You would have to take GAMSAT and study post-graduate Medicine. I do want to further study medicine as l know l will not enjoy it. If l find a job in my field that would be nice and keep me motivated, otherwise it's a change of career for me. This discussion really open my eyes to my next step in life.

      • Millikano on 21/12/2022 - 18:49
        +10

        Hey,

        I went through a similar situation to you, though it went for longer. I studied Engineering, stretched it out due to moving away and switching to part time, didn't do well in a few subjects, and by the time I'd finished I wasn't sure it was for me. I thought I would then pursue Medicine, as it was a field where I could directly help people. I started studying BioMed and after six months, realised that I'd been studying for so long I'd burnt out and needed to go try some full time career work (rather than the near full-time retail work I'd been doing while studying). I was 27 when I started working as an Engineer, and after 8 years I was doing really well. The first few were very challenging but purposeful.

        If I could give any advice to my 21 year old self now, it would be the following:
        1) You'll be glad that you spent time partying and making friends without pressure for a couple of years
        2) If you have the money to travel and work overseas for 12 months, do it. I didn't, and looking back I think it would've been amazing (many of my friends met their wives/husbands overseas and had great life experience and friendship networks that's helped them in their future careers)
        3) If you work hard at what you're doing, you can financially succeed in most careers. The soft skills (listening, empathy, communication) make a huge difference- if you make people feel good then you'll be more likely to have success and be promoted, as well as making friends and being a more helpful business partner.
        4) Take a few risks and don't be afraid to try something that you're truly passionate about. If you aren't passionate about anything in particular, go and explore/travel/try something new, until you've figured it out. If you find something that you're passionate about, are good at, and is in demand (ideally all three), pursue it and you'll be set.
        5) Figure out what you stand for. If you work hard to figure out your own beliefs and share your experiences respectfully, you'll have more interesting interactions and people will remember you.

        Don't be worried that you don't have it all figured out yet. It'll be okay, and many/most people are on a journey through their twenties learning about who they really are, and what they stand for. IT and Engineering are great fields, as is Medicine. It doesn't hurt to go and work in something completely different (bars, retail, hospitality, snow-fields) to get a rounded perspective too while you figure it all out. Work hard and have fun!

        Best of luck.

        • Kangal on 21/12/2022 - 19:54
          +1

          Thanks for this comment 😌

      • Overclocked91 on 22/12/2022 - 07:43

        Ok, fair enough. GAMSAT is a stressful, horrible thing to do. Same as what I did. I studied Anatomy and Human biology/Physiology to hopefully study Ophthalmology but ended up going back to the trade after my undergrad. So, I know what you're going through.

      • Hangryuman on 22/12/2022 - 10:00
        -4

        'I do want to further study medicine as l know l will not enjoy it'

        ahm - Engrish … how's your grandma ?

        'if I find … would be nice … keep me motivated' - lacks something - like fire in the belly - incentive/drive/ambition ?

        • Millikano on 22/12/2022 - 12:35
          +3

          You can either build people up or push them down. This person has come to a forum to share their mindset, which isn’t great, and you are choosing to make them feel worse. Why?

  • mischke on 21/12/2022 - 08:24
    +2

    I've worked in IT as a developer for 7 years so far and I highly recommend IT if you are naturally drawn to solving problems and like computers.

    I completed a bachelor in Japanese and communication studies first, but just lost interest, as I didn't apply myself so wasn't very good at it. Also, any written assignments I found hard and taxing, but programming assignments I found fun.

    Then I did a computing studies degree. With IT, once you're into your first role, you'll be fine for work for the rest of your life.

    I wouldn't be too concerned about constant learning as you can learn new things while on the job. The best developers are passionate and constantly learn off the clock though.

    Some people get into the industry without formal qualifications and fake it till they make it.
    Others do computing studies type degrees which I felt was pretty easy.
    Others do math heavy computer science.
    And some do software engineering which has engineering fundamentals which I understand can be super challenging; overkill.

    Good luck in whatever decision you make, or no decision right now is still a valid choice too.

    • Mr Haj on 22/12/2022 - 16:33

      Are you saying you went back to uni to do a 2nd bachelor's degree? Can you provide links to the courses you're referring to?

  • bahgsy on 21/12/2022 - 09:07
    +2

    Honestly, the actual degree that you have doesn't really matter that much in the long run. There are plenty of grad roles that would take someone with a bachelor of science. Government role might not be a bad shout.

  • afah0447 on 21/12/2022 - 09:08

    Some sort of post-grad IT qualification in the medical field. It's a growing industry and you will be top of the pack. No brainer.

  • footscrayvic on 21/12/2022 - 09:15
    +1

    If I were you I'd get a job so I can get some cash behind me. But get one with an employer that supports study. Then you can work, earn money and also retrain into computing if that is your gig. It is hard work but worth it in the end.

    I took this approach with a govt job (started with BSc). As my role(s) changed I got extra quals in computing, finance and procurement.

    A science degree is a great starting point for almost anything. It gives you great skills in problem solving.

  • 2esc on 21/12/2022 - 11:07

    Can you speak to some of your lecturers you had maybe they can suggest a different path based on your studies.

    Its actually surprising how many niche jobs are out there the problem is finding one to suit your skills.

    Councillers i generally found useless but i may have been unfortunate.

  • Socialsuicide01 on 21/12/2022 - 12:01
    +1

    With your experience in pre-med and interest in teaching as well as IT my advice would be to persue a career as a registered nurse. I have been registered since '88 and am still amazed at the different career paths people choose, the variety is jaw dropping. Nursing allowed me to work in London for 10yrs and it was extremely satisfying.

  • PopCounty on 21/12/2022 - 12:29
    +1

    If you have passion for computers, can certainly recommend to take this seriously. But not just with softwares. Get focused on Cloud + AI/ML + basic to good level of Cyber Sec understanding. If you can prove you have commanded well in these areas and are confident, I am pretty sure you would start getting calls from consultancies in 6 months.

    I once hired a college graduate (graduation being min requirement) because he hosted his resume on AWS. Had interview with him and mostly asked about those areas. As a hiring manager, what I found was, he had proved to be different and was wiling to learn and perform for any forthcoming challenges. Had offered him 6 figures salary. Later I realised he was from bio background which didn’t matter anyway. Good luck.

    • Mr Haj on 22/12/2022 - 13:12

      6 figures for a grad? I chose the wrong industry.

  • Specialist Diaz on 21/12/2022 - 12:34
    +1

    Don't do more study. Get a great-paying job in resources / mining / minerals processing using your existing degree, for example as a lab tech, graduate analytical chemist or even an environmental officer. You will likely have to move to a regional area, but you can always move back to a city after a few years' experience in the field.

    • nswnotill on 21/12/2022 - 13:00
      +1

      I agree with a career in resources/mining. Employers are crying out for applicants. Remuneration is good. However a move to a regional area (Hunter Valley NSW or Bowen Basin Qld ) is necessary.

      • singlemalt72 on 21/12/2022 - 13:55

        Or FNQ, Western Australia, Northern Territory …. the great bulk of mining/resources is nowhere near a capital city …. or a decent town!

        • christopher8827 on 22/12/2022 - 00:17

          How is the social life in the middle of nowhere though?

  • trapper on 21/12/2022 - 12:36
    +4

    I would not pursue another degree unless there is a specific career or job that you are passionate about that requires a specific degree.

    It is important to prioritise finding work that you find fulfilling and enjoyable, rather than solely chasing financial gain.

    So approach it in the opposite order. Figure out which jobs would be fulfilling and enjoyable, and then focus on which of those that pays better.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 21/12/2022 - 13:04
    +1

    Science on its own 'is a fairly' useless degree it often requires some sort of 'post graduate' masters, PHD etc to be 'useful' and good future opportunities

    my advice is talk to a guidance councillor …..however

    If i was in you 'position' id like at a post grade course i could ideally knock out within 2 years ie Teaching, Allied Health Masters etc to get some 'stem' qualifications

    at least that way you will have skills that will pay 'well' enough - youre only 21 so a bit more study wouldnt hurt and a science degree doesnt lead you very far it certainly doesnt give you opportunities that 'pay well'

  • elloo on 21/12/2022 - 13:10

    You could try looking into https://www.fdmgroup.com/ — it includes tech training and a placement with a major banking or financial institution (CBA, Macquarie, SportsBet etc). The catch is that the training costs 30k if you don't go through with the 2-year placement. However, in my experience it's a good place to start for people in similar situations as yours (and what was once also mine). The workload of the placement also varies but it seems reasonable at the end of the day. It's definitely not like you're worked to the bone once you've graduated the training period. DM me if you decide to apply (there's a referral bonus ^-^). Always open to more questions of course.

    • MrBarbs on 17/01/2023 - 17:15

      Late reply sorry about that. Have you worked for FDM, seems like a good company and opportunity. Is it hard to get in and what's the referral bonus about?

      • elloo on 23/01/2023 - 10:47

        No worries. I'm working for them right now and got placed at CBA as a test automation engineer.

        The difficulty of the interview seems to be based on chance but you do need to know at least a bit of coding. I failed my first technical interview (how to reverse a sentence in place) but was given a second chance based off the strength of my soft-skills interview. From memory, the second technical interview was less of a leet-code challenge and more of a test of how I think and apply basic coding knowledge. My recruiter said that my soft-skills interview was so strong that they would have looked for a different role for me (I'm assuming something more like a business analyst position than an IT position) had I failed the technical part altogether. There are multiple phases to the interviewing stage though (including a video recording stage and a general knowledge / critical thinking test). All up, I think it sounds scarier on paper than it is in-person. That said, you do need self-confidence to avoid being intimidated.

        For the referral bonus: the referrer gets $900 AUD on completion of the referee's training or first day of placement with a client.

        You can also try the training for one or two weeks to decide if it's worth the $30k before they lock you in to paying that fee (if you don't see out your two-year placement). We had one person out of our cohort of 14 leave before that initial trial period was up because he was studying a Master's degree and wanted to finish that. He was also an anti-vaxxer so he felt that the banks wouldn't want to take him on. They hire year-round and constantly have cohorts undergoing training.

        I gotta admit, at first I was put off by reviews of FDM that I read elsewhere on the internet. I'm glad I decided to give them a shot though because they do offer genuine support for you and don't try to rip you off or anything like that. I did read a mention that the Australian branch of FDM is better than other places though.

        • sss143 on 21/04/2023 - 10:26

          @Elloo I'm trying to DM you but looks like you have not enabled private messaging in your profile.

          I've done Salesforce training with (https://australia.generation.org/) but no real work internships or entry level jobs from their side. Looks like they are simply training people and leaving to the market. And almost all jobs required fair bit of experience so no chances for me so far. Not sure why generation Austr. still continuting what they are doing…

          Personally I've done 4 certifications in Salesforce and achieved many super badges (salesforce way of keeping updated). Currently working as a intern with a small indian based team along with doing couple of volunteer assignments with US, UK non-profit orgs.

          Being in 30's with dependent child, can't afford to continue forever like this unless some paying job comes up. After seeing your comments about FDM- I got bit of positivity. Could you please shed some lite on which path yields quicker outcome to real paying work/job ?

          Infact when I joined GA, I felt same feeling of getting a job and all that but after training- they threw me into the ocean so just want be careful with FDM.

  • ozbloke2 on 21/12/2022 - 13:16

    Here's a free personality test that might give you some insight into where you might like to head. A good career counselor will do this sort of thing with you and help you work through and explore the results.
    https://www.16personalities.com/

  • drfuzzy on 21/12/2022 - 13:38
    +4

    I'm a doctor and double your age.
    When I was your age I studied medicine despite it being not what I wanted to do, but because I could do it.
    I was equally lost.
    Do not be hard on yourself, the feelings you are experiencing are normal.

    • pinkybrain on 22/12/2022 - 08:04

      Username checks out.

  • Willy Beamish on 21/12/2022 - 13:58
    +1

    You want a career?

    Plumber is your best option

    • MrBarbs on 21/12/2022 - 14:05
      +2

      Your the first person to suggest to work as a Plumber. If l wanted a job in plumbing, l could get one tomorrow.
      That’s how easy it would be for me.

      l worked in it for years privately and did not enjoy it one bit. Tho is does have its easy days. I want a career l can enjoy for the rest of my life and plumbing is definitely not it

      • KiKH on 21/12/2022 - 14:34

        Hydraulics building services engineering would have you learning Australian building standards and applying them to design and draft plumbing/drainage layouts. Just something you could have a think about.

      • Willy Beamish on 21/12/2022 - 15:37

        I don't enjoy my job but I also don't hate it. You need to have a think about what you don't like about that job and find out if you don't like it because it's like every other job that isn't supposed to be fun or if you actually hate doing what you are doing.

        Honestly the best option is whatever puts money in your pocket, once you have that money SAVE SAVE SAVE so then down the line you have something to fall back on when you want to pursue other avenues.

        • buckethat on 23/12/2022 - 10:06
          +1

          Imo this is bad advice. The guy is 21, said he's been doing it for several years already and hates it and your suggestion is for him to pick it as his career when he's got plenty of options out there. It's pretty important to get a job that you don't hate doing if you're in a position to do so, to avoid burnout and longevity.

          Honestly the best option is whatever puts money in your pocket

          So literally any job.

      • drfuzzy on 23/12/2022 - 13:55

        What would you enjoy?
        I studied medicine but my passion has always been in IT.
        Over time I found ways to blend career and passion, but lucky are those who are passionate about a high demand career.

  • field1985 on 21/12/2022 - 15:44
    +6

    Get out in the world, go travelling, work a bunch of jobs (hospo/retail/manual labour), get exposed to a wide range of people, then come back when you are 25 and reevaluate want for the rest of your life.

    You need to work out what you want and you need experience to work that out.

    Don't stress mate. The world is your oyster. It is completely normal to feels this way.

    90% of people in this forum would happily trade places with you.

    I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are still very young. Enjoy it while it lasts. Dont spend it chasing jobs you dont want anyway.

    Good luck!

  • ass3ts on 21/12/2022 - 15:45
    +1

    Everyone wants to earn tons of money while doing the work they enjoy, love, and never get tired of. That's the dream, but what's the reality for most people? If the money is the priority, then probably start by sticking to a bearable profession that pays well and compensate it by finding interesting hobbies funded by that money.

  • portard on 21/12/2022 - 16:00

    I did computer science as my second degree (when I was the same age as you) and it was the best decision I ever made. My first degree (3 years) was employable but I hated the work and the culture of the industry.
    I am not a coding whiz by any means, but I am decent at my job and the work is interesting enough that I don't want to kms everyday at work. In my opinion, being a software engineer has the best effort to reward ratio, i.e you don't work too hard and you get paid a lot. Obviously this varies by employer but in general you work much less than other corpo industries. No I don't love coding and I don't code in my spare time after work, and no you don't have to do this to have a successful career (I don't know anyone in my team who codes outside work). But yes I do enjoy this work as my job, more than anything else I've done as a job.

  • monkeyfood on 21/12/2022 - 16:07

    Mr Salieri is always looking for people

  • ahly92 on 21/12/2022 - 18:11
    +1

    If you want tobget into IT/software engineering, I would try applying for Consulting firms grad intakes (Accenture, deloitte, PWC, EY ect) you dont really need an IT degree to get into the specific teams. Once in tney will train you in whatever u need and get certifications as you specialise in an area/field. This is what ive seen in the consulting industry neing 4 years in. I had a health/science background and got into Technolog at one of the Big5 a year in moved to more consulting focused…

    Tldr, you dont need to study further save up ur hecs debt and apply to consulting grab intakes

    • drfuzzy on 23/12/2022 - 13:57

      What kind of income do you get doing that?
      I think for most healthcare people the workload would increase and remuneration decrease, particularly for doctors.
      The large consulting firms tend to be quite demanding, as is big pharma.

  • ldt on 21/12/2022 - 18:22

    Get yourself a job and start finding out what you want to do. You can study later/while you’re working.
    A degree is nice but it’s not what’s going to get you a job (it’ll help), your experience will.

  • DiscoJango on 21/12/2022 - 18:43

    Travel. You might find yourself.

    Watch lost in translation.

  • whatgift on 21/12/2022 - 18:45
    +1

    Don't feel you need to have a long term career, try some jobs for a while and see what you like.

    I trained as a teacher, found I didn't like classroom teaching, then taught Outdoor Recreation for 15 years.

    Since leaving that behind (work life balance reasons) I've done everything from a lifeguard to now working in government, in which I've had several positions. I've not needed any high-level qualifications for the jobs I've been doing, I've learnt most of it as I've gone along, and have lots of transferable skills.

  • Dack Smith on 21/12/2022 - 18:56

    Not sure what you can do, but try to get a decent job - you don’t want to be looked down upon by society.

    Medicine may not be for you but the elite business world beckons, where connections and inflated resumes get you flying sky high and soaring rich.

    And you don’t even have to be all that competent either, just good with your spin, references and people skills.

    • greatlamp on 22/12/2022 - 09:00

      I disagree, to succeed in the elite business world you either have connections, or you are an excellent student. The fact that there is such a low barrier to entry means you need to do more to stand out. The successful people you see are a fraction of the workforce.

      Most people I have met who are successful in the industry have the aptitude to be Doctors or engineers or they had connections that put them into a very impressive graduate placement.

      If you are an average student with no connections, you can look forward to a career in back office administration, you aren't getting hired as a graduate consultant and will never have the opportunity to build connections in the first place.

  • LoserScott on 21/12/2022 - 18:58

    Your problem is what weight of society's opinion is, and for that life's over.

    If that's the case, then you make those with no degree or coming from a 3rd world country look like a god, because if you cannot over come your problem then the problems you.

  • BumbaT on 21/12/2022 - 19:00
    +6

    Go to Japan, live there and teach school kids some english. Money is not the best but since you are 21 you need some time to open yourself up to new experiences, ideas and a culture that may be a lot different to australia.

    Being out of your comfort zone in a place where you wont have many to fall back on will kick start your brain and soul, just what you need to figure out your next step in life.

  • belongsinforums on 21/12/2022 - 19:14

    Did teaching as second degree. It's ok. Steady career that will last you past retirement age. Somewhat of a low ceiling pay wise. If you go IT, make sure your field has a long future. Programming seems to be the way.

  • BartholemewH on 21/12/2022 - 20:10

    You know what's worse than wasting time on a degree you don't use? Going back to get another one. Work for a while and see how you feel about things. You have the aptitude, try a few different industries.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2022 - 21:15

    Think about what you values the most.

    Money? A plumber often can make way more money than most of the jobs you've mentioned but its not exacrly a fancy work & need to get yourh hands dirty.

    Teaching career is only for someone have good patients and like kids. Money is sorta OK and maximum WLB however not easy to get a good job. Except for overseas ESL teacher roles.

    Academic career is more about fame and for someone enjoy research type thing.

    As an IT guy, I can tell you the market will be really bad for coming years. It got so bloated during covid and now facing massive layoffs everywhere. It's alright job if you like computer stuffs tho.

    • Hangryuman on 22/12/2022 - 10:11
      +1

      Spoke to my favourite plumber yesterday - he's just back from honeymoon with a baby on the way - he's a sole operator who gives excellent service and is a happy guy

      saw my favourite electrician last week - he's semi-retired but mostly only working for the social meetups with old friends and coffee (e.g. with me) - he keeps telling me about the large amounts of money he's handling for friends overseas or all the new special vehicles he's ordering - seems to me like he's got too much money - he's a happy guy

      contentment comes from within - if you look outside for happiness, you might never have enough

      e.g. when you can finally afford to fly first-class, you realise your peers have private jets …

    • buckethat on 23/12/2022 - 10:11

      How much do plumbers make exactly? I've always been told they rake in big bucks but all these websites suggest the average income of plumbers are usually well below 100k, which I don't think is too indicative of how much plumbers actually make.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2022 - 12:19

        Reckon thats for employees. Sole traders make 200k+ easy.

        • buckethat on 23/12/2022 - 12:36

          Damn, I should go be a plumber!

  • renster72 on 21/12/2022 - 21:47

    no need to do a degree in IT, do some cyber security training

  • goldiep on 21/12/2022 - 21:49
    +2

    At 21 - just do something, and branch off from there!

    I started an apprenticeship at 21, and working now as an OHS consultant! The trade have me excellent hands on and pragmatic knowledge which had carried me very far! The best thing I did ever; lots of character building, too (shitty specifics wage).

    I'm still studying, too! About to go back to do a graduate diploma of psychology (turn 39 next year).

    • fossilfuel on 21/12/2022 - 22:24
      +1

      Good luck with the grad dip! I did the honours route and finished rego. Never thought I'd make it this far and I'm seriously contemplating doing a standalone masters degree in the future. It's never too late to go back and study.

  • squaredonut on 21/12/2022 - 22:37

    One of the things in life that a lot of people need to face and also be pragmatic about is it's quite often to end up in a career you don't like but pays well, or end up in a career that you do like but does not pay well and it's difficult to find a job in.

    You won't always be like everyone that can encounter both a great field but also have high paying and also a healthy job market to go by.

    My personal opinion is, you've done the degree, and you've got a mixed foundational skillset, I would not study more, unless you really want to accumulate even more student loan debt.

    Studying, and choosing your career and being lost becomes a thing of the past pretty quickly, and you will look back and think I really wish I didn't waste so many years studying.

    Like some others have said you're pretty young, so you have plenty of choices to experiment.

    If you're genuinely interested in IT and Software Development, don't bother studying Computer Science, as studying it doesn't entirely equate to an ability to work in this field. You're better off choosing a tech stack, do some courses, do some side projects, establish a portfolio and then applying for Junior jobs, and do the hard yards, but the most important is to be in a position where you're around smart people who can mentor you fast.

  • frostee on 21/12/2022 - 22:49

    What city? Location can have a lot to do with it also.

  • jtc13 on 21/12/2022 - 23:12

    Get a job at a big 4 bank and after some time move into the project work side of things. Pay is good and plenty of opportunities in a big 4 bank after you have cut your teeth in a call centre or similar role.

  • bobolo on 21/12/2022 - 23:50

    You're not supposed to know what you want to do at 21

    Your job at this age is to take risks and try as many things as you can - don't look for security at this point - you will almost certainly be disappointed later in life.

    By the time you're 30 you'd hope to have a pretty good idea about what you want to do and the idea now is how you can monetize it

    By 40 you would hope to have created a well oiled machine from this passion and really start making some big bucks whilst thoroughly enjoying the process (yes it will be painful and frustrating too)

    By 50 you'd want whatever you created to be self sustaining and bring you a significant level of passive income so you can choose to do what you want

    Failing is a part of it. Your current failure is that you thought you wanted to be a doctor but realised its not for you or that you don't have what it takes to become one. Get used to it. Its going to happen probably hundreds of times before you find your groove.

  • cunningdrew on 22/12/2022 - 01:21

    21 with a bach of advanced science? You will be ok. You don't need to know what you want to do with your life yet. Have fun, enjoy the world. There's time.

  • eklipsils on 22/12/2022 - 01:34

    I would bite the bullet and ditch the science career and do whatever it takes to get into I.T.

    You don't necessarily need a degree to get an IT job. There are plenty of certifications you can get, depending on the field. For example, Cisco certification for networking is highly desirable in the industry.

  • tlai on 22/12/2022 - 01:52

    I know a few people who did premed/biomedical science and then pivoted to health and safety. Maybe worth considering, as there's different streams from the tech route (hygiene), to policies and procedures amongst other stuff (safety). Many do require a science background now if you were looking to do a Masters.

  • Brisbanebargain on 22/12/2022 - 04:39
    +5

    I was in a very similar position of being “lost” career wise at 25. I was a bricklayer by trade and incredibly unhappy with my place in the world. A real square peg in a round hole.

    I began my change by visiting a careers councilor who had me complete a Myers Briggs test among other things and came up with some alternative career choices. I ended up going to university completing a degree in business/marketing/communications and have been a media advisor for a major GOC and in Emergency Services for the past 24 years.

    You seem a very smart kid and undoubtedly will work it out. But don’t be afraid to visit a professional to assist with your future career decision. It was the best and most positive life changing experience I have done.

  • morse on 22/12/2022 - 07:47

    Consider a coursework Masters the gives you entry into a profession:
    High school teaching (science) (you can also get into medical education with a masters in teaching) look into medical simulation (it’s pretty interesting)
    Physiotherapy
    Occupational therapy
    Speech pathology
    Nursing
    Project management

    You could also looks for jobs as a medical equipment sales rep eg for theatre equipment, prosthetic joints etc.

    Could also take a completely different direction
    Real estate
    Small business etc

  • greatlamp on 22/12/2022 - 08:52

    There are thousands of smart graduates who do a bachelor of science, then find themselves in cut-throat competition for a 50k per year job market. Science is the worst field for effort vs. reward, particularly in Australia as we are treated as a backwater.

    There is a market for clinical trials, and by association a job market for bioinformatics and statistical research. However you will find the top job requires a medical degree.

    The pharmaceutical industry in Australia is entirely concerned with sales and administration/legal.

    I think you need to expand your horizons, think outside the 'science' industry. The biggest industry in this country is construction, it is paid the best, and is where hard work will be rewarded. Mining is also well paid, but you will need to be prepared to move west

    Alternatively you can spend 7 years getting a pHD and get your first real job when you are in your 30s, while your friends who dropped out in high school already own their own home, and have their own business.

  • mooney on 22/12/2022 - 08:52

    OP- what are you interested in? Find a career that is adjacent to that. You’ll find that more rewarding.

    You’ve a degree now which is a mark of competency.

    Also don’t overthink it. I’m nearly 50 and I’m still trying to work out what I want my career to be. In the meantime I’ve a well paid job whilst I work it out. :)

  • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2022 - 09:25
    +1

    If you play your cards right you could retire or slow down early. Set yourself up in your 20’s with skills that are in demand and a good work ethic so when you’re in your 30’s you are set. Don’t get more debt or obligations that hamper your ability to get to this.

    Don’t get hung up on titles or prestige etc. nothing is below you. think of work as an exchange of your time for resource (money, benefits etc).

    If I had my time again I’d have looked to get in demand skills for example electrician, plumber, IT, Cyber. instead I wasted my time and lost half a decade of earning potential. If you do go back to uni, choose something in demand and try not think about repaying that debt! (Look into working night shift security - you can study while you’re working to maximise your use of time and keep the debt low)

    The wild card worth mentioning is the ADF. They’re paying out the nose at the moment for young people and I’ve heard they’re increasing benefits. Pick the right job there and you can have a pretty cruisy lifestyle or some adventure and earn some good cash until you figure out the next move.

    Be mindful of who’s advice you listen to. Don’t take advice from people who are in their 50-60’s living pay to pay telling you to follow your dreams. You’ll end up like them.

    Finally, don’t be afraid to move to where the work is. This includes overseas. Everything is a sacrifice. You have choices, make the right ones and you may get a foot in the door and or get ahead. Do the hard work early and begin to reap the rewards after a decade or so.

    What rewards? Never having to worry about money. Then you can start chasing your dreams (which they will probably change as you mature).

  • StalkingIbis on 22/12/2022 - 09:39
    +1

    Teacher here. I wish I did plumbing.

    • Hangryuman on 22/12/2022 - 10:19

      ex-computer programmer - hated it
      changed to teacher - loved it

      • StalkingIbis on 23/12/2022 - 11:52

        haha thats what im transitioning to at the moment

  • Thaal Sinestro on 22/12/2022 - 11:17

    Join the hi-vis brigade; become a tradie (plumber is your case). Australia has a massive surplus of university graduates; we need people with real world skills.

  • pygar on 22/12/2022 - 11:36
    +2

    Those premed/medical science degrees are scams by the universities to con fees out of kids who aren't smart enough to become doctors. You cant do much with those degrees, especially if you're an average student. cut your loses.

    CS has become a catch-all degree for people in your situation. Keep in mind it's not a particularly easy degree, and it will take at least 3 years. The pay is greatly exaggerated too (basically the talented obsessives make a lot of money, everyone else makes a good living).

    That said, you seem more interested in IT then programming, so CS is probably not the right degree either. There are IT related courses, but the competition is also pretty fierce (there are a lot of people who "like to play with computers").

    As you have an undergraduate degree, wouldn't teaching be a one year masters?

    good news is that you are still young and can do whatever you want as long as you're realistic.

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