I Don't Know What to Do with My Life

DBRJ on 03/11/2023 - 12:08

Hi everyone,

Idk why im writing this but i have no idea what im doing with my life. I'm 21 years old and i graduated from highschool in sydney in 2020. I got into bachelor of commerce/bachelor of computer science at unsw (i wasnt sure what career i wanted to do). However, i didn't understand coding at all and failed my fundamentals course of coding 4 times so i got kicked out of university at the end of 2022. Start of 2023 i was very lost and didn't know what to do. I ended up applying to get into bachelor of commerce at unsw again and got it and currently finishing off bachelor of commerce with 2 more years to go still. In short i wasted 2 years not knowing what to do, i do not know what career i want to go down and i just wanted some help. All i know is that i want a career which has good pay (hence why i wanted to do something in computer science) and good flexibility for work life balance. I want to travel in the future, have a stable income and also invest a lot in property for higher asset management. My parents are insisting i still do something related to Information Technology becasue it has good scope but i do not know what to do. I was thinking of majoring in finance but im still not sure about that and parents dont want me doing finance. My mind is all over the place and i dont know what to do at all with my life. Please Help.

Education & Work

Comments

  • John Kimble on 03/11/2023 - 13:39
    +9

    Same…and I'm almost twice your age with a wife and 3 kids…good luck to you if you can find something you're passionate about…I definitely haven't yet. šŸ˜”šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™‚ļø

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 03/11/2023 - 13:50
      +8

      passionate

      kind of similar boat - my passions right now include keeping food on table and roof over head :')

      • pharkurnell on 03/11/2023 - 14:12
        +2

        I think many people (me inc) are in this boat…

        • John Kimble on 03/11/2023 - 14:14
          +7

          My guess is it's the majority of the population, surely only a few percent of people in this world (if that) figure out what they love/passionate about and also get to actually do it…

      • John Kimble on 03/11/2023 - 14:12
        +1

        If only I was passionate about fixing my HL interest rate a few years ago…would have saved 100 times more than the few hundred from being on this site so much…šŸ˜­

  • pharkurnell on 03/11/2023 - 14:11
    +11

    I dont know what to do with my life

    Im the wrong side of 50… I still dont know.

    My parents are insisting i still do something related to Information Technology becasue it has good scope but i do not know what to do.

    its not your parents life…. its yours. You do what YOU want to do - not what they want you to do… Not many things worse than being in a job you hate.

  • tallkid123 on 03/11/2023 - 14:15
    +3

    However, i didn't understand coding at all and failed my fundamentals course of coding 4 times

    I did a bootcamp earlier this year and dropped out in Week 2. Not for me. You should've dropped out earlier after your 2nd/3rd try. That's on you. We all screw up at some point in life.

    I ended up applying to get into bachelor of commerce at unsw

    I have this degree.

    In short i wasted 2 years

    You'll be ok. Wait until you start work and realise that your job/career isn't what you'd thought it would be and you want out.

    i do not know what career i want to go down and i just wanted some help

    The workplace is not as narrowly defined as the range of university faculties you see everytime on campus. There are jobs out there that you won't hear about until you start working. Having a degree is fine. It's an entry ticket for a lot of white collar roles. If you don't have one already, find relevant part time work or an internship. Most people don't get graduate roles at the end - I didn't. But having some work experience already is better than none.

    My parents are insisting i still do something related to Information Technology

    So here's the thing. Most people in the IT industry are not software developers or do programming all day. My last role was for a major IT computer manufacturer in a non-IT position. My wife is in IT herself (also studied commerce at UNSW) and while she's an expert at what she does, she is tech illiterate outside of work.

    I agree with your parents that the scope is wider in IT. I personally liked IT because chance for career progression is often a lot more faster than other industries so long as you demonstrate competency.

    I was thinking of majoring in finance

    Up to you. It's probably the most common major alongside accounting. My father also studied commerce at UNSW and graduated with accounting/finance majors.

    My mind is all over the place and i dont know what to do at all with my life.

    Again, if you haven't already, get some part time work/internship and just finish your degree. It's pretty natural to feel this way. I was also making similar posts on other forums 14-15 years ago when I was your age.

  • MonkeyMagic1977 on 03/11/2023 - 14:23
    +2

    Finish the degree you are doing, it will provide you a good start career wise.
    Once you have been in the workforce for a while, you'll start to understand what you do & don't like and life will flow from there.
    From what I have seen most workplaces look more for experience and less at the degree as the years roll on.

  • TheRealCher on 03/11/2023 - 14:42
    +4

    I have some experience in failing, dropping out, career "variance", etc so a few quick points:

    1) you didn't waste anything. You figured out what you didn't want to do. Some people take 30 years to do this. You're ahead on this.

    2) get to the careers office at yr uni - they're very experienced with this kind of stuff.

    3) it sounds like you have a sound grasp on yr values for life, but not on yr values within a job - is what environment is suited for yr personality, what tasks you find challenging but enjoyable etc. All the more reason for B

    4) jobs that exist now won't in ten years. Skills that can be applied in those jobs will. Group work, critical thinking, problem solving, working with diverse stakeholders, etc - that won't be replaced by AI. So if you can, get yourself a summer internship or a casual job where you can pick up those things or join some groups at UNSW where they focus on these skills and get you networking.

  • BargainCowboy on 03/11/2023 - 15:24
    +1

    I'm saying this in the most positive way - you're only 21, so you have your whole life ahead of you. Do not despair, if it requires, take some time off to solo travel somewhere uncharted for you, preferably somewhere cheap (S. America, SEA, Indian sub-continent etc.) to expand your horizons. Don't be shy asking other for help.

  • garetz on 03/11/2023 - 15:25
    +2

    It seems like you are putting too much pressure on yourself to do the perfect thing.

    revaluate your priorities, People think your degree is the be all and end all of what dictates your life in the future. Its just a small stepping stone of a very long sequence of events.

  • outlander on 03/11/2023 - 15:28
    +3

    Well, for starters, I'd recheck the premise that you have to do something with your life.

    Many people seem to do nothing in particular at all, and they seem to get along just fine.
    Others seem to go really hard building things early in life, only to have the wind change on them and have everything they've built tumble down, leaving them in the same place.

  • bargain huntress on 03/11/2023 - 15:42
    +6

    If youre interested in being a part of something, the various defense forces currently have very juicy recruitment offers. You can commit for as little as one year, get new interesting experiences, something different for your resume, free education and living expenses, and amazing pay. They have also lowered the entry fitness requirements (its controversial but why not make the most of it) and there is an app to help you train.
    https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/students-and-education/gap-yeaā€¦

    • whatwasherproblem on 03/11/2023 - 17:36
      +2

      You can commit for as little as one year, get new interesting experiences

      Unless, of course, war were declared.

      • bargain huntress on 03/11/2023 - 19:00
        +1

        Lol
        Yes good point it is not a good idea unless you are actually willing to defend your country

  • Drakesy on 03/11/2023 - 15:54
    +3

    Sounds like you want to climb the corporate ladder in government.

    You can't have it all without sacrifice.

    My advice would be look at your strengths and play to it.
    -analytical & mathematical > engineering
    - Analytical - computer science
    - communication - project management.

  • silenthillrocks on 03/11/2023 - 16:00
    +1

    You're 21 and don't know what to do with your life. That's perfectly normal. Reflect on your interests, strengths, and financial goals. Talk to people in different careers and take career assessments. Don't feel pressured to choose a career right now. It's okay to experiment.
    Here are some examples of high-paying, flexible careers: business analyst, data scientist, digital marketer, financial analyst, graphic designer, project manager, software developer, and web designer.
    If you're majoring in finance, consider a career as a financial analyst, investment banker, or financial advisor.
    Ultimately, find a career that you're passionate about and that you're good at.

  • Benoffie on 03/11/2023 - 19:04
    +4
    • Stop listening to your parents

    • Stop chasing the money

    • Think about what you could do every day for 10 hours a day for at least the next 10-15 years before needing to retrain

    • Accept that it may not be perfect. We don't all get our perfect jobs.
    • Work off of hobbies etc. Except influencers. This isn't a career.

    Be grateful you're having this moment now. I changed degrees 3 times listening to my parents and spent 15 years in a career I hated (yes, IT), only to then figure out hey, I should have done what I wanted in the first place. That also turned out to be rubbish. Sometimes, there is no good option.

      • Benoffie on 04/11/2023 - 20:41
        +4

        Well, he's been doing it so far and is here.

        According to the post, their advice is based on money and status.

        Like that'll end well šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø

      • GrueHunter on 04/11/2023 - 21:40
        +1

        How so?

  • Ughhh on 03/11/2023 - 19:15
    +3

    All i know is that i want a career which has good pay (hence why i wanted to do something in computer science) and good flexibility for work life balance.

    I think you're going to struggle if money is all you're chasing and you have no genuine interest/passion in whatever industry/career you choose.

    Find what interest you, and things will be easier learn.

  • Hardlyworkin on 03/11/2023 - 19:29

    Find a sugar mama (or papa).

  • Pelicannn on 03/11/2023 - 20:33
    +2

    Apply for a gap year in the military. 12 months, get paid, get fit, make some new friends, might find something in there you might like to do.

    https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/jobs?tab=view-all-jobs&page=1&ā€¦

  • Lurk Hartog on 04/11/2023 - 08:43

    Bikie?

  • SlickMick on 04/11/2023 - 10:20

    Most IT work is non-coding. Cyber Security is big and growing. It's IT-enough to satisfy your parents, there's plenty of money in it, and the most lucrative work is non-technical.
    It's all about risk and governance.

    But what you do really doesn't matter. My daughter was an elite athlete, spent a decade on college scholarships and got to travel a bit, but ended up never finishing a degree.
    So basically she was 30-ish and had no qualifications or experience except for a bit of retail. Then she got some promotions in a retail job, ended up in corporate and is establishing a bit of a career.

    I got lucky and my career unfolded for me right from leaving school… for a few decades. Then work for my specialty dried up and I'm trying to find a foot into a new career.

    My point is, there is no point stressing. God laughs at our plans. You can work out what you want to do, but it isn't likely what you will end up doing.
    Your life is yet to begin. Enjoy the ride.

  • 82norm on 04/11/2023 - 10:37

    21 is still young. Your life isnā€™t wasted or over. Think about TAFE courses in Cyber Security, read up on generative AI, machine learning, data modelling, data scienceā€¦.this is where the jobs and future will be. Uni, is overrated, if your intelligence as you say you are, think strategically. Get these courses at TAFE knocked over, start as a junior cyber analyst and then work your way up.

    Some say IT is boring, geez, accounting, spreadsheets, can that be any better?

  • Brick Tamland on 04/11/2023 - 11:25

    I wouldnā€™t consider that time wasted. Youā€™re just focusing in what you like. Besides, 21 is still so young. I didnā€™t finish my degree until I was 30. Finish the degree otherwise youā€™ve wasted a bunch of money on tuition so far. Lots of grad programs donā€™t even care about the degree, itā€™s just the pre-requisite to get an interview. Experience and work ethic trumps the degree.

  • petepumpkin on 04/11/2023 - 12:15
    +1

    Don't feel sorry for your self or think that the world owes you something - only you can find the drive within yourself to take steps forward. Don't be afraid to try different things - one door closes another opens - you don't know if you'll like something until you try it.. Try and make a 5 year plan and don't stress if your only making small advancements towards your goal.

  • bhm133 on 04/11/2023 - 14:16
    +4

    High school teacher here. Education is never a waste of time. Period. You are still figuring out what you want. If you enjoy commerce follow that passion. Many jobs open up over your career that you never new existed/will exist. Parent pressure never helps but you do you. Keep on trucking and as long as you have some kind of direction you are winning the game of life. It's when you stop that it becomes a problem. Finally you are not alone. Took me 7 years to finish my undergrad. I had a lot of meaningful side journeys along the way.

    • mr fox on 06/11/2023 - 10:34
      +1

      Sure can be a waste of money though.

  • yoquierotaco on 04/11/2023 - 14:16
    +3

    Go read this book by Cal Newport.
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13525945-so-good-they-caā€¦

    ā€œMatching your job to a preexisting passion does not matter, he reveals. Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before. In other words, what you do for a living is much less important than how you do it.ā€

    The book is not for everyone, but it spoke to me.

  • Ragnarok1983 on 04/11/2023 - 15:25
    +1

    Thought about electrical apprenticeship?

    • xuqi on 05/11/2023 - 10:51

      Op has ruled out all tradesā€¦

  • t_c on 04/11/2023 - 16:05
    -1

    Youtube channel with affiliate links to amazon until you find something better.

  • Hawi on 04/11/2023 - 16:14

    Something that changed my mentality completely out of school was that you don't have to find your career for life. That is way too much pressure. All you need to do is think about what you might want to do for the next 3-5 years, and just put yourself out there and try things! You won't know what you enjoy until you try it.

    I found myself getting a job in sales through a recruiter - I tried it for a week and 4 days and quickly realised it wasn't for me and left at lunch on the Thursday.

    And now after studying outdoor recreation at TAFE I work in the outdoor industry running programs in canyons, alongside other camp activities at a centre based campground.
    Uni is not the only pathway!

  • unfinishedsentenc on 04/11/2023 - 16:34

    Retail part time job will help you build some work experience while searching for a long term career.

  • Hangryuman on 04/11/2023 - 16:58
    +2

    my 60yo boss once told me 'when I'll grow up I'll know what I want to do'

    I'll guess maybe 10% of folx know what they want to do from an early age, the other 90% of us bumble along, trying this and that until we fall into a job that we stay in for a while, until something else happens.

    OP sounds unmotivated, with parents who aren't pushing (no Tiger Parents?), so casting around for ideas, having found that coding is not your thing.

    I worked for 10 years as a computer programmer until I got the message it wasn't my thing with a macho boss who made my life hell (no female would stay - all demanded a transfer out within 3 months) - then I taught for 17 years and loved it - until I got a redundancy package and retired.

    As a child my parents pushing me to play the piano would have liked me to play Carnegie Hall (the NY Joke like asking for directions - "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' - Answer: "Practice, Practice, Practice!!!"), while I would have liked to be a truck driver. Instead I worked as ballet class pianist, church and wedding organist, office boy, fruit picker, drink waiter, dishwasher, waiter, public servant, and teacher.

    Go with the flow, or choose your path - don't beat yourself up about past failures - we learn by failing, then go on to do better next time - I fail every day, and boy have I learned a lot ! Enjoy.

    In the absence of better ideas - continue your current course - and network with fellow business people - there's a lot of fun to be had in the world of business - making money and all y'all …

    • Gdsamp on 06/11/2023 - 11:50

      OP sounds unmotivated, with parents who aren't pushing (no Tiger Parents?)

      actually i think they probably are, and its causing OP a lot of stress to pick something that might please them rather than figuring out what it is they themselves want to do.
      based on OzB demographics OP is probably of asian descent and this sort of situation is very common

  • Cookiescream on 04/11/2023 - 17:12
    +3

    My 2 cents. I went to business university at 17, because where i came from, you go to university.

    At the age of 20, i took a break from uni and went to the UK. It supposed to be for a year only, but i never went back. Transfered my credits to the UK and graduated there with a degree I never used. Worked in meaningless jobs which were enough to help me travel.

    At 27 I landed in Australia, and at 30 I went back to uni to study engineering. By then i had done enough, learned enough, to do what i though i liked.

    I have a good career and own my place. I have no family in Australia.

    So basically, life will happen, you will change your mind a million times, you can always study in 10 years from now, as it may take you as long to figure it out. Don't stay at uni accumulating hecs. NO POINT IN THAT.

    In the mean time maybe get an entry level job and give your best. Save some money and go travelling.

    • Roman Sandstorm on 04/11/2023 - 18:42
      +3

      @Cookiescream

      go travelling

      This.

      In my view, the single best thing one can do for oneself when young.

      Travelling exposes you to completely different worlds; different people, different opinions, jobs, cultures, values.

      A couple of years sharing a flat in London, doing some part time bar work, or working at a resort in Canada, or (if you have suitable heritage/visa) Europe… actually experiencing life, not relying on the easy yet mind-numbing comfort offered by mummy and daddy… Learning how to survive, learning how to get along with others, learning how to manage (or not) drink and drugs and sex and love and life.

      I have never met anyone who has regretted their year, or two years (or even more years) picking up and travelling and living overseas. (I am sure some exist, but I've never met any.)

  • watwatwat on 04/11/2023 - 17:27
    +2

    The reason i failed so many times was because i lost my academic drive after high school, like big time.

    This is the biggest red flag in this entire thread.

    My suggestion is to fix this problem one way or another.

    Better to do coaching or someone be in presence of smart people and see how they work.

    You need to learn how to learn and get in the right mindset before doing anything else.

  • netsurfer on 04/11/2023 - 17:49
    +1

    You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself because that's part of what got you into this situation. Also, in reality, most people don't have a dream job. The main objective of graduating form an university is to help you get interviews to get you your first job. The other objective is to build up your initial social network.

    If you are not doing well academically, the best way to land your first full time job is by building part time work experience. That way, you have enough "track record" (and hopefully some achievements) so companies will give you a chance. Sometimes, places you worked part time may offer you a full time job when you graduate.

    One thing you need to realise is that, unlike in high school, most of your classmates in the university generally picked the right course and they are more evenly matched to you. Some of them can understand majority of the materials during lectures (because they don't drift off thinking about something else) and most of them can learn the subject within a few days or 1 week top before the final exam (even for those who hardly turned up to lectures).

    It's all in your mind and it is more whether you want to do it rather than whether you can do it. If you want a secure high pay job with a great future, your best pathway is do reasonably well in your commerce course, prepare for GAMSAT, do very well in GAMSAT, apply and get into medicine postgraduate. That beats computer science for sure.

    Your future is not set, far from it. However, you need to be positive, man up and move forward. Seeking moral support from OZB gets you nowhere. You had a setback. You will face other setbacks in the future. The sooner you get over this the better.

    As for commerce, I used to work for a bank. The bank has quite a few traders. They get paid a lot and they all live in very nice areas: Point Piper, Double Bay, etc… You can tell they really enjoy live (they clearly all go to gym every day). Top traders and financial advisers get paid way more than people working on IT.

    • watwatwat on 06/11/2023 - 09:32
      +2

      best pathway is do reasonably well in your commerce course, prepare for GAMSAT, do very well in GAMSAT, apply and get into medicine postgraduate

      So:

      • person fails a coding course 4 separate times and gets kicked out of university.
      • person admits they lost academic drive "big time" after high school
      • you recommend they try and become a doctor
      • wat
  • nosey on 04/11/2023 - 17:51
    +3

    Go to Defence Recruiting. Sit the aptitude tests and then pick a job that sounds cool from the list. Good money, mates and life experiences.

  • nned2say on 04/11/2023 - 18:48
    +1

    I am in the same boat with you. Feeling like my life is out of my control. I was a straight A student, got HD at almost every course, had scholarships every year, and found a job overseas in the field (computer vision) that I had always been interested in after graduation. But I still had a difficult time finding jobs in the IT field after resignation.
    So even if you graduate successfully from uni and get an IT degree, it doesn't necessarily mean you can have a good-pay job and climb the ladder quickly. I even don't know if I can find another job after my current contract ends.
    Additonally, the salary package in IT field in Australia is not competitive. My current salary package is lower than my previous one, not to mention that my previous salary package was low in the overseas job market.
    All in all, my suggestion from my own experience (not that successful) is that don't do the IT courses just because you want a good pay job or your parents want you to do so.

  • thesilverstarman on 04/11/2023 - 19:25
    +5

    You can procrastinate and wonder all your life. Fact is that there is no ideal career etc. You find a job, earn money, and then if you don't like it, find another job. Nobody in times past could afford to worry about stuff like this. They literally got a job because they had bills to pay. So it may sound tough, but get up, get a job and start living your life. You will probably end up having many jobs in different industries like most p[eople do. Its also easier to get another job if you already have a job. So get one. Any job.

  • ihbh on 04/11/2023 - 20:29
    +7

    You and your parents need a reality check.

    We all want a high paying job white collared and not work too hard, etc. But if you don't have the ability (relative to others), it will take you much longer to get a desired degree, say, after 10 years. But you still won't get a job. Even then, many with the ability are prepared to work hard and make sacrifices. You seem to be lacking in two areas - ability and willingness to work hard.

    Are you okay to get a manual job, or one not requiring a degree to develop your interpersonal and customer service skills and start finding out what you would like and not like to do with your life? And then go from there.

    PS: Are you Chinese? Many Chinese graduates, including masters, can't get a job in the their line of study, so they do further study, and might study overseas, but aren't prepared to face reality and do something "not fitting" of their degree. The CCP doesn't have a lot of fans, but Xi Jinping's advice to "eat bitterness" is very sensible for these youths and you.

  • afayd on 04/11/2023 - 23:40
    +1

    Think beyond the traditional structures of education and employment.

  • snivy on 05/11/2023 - 00:19

    What are you good at?

    Which subjects you enjoyed the most?

    Though for now Iā€™d suggest you should focus on finishing your degree first.

    Out of curiosity; what you guys study in Commerce? It sounds like something for someone who wants to do careers in banking/consulting but cmiiw.

    • kaleidoscope on 05/11/2023 - 16:03
      +4

      The fellow says they failed coding fundamentals course 4 times and yet you have the audacity to post this šŸ«”

  • zrmx on 05/11/2023 - 01:27

    All i know is that i want a career which has good pay (hence why i wanted to do something in computer science) and good flexibility for work life balance. I want to travel in the future, have a stable income and also invest a lot in property for higher asset management.

    Good pay, especially in the beginning of a career usually has an inverse relationship with work life balance.

    Real estate agent, is coming to mind if you want high income (when you are more established in high end property sales) and a step into property investments.

  • R4 on 05/11/2023 - 02:19

    Join the army. Just for a few years in a sharp end role - infantry, armour, sappers etc. You'll get crazy fit, learn great skills, shoot cool weapons, be part of a team, travel, grow in confidence.

    It doesn't have to be a career, a few years is enough.

  • Nubbin on 05/11/2023 - 05:35
    +2

    Do a 'Big 5' personality traits test to understand yourself a bit better.
    Go for a profession that suits your personality.
    Set those goals - Travel, starting a family, start a business, whatever.
    Write them down.
    A good partner and friends will help a lot.
    Work on daily routines and systems that will get you closer to those goals.
    Keep refining your approach as you go.
    Stick to it with discipline and hard work.
    Learn to enjoy life - meditation practice can help.

  • yokel on 05/11/2023 - 08:06

    You need to get experience and develop skills in something post uni then you become valuable to the point where you get handsomely remunerated.
    Donā€™t stress out about years wasted etc. It is a long road for many. Eventually you find the path to the right career. For now complete the degree and find your strengths and discover where itā€™s needed in industry.

  • gakko on 05/11/2023 - 10:18

    Finish your b-com, get some boring job, and consider what to do with your life while you earn $$.

  • Sinnerator on 05/11/2023 - 10:44

    Join the Defence Force, or at least look into it

    • gromit on 05/11/2023 - 13:10

      he wants low effort, high pay, Defence Force will not give either.

      • R4 on 05/11/2023 - 15:00

        Maybe but the Australian military is the highest paid in the World - and they're just getting a 10% increase.

        • gromit on 05/11/2023 - 16:41

          that still doesn't make it well paid compared to a private sector job and it is definitely not a job for those that want a relaxed lifestyle and work life balance. similarly the public service is well paid in Australia, but the equivalent private sector job pays significantly more.

  • Tenshu on 05/11/2023 - 11:40
    +1

    If you don't know what to do and you have a decent computer background, then I'd recommend doing a service desk job. It's a good start and it introduces you to an industry with lots of options. In the end of the day if you are lost and don't know what to do, just find a job that relates to things you enjoy as a hobby. That way you can engage with it somewhat and maybe enjoy your work a bit more than something you have no inherent interest in.

    Thats what I did. I'm a bit of gamer myself. I also like to tinker and mess with computers as well. I did psychology as a study track, went to Uni and hated it. After that I was a bit lost, so I had a good look at myself and just thought "Screw it, I love gaming and computers so better just do that." I went to TAFE and got a cert, got an entry job on a Service Desk and some years later I have pivoted to Cybersecurity. Worked out well for me. Hope it can for you.

    Also, Uni doesn't necessarily put you in a position of high pay or even in a career. Not in my experience with people I know. Many people need to get the entry level jobs and work up, even with a degree. So don't feel like you are wasting effort going with entry level jobs. It's part of the process.

  • indian81 on 05/11/2023 - 12:00
    +2

    Give cybersecurity domain a try and you may like it along with your financial background. You may probably end up with IT audits which are highly paid jobs after good experience and probably a safe occupation for at least coming 15 years. Thereā€™s lot more to suggest in this but depends on your interest. All big 4 companies like EY, pwc offer graduate programs and surviving 2 years with them gaining experience can lead to around $150k job if you follow the right path.

  • mungas on 05/11/2023 - 12:08

    Hey mate, did a comm course at the same uni, had the same concern about being lost and not sure what to do. After 10+ years in the workforce I still question whether my path was the most appropriate for me.

    I donā€™t think thereā€™s any particular right choice from here. Each choice will lead you somewhere, of which youā€™ll never really know if it was the best choice. My point is place less pressure on your next step, and just go with the flow (to a degree). My general comment would be to actually walk through a couple of jobs, maybe have a look at descriptions and see if thatā€™s something you can tolerate. I understand your drivers to technology focused roles and finance, but at the end of the day, if you canā€™t tolerate it, itā€™s not worth it. Also never look for the ā€œlove your jobā€ feel. Anyone who ā€œloves their jobā€ is full of sh. Have a look at big4 professional service firms. They have such a variety of roles that you would never have thought of that can open up your eyes to what is out there and would likely be relevant for your degree.

    I do agree on other comments on finishing your course. Even as a resume beef itā€™s good, irrespective of whether you actually get anything out of the course.

  • Cheap Bastard on 05/11/2023 - 13:12

    The majority of people are probably stuck doing something that they (eventually) dislike just because the work pays well and/or because it makes their parents 'proud'. A lot of people change careers multiple times because we have different phases in life. I hear it all the time. A dentist wants to be a baker. A broker wants to be in construction, etc, etc. How do I know? Because these are some of my friends/family.

    You're obviously still young. Focus on being a good person, upskill in areas that interest you, and meet new people which also creates opportunities. Things will naturally work out over time. Don't rush it.

    This is quite corny but "most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years."

  • ganymede on 05/11/2023 - 13:17
    -1

    Sounds like OP is a great fit as a middle manager for corporate! Failed coding = probably not too smart, little aspirations, can't do manual labour, no direction in life.

    I would just study some BS degree e.g marketing and BS all the way up the corporate ladder and leave the real jobs to capable people.

    • ihbh on 05/11/2023 - 13:26
      +5

      can't do manual labour

      won't do manual labour because it's beneath them/their parents?

      • R4 on 05/11/2023 - 15:01
        -1

        This

  • bigbadboogieman on 05/11/2023 - 13:34

    IT is not just coding. It can be sales, account management, project management, business analyst, graphics/UX design, etc. Coding is just one aspect of many. Same with any major field of work. Clearly if you've passed commerce, you find the business side interesting. Why not try accounting and finance?

  • Zapwap on 05/11/2023 - 13:51

    In my opinion- doing something you enjoy and earn less is always better than doing something you don't enjoy and earn more.

  • gviddy on 05/11/2023 - 14:02

    I think you should just move to England and work as a bartender. Travel each month over to Europe. Enjoy life and live it up! That's what I would do if I was your age again.

  • Nedward on 05/11/2023 - 14:50

    Join an IT Service Desk role. I Started at Harvey Norman and it opens the door to many opportunities.

    • Griffindinho on 05/11/2023 - 15:40

      Call centre?

      • Nedward on 05/11/2023 - 15:42

        First level IT.

  • morebunnings on 05/11/2023 - 15:04
    +1

    A bit of life advice with your parents - You're now 21. You shouldn't be studying what your parents want you to study. For your whole childhood it has been you parents and the school systems job to tell you what to do and bring you up and teach you how to be an adult. Each year you've had clear goals at school and your parents guiding you on that path.

    Now you are an adult. There is no more set of decisions for you made by other people on the path forward, only decisions that you make. You've got 40-50 years now to do whatever you want. Your parents are family and you can listen to them, but you don't have to do what they want. You'll probably make mistakes, but life goes on and if they are loving parents they will help pick you up, and support you through it.

    If you do a degree they want, you'll dislike whatever job you get and look back in 10 or 20 years time with regrets and start to blame them for the life decisions. Its not healthy. Their job for the last 20 years has been to tell you what to do, and they may not even realize that they are doing now is wrong.

    The reason you feel burnt out is because IT is not what you want to do. Tell your parents you don't like Programming, and want to do Fiance (or whatever else). What you study is as much of a decision for you as your favorite food, or the person you end up marrying. They may not agree with it, but they should support you.

    Whatever you decide, its your responsibility to live with those decisions.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/11/2023 - 15:27
    +3

    most people will tell you to for work to do what you love

    that is the WORST advice you will ever get

    DO what enables you to LOVE YOUR LIFE not your job

    two things should be priority when choosing your future a great work life balance and money - without those two things you 'can' love your job but you probably will not be happy with your life.

    • ssfps on 06/11/2023 - 00:54
      +2

      good advice

  • kaleidoscope on 05/11/2023 - 15:57

    i didn't understand coding at all and failed my fundamentals course of coding 4 times

    My parents are insisting i still do something related to Information Technology because it has good scope but i do not know what to do

    Something is not right here šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø. Either youā€™re trying to punish yourself and parents by not doing your courses right or your parents are forcing you to be someone that youā€™re not.

    ā€”-

    Look back in your life before uni and think of something that you really liked / passionate/ was good at school that can hint you at what might be a fitting higher studies stream.

    Talk to career guidance / counseling at uni with that piece of information in mind.

    Also lastly, youā€™re 21, donā€™r start your career by chasing money and quick success. It wonā€™t do you any good. Good luck!

  • Excelsior on 05/11/2023 - 15:59

    B.Com is a very 'safe' path - you won't have much issue landing a grad role if you're diligent enough.

    Even if your first real gig out of uni isn't what you want to do for the rest of your life, at least you've still gained employment and experience. This will allow you to be able to easily pivot if you play to your strengths.

  • RubenM on 05/11/2023 - 16:29

    The one semi tangilbe thing you posted about was about property investing.
    I myself am a property investor.
    Is real estate in general something you might be interested in? Obviously you'll need an income before you can become an investor, but there are many areas in the market that you could get a job in.

    Also, rather than asking what you're passionate about, what are you good at that you don't mind doing? This is another area that should be explored, in my opinion.

  • MessyG on 05/11/2023 - 17:38
    +1

    Finish your degree. It's really normal to feel like this when you're at university and everyone else moves off in different directions. You did not waste two years at all. You spent two years figuring out who you are and that is completely normal. Any field you choose, any trade, any degree, will have you feeling like this. Finish your degree because you've got two years left and if you stop now you'll be back at starting again and then more time will be lost. If you complete it, then a whole world opens to you that you didn't know was there before. Commerce is a very flexible degree and you can worry about adding on something else afterward. You know you can do this, so I would focus on your grades and building relationships. Join some clubs and get some roles in those clubs, build some relationships. The roles in those clubs look great on a resume and the relationships you build at university can work for you 5, 10 years from now.

    I did not end up working in the field of my first degree but I'm glad I decided to go for good grades and making friends because both of things helped immensely when I pivoted into a different field. No one can ever take your education away from you, so finish it. 2 years at 21 is not long. And yeah you'll be 23 when you finish, but guess what? You're going to be 23 anyway, so you might as well be 23 with your degree done and dusted.

  • imnotgoingtopayrrp on 05/11/2023 - 17:47

    Have you thought about taking up Geospatial Science? It's a great career that utilises computer technology. It does get technical, but it is not as deep as coding. You also get to do cool stuff like LIDAR scanning from drones in far-off places (it could take you overseas too).

    Have a look at it mate. I think you will be surprised.

  • adn on 05/11/2023 - 21:13

    content creator

  • SpaceNinja on 05/11/2023 - 22:27
    +2

    All IT jobs will be taken over by AI. Already market is getting depressed. Learn a trade and get a real job. Plumbers charge $300 just to knock on the door.

  • Hydralyte on 05/11/2023 - 23:32

    It's perfectly normal to be figuring out what you really want to do at your age. You're still young so just relax. Do a trade mate. Electric vehicle mechanic or carpentry or builder of houses/commercial buildings.

    I was in your same position and hated my computer science courses. I am still in the tech industry but thankfully I don't have to code anymore.

  • ssfps on 06/11/2023 - 00:52
    +3

    A lot of the whimsical and soul-searching advice in this thread is antiquated and unrealistic.

    Cost of living has been getting higher for decades, and true-inflation adjusted salaries have been decreasing for decades. Immigration is at an all time high, thus competition for work and suppression of wage growth.
    40 years ago it was good advice to tell your kid to go give the manager at some company a firm handshake and "find what they're interested in" - today it's sabotage.

    Sure, OP can change careers later and doesn't need to have everything sorted out yesterday, but at the same time, we all need a stable and reliable career. Either a trade, or degree that will lead to a job/industry is important.

    • whatgift on 07/11/2023 - 18:45

      Actually getting a degree or trade is what is antiquated - at the rate society and the job market is changing, a lot of education will not be useful in a decade in a lot of fields. What is more important these days is getting job experience, and itā€™s also what prospective employers value a lot more.

      I have not been specifically qualified for any of the roles Iā€™ve embarked on since leaving my career behind, and Iā€™ve learned most of my new skills while working.

      Edit: from my experience, trying to define your early career is also a fallacy - I did 4 years of a teaching degree and found I hated working in a classroom. The best jobs of my working life were not planned or studied for.

      • ssfps on 08/11/2023 - 00:30
        -1

        Actually getting a degree or trade is what is antiquated

        Ridiculous, getting a degree is about getting a piece of paper lets HR check a box, getting a STEM degree is rarely a waste of time even if you don't work in that field. It's also a signal that you're willing to eat shit for 3 or 4 years of undergrad (unless its an arts or teaching degree, then it just means you can show up and probably doesn't carry the same weight.)

        What is more important these days is getting job experience

        Good luck getting meaningful experience without a trade or degree. Yeah, it happens, and nepotism is important too. But as a random dude figuring out what to do it's ridiculous to bank on dumb luck or imagined future nepotism.
        The guys I've seen that worked their way up without a degree have often been figuratively trapped in their well paying jobs, because despite their industry experience they find it difficult to get past the HR degree hurdle.

        Like i initially said, this sort of whimsical bumble-along and discover yourself advice is harmful for most people.

        • May4th on 08/11/2023 - 09:29

          Don't know why you got negged, there's a lot of anti-establishment sentiment about 'useless degrees' quoting famous rich people who dropped out of college. Fact is at the end of day yes you can succeed without formal education but that is the exception rather than the rule, and not having a tertiary degree/diploma/trades license will mean you lose out on many opportunities, even if those 'useless degrees' does not seem to have much relevance to your actual employment

  • dogzilla on 06/11/2023 - 01:18

    You only know what you don't know.

    My advice, try some stuff to see what you like. If you are studying commerce - there's nothing stopping you from getting a part time job working for pretty much anyone. Marketing outfit, advertising mobs, data analytics for pretty much anyone. Try a few things on for size.

    Try something to see what fits, who knows, you might find something you enjoy and find your tribe.

  • Black Brown Blue on 06/11/2023 - 07:04
    +2

    Finish your Commerce degree as quick as you can. That will open a lot of options.
    Do not do It if you failed coding 4 times.
    Find a part time job if you have lot of free time.
    I failed 1 course and put me behind 1 year, regret it a lot but learnt not to fail again. I did a accounting subject only to realise that I hate accounting commerce. Perhaps look at allied health like nursing, radiography, technician, etc. You cannot love your job, a job is a job and you get paid to do it. You cannot please your parents, stop worrying about them. If you are really about salary, make a list of jobs with your salary expectations and plan from there. What is job scope and salary for commerce job?

  • Carmen Sandiego on 06/11/2023 - 08:38

    If my life has taught me anything "rejection/failure is redirection" - you will always learn more things by failing something than not. For the best people, it will also teach you introspection which everyone needs.

    You and your parents also sound similar to mine (Asian) so, I'd also suggest to listen to them a little less - e.g. I couldn't find a corporate/office job post uni so, I did 2.5yrs of hospitality and although my parents were embarrassed/hated it, I personally had the most growth in those years and it really did give me the drive to paste a smile and move on.

    So, find any job you can to earn income and study in the down time of that - at least you won't have a resume gap and a lot more people will accept that. Also, I did volunteering and that also looks really good on resumes.

  • HelloV10 on 06/11/2023 - 08:42

    Hmm studying finance can still get you high places if you have good grades. You are doing well. Two years mean nothing. You are still young and legit can do anything. Just be confident, talk to people and continue asking for advice.

    If you really want to have another go, try building a basic website by following tutorials on youtube or try learning python… who knows you might like it. Coding might not be for everyone.

    But at the end of the day, it's your life, you need to choose what you want to do.

  • Jules_d1 on 06/11/2023 - 10:34

    I wouldn't go down the "follow your passion" path. Rarely is it viable and often destroys the passion for you.

    I would change the shift to "Find something you can do that is tolerable, pays the bills, progresses you in life and allows you to do your passion on your own time"

    This will probably be on of the most beneficial articles you will read at this time https://markmanson.net/question

  • May4th on 06/11/2023 - 11:02

    Mate you are 21.. don't feel like anything is a waste - a year or two or three is nothing in the grand scheme of your life. Finish your commerce degree, study more if something interests you, or go and find work and see what you like. Few people know exactly what they want to do at 21. Try them all and see what makes you tick. At least you know coding isn't for you, move on and don't look back.

  • Donmega123 on 06/11/2023 - 11:06

    Bro you are 21, don't be a (profanity), most uni students are midwits on the best day of their life. The only two dudes I've known who were conspicuous successes in Finance one was such an ugly bully of a human being and the other did so much coke and pills his brain swelled. These aren't people you would admire. You'd be better off doing a trade and getting married. The world doesn't need another neurotic suit. Go work in the mines or some shit, those big excavators look like sick fun.

  • Paki Packer on 06/11/2023 - 11:09

    Hi mate, I think you're not alone in this a lot of us realize what we want in life later. In my case it was 7 years after finishing my masters. I have a 4 yrs bachelors in adv finance and 2 yrs masters in accounting and I am a Corporate Financial Consultant but my passion has always been cars and restorations which I enjoy spending time on over weekends and in the evenings. I have an engine with legs wide spread in my garage waiting to be rebuilt and a daily that i work on every evening. I realised I will never earn as much as my career in my passion so I just keep them seperate and I dont overthink it as the saying goes you don't have to be passionate about what you do for a living its there just to pay the bills. i am working towards owning a garage just for the restorations and eventually will stop doing finance when it is established. Keep learning commerce or business to get the mind set and whenever you are sure about what you want to do work towards it however you can.

    • Donmega123 on 06/11/2023 - 11:37

      Man what are you working on? That sounds sick.

      • Paki Packer on 06/11/2023 - 15:38

        I'm restoring a e46 m52tub28 and a manual vz ute. They're not classics but they are on that way lol.

  • Paki Packer on 06/11/2023 - 11:11

    If you are very confused talk to a Career Counsellor and hopefully they will be able to make things clearer for you. Or just try to counsel yourself through reading about it and creating a long term plan.

  • Ruddaga on 06/11/2023 - 11:19
    +1

    I'm 41 and I don't know what I want to do with my life either.

    And this is after two uni degrees, multiple jobs, careers, partners, trips overseas, wasted money etc etc etc…

    • Donmega123 on 06/11/2023 - 11:20
      +2

      That sounds sick, be a perpetual student having holidays and getting laid and wasting loads of dough. Bro you know more than all of us.

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