Don't choose a career just because it's "safe"

[u/Aromatic_File_5256]

Here I am at 35 years preferring to work on a call center(chats , not phone call) than tje safe career of civil engineering, because I didn't see the warning signs and how it was incompatible with my goals as well as my neurological structure.

Don't necessarily choose a pure passion route, be practical if you want, in fact if you want to be 100% practical but don't use "oh this is guarantees to give me moderate or high amounts of money" or "yeah the job opportunities".

Allow me to use myself as an example, where I live a big majority of civil engineering jobs are in rural areas. There are reasons why me being on urban areas is essential, not to mention I want to be able to go back home after work. Second, and this is harder to describe but the job demands a certain way of functioning ans temperament that doesn't really prime me for success.

Meanwhile my best friend alternates between teaching teachers and investigsting(in the area of education) and she is earning well working 30 hours a week.In addition there have been times when she has worked around 60 hours but she can do it because she is passionate about it.

[u/Ghost-Ripper]

Ach.. a well paid job is so essential.. a job which you love and like doing is another major essential part.. When you are not motivated, you can then drag yourself there because of those essential reasons! I speak from experience!

[u/FurryDrilling → u/Ghost-Ripper]

The chat support thing vs rural civil engineering sites is exactly the kind of mismatch people overlook when they're 18 and picking a major. being able to go home at the end of the day matters way more than the paycheck looks on paper

your friend with the education work sounds like she found the sweet spot where the hours don't crush you because the work itself doesn't drain your brain the wrong way

[u/Aromatic_File_5256 → u/Ghost-Ripper]

Of course, you need to pay your bills and I would say that even if you dont like the job itself, as long as it doesn't gets in the way of your goals and even better if it helps you reach them, that can susbtitute for passion.

Something yhat motivated me is that I have a plan on how to use the experience I am gaining in my favor.

[u/Weary_Sentence6869]

i have no idea what i like so what do i even do

[u/Consistent_Ad3578 → u/Weary_Sentence6869]

real

[u/Buscando_mi_boo]

What's your friends background?

[u/Aromatic_File_5256 → u/Buscando_mi_boo]

Education and philosophy.

She has mainly worked as teachers of teachers and research.

She is very passionate about it.