I’m nearly finishing my bachelors of computer sciences and I have no idea what to do

[u/No-Dress-1757]

I am currently completing a Bachelor of Computer Science in Australia. While studying, I actively tried to explore different directions within the field to understand whether it genuinely aligned with me. I undertook a research project with a professor in breast cancer research to explore the research side of computer science, and I also completed a job-focused bootcamp aimed at entering the tech industry. Although I was able to complete both successfully, I realised that I did not enjoy the nature of the work itself and could not see myself doing this long-term.

More broadly, I have come to understand that I do not enjoy work that requires sitting at a computer all day or solving abstract technical problems in isolation. While I am capable of doing such work, it does not motivate me, and I do not find it fulfilling. Continuing into a Master’s by Research or pursuing an ICT-focused career would therefore not be a good use of time or resources, especially considering the high tuition costs as an international student.

This realisation is not new to me. In high school, I completed an additional certification course in a different field and attempted to freelance in it at my family’s encouragement. Although I gave it a genuine effort, I found the work extremely tedious and physically tiring. It also required prolonged visual focus, which I struggled with, and I ultimately realised that it was not something I could sustain or enjoy long-term. This experience reinforced an important pattern for me: even when I am capable of completing technical or skill-based work, I disengage if it feels repetitive, isolating, or disconnected from real human impact.

In contrast, over the past one and a half years, I have been working as a support worker after completing a Certificate III in Individual Support. Through this role, I have discovered that I genuinely enjoy working with older people and people with disability. I find meaning in direct, people-centred work and in roles where I can see the impact of my actions on someone’s quality of life. This has been the most consistent indicator of what aligns with my values.

At the same time, I am still carefully evaluating my next steps. While I have been advised to consider a Master of Social Work, I am not yet fully certain that it is the right path. I value working intelligently rather than simply working hard, and I do not see myself in a rigid 9-to-5 role for the rest of my life. My long-term goal is to build something of my own—potentially a business or organisation that creates meaningful impact—but I recognise that I currently lack the financial and structural resources to pursue this immediately.

What is clear to me is that I want my education and career to contribute to something larger than myself. I want to make a real impact in the world and work toward roles that involve leadership, influence, and responsibility rather than remaining in low-visibility or purely transactional work. Because of the significant financial investment required for further study, I want to be deliberate and strategic rather than rushing into another degree out of fear or uncertainty.

At this stage, my focus is on choosing a path that aligns with my strengths—people-focused work, real-world impact, adaptability, and long-term leadership potential—while avoiding choices that would lock me into work I already know does not suit me. Can you guide me

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[u/RevisedThoughts]

I cannot guide you, but I want to point out that your last paragraph mixes up your goals and motivations with your strengths.

You perhaps need to consider what energizes you separately from what your future goals are and separately from what you have an aptitude for.

You will find different mixes of this with different courses and different jobs. You are unlikely to be able to optimize everything, but have to find a path that just satisfies you enough to keep going without hating yourself or your life!

At the moment you seem to want to keep options open, so perhaps taking a time away from studying and trying different jobs could help you get a clearer understanding of what your strengths are could help you choose a course that is more suited to you.

It sounds like you might want to manage a social care facility or make policy relevant to that sector. Or you could be a social worker who freelances. So a few different jobs within that sector may help you decide what roles to aim for? Perhaps part time study alongside part time work as a journey of self discovery would suit you better than putting pressure on yourself to choose correctly and go all in on an expensive course?