I Don't Know What to Do with My Life

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      Ruddaga on 06/11/2023 - 11:22

      +1

      Well the career I landed in atm is teaching so I do get the holidays still (not gonna lie its why I chose the career).

      But yeah there are times I do find myself wondering - is this it? Just consume, sleep, die, repeat, die.

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        Ruddaga on 06/11/2023 - 11:24

        +1

        and one of those "die" is me internally.

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        Arealtur Kishman 69 on 06/11/2023 - 11:24

        +1

        If it's any consolation you only die once

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        Donmega123 on 06/11/2023 - 11:30

        +1

        Man people that rabbit on about their jobs always seem pretty manic to me anyway, the only person I ever met that had an undeniably interesting job was a bloke who was a mercenary in central america in the 80s and that shit isn't for everyone.

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          Ruddaga on 06/11/2023 - 11:31

          @Donmega123: Hmm… mercenary….

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            Donmega123 on 06/11/2023 - 11:34

            +1

            @Ruddaga: I think it's all pretty corporate nowadays…

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  nubzy on 06/11/2023 - 11:21

  +3

  There is absolutely nothing wrong with manual labour! I have started doing lawn mowing/gardening in the past couple of years, as my online income has slowly been dwindling due to the effects of AI and market saturation. I have two degrees, but have never been keen on a 'career' or settling down in a 9 to 5, that would be like a prison to me. I like having my freedom and autonomy to pick and choose when/what/how I work, take time off when I want too etc. And do you know what, after spending years in front of a screen, I much prefer the manual labour! It is very satisfying work, the clients appreciate what you do, you feel fitter and healthier, more energy, making your own money without a boss etc. Sitting on a chair in front of a screen all day watching the clock and obeying orders is not healthy for the body or the mind at all. Ideally, i'd like a balance of 50/50 online work and physical work in a self employed/gig type arrangement, and that's what I am going to attempt to do. At the moment I am thinking of getting a cyber security certification. I really don't care much for money, try to avoid debt, and am content with a simple life where I have time to grow my own food, go hiking etc.

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  Cort on 06/11/2023 - 11:55

  Back in the early 2000's, I completed my Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW as well, majoring in Accounting and Information Systems. Like you, I did not know what I wanted to do and it was the 'in' thing to do some sort of IT as everyone was doing it (even though i was terrible at it, especially coding). Parents told me to also major Accounting as it was 'safe' career. Almost 20 years later, I am in Accounting/Finance and am happy with where I am now. The money is very good, work/life balance is flexible (9-5 job with WFH) and I have experienced many different industries throughout my career. My advice to you is to stick out and complete your BCom at UNSW. The degree will give you exposure to many areas such as Accounting, Finance, IT, HR, Tax, Advisory, Audit and consulting etc. It really is a degree that gives you so many options on where you want to go, all of them being able to set you up for the future. The best thing of all is with your degree, you can inter-change between these areas (some requiring a bit more specialist training) without feeling like you have 'wasted' your time as you will have the fundamentals to pursue the area you want to head towards. If your preference is Finance, go for it. So many career options with this. If IT is not an interest for you and you feel like you are not good at it, don't worry. Try something else. Don't know what you want to do in life? Don't worry, get your degree first, it won't be a waste which you will need to 're-do'. Then apply for jobs that interest you or you don't mind doing.

  Fun fact: there will be aspects in any degree and career that are boring, monotonous and not enjoyable. However, there will be aspects of your degree and career that you will find enjoyable (or tolerable) and give you a comfortable life which you are looking for.

  "I want to travel in the future, have a stable income and also invest a lot in property for higher asset management" - yes, I can attest this is possible from my personal experience :).

  Stick it out, you will be surprised that your life/career will work out even if you feel you can't 'control' it now.

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  PlushToys on 06/11/2023 - 11:58

  +1

  You are still young. Don't overthink things. Finish your commerce degree and see where it leads you. I studied at UNSW and thought it was a waste of my life but I have a more than steady income and don't worry that much about anything else.

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  Cletus vandamme on 06/11/2023 - 12:01

  Enjoy life and travel! Plenty of time left to join the rat race of working day to day. Network and meet people end of the day it's who you know not what you know. Opportunities can come whenever and it may not even be anything to do with your degree whatsoever. The banality of office life isn't for everyone and even though trades may be looked down on they can be very rewarding.

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  sriver on 06/11/2023 - 12:17

  I spent time studying in IT and then working in that field for a few years before learning it wasn’t for me. Career changing in your late 20’s does feel like a big change and a lot of time already committed so I can empathize.

  If you’re not sure what you want one way to find your passion would be to try many things, this could be through work experience or short courses, you can speak to people in fields you think you’re interested in. Experience people will nearly always be happy to share their opinion and ideas on what they themselves could have changed.

  You can find your passion and purpose but picking something once and hoping it will work out is a long shot (one unfortunately many include myself did).

  To keep your parents looped in it’ll be worth having a written plan, it might be 4x 6 months of work experience at four businesses you’re interested in. GL and you can do it

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  dojomojo on 06/11/2023 - 12:44

  +1

  Reminds me of a guy I knew in TAFE who was convinced he was going to be rich and successful by the time he was 25. Meanwhile he quit Uni because the I.T. degree was "too boring" and never put in the work required. (he dropped out of TAFE as well) Being successful requires commitment and hard work.

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  P Plater Panda on 06/11/2023 - 13:02

  +3

  Cheer up OP! I had no clue what profession I'd be in when I was in uni and somehow stumbled into areas that I would not have imagined even in my wildest imagination back then. Life's an adventure and the advice I'd offer is probably: be comfortable with being uncomfortable, work hard and go along with the adventure!

  And I'd agree with what some have said above, instead of asking "what are my passion", I've learnt a better question to ask may be "in what area/how can I contribute the most". Recently I read about the tension between freedom and security in the quest to find happiness in life - i.e. how much freedom are you willing to forego to have security and vice versa. My experience is this is not set in stone and will most likely change with age and life's circumstances. It probably wouldn't hurt to start thinking about this now - I wish I had done so earlier, at say your age. Never too late though, this is a great/essential activity for all ages.

  The one asset you unquestionably have is time. Use it wisely: try different things, learn all things and live the current moment. You'd only be 21 once in your life. Good luck!

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  dzpliu on 06/11/2023 - 13:48

  Just want to say that it is okay to be lost.

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  2ndeffort on 06/11/2023 - 14:16

  A similar situation happened to me when i was young. I was working for an insurance company and finishing off my accounting degree part-time. I hated the job and I was being told by everyone including my parents to stick it out and work hard and eventually one day I might get the corner job and a promotion etc. One lunchtime I went for a walk, ended up at the Army recruiting office and applied to be an Army Officer.

  I passed all the tests and got through the Selection board. I did Army Officer training and, since I was interested in IT, when it came time to nominate a Corps to join, I selected the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs). I spent 15 years as an Army Officer, loved most of it. When I was married with a young family it became complicated and since I didn't want to keep moving my kids around from school to school I eventually left the military and easily found a job in Defence Industry where I still work. I now have my own small company and thanks to the 2 extra degrees the Army paid for (Including a Master's Degree) I've had a few senior roles since leaving.

  I know it isn't for everyone and there were certainly some challenging, lonely and confronting times but overall, the Army was great for me, giving me direction, focus, further development and teaching me a strong work ethic.

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  Klogg86 on 06/11/2023 - 14:54

  " 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. I was thinking of majoring in finance but im still not sure about that and parents dont want me doing finance"

  A few things:
  1) You live your life - not your parents. Take their opinion, but they don't get to choose
  2) Don't pick a job based on a hunch - do some research. Find someone with a job in the area you're interested in, ask them what it's like. Even post on FB groups, LinkedIn, etc. Ask people, find out, even work a week or two for free to see for yourself (if possible). Don't assume.
  3) The best option is the option that gives you the most options. Find some work for now, save and invest as much as you can. This will act as a buffer in case you lose work, and let you compound money from early on, despite the need for a salary.

  Finally - are you after good income, or financial freedom? The two aren't necessarily linked (although one helps the other).

  As an example, this is how I'd structure my earlier years if I had my time again I would (note, this is my own, but I'm being very specific)
  - Start a business sooner (see 2nd point)
  - Find remote work (or create my own - freelance developer in my case)
  - Work completely remote, likely from a decked out van that I can live from and travel while I work
  - Keep expenses very low (I am better at this now)
  Just an example - but be specific in your ask, then you can find a way to get it much easier.

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  Paki Packer on 06/11/2023 - 15:45

  think about trades as they are more independant and have less impractical learning. Also think about your permanent personal relations as they keep you grounded if you're floating around too much.

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    john_conner on 07/11/2023 - 09:33

    Also I heard the call out fees are pretty good, especially for AC repairs.

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  comradePUP on 06/11/2023 - 16:01

  I've been there mate, it's not easy. Thankfully you are 21 which is the best time to be having this kind of crisis.

  What you want to do with your life will likely change many times over the next 20 years, you don't have to pick something right now.

  What are your values? What is important to you? Really important - not just making money. These two questions will help guide you.

  I think if you want to travel you should do it right now, go overseas and get random jobs for money and make your own way. This will teach you a lot and open you up to so many new experiences. If you want to continue the commerce course, you should at least consider an overseas study exchange - some of the expenses for this can be put on HECS-HELP and you can get travel specific scholarships.

  Good luck!

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  mavis30551 on 06/11/2023 - 16:25

  I would say get buff and acquire women, travel, party hard and settle down in your 30's

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  Candour on 06/11/2023 - 17:52

  +2

  it seems money and material purposes do not satisfy. when we seek them as the ends, the actual purpose we aspire to in life gets lost. It is hard to find this purpose when materiality permeates all aspects of our aims in life. If money, material enjoyment, and goals were the aim of life then you will need to focus on them and not regretfully worry about any higher purpose which you do not wish to articulate for fear oactivities.f being 'unsuccessful' in life. The suggestions all seem to imply that if only you found the right material purpose you would be happy, and successful. There are many other factos which may bring bad 'luck' to bear on your best efforts. Your successes may be your own but your choices determine the consequences which you have to bear. They are not your bad luck, but part of all the choices you make every moment. Seek to be joyful in life. Seek peace in your surrounding and your actions in life. Seek happiness and bring happiness to others as a result of your material activities. Seek love in all things you do for your self and for others.
  If you can do this in all your efforts, you will be happy, joyful, at peace, and loving in all your material pursuits. It is nto this or that material purpose which gives you money power, fame, etc. which is important. It is important how you seek to find your life purposes through bringing joy, peace, happiness and love in all your thoughts, speech, acts and emotions. To your self first, and then to all others you can share this with.
  It is hard to find your way when you and others you trust and rely on are equally ignorant beyond what their minds tell them, in spite of their failures.
  frenetic material activities are not the answer. They are not wrong in themselves. They are not the criteria for a 'successful' life.

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  RIBBS on 06/11/2023 - 18:20

  +1

  Not sure if this has been suggested elsewhere but have you considered an IT Sales role?

  I completed computer science back in 2007 and was fortunate enough to land a consulting role in a high grow area of IT. After 10 years I made the move to sales and wish I had done it sooner. You can make some insane money in software sales these days. The best people I worked with have good social skills, a competitive mindset and worked their way up from a starter role, business development etc. They don't necessarily know how to code but have a good understanding of IT in general. It pays off in the long run and sales skills are applicable across many industries.

  Otherwise, I definitely support what others have said about joining the Defence Force.

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    blazinchoppa on 29/11/2023 - 22:49

    God I want to get into tech sales. I'm studying a Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (honours) but cannot stand classes like engineering maths, algorithms, etc. On the other hand, I made great sales at my retail job and got quickly promoted to manager.

    I'd love a jump to tech sales. I'm not built for my current degree and may need to switch to a more generalised/simple IT degree - however I'm beginning to believe I just don't enjoy uni in general.

    I do really enjoy tech though, just not the coding and algebraic side of it all. My friends and family look at me like I'm god when I solve their IT problems/create solutions for their work.

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  MagpieSilver on 06/11/2023 - 18:35

  One of the most useful ways to find purpose and direction is using the Japanese model of Ikigai. It’s a simple Venn diagram that can help you make some interesting choices.

  https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2018/02/23/how-to-fi…

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  Emipemmi on 06/11/2023 - 19:21

  How did I end up here..

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  centrelink on 06/11/2023 - 21:02

  -1

  I just put the OP in Chatbot and asked it to recommend me a career path, so here it is

  Based on the information provided, here are some career options that might be suitable for this fictional character:

  Digital Marketing Specialist: This career combines elements of commerce and technology without the heavy coding requirements. Digital marketing involves promoting products or services online, which can offer good pay and flexibility. You can work for companies or as a freelancer, and it allows you to travel while managing digital marketing campaigns remotely.

  Business Analyst: A business analyst plays a crucial role in understanding a company's needs and helping to find technological solutions to business problems. While some knowledge of technology is beneficial, it doesn't require in-depth coding skills. It can provide good income and opportunities for career growth.

  Data Analyst: Data analysis involves working with data to extract meaningful insights, which can be a valuable skill in both commerce and technology. It doesn't require extensive coding but may involve some scripting or software use. It offers good career prospects and work-life balance.

  Financial Analyst: If you're still interested in finance, you can consider a career as a financial analyst. It doesn't involve coding, and you can work in the finance sector, offering good income potential and opportunities for investment and property management.

  Management Consultant: Management consultants help organizations improve their performance and efficiency. They work on business strategies, problem-solving, and process improvement. This career can be financially rewarding and doesn't require coding skills.

  Real Estate Agent/Investor: If you're interested in investing in property for asset management, you might consider becoming a real estate agent or real estate investor. While it's not directly related to IT or commerce, it offers the potential for stable income and property investment opportunities.

  Entrepreneurship: If none of the traditional career paths appeal to you, you could consider starting your own business. Entrepreneurship allows for flexibility and can combine elements of commerce and technology, depending on your chosen venture.

  Ultimately, the key is to explore various options, do some self-assessment to determine your strengths and interests, and seek guidance from career counselors or mentors to make an informed decision about your career path. Your career should align with your skills, interests, and long-term goals, including your desire for a good income, work-life balance, and property investment.

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  frostman on 06/11/2023 - 21:16

  +1

  All i know is that i want a career which has good pay (hence why i wanted to do something in computer science

  The market is flooded, between offshoring IT, to importing people from a specific country with PHDs in IT, you'll be a grain in a sack of rice.

  Dont do it,

  The current high paying roles are Civil Engineering, Geoengineering/Geologist, Investment Banking, Biomedical Engineering, amongst others, and I dont think any of them are heavy on the coding element, if they are, it's a major, not a foundations course.

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  Vicious on 07/11/2023 - 03:21

  Do your skill assessment, go through career guidance tests & exercises that can be easily found online. Do some soul searching, come up with smth better than I want money to pay for lavish lifestile. Like what difference you want to make, what legacy to live?Do you honestly know what are you decent at? If you can't do it on your own, pay a career coach or counsellor for a couple sessions. Take it seriously or you will waste more years down the wrong route.

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  Millikano on 07/11/2023 - 11:54

  A lot of good feedback here.

  I'd suggest that there are a huge number of people both on these forums, and more outside of them, that had no idea what they wanted to do at age 21. The concept of picking the direction of your life when you're 18 (uni degree etc.) is pretty crazy- people do most of their personal growth in their 20's. I'm now in my mid 30's, and have some friends who are millionaires who love their work, others who make great money in jobs that they don't enjoy or hate (with big stress), and some that scrape through on almost no money but have amazing stories, friends and experiences from around the world. I didn't finish my degree until around 25, and it wasn't the best fit for me, but it led to an interesting and rewarding career path where I went from being an underperformer to a higher achiever over the course of 3-4 years through consistent hard work and networking. That included tripling what was a terrible starting income within six years.

  Earning money is essential to live and pay for food and accommodation, bills and life. If you're looking for meaning in your life, most recent studies indicate that strong relationships are what brings the most happiness, and making money above a certain amount (say $150k AU for argument sake) doesn't make you happier.

  If you want to be in a job just to get rich, you will likely not make it. If you can find something that you enjoy working hard at, that has a pathway to pay well, where you can learn a lot, that might be good foundation to a career.

  Think about who you admire (and if you can't think of anyone, try researching this area) professionally and personally, find out what makes them tick, and see if you can emulate some of their strategies and processes.
  - Work hard at whatever you decide to do; there is a lot of joy you can have in the hard work, not just in 'making it'.
  - Make sure you're sleeping well, exercising, and eating well for you, so that you'll be in the best mental and physical shape to make good decisions.
  - Try new things that take you outside of your comfort zone. As you get into your professional career, having great stories (and being a good storyteller) is incredibly important, and makes people want to be around you and work with you. This is good for increasing your income, and for your general happiness and contentment about your life
  - Try not to make decisions based on your parents opinions. They sounds like they have your best interests at heart, and they will try to guide you, but it is your life to live. As long as you give things a go while you're younger, there is a lot less risk. If you end up in a long-term relationship or have kids, you will have a lot more to consider when you take risks.
  - Don't be afraid to fail when you're young. A lot of IT/tech success story people have failed a lot before having successes.
  - If you're not feeling great about yourself, explore your beliefs/faith and look into thankfulness. People often neglect the soul, and in tough times a resilient soul is an anchor in the storm.
  - Lastly, Consider getting some counselling. It's been a tough few years, and a lot of people are pretty worn out. Take care of yourself, and be kind to yourself.

  Best of luck! You're young and have heaps of time up your sleeve, so go have a few adventures and take some risks, have some fun and figure out who you are.

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  pufffdragon on 07/11/2023 - 14:03

  +2

  I'm 50 and I still don't know what I want to do.

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  happyhammer on 07/11/2023 - 21:11

  Just hit the road and see the world. You'll only regret not doing it once your mortgaged up later in life. Money goes along way in south and southeast Asia and parts of the Americas. Most people 15-20 years into the workforce are still not sure and faking their way through it, no rush in life mate.

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  Ozjoey on 07/11/2023 - 21:17

  https://youtu.be/ITwPzduUmCw?si=xynwWzI1KBtN3hCJ
  Be A Man!

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  sharka on 07/11/2023 - 21:19

  +2

  First off, take a deep breath – it's totally normal to feel a bit scattered about life, especially at 21. You're not alone; loads of people are in the same boat, figuring out their next move. So, you flunked coding a few times and had a detour – honestly, it happens to the best of us. Now you're back with a focus on commerce, which is great progress!

  Now, onto the IT versus Finance dilemma. If coding isn’t your jam, IT's a big field with tons of options that don't involve heavy programming. Have you thought about the business side of tech? Like project management or tech consulting? They're more about coordination and understanding client needs than coding up a storm.

  But hey, if you've got a knack for numbers and a curiosity about investment, finance could be your playground – there's more to it than just crunching numbers. Think about roles that bridge tech and finance, like financial analysis in tech companies, or something cool like fintech, which is booming right now.

  Here's a thought – while you're studying, why not dip your toes in different ponds? Internships, part-time gigs, or even just chatting with folks in different industries could give you a taste of what's out there.

  And, let's talk life goals. Travel, property investment – sounds like you're after financial freedom and a solid work-life blend. That's a smart play. In today's world, there are more careers than ever that can offer you that, even outside the IT bubble.

  I hear you on the parent front. They just want what's best for you, but at the end of the day, it's your career, your life. Maybe there's a middle ground? Something tech-adjacent that still plays to your strengths in commerce?

  Remember, your 20s are for exploration. It's cool to not have it all figured out. Try different things, see what clicks, and don't stress about getting it perfect right out of the gate. What matters is that you're moving forward, staying curious, and keeping your eye on what makes you tick, both in work and life.

  If you want to chat more about any of this, I'm here. Sometimes bouncing ideas around with someone else can make things clearer. So, what part of commerce has got you intrigued, or is there a slice of the tech world that doesn't intimidate you?

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    starspawn on 07/11/2023 - 21:30

    +1

    This is really good advice! Love this

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  starspawn on 07/11/2023 - 21:28

  I would finish your Commerce degree, it can really open doors for you career wise. You could graduate as a consultant at EY, KPMG ect. I would recommend trying to take advantage of doing a semester abroad in another country, something I wish I had done.

  I finished high school, worked full time for a year to save, got a UK working visa and lived in the UK for 2 years.

  Came back to Aus started a Commerce degree but couldn’t pass Accounting! Dropped out of Uni, started working, came back to Uni and finished my degree in Business. I am now doing a Masters in Cyber Security part-time with 2 kids. Life is hectic but rewarding, I feel like you need to try things to see where your strengths are.

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  tio on 07/11/2023 - 22:17

  If you are handy with number but coding makes your head spin, then commerce is the right field. You can look into business analyst or project engineering. BA is probably easier to break into as a grad. However any tom, dick or jackos can become a PE if they know the right person or know how to work their interviews.

  Also what you learn in uni might not have any bearing in your final career choice. A uni degree at the very least tells your employers you've got enough brain to survive uni, and hopefully still have enough left to absorb what work will throw at you.

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  TheItalian on 07/11/2023 - 22:32

  I would be looking at getting into consumer finance or even into the superannuation space, given that things could be taking a turn for the worse now.
  Coding clearly isnt for you and you shouldnt force it.
  Do something you have an interest in and not something just to appease the parents. You mentioned investing and consumer finance goes hand in hand with that.
  I work for one of the major superannuation funds, so speaking from experience.
  All the best matey.

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  hopper on 08/11/2023 - 10:16

  Ur story is worth of becoming influencer, start a youtube channel
  Pay for fake random people in the supermarket
  Gold digger videos

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  Dirk36 on 08/11/2023 - 12:42

  +1

  You have to look outside the big picture and it is all about lifestyle and being happy not a career! I always loved driving. Back in 2004 when real estate prices went up they doubled in about 12 months in Melbourne I got a plan which involved both work and housing and got my semi trailer ticket and started driving trucks for a company that ran from Melbourne to Adelaide which became my permanent run! i looked for a home in a regional area and considered myself so lucky as i had a huge area to choosebasicall anywhere between Melbourne and Adelaide from as with lots of transport companies I could take the truck home and living in a regional area never had a drama finding anywhere to park it up! I purchased my current home for cheap as was regional and was still earning a great wage. I paid it off in two years! Now sub 50 I still drive just doing one overnight trip away each week and still earn more then the minimum wage. I go on holidays every few months have zero debt and want for nothing and love going to work! I basically had this vision as a 20 something year old when I made both my career and choice of where I was going to live! As said think outside the box!

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  Toph Beifong on 09/11/2023 - 22:17

  +1

  Here's the thing. You don't have to go to uni. You don't have to go to tafe. You don't have to listen to your parents. It builds pressure and expectation… all for nothing. The modern secondary education system has evolved to push every student into Tafe or uni. At 17 most school leavers have no idea what they want to do. I had friends who changed uni courses 3 times because they started the coarse and didn't enjoy it. Was it a mistake? No because it helped them to move on and find something else that they enjoy.

  The most important thing is to expose yourself to as many people and environments as possible. See what they do, understand how their profession contributes to the world, ask if they enjoy their jobs. You don't want to be doing a lame and boring job for the rest of your life. You need to discover your passion, thats when things start falling into place.

  Australia is still the lucky country and there is plenty of opportunity if you seek it.

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  DIYcharcat on 29/03/2024 - 18:18

  DBRJ how are you doing, would love to hear what your next steps have been?

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    kerfuffle on 29/03/2024 - 18:19

    Good luck getting a response from someone who hasn't logged in since November 2023

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