I'm deflated as don't know what to do with my future. Could use some advice...

AzorAhai

Hi guys, so as the title says, I am currently a bit depressed and deflated about my future. I am 30 years old and been in dead end jobs since I left college. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do. Add to that I always thought I was a bit stupid, but finally found out in adult life that I am dyslexic.

All through school and college I just thought I wasn't smart enough. I struggled to comprehend and process information efficiently. Anyway, since college (I left college at 21 as started college later than others, at 18 year old) I have been in a rut. I planned to go to university after college, but things fell through, including finance, so I continued to work until the year after.

Long story short, I never did go to university which, in some ways, I have a small amount of regret about. However, I have managed to work and save up a decent amount of money, but now I'm stuck.

I just don't know what to do with my life. I still do not have any idea what I am good at. I have many interests and passions, but nothing that stands out as something I could do as a career or even where I could start.

I do enjoy writing and have a good imagination, but I always doubt myself. I always think I'm not good enough. I continue to think that any idea I have, someone else is out there doing it better or with similar ideas.

I just grow frustrated about my future. I just wanted some advice on what my next move could be. I currently work in a sales job in a call centre. It's nothing special at all, but it gives me a living and pays the bills.

Any advice? I really am stuck and not sure where to turn or go for more advice.

74jax

AzorAhai wrote: »

Hi guys, so as the title says, I am currently a bit depressed and deflated about my future. I am 30 years old and been in dead end jobs since I left college. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do. Add to that I always thought I was a bit stupid, but finally found out in adult life that I am dyslexic.

All through school and college I just thought I wasn't smart enough. I struggled to comprehend and process information efficiently. Anyway, since college (I left college at 21 as started college later than others, at 18 year old) I have been in a rut. I planned to go to university after college, but things fell through, including finance, so I continued to work until the year after.

Long story short, I never did go to university which, in some ways, I have a small amount of regret about. However, I have managed to work and save up a decent amount of money, but now I'm stuck.

I just don't know what to do with my life. I still do not have any idea what I am good at. I have many interests and passions, but nothing that stands out as something I could do as a career or even where I could start.

I do enjoy writing and have a good imagination, but I always doubt myself. I always think I'm not good enough. I continue to think that any idea I have, someone else is out there doing it better or with similar ideas.

I just grow frustrated about my future. I just wanted some advice on what my next move could be. I currently work in a sales job in a call centre. It's nothing special at all, but it gives me a living and pays the bills.

Any advice? I really am stuck and not sure where to turn or go for more advice.

What makes you think you need to have your future mapped out, are your family like that? What is your frustration, is it definately work related?

Many people don't have a 'career' me included and I've never thought it made a difference. When you say career do you mean like a doctor, carpenter etc, something that you do and stick to as a trade?

If you work and save, what are you saving for. Anything in particular, do you have plenty to keep you occupied outside of work.

Are you bored?

lincroft1710

I don't know that anyone will be able to help you. Only you know your strengths and weaknesses. The big weakness that seems to stand out is your negativity. You mention writing, what have you written? Why wouldn't your interests/passions translate into a career?

Is there any job (within reason) you would like to have a go at?

sukiwilliams

Hi. I came on here looking for advice and just read your post. I too have never reached my full potential and have always had dead end jobs when I know that I have always been capable of so much more. Unlike you though I don’t have age on my side. I’m now nearly 53. So the best piece of advice I can give you is whatever you do, do something. Don’t waste time. You have the ability to really make something of your life. Spend a bit of time seriously thinking about what you’d like that to be and do some research on how to get there. You write really well. Make full use of that potential. If I knew at 30 what I know now I’d have made so much more of it. Good luck

theoretica

AzorAhai wrote: »

I do enjoy writing and have a good imagination, but I always doubt myself. I always think I'm not good enough. I continue to think that any idea I have, someone else is out there doing it better or with similar ideas.

There is always someone doing it better - but it doesn't really matter because nearly everything needs lots of different people doing it. The world would be pretty stuck if there were only one person in each profession.


As a different question from the list of topics you are interested in, what are the places you enjoy being? And the things you like being around? Do you like books, crowds, small groups of people, festivals, outdoors, museums, shops...

Ja7188

However, I have managed to work and save up a decent amount of money, but now I'm stuck.

How much are we talking about and how long could you live off it? Reason I ask is that it would be good to understand whether you could consider going back to full-time study.

I currently work in a sales job in a call centre. It's nothing special at all, but it gives me a living and pays the bills.

You're probably being harsh on yourself if you think this is a dead-end job - depending on what exactly you do, who you speak to and what you're speaking to them about, this could potentially open a lot of different doors. Can you provide a bit more detail about it?

jobbingmusician

Just to give you something to think about....

Surely the Open University (and similar, such as Birkbeck) exists for people like you? 30 is hardly old, and it's exciting to think of a total career change. (Or, of course, you could go off to a full time uni. But part time study will be cheaper...)

sazaccount

Just going to put this out there....

but you can always get on a plane and fly away (which is what I did) Australia, New Zealand and to some extent Canada all have easy to get working holiday visa's (need to apply and for some arrive before you turn 31) in 2015, I was 28, I left my dead end hotel reception job volunteered in India for 3 months traveled though south east Asia and Australia for 6 months and spend 16 amazing months in New Zealand. I'm currently working in Canada. I'm hoping to emigrate to New Zealand next year on a different type of working holiday for those who are under 35, are from UK and already done the main working holiday then try and get PR.

If you do go down the educational route I am dyslexic and have a Masters so don't let the diagnosis hold you back you just have a different way of thinking/reading things. Colleges and universities are well verse with students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities and don't forget to apply for disabled students allowance to help with any equipment you may need for extra support.

steampowered

You don't need to have everything figured out by the time you are 30. Not many people do.

But - you do need to be learning or doing something that helps you figure it all out.

If you are stuck in a job that you feel is a dead end, I would advise you to get out ASAP. You don't need to take a job for life, just a job that offers you good opportunities to learn things over say the next 2 years.

There are lots of jobs out there that may be low paid but have advancement opportunities - e.g. most of McDonald's area managers and board of directors started as crew members in McDonalds restaurants.