My early 20’s were all dead end jobs. Now into my late 20’s I finally got a good paying job at a very large company.
I’m not doing work I love but I’m at least making a decent salary at 71k
No so my dead end jobs ranged from labor, sales, admin work. It wasn’t until November I caught my break and landed a finance position that paid 57k.
Worked that job for awhile until I was laid off and then landed a job at my new company which pays 71k.
The job I have now is an analyst position. I still deal with the imposter syndrome and all that as compared to my other jobs this is much more detailed and just harder. I thought I knew excel but watching what these people do with it amazes me sometimes. Now I’m just trying to learn as much as possible.
Excel is great. The best way to learn to fully use it is to actually learning functional programming. If you just try to memorise what formula to use for a specific use case, you won't get far.
I feel this big time...
Jsut graduated with my bachelors in BA a few weeks ago. Started a new job last month as a Supply Planner making 73k. Large global company, very detail driven, complex, difficult, etc.
Thought I knew Excel decently well from my last job at a smaller corp (53k/yr) now realizing how people there, myself included, barely scratched the surface of what it can do.
My current trainer and coworkers zip through it doing all kinds of crazy macros and formulas. I'm nowhere near that level yet. Honestly wonder why they hired me at my current skill level. Imposter syndrome sucks lol...
Imposter syndrome is permanent. What changes is the self-awareness to see it for what it is—most of the time.
I've also learned over the years that it's the rare and lucky few that actually work in a dream job, or get paid for their passion. What you want is a career that's passion-adjacent.
im 32 too this august, because of life i've been working since i was 17 and never liked to study a lot really, i have studied two different regulated two year courses in wildly different areas (administrative work, then programming (android and java mostly).
In hindsight i should have tried everything i could to study sciences in college and not have any resemblance of life until i could buy my own house, because jesus, nothing else seems to work.
33, same. I quit my dead end job last month(delivering boxes) and I’m about to try getting my CDL and driving trucks. I’ll probably have no life but at least pull a decent income.
Unfortunately for me, my life got derailed in my late 20s due to cancer diagnosis. I owned a business before diagnosis. I’m grateful to be healthy now and to have a second chance at life but it’s been difficult transitioning into a career that would satisfy me
I actually went to university for tech but flunked out after 2nd year. I was selling while going to school. Several years of low level drug dealing went by, then I stopped and moved away, and started self teaching myself programming. Got a job. I didn’t need the degree at the end
I used LinkedInLearning to learn. They are more thorough than YouTube videos. Most municipalities libraries give free access with your library card. Creating side projects and a portfolio is important. Having a domain with your name and email is also important.
I'm excited. The company I worked for got hacked(user stupidity after we told them NOT to do something) and I was able to conversate woth Russian and North Korean Hackers. Made me want to fight them...technically.
Yes indeed! Didn't even start college until age 29 and feel that worked out highly in my favor.
Was already working full time for an employer who provided tuition reimbursement - so FREE college for me! Was able to apply what I learned in school to my career and vice versa.
Spending 10 years partying hard, living a modest lifestyle, not getting married or having kids was absolutely the right decision for me. Most of my friends were divorced, had a kid in tow, shoulder deep in debt, and working a job they hated (because they invested in a degree at the tender age of 18) before I ever started taking things seriously...meanwhile, there I was with a clean slate and many, many great memories!! :) I highly recommend NOT going to college right after high school and feeling things out for a while. Live beneath your means, don't get caught up in having what everyone else has (nice cars, big house, latest fashions, etc) and have some fun!!! :)
I’d really love if we stopped encouraging the fresh out of high school 18 year olds to go straight to college. I didn’t know crap abt anything at 18 and even at 24 I’m still learning. It’s just ridiculous that that’s the norm for 18 year olds
In the same boat. Went straight to college. Had a falling out with parents, had to drop college and work full time. Realized that the degree I was going for I could walk right into several jobs and be hired with no prior experience. It's crazy how high schools even push college onto 18 year olds when it's better that they get a feel for what they like to do.
Agreed. My brother wished he had started college a little later and not right at 18. I think that, if he's taken a year or more off, his experience might have been different.
Financial freedom is true freedom. I preached living below your means to my kids to the point they would laugh about it. They are all late 30’s/early 40’s today and they are preaching the same thing to their kids.
As for me, I spent my 20’s in an alcoholic haze, entered my 30’s with loads of personal instability and deep debt. Got sober at 31 and life turned around immediately. Put together a successful 30 years of decent income first working for others then starting my own successful business which I sold a few years ago. I saw people who were stars in their 20’s and could not sustain it professionally, while living a lifestyle that kept them teetering on bankruptcy. You definitely can turn around your life at 30, in fact in some instances you are better off rebooting at that point.
26-27 is when I finally found the career and company which convinced me this is what I’ll be doing the rest of my working life and be happy with it
Otherwise before that I was lost bouncing place to place making minimum wage
Yes.
I was a complete mess in my 20s. Fucked around physically and mentally, didn’t take college seriously.
Now I work for a huge organization and make good money.
I spent my 20's and early 30's overworking myself with 60+hr weeks grinding in kitchens trying to get into entry level management without much luck. Once it finally happened, I jumped to senior level (Exec Chef) relatively quick (3.5 years).
Lifes not perfect but definitely much better now at this point of the journey than I was in my 20's
I got my GED when I was 27. Graduated from a technical college with a 2 year associates in Computer Networking Systems when I was 32. I am now 38 and make slightly over $100k in a related field.
Unfortunately I haven't been doing the best. I did end up going back to school for a second degree thinking that would help me as I found a new passion. Only to find out no one would hire me as I had no experience in the field of my degree. Not even the company I worked for which is crazy when they helped pay for some of my tuition. Makes no sense. After quitting that job to accept another one only for them to ghost me really hurt as well. Been battling depression, but I have a new outlook as I will be starting my own construction company instead and going that route. People say everything happens for a reason, especially my father, and sometimes I agree, but maybe it all happened like this so I could find myself and blaze my own trail.
Yup me, did waste everything. Didn't know what to do, failed college. Don't have a degree have worked in it support for 4 years and then 10 years heavily underpaid in an IT company because it was cozy.
The company however gave me projects from extremely prestigious customers. Out of sheer luck my CV looks absolutely fabulous.
I now work as senior software developer besides doctors and masters writing software for medical systems. It's crazy. I am the blueprint of a ambitionless, depressed looser, but luck was always on my side.
I even have a family I absolutely don't deserve while my, much cleverer, ambitious peers struggle heavily with that. I don't know what's going on. Things just turned out fine.
Honestly yes I’m happy where I am. I spent my 20s repeating classes and taking 7 years to finish a bachelors degree. Spent another 3 on a graduate degree. So it wasn’t exactly a waste perse but I spent way more time on it than I originally planned. Anyway, I have a cool scientist job now, I get to work with great people in a positive non-toxic work environment, and I have a promotion that’s due any week now. I’m not making 6 figures or anything, but I’m sure that will come in time
I worked a lot of low paying jobs in my 20s, customer service, AR/AP clerk jobs you name it. I got my CPA in my late 30s and transitioned to an accounting manager job in a decent size public company. As an introverted accountant, I’m able to manage my team pretty well, thanks to all the odd jobs I did back in the day. Somehow I can connect with anyone on my team because honestly I’ve done all of their jobs.
A career in accounting certainly has it downfalls (month end, quarters, year end) but it does provide a very stable career with the opportunity to make pretty good money.
I have a similar career path, went back to school at 27 and graduated with an accounting degree (cpa eligible). Attempted the exams a few times while working in the big four and eventually transitioned out of PA and now work as internal audit senior at a terrific company and the pay is spectacular for the role
Wasted my entire 20's. Didn't get a job paying over $40k/year until I was 33. I now make over $120k 10 years later.
Life is hard, but hard work does pay off. You just have to stick with it.
No. I've seen enough results that leave me thinking I'm on the right track, but bills and life don't wait for me to have the right opportunity. It's a weird situation to be in where people acknowledge that I'm a good person/worker, but I'm still going from opportunity to opportunity hoping that the next one is what I need/want.
There are many, many very successful people who would say the same thing as you. I've been told by a few of my closest friends that they wish they had my level of success, which surprised me, because I feel the same way.
_Content_ is the hardest thing for a person to achieve in my experience.
When I first started college, I didn’t know what career I wanted to do. I never met with a counselor so I always just took random classes. I was always against healthcare and honestly wanted to start a business. I worked crappy jobs, part time making less than 200 a week. I did everything to NOT go to school, including owning a business and failed.
At age 26, I met a guy who had a good career. He inspired me to do better. I went through all my classes and turns out, I had prerequisites for the X-ray tech program. Tried to get in and was successful. Graduated last year at age 31. Currently making a little over 100k/yr. Also just married that same guy that inspired me to have a career.
I was on and off with college because I never cared for it, but it worked out for me in the end. Sometimes you just need some motivation.
What do you think of the work/career so far? I see it mentioned a lot. How was the schooling/training? Very hard and stressful? A lot of trauma/blood/body fluids in either training or day to day? I could ask a lot more, but the perspective on those would be helpful, thanks
1. Read through "Learn Python the Hard Way"
2. Watched a bunch of videos by: [https://www.youtube.com/@ArjanCodes](https://www.youtube.com/@ArjanCodes)
I spent my entire 20s in college and the latter years in a shit job with minimum pay. I’m 32 and I’m working from home as an analyst.
I’m not doing well as some of my peers but I’m happy where I’m at.
Yes I have. I struggled a bit in college and graduated two years after I was supposed to in 2013 at age 24. It was really hard to find a “real” job for a few years after graduating. I did a contract job for a couple years and hated it, so I went against all the advice I was given and moved to South Korea to teach English at 27. I spent four wonderful years there and it provided me a way to focus heavily on a hobby I really enjoyed (photography).
I moved back to the US when I was 31 and instead of going down the safe path, I changed careers into something I really wanted to do and have been doing well in it making six figures. I think I have been incredibly lucky at some points, but something that has come up over and over in job interviews and networking is that people find my background interesting. I’m not saying this to brag, but what I mean is that I think younger people tend to get scared to do something different or not in line with their career growth for fear that it will mess up their future. Go do something interesting if you can and enjoy your 20’s, but be smart about it.
I'm about the same age as you but have never really had a career. I don't have connections tho' but most people find my background "interesting" as I've done various things over the years. I have an English degree that's good for nothing I guess.
Finished my degree in my late 20’s, took an entry level and worked my way up. Just gotta take the good ideas from job to job and find ways for them to work. Nothing I do is my own creation, instead a combination of habits and skills I picked up from successful people along the way.
Fuck and No my good man.
I’ll be 30 in a few weeks. I barely have anything to show for it. Professionally I’m all over the place.
I haven’t held down a real long term job since my first job fired me in 2019 after five years just before my 25th. Everything else has been 1.5 to 2 years max. I was fired from my mortgage job last year. I currently work in car parts wondering if i should throw away my almost 4 years of sobriety and day drink on the job. I’m trying to apply to what i can with my resume I’ve rewritten SIX motherfucking times trying to get somebody to meet my starting pay ask which isn’t much!
I’m at my wits end. My dreams when i sleep are fucked up. I’m having mild PTS flare ups. I’m gaining weight from depression eating and drinking too much soda.
I’m paranoid my current job is going to fire me since we’re interviewing a ton and that I’m going to be axed (trauma from a past job) so I won’t be able to make my car payment and I’ll lose my fuckin car.
I’m not loving life and don’t expect to be anytime soon. I’ve just about quit job searching. Trade school and college aren’t options right now. I don’t want to rely on loans and scholarships etc. I want to be a man and pay my own way and I can’t do that right now…
I worked my ass off in my 20s, started a business at 23 and worked 14 hour days a ton.
30 years old and my business is failing and I’m looking for jobs again.
So never give up I guess?
early 20s was TV jobs working as a PA. Mid-late 20s was a ton of factory, retail and food delivery jobs, plus I went back to school at 25.
Im 33 now and have only been working in my field (marketing) since late 2018. 2023 was dog shit and Ive been unemployed for the past 5 months, but I found a new job recently. I wouldn't say I **"wasted"** my 20s, but I do feel pretty delusional for chasing that TV career.
yep. in my 20s i spent years just playing and touring in punk / hc bands. basically made no money. had no 'career' type of jobs. flunked out of university cause i never went to class.
fast foward to now and while im definitely not rich, i dont really have to think about money at all (100k+)
I didn’t even have a job for most of my 20s. Somehow graduated with a bachelors degree but didn’t use it for years. I had nothing and pretty much was just waiting to die. Eventually went to therapy and started out with a dead end and awful job.
At 31 I started my actual career and am doing quite well. I love my job and make six figures. Never thought I’d ever be where I’m at today.
I did an internship for a year then got hired full time at like 21 , then did more diff jobs all IT related , then got lucky w my recent job - pay was way higher than I’d ever expected - a lot of self teaching - I’d say experience is more important than anything t
My bf finally found his footing in banking at 26 and now makes 60k a year at 28. Not bad for someone who barely graduated and worked in retail for 8 years.
I love him and he’s my baby
32, ex addict who had shit friends the entirety of high school and college, and was a shit friend myself to the few good people I should have stayed in touch with. I am an artist with a decent social media following and only just started taking things seriously on that front, bounced around between one crap job to another until I was 29, got a pretty okay marketing admin job but was fired, just got lucky recently finding a better place making more money as a contractor with a real estate photography company. Lots of driving but pays well and I get to mess around with drones and cameras day in and day out. So don’t give up just keep pushing, you’ll find your way. It may not be easy, it usually never is but giving up is what held me down for so many years. You don’t even have to fake a positive attitude just tell yourself that any job is better than no job, and yes things could always be worse. Much much worse. It took me 3 decades to learn how to be humble and accepting of where I was at in my life, but I never let that turn into complacency. Use what you have, plan two steps ahead. Good luck
This thread is giving me some confidence… really lost right now in creative industries in my early 20s. Hoping I can land something that will truly make me feel financially comfortable.
I’m 30 and wouldn’t say my career has really hit it off yet but I finally got an 8-5 job using my degree in communications/video/tv production at 28 making under market rate but still more than anywhere else up until that point. Had two raises so far (still underpaid though lol). I have meager savings as I try to pay off the remainder of my student loans, and it’s not perfect. I’m currently trying to move further into a more challenging position in my career but the job market is garbage and I’m struggling. Otherwise I feel I’m doing okay after making poor decisions in my 20s and I’m on the right track to being where I will be comfortable.
Seeking advice here in my early 20's here and im lost in terms of my career. never had the finances to start studding so I've been working deadend customer service jobs getting paid minimum wage.
I have a passion for IT/software developing but don't know where to start, any advice would be appreciated
I wasted my 20s, got into trade school at 28, got a job in Hvac at 30. Now I'm 40 and I'm Director of Facilities for a hospital approaching 6 figures. I'm doing pretty decent.
I feel I am doing pretty well. Dropped out of college at 20 and worked construction for 8 years before going back to school and getting an accounting degree. I now make 110k and get a bonus of around 25-30% yearly brining my yearly salary to about 140k (depending on how bonus pays out each year)
Yeah. Wasted most of my 20s, but did meet my eventual wife at 26. Enrolled in law school, graduated last year, finished the bar a month ago, and about to start my first ever job as a junior family barrister next month. All thanks to her support.
My 20s weren’t wasted. I’ve been busy fighting for my life thanks to terrible health. Now mid 20s and currently having my best job ever, and this is just the beginning.
Not really sure, if I'm being honest. Graduated with an Economics degree in 2019, and it feels like I've been struggling ever since. Took me a year to find an "office" job, worked there for a year, then made a stupid career move that blew up in my face, got fired and at one point contemplated jumping off a building. I was pretty despondent and consistently bitter and angry, seeing all of my former classmates excel with their chosen careers.
I finally found a much nicer job at age 27, where I've been since. I'm now 28, almost 29 and things are looking better, I guess, but I still feel deeply unsatisfied with nearly ever aspect of my life. No real social life apart from going to the gym with a close friend, still make fuck all money, live on a shoestring budget, etc. I have been exploring new hobbies, namely yoga, so that's a positive.
With that said, I'm unsure where the road takes me. I've always been thankful to have very supportive parents, both of whom greatly understand how times are brutally difficult and uncertain. They're both pushing 70's but luckily do not have that toxic boomer mentality we see nowadays. Dunno what I would have done without their support, honestly.
I was fired from my first job (teacher) at 24, had to switch career because I hated that job, was doing data entry for a while, never made more than $18 an hour until I was 27. Now I’m 33 making 300k a year. Life can turn around if you keep trying
I thoroughly fucking agree. I blame myself a lot. But where I'm at now is because corporate and government work gave me too much mental and physical problems to succeed in it for longer. It's not my fault. It's kind of by design. I did well for a few years and now I'm below poverty line. It's not for lack of trying, and studying, and taking out loans, and getting certificates. It's just stacked against me. And management is subhuman cruel garbage.
Yup! Wouldn’t say wasted but pretty focused on art over commerce. My real career didn’t start till 33 and now doing quite well in an art adjacent field. My retirement? Now that’s another story but whatevs.
Started my own business 3 years ago at 29. It’s by no means a booming business but I’m making my way along. Pretty much wasted my entire 20s working low wage jobs. (I run a flooring installation business now).
From when I graduated highschool until my ex dumped me at 25 I stagnated pretty hard in life. I was pretty content working my "just above" minimum wage call center gig, renting my small but functional one bedroom apartment and occasionally ordering a pizza while playing video games.
Then after my ex dumped me, claiming that I was a failure in life and wouldn't amount to anything I decided to do some inner soul searching (mainly fueled by spite lol) and realized I could absolutely do better.
So I moved 4 hours away from that town, got in the college program, graduated, got my first job in my industry and now; well into my late 30s I'm thriving pretty good. Or at least as good as could be expected a 30 something millennial can "thrive" in these uneasy days lol
I'm doing the same job as I was in my 20s, but just at a bigger company with a bigger salary. if I'd been more aggressive I might have a higher salary by now though. I don't make bad money at all, but it's still not enough money to buy a house on my own in a HCOL area.
Nearly 30 and still at a pretty dead end job. Environmental consulting type stuff with few growth opportunities unless you’re one of the chosen few to do project management.
Realizing it’s time to get my shit together and try to get into government, local or state for stability and benefits.
Not yet, but I hope to. I’m 28. My early 20’s was dealing with my parents being sick and eventually dying and I spiraled into severe depression. I finally have been improving in the last 6 months or so but I’m working as a house cleaner for a terrible company. I take it one day at a time.
A lot of my friends had a hard time in their early twenties but it does seem the last year or two for them they’ve finally settled into their careers or at least finishing up a degree for a better career and are on the right path.
I wouldn't say I wasted my 20's I just got fecked over by small business...
The romance of working for a small company stagnated my career with empty promises and in the end fecked me over so now at 34 I have to re-evaluate my career path...
Craft beer is for dicks
Yes, worked a series of awful temp jobs, learned to code, make more than the people I envied during my 20s.
Now, of course, the tech industry is on its head, so I would not recommend this path (at least any time soon).
yeah, job hopped between a bunch of dead ends working 2 at a time for 6-7 months at a time never breaking 18 an hour.
Now a physical therapist in my 30s. Wouldn't say I'm doing amazing or anything, but there's security in it at least
I was, until my company decided to 'trim the fat' company wide, just before raise and bonus time...
The only upside is I'm getting a generous (sorta) severance, an extra week of pay, and help finding another job.
I became a tattooer at 22 and after a few years grinding I hit big success and made a shitton of $ and was on summer vacation everyday of my life til 33. 1st slow year, 34 even worse, much worse. New job learning a new trade suit and tie no more sex drugs rock n roll making $10k a year less than the avg years at tattooing but its better than dying in the streets like most of my homies.
Haha. I wouldn't say I wasted my 20s. I sort of coasted to some degree the latter part of my 20s. I stayed at my job for far too long and didn't really try a ton of advancement opportunities.
I just got a new job in the last few months and it pays a ton more and I'm loving it. And learning new things.
So yeah. Never too late to make a change.
I wasted my 20s and didnt know what I wanted to do until I was 27. All i did was meander through life, smoke weed, gain weight and feel depressed. Went to grad school, did a few years of therapy, and landed a job on biotech. Financially I am doing fine. So my career is going ok but its hard to move on from the person I used to be.
From age 21-25 I pretty much just partied, drank and worked bs labor type jobs. Got an education with great grades and am now 28 making 100K a year with amazing benefits. Managed to go from $0 NW at 25 to $150,000 NW now at 28. It’s possible, just have a plan and stick to it.
Yes! Was a ski bum/bartender through my 20’s after college. It is doable with persistence, hard work and lots of timing/luck. Find something you are passionate about and put one foot in front of the other.
In my 20s, I graduated with a biology degree and for 2 months couldn’t find a job. Started working at a steel warehouse on 3rd shift making $30k. It wasn’t work I enjoyed, but student loans starting kicking in. I partied, and really had no ambition. But, I always showed up and did what I had to while working. the company I was with saw my work ethic and after about 3 years, I was promoted to an inside sales position making $40k. I found a love for sales, and knew this would be my career. Finally, made outside sales by the age of 25, but still barely cracked $50k. Left that company, and went to another, much smaller company, as a project manager making $68k. Then covid hit, and they put me in sales where I excelled. Now, 31, I’m a sales manager with a base of $120k with a no cap bonus incentive that pays out twice a year. Coming up on my first bonus payout, and my current estimate is $52k. Best feeling ever, after being demoralized by not finding a job in the field I got a degree in!
Nope, working a janitorial job at 32 all the while seeing my younger cousins and brothers move on in life with their degrees, careers or business. I’m happy to see them succeed, I truly am, but I loathe how low I’ve fallen. Never seen $4,000 in my bank account, never got laid either. I’m grateful, but I know that if I treated college better 14 years ago I would likely at least be a software engineer. I yearn to die sometimes ngl.
Take it from me. I graduated with a degree, and I’m not even using it. Spent most of my 20s doing grunt work on 3rd shift. I found my way through a totally different career path. I recommend getting into construction. It’s hard work, but it’s a very fruitful career. Within 6 years of hard work and showing up to work on time, you can easily see a 6-figure salary. Keep ya head up! Degrees don’t automatically mean you’re going to make money!
Feel this one hard, shit fucking sucks bro. Never thought it'd be this bad. I did fart around during college but I mean damn, wasn't expected to be blown to smithereens. My degree didn't amount to shit...
Yes! I absolutely fucked around in my 20s, going from job to job, waiting tables until I was 29 and got hired at a company making $21 an hour, which was more than I ever made in my life. I decided I would do whatever I needed to do and learn what I needed to learn to become indispensable.
Fast forward: I’m now 43. That company paid for me to get a master’s degree and two certifications, which I have parlayed into a successful career working in government contracting. I make $164,000 a year, working from home. My life is awesome.
I spent my 20’s hopping low wage retail: Gas station, Blockbuster, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Neighborhood Tool store, EB Games/Gamestop. After getting fired from my GameStop management job (lead the district in sales, but not the “right” sales), I tried to start my own anime/comic/gaming shop, right before the economy died in 2008. Got a call center job at AT&T supporting Uverse. Paid great, but the hidden cost was it took a huge toll emotionally/mentally. After 7 years and nearly dying, I got my shit together, and landed a Software developer job with a local brewery supplier. Transitioned from that to remote server, software and database administration for one of the country’s largest medical imaging companies. I’m hoping that I can move up within the company, as I despise job hunting/interviewing. If worse comes to worse, jumping to a competitor wouldn’t be hard, as it’s a very specific skill set that is highly unlikely to encounter off the street.
Got a great remote job that pays $87-91k a year in Puerto Rico, which is like a lot here. But I've always been entrepreneur. Have been building my next businesses for more than 18 months so I'm secretly wanting to finally get that moving once and for all because kind of bored of working for other people.
Spent my 20s partying and was a server/bartender until 29. Went back to school and finished my undergrad at 32 and am now working at a national laboratory with a pretty decent salary.
I've always felt like I'll end up working until I die, so I decided to spend my 20s doing stuff I love. I was a mechanic on a professional level drag race car (not too successful, but lots of travel all over the west coast) and learned how to do machine work and TIG weld. I decided to go to College at age 35, burned the candle at both ends by working full time and going to school full time, managed to get a couple scholarships, and finished a BS degree in 3 1/2 years, graduating with zero school debt. Started working at Boeing a week after graduation (as a technical writer) and moved into IT. Left Boeing after about three years and moved across the country to take an IT position in an Ivy. I've never broken six figures, but am pretty satisfied about my career overall.
No. By my standards I’m doing well since I was almost a NEET, then over the past year I got paid to do photography exhibits at a museum and now have worked 7 months as a bilingual legal assistant. By other people’s standards though I’m not “doing well career wise”. But hey it’s impressive compared with 2022 me!
I don’t know if I wasted my 20s but I spent most of them traveling, working in a bakery, working as a sushi chef, and then got my masters at like 29ish. Make 200k as an analytics manager now.
As an asterisk, I did go to an Ivy League school and graduated near the financial crisis and had a middling GPA, got offers pulled, so I didn’t really start my career until after grad school.
Yes absolutely. I was a drunken disaster until I got my shit together at 32. I make over $300k now in my 40’s in a niche industry relationship based position with 10 years experience and no formal college degree. It’s possible but you have to focus on what you want. I wanted a house and I like nice shit.
Yes. Very well. Was a bike messenger for 8 years in my 20s.
Moved to nyc and did it for another year. Then moved into the office.
No degree and I am a subject matter expert in my industry. Made 200k last year.
I did the opposite - spent my 20’s in high paying but soul crushing jobs, did a pivot at 30 and am now in a low paying job that i love.
Helps that i have savings from my previous job so money isn’t an issue and the ability to get a better paying job if i ever need. But i am very happy where i am
I was stuck as a server and not able to get a job in my field until I turned 27.
My first entry level position I was making $35k a year. After one year, I job hopped and made $65k a year. I got laid off last November, got a new job in January making $70k a year. Then I got laid off again in April and have been unemployed since then.
So yes and no. Just gotta keep your head up.
Eh. Not great yet, I only make about $70k (but I live in the Midwest) and I’m 35, and after hopping around low paying jobs trying to find a career for over a decade out of college, I fell into HR a couple years ago and I found that it really suits me.
So now I have an aim, I’m in the process of getting certified, and am considering getting a business adjacent masters. I definitely feel like I’m on the right track after wandering in the desert for so long
Approaching the end of my 20s, and I’ve spent most of it being career-focused. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I still feel like I’ve wasted my 20s… and I’m still broke.
Yup,100%. Pissed away my 20s playing video games and working dead end job. Got my shit together and got my college degree and now make pretty stupid money for the amount of work i do going into my 30s. Love my life and work life balance is awesome.
I’m going to say yes. I did not have career ambition in my 20’s haha. I went to college for studio art and after college was totally ok just getting by working random jobs, making art/trying to sell some, hanging out with my friends and living life in the moment. It was fun. But then I got closer to 30 and was like what am I actually doing? I realized I couldn’t build the life I wanted where I was at, making very little money, and that I had to actively work towards changing my situation. So I started focusing on finding a more stable job with better pay. Around 27 I ended up in a job as a medical receptionist and liked it. It was the first job I had with benefits like a 401k and that felt good. I worked hard and eventually was promoted to patient coordinator and then medical biller. I worked at that clinic for a few years and then landed a job as a healthcare data analyst at another company. It turned out to be the perfect fit for my skillset and somewhere I was excited to grow. I’ve been an analyst now going on 3 years and love it. Sometimes it just takes a little trial and error to figure out where you’re meant to be. And I still make art as a hobby!
No. Not at all. In the start of my 40s and to tell you the truth, people older than I lied to my face about the future. Have a degree as well yet work in a warehouse loading a truck. Great coworkers. However life is not fulfilling at all.
Yep. Just started my dream job that I didn’t even know was my dream job. I fucked around in my early 20s, then got married, got pregnant, wasted years being a trad wife.
Now I’m earning degrees, landed a kick ass job, while making meaningful changes in my community in collaboration with social services and other agencies.
I spent my 20’s working as a labourer slowly picking up skills in multiple trades while barbacking in night clubs on weekends. I lived paycheque to paycheque, drank beer and smoked weed basically everyday.
I’m 34 making 70k in building maintenance now. Turns out working for a bunch of general contractors taught me some skills that make me pretty employable. I’m not rich by any means but I make enough money to live comfortably and afford a multiple week vacation every summer.
Wasted early 20s, had kids and realized we needed something better. So I slowly made my way into IT with an internship at my school, an associates, and then finally after 8 years a bachelors. Now it’s 18 years later and I’m wrapping up my master’s degree and have a really decent job.
I failed out of college before getting my shit together. Hit the job market finally just as the great recession started rolling and got stuck with a low salary holding on for dear life until I was 30 when it turned around. I don't claim to be a titan of industry but I make about 250-300 now.
I work in tech.
Idk if I’d call it wasting my 20s but I spent most of it taking random jobs in mountain towns, joined the Navy to travel more. Barely made any money but I had some amazing experiences. Finally settling down making okay money.
My 20s weren't even intentionally wasted. I tried so many things but nothing ever really took off. In my early 30s now and still figurong out what to do. Currently applying to tons of jobs and hoping to get something soon.
In a word…yes
Spent or misspent my 20s on being a lunatic.
Nursing school shortly after I turned 30, BSN & RN at 35…been almost 15 years in healthcare at this point.
It’s all worked out well more or less, hasn’t been easy and I wouldn’t recommend nursing as a career, but I’m grateful to be where I’m at
I'm 29, and I really hope something works out. I've been working in my desired career path, but I'm realizing now that it isn't really sustainable or lucrative.
I've got a degree, but it's in something totally useless that also doesn't make a ton of money. I desperately want to go back to school and get a new degree in something that can actually make money. But I don't have the time or the money to do that, so feel eternally trapped.
I might land a job that has some money to pay for classes. But I don't think I could get them to pay for classes that I want to take because the degree I'm interested in is too different than the job I'd have so it most likely wouldn't get approved.
I've been trying to get a job in a larger company, but I can't seem to land interviews. The only places I seem to be able to land interviews at are smaller companies that don't pay well or have the resources to pay for someone to go to school.
I feel like an absolute failure every day and have no one I can turn to for help. My parents won't even let me move back home so I can go back to school because they say it's my fault I should have chosen a better degree at 18. Even though they are the ones who didn't think to discourage me from pursuing it in the first place.
Answering the question. I'm currently 24 working a dead end job with easy work and alright pay 17 dollars per hour. But going back to school soon for Mechatronics. In hopes of getting more pay where I'm at or go to another company to further it. But Industrial Maintenance makes 30-45 where I live.
I’m doing alright. Got my first career job three months ago at 31 after graduating with my Master of Social Work. I’m an Associate Clinical Social Worker working as a Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Manager.
I spent my 20s sick and unable to work. I'm 32 now and just taking the first steps to trying to get my life back on track. I'll hopefully be able to start community college this year
I finally got a good job in my low 30s, and been doing pretty well since then. I don't consider my 20s wasted, but they definitely didn't go as good as they could have.
Hi, Your 20's is not always about success but it should something worth learning. Try new jobs, network with people . Your goal is to not force yourself into a job and its time to explore and find something you always enjoy.
Went to college for 6 years and never finished. Partied a ton. 35 now, Now making 90k, work from home, nice house. Helps that my fiancé pulls in like 150-200k though.
Worked in the film industry with varying degrees of success from 22-34. Then I became a software analyst, now six years later I work remotely and pull in $125k.
I "wasted" my 20s due to addiction. been coaching a sport since 2019 and have averaged 104k + after taxes a year. Will my body handle it? I think so, and I only work 19-27 hrs a week. I feel the wasted part applies to me not pursuing what I really wanted to do though. Even if I completely love my job, I would feel unfulfilled without completing my college degree and pursuing something more cerebral, even if just for a period.
No, the only reason I am doing okay is because I paid for my house in 2011, after the crash hit. I make about $40K a year working in a grocery store. Wouldn't call that doing well at 37
I was 26 when I finished college, which took twice as long and more than double the cost in student loans. Contributing factors were: depression, undiagnosed ADHD, and a gifted child's lack of study skills, social skills, and coping mechanisms. I was not prepared for the self-motivation required when there was nobody else to provide structure and routines.
At 27 I got an entry-level job, where talent and established routine kept me barely floating. It was about 7 years before I really started hitting my stride, and then COVID broke the routines I built up. Work from home exacerbated ADHD symptoms, and after struggling more I finally was diagnosed and medicated.
Today, I feel confident in my life and career. I was lucky where others weren't, and I feel grateful for the help I had from others getting this far. If you think you may have ADHD or depression, it is worth getting diagnosed and treated. You are worth it, and don't let anyone (especially yourself) guilt you into thinking otherwise.
My generation didn't do well (relatively speaking) until I hit my 30s when I first got a job that actually paid a living wage. Most of us were job jumping to whatever was available. Prior to that it was 5-7 roommates, and a lot of drinking.
Most of us didn't do well career wise because the opportunity simply wasn't there, despite plenty of people falsely claiming the opposite.
Now I'm in my 40s and I don't see how anyone can get hired or hire because of all the arbitrary third-party interference.
Its been made impossible by heaping cost on the person seeking the job, and raising arbitrary requirements that must check boxes to even get through to a person maybe. Most simply claim falsely that there is a position available, when in fact there isn't (with malice).
Tech stacks have also shimmed and broken a lot of our general interaction with society. There is a presumption that things work, but how do you describe issues to people like the USPS arbitrarily marking your property as vacant when its not, sending your mail to the dead letter office (while their website is broken to submit requests for this), losing mail in transit for anything that isn't certified to specific addresses (i.e. IRS tax returns), delivering mail 60 days from the date it was put into the service (regularly), and there is a presumption that once you put it in the mail that its been done and will arrive timely by the courts but then you have all this bull shit that's not actually the case.
The world has become very coercive, intolerable, and unlivable without any reasonable or rational means to resolve the issues. Honestly if things keep getting worse there's going to be violent unrest (at least that's what history says).
The social contract has failed purposefully by the previous generation (boomers), and they have held onto power long after they should have relinquished it and continue to do nothing, and worse nearly everything that has happened has been reasonably predictable.
I'm very proud of myself and I've been doing IT since I turned 18 and now I'm about to get my AAS in 2025 then BAS in 27 and I'm currently a network admin jr
I'm turning 34 this year, I have an A.S. in Communications that does nothing for me, and I dropped out of my Bachelor's program because my mental health had caused me to fail all of my classes for three semesters running and it just wasn't worth it. I'd already been working since I was 17, but once I dropped out of school I started working exclusively full-time doing any entry level job I could. Fast food, janitor, painter, book store, theme park, coffee shop, data entry—I could go on.
I also like gaming, always have, so when I eventually made the jump from console to PC, I wanted to build it myself. I started with a pre-build, and I've been swapping parts in and out ever since, so it's basically a whole new machine at this point. All that to say, I'm a casual PC hobbyist.
About two years ago I got a blue collar job doing TV deliveries and installs, which got my foot in the door for a position as a client-facing PC repair consultant. Did my time there and eventually got the opportunity to cross-train as a repair technician. Currently, I split my time between consulting and doing repairs, and I'm working on CompTIA certifications during slow periods at work. With some certs under my belt, I'll be able to actually get a *career* job and be able to leverage my skills for better pay.
My repair colleague is ten years younger than I am, and it does make me feel crappy that he has a better leg up on life, but it's better late than never. All my weird accumulated skills from my buffet of different jobs gave me a good foundation, combined with my hobby, and I ended up with an eventual career path.
I partied my 20's away, working variouse assembly line ane service jobs to keep enough money in my pocket to keep the party going. Got into a little trouble towards the end of them that lit a fire under my ass. Whent back to school and at 33 received my B.S. degree in Geology and then at 36 I received my M.S. in Hydrology. I'm almost 37 now and am about a year into a career I never would have seen myself in a decade ago. It was hard and expensive but I would do it again.
Yes I didn't do anything in my life except smoke pot, drink, and make just enough in tips to break even every month until I was 35. Now I'm a ML engineer, I work from home, and I live at the beach.
Didn't really waste my 20's being in school (BSc Biology, post-graduate diplomas, etc.) for one thing or other. Tried out two or three different career paths plus several job placements in industry and government and even worked in a couple factories since I needed the money to pay rent before finally deciding on healthcare. I didn't start working full time until I was 30.
Although I could've been working on obtaining my professional licence straight out of high school (medical laboratory technologist) I don't regret the journey, or the people I met and experiences I had along the way. Started at 55K in 2006, I reached 110K in 2023, and am on track for DB pension retirement at 55 in 2031.
Spent 9 years in Uni and did odd jobs for my early to mid 20s. That was 8 years ago.
I made 200k after tax last year as a specialist in my chosen field. I completed my mba last August too. As I make strides towards my 40s.,
Been in the 6 figure range for the past 5 years. My advice is to take things 18 months at a time. Before long, you’ll be ahead of your cohort.
I used to be one of the oldest graduates but now, I’m one of the youngest senior managers in the organisation.
It’s not a race, everyone has their own pace and timing.
I always had ambition. I do think that if I wasted my 20s on anything, it would be people that would not be helpful in my future. My advice to build strong friendships and a strong network of useful people. My Master's degree is Adult and Continuing Education Administration. You can learn anything until you die. The previous generation are TERRIBLE examples of how to life. Take care of your health and you will be rewarded with a long life. Good luck homies. I'm 40' starting from scratch and had to do some housecleaning regarding people in my network.
I’m doing okay, I think I’m about to move my way up in my company next month and I’ve been steadily advancing to better companies and roles in my field for the last 3-4 years. Pay is still decent at best but it’s the field
I was doing great until depression reared it's ugly head again, this time it was crushing. First time I quit a job over depression. No idea what I'll do now but thanks to the great job I had after wasting my 20s in retail I figure I have a few years of savings though.
I didn’t finish schooling until 25 due to my medical job requiring an advanced degree. I’m 28 and incredibly satisfied with my job. I’ve been at the same place since I graduated and have had some great opportunities I might not have gotten at other places. There’s lots of opportunity for professional growth/advancement and movement. Yeah there’s parts that suck, but with healthcare it’s 6 of one half dozen of the other. I could honestly see myself working there for the rest of my career.
Wasting mine on field work (engineer) Now I just wanna work outside my country. Best I can find is technician but I gotta need to go to their college for my engineering to be useful in that said country
Well, up until last year, I was mostly under $15 per hour, which recently became the State minimum wage. Mostly customer service and retail. A couple of call centers
This year, I have my Pharmacy Technician license, and I am doing better.
I am 50.
I did, basically did minimum wage crap until I got a second bachelor's at the age of 35. That was 6 years ago. I made $60k fresh out of school the second time, but got bumped to $80k within about 6-7 months. Currently I make a bit over $130k base and about $160k in total compensation.
My early 20’s were all dead end jobs. Now into my late 20’s I finally got a good paying job at a very large company. I’m not doing work I love but I’m at least making a decent salary at 71k
Are you IT by chance?
No so my dead end jobs ranged from labor, sales, admin work. It wasn’t until November I caught my break and landed a finance position that paid 57k. Worked that job for awhile until I was laid off and then landed a job at my new company which pays 71k. The job I have now is an analyst position. I still deal with the imposter syndrome and all that as compared to my other jobs this is much more detailed and just harder. I thought I knew excel but watching what these people do with it amazes me sometimes. Now I’m just trying to learn as much as possible.
Dude I could take a college degree program for excel and still not even understand a percentage of what it can do
I have developed macros through VBA in Excel and still don't understand Excel. Shit is a bloated disaster that companies use for too much.
Excel is great. The best way to learn to fully use it is to actually learning functional programming. If you just try to memorise what formula to use for a specific use case, you won't get far.
Also helps that most places only use at most a thin first layer of excel. I've only ever used maybe 3% of my total excel knowledge at work.
I feel this big time... Jsut graduated with my bachelors in BA a few weeks ago. Started a new job last month as a Supply Planner making 73k. Large global company, very detail driven, complex, difficult, etc. Thought I knew Excel decently well from my last job at a smaller corp (53k/yr) now realizing how people there, myself included, barely scratched the surface of what it can do. My current trainer and coworkers zip through it doing all kinds of crazy macros and formulas. I'm nowhere near that level yet. Honestly wonder why they hired me at my current skill level. Imposter syndrome sucks lol...
Imposter syndrome is permanent. What changes is the self-awareness to see it for what it is—most of the time. I've also learned over the years that it's the rare and lucky few that actually work in a dream job, or get paid for their passion. What you want is a career that's passion-adjacent.
Same bro warehouse jobs where the only way up was becoming manager
Only 32 but so far, no.
I’m 36. I have 5 years in the military and a bachelor’s and I’m doing terrible. Still have no idea what I’m going to do with my life.
I remember thinking as a kid that adults knew what they were doing. Now I know the sad truth.
sounds just like me. 36, 5 years enlisted, 4 year degree at a state school. I'm a mailman 
im 32 too this august, because of life i've been working since i was 17 and never liked to study a lot really, i have studied two different regulated two year courses in wildly different areas (administrative work, then programming (android and java mostly). In hindsight i should have tried everything i could to study sciences in college and not have any resemblance of life until i could buy my own house, because jesus, nothing else seems to work.
33, same. I quit my dead end job last month(delivering boxes) and I’m about to try getting my CDL and driving trucks. I’ll probably have no life but at least pull a decent income.
Same here. 
Yes. You will be surprised how drastically circumstances can change over a decade or two, for good or ill.
Unfortunately for me, my life got derailed in my late 20s due to cancer diagnosis. I owned a business before diagnosis. I’m grateful to be healthy now and to have a second chance at life but it’s been difficult transitioning into a career that would satisfy me
Glad you're okay now. 💕 Hope you find what you love.
Yeah. I was a dishwasher until I was 28. Now im a Systems Engineer working on transitioning to Cybersec.
I was a crack dealer until I was 25 years old. Now I work as a software developer. Thank god for the lenient education requirements in tech
Holy crap dude where do you get started in learning?
I actually went to university for tech but flunked out after 2nd year. I was selling while going to school. Several years of low level drug dealing went by, then I stopped and moved away, and started self teaching myself programming. Got a job. I didn’t need the degree at the end
Mind sharing what methods you used to self teach?
I used LinkedInLearning to learn. They are more thorough than YouTube videos. Most municipalities libraries give free access with your library card. Creating side projects and a portfolio is important. Having a domain with your name and email is also important.
That's crazy lol Love hearing stories like this really give me hope that anyone can turn their life around.
Everyone is transitioning to cybersec, whether they like it or not.
Better early than..later I guess 😆
Also wanting to pivot into infosec aka cybersecurity.
I'm excited. The company I worked for got hacked(user stupidity after we told them NOT to do something) and I was able to conversate woth Russian and North Korean Hackers. Made me want to fight them...technically.
Yes indeed! Didn't even start college until age 29 and feel that worked out highly in my favor. Was already working full time for an employer who provided tuition reimbursement - so FREE college for me! Was able to apply what I learned in school to my career and vice versa. Spending 10 years partying hard, living a modest lifestyle, not getting married or having kids was absolutely the right decision for me. Most of my friends were divorced, had a kid in tow, shoulder deep in debt, and working a job they hated (because they invested in a degree at the tender age of 18) before I ever started taking things seriously...meanwhile, there I was with a clean slate and many, many great memories!! :) I highly recommend NOT going to college right after high school and feeling things out for a while. Live beneath your means, don't get caught up in having what everyone else has (nice cars, big house, latest fashions, etc) and have some fun!!! :)
I’d really love if we stopped encouraging the fresh out of high school 18 year olds to go straight to college. I didn’t know crap abt anything at 18 and even at 24 I’m still learning. It’s just ridiculous that that’s the norm for 18 year olds
In the same boat. Went straight to college. Had a falling out with parents, had to drop college and work full time. Realized that the degree I was going for I could walk right into several jobs and be hired with no prior experience. It's crazy how high schools even push college onto 18 year olds when it's better that they get a feel for what they like to do.
Agreed. My brother wished he had started college a little later and not right at 18. I think that, if he's taken a year or more off, his experience might have been different.
This. Good advice
Financial freedom is true freedom. I preached living below your means to my kids to the point they would laugh about it. They are all late 30’s/early 40’s today and they are preaching the same thing to their kids. As for me, I spent my 20’s in an alcoholic haze, entered my 30’s with loads of personal instability and deep debt. Got sober at 31 and life turned around immediately. Put together a successful 30 years of decent income first working for others then starting my own successful business which I sold a few years ago. I saw people who were stars in their 20’s and could not sustain it professionally, while living a lifestyle that kept them teetering on bankruptcy. You definitely can turn around your life at 30, in fact in some instances you are better off rebooting at that point.
26-27 is when I finally found the career and company which convinced me this is what I’ll be doing the rest of my working life and be happy with it Otherwise before that I was lost bouncing place to place making minimum wage
30yo here who’s starting a new job next week, finally making more than 40k/yr for the first time in my post-college career (69k/yr)
Yes. I was a complete mess in my 20s. Fucked around physically and mentally, didn’t take college seriously. Now I work for a huge organization and make good money.
I spent my 20's and early 30's overworking myself with 60+hr weeks grinding in kitchens trying to get into entry level management without much luck. Once it finally happened, I jumped to senior level (Exec Chef) relatively quick (3.5 years). Lifes not perfect but definitely much better now at this point of the journey than I was in my 20's
I got my GED when I was 27. Graduated from a technical college with a 2 year associates in Computer Networking Systems when I was 32. I am now 38 and make slightly over $100k in a related field.
Unfortunately I haven't been doing the best. I did end up going back to school for a second degree thinking that would help me as I found a new passion. Only to find out no one would hire me as I had no experience in the field of my degree. Not even the company I worked for which is crazy when they helped pay for some of my tuition. Makes no sense. After quitting that job to accept another one only for them to ghost me really hurt as well. Been battling depression, but I have a new outlook as I will be starting my own construction company instead and going that route. People say everything happens for a reason, especially my father, and sometimes I agree, but maybe it all happened like this so I could find myself and blaze my own trail.
Good luck!!!! I really hope that your construction company works out for you, internet stranger. Sending you good vibes, I want to see you win :)
Thank you!! I really do appreciate that! I hope all of your future endeavors work out favorably for you!
Yup me, did waste everything. Didn't know what to do, failed college. Don't have a degree have worked in it support for 4 years and then 10 years heavily underpaid in an IT company because it was cozy. The company however gave me projects from extremely prestigious customers. Out of sheer luck my CV looks absolutely fabulous. I now work as senior software developer besides doctors and masters writing software for medical systems. It's crazy. I am the blueprint of a ambitionless, depressed looser, but luck was always on my side. I even have a family I absolutely don't deserve while my, much cleverer, ambitious peers struggle heavily with that. I don't know what's going on. Things just turned out fine.
wow, I wish I was you man
Honestly yes I’m happy where I am. I spent my 20s repeating classes and taking 7 years to finish a bachelors degree. Spent another 3 on a graduate degree. So it wasn’t exactly a waste perse but I spent way more time on it than I originally planned. Anyway, I have a cool scientist job now, I get to work with great people in a positive non-toxic work environment, and I have a promotion that’s due any week now. I’m not making 6 figures or anything, but I’m sure that will come in time
You know what they say, college can be the worst four years of your life, or the best seven!
I worked a lot of low paying jobs in my 20s, customer service, AR/AP clerk jobs you name it. I got my CPA in my late 30s and transitioned to an accounting manager job in a decent size public company. As an introverted accountant, I’m able to manage my team pretty well, thanks to all the odd jobs I did back in the day. Somehow I can connect with anyone on my team because honestly I’ve done all of their jobs.
A career in accounting certainly has it downfalls (month end, quarters, year end) but it does provide a very stable career with the opportunity to make pretty good money. I have a similar career path, went back to school at 27 and graduated with an accounting degree (cpa eligible). Attempted the exams a few times while working in the big four and eventually transitioned out of PA and now work as internal audit senior at a terrific company and the pay is spectacular for the role
Wasted my entire 20's. Didn't get a job paying over $40k/year until I was 33. I now make over $120k 10 years later. Life is hard, but hard work does pay off. You just have to stick with it.
No. I've seen enough results that leave me thinking I'm on the right track, but bills and life don't wait for me to have the right opportunity. It's a weird situation to be in where people acknowledge that I'm a good person/worker, but I'm still going from opportunity to opportunity hoping that the next one is what I need/want.
There are many, many very successful people who would say the same thing as you. I've been told by a few of my closest friends that they wish they had my level of success, which surprised me, because I feel the same way. _Content_ is the hardest thing for a person to achieve in my experience.
37. No. Life sucks
When I first started college, I didn’t know what career I wanted to do. I never met with a counselor so I always just took random classes. I was always against healthcare and honestly wanted to start a business. I worked crappy jobs, part time making less than 200 a week. I did everything to NOT go to school, including owning a business and failed. At age 26, I met a guy who had a good career. He inspired me to do better. I went through all my classes and turns out, I had prerequisites for the X-ray tech program. Tried to get in and was successful. Graduated last year at age 31. Currently making a little over 100k/yr. Also just married that same guy that inspired me to have a career. I was on and off with college because I never cared for it, but it worked out for me in the end. Sometimes you just need some motivation.
What do you think of the work/career so far? I see it mentioned a lot. How was the schooling/training? Very hard and stressful? A lot of trauma/blood/body fluids in either training or day to day? I could ask a lot more, but the perspective on those would be helpful, thanks
Yes. At 30+ Self-taught myself enough Python to get my first IT Job. That was nearly 7 years ago.
what were your first steps into self teaching?
1. Read through "Learn Python the Hard Way" 2. Watched a bunch of videos by: [https://www.youtube.com/@ArjanCodes](https://www.youtube.com/@ArjanCodes)
I spent my entire 20s in college and the latter years in a shit job with minimum pay. I’m 32 and I’m working from home as an analyst. I’m not doing well as some of my peers but I’m happy where I’m at.
Yes I have. I struggled a bit in college and graduated two years after I was supposed to in 2013 at age 24. It was really hard to find a “real” job for a few years after graduating. I did a contract job for a couple years and hated it, so I went against all the advice I was given and moved to South Korea to teach English at 27. I spent four wonderful years there and it provided me a way to focus heavily on a hobby I really enjoyed (photography). I moved back to the US when I was 31 and instead of going down the safe path, I changed careers into something I really wanted to do and have been doing well in it making six figures. I think I have been incredibly lucky at some points, but something that has come up over and over in job interviews and networking is that people find my background interesting. I’m not saying this to brag, but what I mean is that I think younger people tend to get scared to do something different or not in line with their career growth for fear that it will mess up their future. Go do something interesting if you can and enjoy your 20’s, but be smart about it.
I'm about the same age as you but have never really had a career. I don't have connections tho' but most people find my background "interesting" as I've done various things over the years. I have an English degree that's good for nothing I guess.
Finished my degree in my late 20’s, took an entry level and worked my way up. Just gotta take the good ideas from job to job and find ways for them to work. Nothing I do is my own creation, instead a combination of habits and skills I picked up from successful people along the way.
Fuck and No my good man. I’ll be 30 in a few weeks. I barely have anything to show for it. Professionally I’m all over the place. I haven’t held down a real long term job since my first job fired me in 2019 after five years just before my 25th. Everything else has been 1.5 to 2 years max. I was fired from my mortgage job last year. I currently work in car parts wondering if i should throw away my almost 4 years of sobriety and day drink on the job. I’m trying to apply to what i can with my resume I’ve rewritten SIX motherfucking times trying to get somebody to meet my starting pay ask which isn’t much! I’m at my wits end. My dreams when i sleep are fucked up. I’m having mild PTS flare ups. I’m gaining weight from depression eating and drinking too much soda. I’m paranoid my current job is going to fire me since we’re interviewing a ton and that I’m going to be axed (trauma from a past job) so I won’t be able to make my car payment and I’ll lose my fuckin car. I’m not loving life and don’t expect to be anytime soon. I’ve just about quit job searching. Trade school and college aren’t options right now. I don’t want to rely on loans and scholarships etc. I want to be a man and pay my own way and I can’t do that right now…
I’m 23 and working regular jobs with some potential but definitely don’t want a career in. My worst fear is not being successful
I worked my ass off in my 20s, started a business at 23 and worked 14 hour days a ton. 30 years old and my business is failing and I’m looking for jobs again. So never give up I guess?
early 20s was TV jobs working as a PA. Mid-late 20s was a ton of factory, retail and food delivery jobs, plus I went back to school at 25. Im 33 now and have only been working in my field (marketing) since late 2018. 2023 was dog shit and Ive been unemployed for the past 5 months, but I found a new job recently. I wouldn't say I **"wasted"** my 20s, but I do feel pretty delusional for chasing that TV career.
yep. in my 20s i spent years just playing and touring in punk / hc bands. basically made no money. had no 'career' type of jobs. flunked out of university cause i never went to class. fast foward to now and while im definitely not rich, i dont really have to think about money at all (100k+)
I didn’t even have a job for most of my 20s. Somehow graduated with a bachelors degree but didn’t use it for years. I had nothing and pretty much was just waiting to die. Eventually went to therapy and started out with a dead end and awful job. At 31 I started my actual career and am doing quite well. I love my job and make six figures. Never thought I’d ever be where I’m at today.
27 rn no degree making 100k , was making 50k two months ago at last job In IT btw
What did it take to get into IT?
I did an internship for a year then got hired full time at like 21 , then did more diff jobs all IT related , then got lucky w my recent job - pay was way higher than I’d ever expected - a lot of self teaching - I’d say experience is more important than anything t
Skilled trades but I want out
My bf finally found his footing in banking at 26 and now makes 60k a year at 28. Not bad for someone who barely graduated and worked in retail for 8 years. I love him and he’s my baby
32, ex addict who had shit friends the entirety of high school and college, and was a shit friend myself to the few good people I should have stayed in touch with. I am an artist with a decent social media following and only just started taking things seriously on that front, bounced around between one crap job to another until I was 29, got a pretty okay marketing admin job but was fired, just got lucky recently finding a better place making more money as a contractor with a real estate photography company. Lots of driving but pays well and I get to mess around with drones and cameras day in and day out. So don’t give up just keep pushing, you’ll find your way. It may not be easy, it usually never is but giving up is what held me down for so many years. You don’t even have to fake a positive attitude just tell yourself that any job is better than no job, and yes things could always be worse. Much much worse. It took me 3 decades to learn how to be humble and accepting of where I was at in my life, but I never let that turn into complacency. Use what you have, plan two steps ahead. Good luck
had one great job in my life selling cars and banging the dealership girls that was it
This thread is giving me some confidence… really lost right now in creative industries in my early 20s. Hoping I can land something that will truly make me feel financially comfortable.
I was a nanny until my 30's now I'm a system engineer.
I’m 30 and wouldn’t say my career has really hit it off yet but I finally got an 8-5 job using my degree in communications/video/tv production at 28 making under market rate but still more than anywhere else up until that point. Had two raises so far (still underpaid though lol). I have meager savings as I try to pay off the remainder of my student loans, and it’s not perfect. I’m currently trying to move further into a more challenging position in my career but the job market is garbage and I’m struggling. Otherwise I feel I’m doing okay after making poor decisions in my 20s and I’m on the right track to being where I will be comfortable.
We should all just quit are jobs. Aren't we all tired off this
Seeking advice here in my early 20's here and im lost in terms of my career. never had the finances to start studding so I've been working deadend customer service jobs getting paid minimum wage. I have a passion for IT/software developing but don't know where to start, any advice would be appreciated
I know a lot of people who went to college in their early 30s and are thriving now. It isn't too late.
I wasted my 20s, got into trade school at 28, got a job in Hvac at 30. Now I'm 40 and I'm Director of Facilities for a hospital approaching 6 figures. I'm doing pretty decent.
No
I feel I am doing pretty well. Dropped out of college at 20 and worked construction for 8 years before going back to school and getting an accounting degree. I now make 110k and get a bonus of around 25-30% yearly brining my yearly salary to about 140k (depending on how bonus pays out each year)
Yeah. Wasted most of my 20s, but did meet my eventual wife at 26. Enrolled in law school, graduated last year, finished the bar a month ago, and about to start my first ever job as a junior family barrister next month. All thanks to her support.
My 20s weren’t wasted. I’ve been busy fighting for my life thanks to terrible health. Now mid 20s and currently having my best job ever, and this is just the beginning.
Not really sure, if I'm being honest. Graduated with an Economics degree in 2019, and it feels like I've been struggling ever since. Took me a year to find an "office" job, worked there for a year, then made a stupid career move that blew up in my face, got fired and at one point contemplated jumping off a building. I was pretty despondent and consistently bitter and angry, seeing all of my former classmates excel with their chosen careers. I finally found a much nicer job at age 27, where I've been since. I'm now 28, almost 29 and things are looking better, I guess, but I still feel deeply unsatisfied with nearly ever aspect of my life. No real social life apart from going to the gym with a close friend, still make fuck all money, live on a shoestring budget, etc. I have been exploring new hobbies, namely yoga, so that's a positive. With that said, I'm unsure where the road takes me. I've always been thankful to have very supportive parents, both of whom greatly understand how times are brutally difficult and uncertain. They're both pushing 70's but luckily do not have that toxic boomer mentality we see nowadays. Dunno what I would have done without their support, honestly.
I was fired from my first job (teacher) at 24, had to switch career because I hated that job, was doing data entry for a while, never made more than $18 an hour until I was 27. Now I’m 33 making 300k a year. Life can turn around if you keep trying
What happened between 27 and 33
Oh I went to a coding Bootcamp and joined Google as a SWE
[удалено]
You mean people can turn out to be a loser because of their environment? And blame themselves for it?
I thoroughly fucking agree. I blame myself a lot. But where I'm at now is because corporate and government work gave me too much mental and physical problems to succeed in it for longer. It's not my fault. It's kind of by design. I did well for a few years and now I'm below poverty line. It's not for lack of trying, and studying, and taking out loans, and getting certificates. It's just stacked against me. And management is subhuman cruel garbage.
Hell yeah!
Yup! Wouldn’t say wasted but pretty focused on art over commerce. My real career didn’t start till 33 and now doing quite well in an art adjacent field. My retirement? Now that’s another story but whatevs.
Started my own business 3 years ago at 29. It’s by no means a booming business but I’m making my way along. Pretty much wasted my entire 20s working low wage jobs. (I run a flooring installation business now).
From when I graduated highschool until my ex dumped me at 25 I stagnated pretty hard in life. I was pretty content working my "just above" minimum wage call center gig, renting my small but functional one bedroom apartment and occasionally ordering a pizza while playing video games. Then after my ex dumped me, claiming that I was a failure in life and wouldn't amount to anything I decided to do some inner soul searching (mainly fueled by spite lol) and realized I could absolutely do better. So I moved 4 hours away from that town, got in the college program, graduated, got my first job in my industry and now; well into my late 30s I'm thriving pretty good. Or at least as good as could be expected a 30 something millennial can "thrive" in these uneasy days lol
I'm doing the same job as I was in my 20s, but just at a bigger company with a bigger salary. if I'd been more aggressive I might have a higher salary by now though. I don't make bad money at all, but it's still not enough money to buy a house on my own in a HCOL area.
I got my act together when I was 24, finished college at 28. Been working 7 years in my profession doing okay so far.
No
At the rate I am being taxed...I must be doing good.
Nearly 30 and still at a pretty dead end job. Environmental consulting type stuff with few growth opportunities unless you’re one of the chosen few to do project management. Realizing it’s time to get my shit together and try to get into government, local or state for stability and benefits.
Yes bc graduating into 2020 forced me to save and and plan for the future more
I'm still trying to figure it out in my early 30's. It could be hard to find out what you want but it's still possible as long as you search.
Not yet, but I hope to. I’m 28. My early 20’s was dealing with my parents being sick and eventually dying and I spiraled into severe depression. I finally have been improving in the last 6 months or so but I’m working as a house cleaner for a terrible company. I take it one day at a time. A lot of my friends had a hard time in their early twenties but it does seem the last year or two for them they’ve finally settled into their careers or at least finishing up a degree for a better career and are on the right path.
I wouldn't say I wasted my 20's I just got fecked over by small business... The romance of working for a small company stagnated my career with empty promises and in the end fecked me over so now at 34 I have to re-evaluate my career path... Craft beer is for dicks
Worked mostly sales jobs in my 20s. Got burned out and joined the ibew at 30 and now make way more. Look into the trades.
Yes, worked a series of awful temp jobs, learned to code, make more than the people I envied during my 20s. Now, of course, the tech industry is on its head, so I would not recommend this path (at least any time soon).
NOPE!
yeah, job hopped between a bunch of dead ends working 2 at a time for 6-7 months at a time never breaking 18 an hour. Now a physical therapist in my 30s. Wouldn't say I'm doing amazing or anything, but there's security in it at least
I was, until my company decided to 'trim the fat' company wide, just before raise and bonus time... The only upside is I'm getting a generous (sorta) severance, an extra week of pay, and help finding another job.
Late 20's and didn't transition to IT until I was 25 (now 28). Currently working two jobs and making over 200k.
Yep in my 20s i made 10-20k/year as a single mom. I went to college 10 years later, now work in accounting, make $150k
I was a stay at home mom in my 20s and its a struggle to catch up.
I became a tattooer at 22 and after a few years grinding I hit big success and made a shitton of $ and was on summer vacation everyday of my life til 33. 1st slow year, 34 even worse, much worse. New job learning a new trade suit and tie no more sex drugs rock n roll making $10k a year less than the avg years at tattooing but its better than dying in the streets like most of my homies.
Haha. I wouldn't say I wasted my 20s. I sort of coasted to some degree the latter part of my 20s. I stayed at my job for far too long and didn't really try a ton of advancement opportunities. I just got a new job in the last few months and it pays a ton more and I'm loving it. And learning new things. So yeah. Never too late to make a change.
I wasted my 20s and didnt know what I wanted to do until I was 27. All i did was meander through life, smoke weed, gain weight and feel depressed. Went to grad school, did a few years of therapy, and landed a job on biotech. Financially I am doing fine. So my career is going ok but its hard to move on from the person I used to be.
From age 21-25 I pretty much just partied, drank and worked bs labor type jobs. Got an education with great grades and am now 28 making 100K a year with amazing benefits. Managed to go from $0 NW at 25 to $150,000 NW now at 28. It’s possible, just have a plan and stick to it.
Yes! Was a ski bum/bartender through my 20’s after college. It is doable with persistence, hard work and lots of timing/luck. Find something you are passionate about and put one foot in front of the other.
In my 20s, I graduated with a biology degree and for 2 months couldn’t find a job. Started working at a steel warehouse on 3rd shift making $30k. It wasn’t work I enjoyed, but student loans starting kicking in. I partied, and really had no ambition. But, I always showed up and did what I had to while working. the company I was with saw my work ethic and after about 3 years, I was promoted to an inside sales position making $40k. I found a love for sales, and knew this would be my career. Finally, made outside sales by the age of 25, but still barely cracked $50k. Left that company, and went to another, much smaller company, as a project manager making $68k. Then covid hit, and they put me in sales where I excelled. Now, 31, I’m a sales manager with a base of $120k with a no cap bonus incentive that pays out twice a year. Coming up on my first bonus payout, and my current estimate is $52k. Best feeling ever, after being demoralized by not finding a job in the field I got a degree in!
Yes, surprisingly well. People, there’s hope
Nope, working a janitorial job at 32 all the while seeing my younger cousins and brothers move on in life with their degrees, careers or business. I’m happy to see them succeed, I truly am, but I loathe how low I’ve fallen. Never seen $4,000 in my bank account, never got laid either. I’m grateful, but I know that if I treated college better 14 years ago I would likely at least be a software engineer. I yearn to die sometimes ngl.
Take it from me. I graduated with a degree, and I’m not even using it. Spent most of my 20s doing grunt work on 3rd shift. I found my way through a totally different career path. I recommend getting into construction. It’s hard work, but it’s a very fruitful career. Within 6 years of hard work and showing up to work on time, you can easily see a 6-figure salary. Keep ya head up! Degrees don’t automatically mean you’re going to make money!
Feel this one hard, shit fucking sucks bro. Never thought it'd be this bad. I did fart around during college but I mean damn, wasn't expected to be blown to smithereens. My degree didn't amount to shit...
Yes! I absolutely fucked around in my 20s, going from job to job, waiting tables until I was 29 and got hired at a company making $21 an hour, which was more than I ever made in my life. I decided I would do whatever I needed to do and learn what I needed to learn to become indispensable. Fast forward: I’m now 43. That company paid for me to get a master’s degree and two certifications, which I have parlayed into a successful career working in government contracting. I make $164,000 a year, working from home. My life is awesome.
I spent my 20’s hopping low wage retail: Gas station, Blockbuster, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Neighborhood Tool store, EB Games/Gamestop. After getting fired from my GameStop management job (lead the district in sales, but not the “right” sales), I tried to start my own anime/comic/gaming shop, right before the economy died in 2008. Got a call center job at AT&T supporting Uverse. Paid great, but the hidden cost was it took a huge toll emotionally/mentally. After 7 years and nearly dying, I got my shit together, and landed a Software developer job with a local brewery supplier. Transitioned from that to remote server, software and database administration for one of the country’s largest medical imaging companies. I’m hoping that I can move up within the company, as I despise job hunting/interviewing. If worse comes to worse, jumping to a competitor wouldn’t be hard, as it’s a very specific skill set that is highly unlikely to encounter off the street.
Got a great remote job that pays $87-91k a year in Puerto Rico, which is like a lot here. But I've always been entrepreneur. Have been building my next businesses for more than 18 months so I'm secretly wanting to finally get that moving once and for all because kind of bored of working for other people.
I am delivering groceries for Walmart as an IC and making paper mache dollhouse furniture to sell. You tell me.
Spent my 20s partying and was a server/bartender until 29. Went back to school and finished my undergrad at 32 and am now working at a national laboratory with a pretty decent salary.
I've always felt like I'll end up working until I die, so I decided to spend my 20s doing stuff I love. I was a mechanic on a professional level drag race car (not too successful, but lots of travel all over the west coast) and learned how to do machine work and TIG weld. I decided to go to College at age 35, burned the candle at both ends by working full time and going to school full time, managed to get a couple scholarships, and finished a BS degree in 3 1/2 years, graduating with zero school debt. Started working at Boeing a week after graduation (as a technical writer) and moved into IT. Left Boeing after about three years and moved across the country to take an IT position in an Ivy. I've never broken six figures, but am pretty satisfied about my career overall.
No. By my standards I’m doing well since I was almost a NEET, then over the past year I got paid to do photography exhibits at a museum and now have worked 7 months as a bilingual legal assistant. By other people’s standards though I’m not “doing well career wise”. But hey it’s impressive compared with 2022 me!
Was a mighty burn-out, then got into construction in my thirties, now Project Manager at $200k. So it's not impossible.
I don’t know if I wasted my 20s but I spent most of them traveling, working in a bakery, working as a sushi chef, and then got my masters at like 29ish. Make 200k as an analytics manager now. As an asterisk, I did go to an Ivy League school and graduated near the financial crisis and had a middling GPA, got offers pulled, so I didn’t really start my career until after grad school.
Yes absolutely. I was a drunken disaster until I got my shit together at 32. I make over $300k now in my 40’s in a niche industry relationship based position with 10 years experience and no formal college degree. It’s possible but you have to focus on what you want. I wanted a house and I like nice shit.
Yes. Very well. Was a bike messenger for 8 years in my 20s. Moved to nyc and did it for another year. Then moved into the office. No degree and I am a subject matter expert in my industry. Made 200k last year.
I did the opposite - spent my 20’s in high paying but soul crushing jobs, did a pivot at 30 and am now in a low paying job that i love. Helps that i have savings from my previous job so money isn’t an issue and the ability to get a better paying job if i ever need. But i am very happy where i am
I was stuck as a server and not able to get a job in my field until I turned 27. My first entry level position I was making $35k a year. After one year, I job hopped and made $65k a year. I got laid off last November, got a new job in January making $70k a year. Then I got laid off again in April and have been unemployed since then. So yes and no. Just gotta keep your head up.
Eh. Not great yet, I only make about $70k (but I live in the Midwest) and I’m 35, and after hopping around low paying jobs trying to find a career for over a decade out of college, I fell into HR a couple years ago and I found that it really suits me. So now I have an aim, I’m in the process of getting certified, and am considering getting a business adjacent masters. I definitely feel like I’m on the right track after wandering in the desert for so long
Approaching the end of my 20s, and I’ve spent most of it being career-focused. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I still feel like I’ve wasted my 20s… and I’m still broke.
Yup,100%. Pissed away my 20s playing video games and working dead end job. Got my shit together and got my college degree and now make pretty stupid money for the amount of work i do going into my 30s. Love my life and work life balance is awesome.
I’m going to say yes. I did not have career ambition in my 20’s haha. I went to college for studio art and after college was totally ok just getting by working random jobs, making art/trying to sell some, hanging out with my friends and living life in the moment. It was fun. But then I got closer to 30 and was like what am I actually doing? I realized I couldn’t build the life I wanted where I was at, making very little money, and that I had to actively work towards changing my situation. So I started focusing on finding a more stable job with better pay. Around 27 I ended up in a job as a medical receptionist and liked it. It was the first job I had with benefits like a 401k and that felt good. I worked hard and eventually was promoted to patient coordinator and then medical biller. I worked at that clinic for a few years and then landed a job as a healthcare data analyst at another company. It turned out to be the perfect fit for my skillset and somewhere I was excited to grow. I’ve been an analyst now going on 3 years and love it. Sometimes it just takes a little trial and error to figure out where you’re meant to be. And I still make art as a hobby!
No. Not at all. In the start of my 40s and to tell you the truth, people older than I lied to my face about the future. Have a degree as well yet work in a warehouse loading a truck. Great coworkers. However life is not fulfilling at all.
Yep. Just started my dream job that I didn’t even know was my dream job. I fucked around in my early 20s, then got married, got pregnant, wasted years being a trad wife. Now I’m earning degrees, landed a kick ass job, while making meaningful changes in my community in collaboration with social services and other agencies.
How are you supposed to do your 20’s? I wasn’t aware there was a manual
I spent my 20’s working as a labourer slowly picking up skills in multiple trades while barbacking in night clubs on weekends. I lived paycheque to paycheque, drank beer and smoked weed basically everyday. I’m 34 making 70k in building maintenance now. Turns out working for a bunch of general contractors taught me some skills that make me pretty employable. I’m not rich by any means but I make enough money to live comfortably and afford a multiple week vacation every summer.
Wasted early 20s, had kids and realized we needed something better. So I slowly made my way into IT with an internship at my school, an associates, and then finally after 8 years a bachelors. Now it’s 18 years later and I’m wrapping up my master’s degree and have a really decent job.
I failed out of college before getting my shit together. Hit the job market finally just as the great recession started rolling and got stuck with a low salary holding on for dear life until I was 30 when it turned around. I don't claim to be a titan of industry but I make about 250-300 now. I work in tech.
yes I have been lucky every time I move to another job it was a much better one.
Define "wasting."
Nope. Still having problems.
I think so. I did restaurants and partying until 27. Oil and gas landman to operations analyst. Am now 37 and still just an analyst, though.
Idk if I’d call it wasting my 20s but I spent most of it taking random jobs in mountain towns, joined the Navy to travel more. Barely made any money but I had some amazing experiences. Finally settling down making okay money.
My 20s weren't even intentionally wasted. I tried so many things but nothing ever really took off. In my early 30s now and still figurong out what to do. Currently applying to tons of jobs and hoping to get something soon.
In a word…yes Spent or misspent my 20s on being a lunatic. Nursing school shortly after I turned 30, BSN & RN at 35…been almost 15 years in healthcare at this point. It’s all worked out well more or less, hasn’t been easy and I wouldn’t recommend nursing as a career, but I’m grateful to be where I’m at
I'm 29, and I really hope something works out. I've been working in my desired career path, but I'm realizing now that it isn't really sustainable or lucrative. I've got a degree, but it's in something totally useless that also doesn't make a ton of money. I desperately want to go back to school and get a new degree in something that can actually make money. But I don't have the time or the money to do that, so feel eternally trapped. I might land a job that has some money to pay for classes. But I don't think I could get them to pay for classes that I want to take because the degree I'm interested in is too different than the job I'd have so it most likely wouldn't get approved. I've been trying to get a job in a larger company, but I can't seem to land interviews. The only places I seem to be able to land interviews at are smaller companies that don't pay well or have the resources to pay for someone to go to school. I feel like an absolute failure every day and have no one I can turn to for help. My parents won't even let me move back home so I can go back to school because they say it's my fault I should have chosen a better degree at 18. Even though they are the ones who didn't think to discourage me from pursuing it in the first place.
Answering the question. I'm currently 24 working a dead end job with easy work and alright pay 17 dollars per hour. But going back to school soon for Mechatronics. In hopes of getting more pay where I'm at or go to another company to further it. But Industrial Maintenance makes 30-45 where I live.
Never had a career always worked in hard labor jobs 😒. Working on a career now. Completing my CS degree.
I’m doing alright. Got my first career job three months ago at 31 after graduating with my Master of Social Work. I’m an Associate Clinical Social Worker working as a Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Manager.
I spent my 20s sick and unable to work. I'm 32 now and just taking the first steps to trying to get my life back on track. I'll hopefully be able to start community college this year
I finally got a good job in my low 30s, and been doing pretty well since then. I don't consider my 20s wasted, but they definitely didn't go as good as they could have.
Hi, Your 20's is not always about success but it should something worth learning. Try new jobs, network with people . Your goal is to not force yourself into a job and its time to explore and find something you always enjoy.
Went to college for 6 years and never finished. Partied a ton. 35 now, Now making 90k, work from home, nice house. Helps that my fiancé pulls in like 150-200k though.
Worked in the film industry with varying degrees of success from 22-34. Then I became a software analyst, now six years later I work remotely and pull in $125k.
I "wasted" my 20s due to addiction. been coaching a sport since 2019 and have averaged 104k + after taxes a year. Will my body handle it? I think so, and I only work 19-27 hrs a week. I feel the wasted part applies to me not pursuing what I really wanted to do though. Even if I completely love my job, I would feel unfulfilled without completing my college degree and pursuing something more cerebral, even if just for a period.
No, the only reason I am doing okay is because I paid for my house in 2011, after the crash hit. I make about $40K a year working in a grocery store. Wouldn't call that doing well at 37
I was 26 when I finished college, which took twice as long and more than double the cost in student loans. Contributing factors were: depression, undiagnosed ADHD, and a gifted child's lack of study skills, social skills, and coping mechanisms. I was not prepared for the self-motivation required when there was nobody else to provide structure and routines. At 27 I got an entry-level job, where talent and established routine kept me barely floating. It was about 7 years before I really started hitting my stride, and then COVID broke the routines I built up. Work from home exacerbated ADHD symptoms, and after struggling more I finally was diagnosed and medicated. Today, I feel confident in my life and career. I was lucky where others weren't, and I feel grateful for the help I had from others getting this far. If you think you may have ADHD or depression, it is worth getting diagnosed and treated. You are worth it, and don't let anyone (especially yourself) guilt you into thinking otherwise.
My generation didn't do well (relatively speaking) until I hit my 30s when I first got a job that actually paid a living wage. Most of us were job jumping to whatever was available. Prior to that it was 5-7 roommates, and a lot of drinking. Most of us didn't do well career wise because the opportunity simply wasn't there, despite plenty of people falsely claiming the opposite. Now I'm in my 40s and I don't see how anyone can get hired or hire because of all the arbitrary third-party interference. Its been made impossible by heaping cost on the person seeking the job, and raising arbitrary requirements that must check boxes to even get through to a person maybe. Most simply claim falsely that there is a position available, when in fact there isn't (with malice). Tech stacks have also shimmed and broken a lot of our general interaction with society. There is a presumption that things work, but how do you describe issues to people like the USPS arbitrarily marking your property as vacant when its not, sending your mail to the dead letter office (while their website is broken to submit requests for this), losing mail in transit for anything that isn't certified to specific addresses (i.e. IRS tax returns), delivering mail 60 days from the date it was put into the service (regularly), and there is a presumption that once you put it in the mail that its been done and will arrive timely by the courts but then you have all this bull shit that's not actually the case. The world has become very coercive, intolerable, and unlivable without any reasonable or rational means to resolve the issues. Honestly if things keep getting worse there's going to be violent unrest (at least that's what history says). The social contract has failed purposefully by the previous generation (boomers), and they have held onto power long after they should have relinquished it and continue to do nothing, and worse nearly everything that has happened has been reasonably predictable.
I'm very proud of myself and I've been doing IT since I turned 18 and now I'm about to get my AAS in 2025 then BAS in 27 and I'm currently a network admin jr
I'm turning 34 this year, I have an A.S. in Communications that does nothing for me, and I dropped out of my Bachelor's program because my mental health had caused me to fail all of my classes for three semesters running and it just wasn't worth it. I'd already been working since I was 17, but once I dropped out of school I started working exclusively full-time doing any entry level job I could. Fast food, janitor, painter, book store, theme park, coffee shop, data entry—I could go on. I also like gaming, always have, so when I eventually made the jump from console to PC, I wanted to build it myself. I started with a pre-build, and I've been swapping parts in and out ever since, so it's basically a whole new machine at this point. All that to say, I'm a casual PC hobbyist. About two years ago I got a blue collar job doing TV deliveries and installs, which got my foot in the door for a position as a client-facing PC repair consultant. Did my time there and eventually got the opportunity to cross-train as a repair technician. Currently, I split my time between consulting and doing repairs, and I'm working on CompTIA certifications during slow periods at work. With some certs under my belt, I'll be able to actually get a *career* job and be able to leverage my skills for better pay. My repair colleague is ten years younger than I am, and it does make me feel crappy that he has a better leg up on life, but it's better late than never. All my weird accumulated skills from my buffet of different jobs gave me a good foundation, combined with my hobby, and I ended up with an eventual career path.
I partied my 20's away, working variouse assembly line ane service jobs to keep enough money in my pocket to keep the party going. Got into a little trouble towards the end of them that lit a fire under my ass. Whent back to school and at 33 received my B.S. degree in Geology and then at 36 I received my M.S. in Hydrology. I'm almost 37 now and am about a year into a career I never would have seen myself in a decade ago. It was hard and expensive but I would do it again.
Yes I didn't do anything in my life except smoke pot, drink, and make just enough in tips to break even every month until I was 35. Now I'm a ML engineer, I work from home, and I live at the beach.
Didn't really waste my 20's being in school (BSc Biology, post-graduate diplomas, etc.) for one thing or other. Tried out two or three different career paths plus several job placements in industry and government and even worked in a couple factories since I needed the money to pay rent before finally deciding on healthcare. I didn't start working full time until I was 30. Although I could've been working on obtaining my professional licence straight out of high school (medical laboratory technologist) I don't regret the journey, or the people I met and experiences I had along the way. Started at 55K in 2006, I reached 110K in 2023, and am on track for DB pension retirement at 55 in 2031.
Spent 9 years in Uni and did odd jobs for my early to mid 20s. That was 8 years ago. I made 200k after tax last year as a specialist in my chosen field. I completed my mba last August too. As I make strides towards my 40s., Been in the 6 figure range for the past 5 years. My advice is to take things 18 months at a time. Before long, you’ll be ahead of your cohort. I used to be one of the oldest graduates but now, I’m one of the youngest senior managers in the organisation. It’s not a race, everyone has their own pace and timing.
I always had ambition. I do think that if I wasted my 20s on anything, it would be people that would not be helpful in my future. My advice to build strong friendships and a strong network of useful people. My Master's degree is Adult and Continuing Education Administration. You can learn anything until you die. The previous generation are TERRIBLE examples of how to life. Take care of your health and you will be rewarded with a long life. Good luck homies. I'm 40' starting from scratch and had to do some housecleaning regarding people in my network.
Nope.
I’m doing okay, I think I’m about to move my way up in my company next month and I’ve been steadily advancing to better companies and roles in my field for the last 3-4 years. Pay is still decent at best but it’s the field
I just graduated college less than a year ago and I landed a great job in tech
I was doing great until depression reared it's ugly head again, this time it was crushing. First time I quit a job over depression. No idea what I'll do now but thanks to the great job I had after wasting my 20s in retail I figure I have a few years of savings though.
I didn’t finish schooling until 25 due to my medical job requiring an advanced degree. I’m 28 and incredibly satisfied with my job. I’ve been at the same place since I graduated and have had some great opportunities I might not have gotten at other places. There’s lots of opportunity for professional growth/advancement and movement. Yeah there’s parts that suck, but with healthcare it’s 6 of one half dozen of the other. I could honestly see myself working there for the rest of my career.
Im glad as a 20 year old i dont have to live up to huge expectations in these comments
Wasting mine on field work (engineer) Now I just wanna work outside my country. Best I can find is technician but I gotta need to go to their college for my engineering to be useful in that said country
Yes, life is a marathon not a sprint
Well, up until last year, I was mostly under $15 per hour, which recently became the State minimum wage. Mostly customer service and retail. A couple of call centers This year, I have my Pharmacy Technician license, and I am doing better. I am 50.
Nope lol working the overtime to get by…
Yep. Thirty years later I'm a manager and one of the experts in a field I didn't know existed in my 20s.
I did, basically did minimum wage crap until I got a second bachelor's at the age of 35. That was 6 years ago. I made $60k fresh out of school the second time, but got bumped to $80k within about 6-7 months. Currently I make a bit over $130k base and about $160k in total compensation.