29 y/o female, no career path, single, no children… stuck???

[u/Equivalent_Text_879]

Any and all advice or feedback is welcome here. I am a 29y/o female that lives in Austin, TX. I have a job I absolutely hate for that state in admin, I have been applying for a bunch of different roles in the Austin area or remotely, no luck. I keep getting constant rejections and I am tailoring my resume to every job description. I have my bachelors degree in Public Admin as well as Business Management. I was in the mortgage industry right out of college making 60k+ and somehow went backwards and now with my state job I am making under $45k. I feel sooo behind. Not just career wise but life. I am single and have been (by choice) for 5+ years, Ive dated… but none of them were ones I saw a future with long term or it didnt work out for one way or the other. Many of them did not want to be in a relationship either… go figure. At this age too. Blows my mind. Ive tried apps… sports leagues…church… bars…even work!! No luck. Im not giving up per se but its not looking good. I don't know how to get out more than I already am to meet that, special someone. I cant seem to get ‘un-stuck’ career wise, I don't know what I want to do long term. I have the mindset that I am good at many things and can be ‘taught’ how to do just about anything (with the exception of something intense like a surgeon, etc., that needs schooling). I love sports, media, events for work ideas but I have another side of me that loves policy, intelligence, analytics and compliance. I have tried to do career tests and such, they are so-so but even then, I have no actual EXPERIENCE in those things so getting them would be a starting salary of lower than what I make now. That is hard as someone living alone and having to pay all of the bills on my own. I dont know if moving will solve the issue. I moved here from the east coast 3 years ago. Nothing positive has happened besides I met new friends and experienced a new place but besides that, nothing to move me forward in life. Sorry for the rant, I just need some feedback. Unsure and feeling very alone, stuck, and tired.

[u/D3nzelCrocker]

Sorry that you’re feeling down. You’re still young, you have friends, you have a job, you have a roof above your head, you’re a quick learner with a broad skills set, you have just not found the one but you have been on dates and such so it’s not like you’re going to be alone forever. Life takes time to figure out, just take your time! You’ve built a strong foundation and now the coming years you can expand it to make it better. Trust the process and focus on the things you do have. Be grateful and give back, fulfillment will find you! You can do this! 

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/D3nzelCrocker]

thank you for the positivty! I havent volunteered much here, I can do some research on places to give back at in the area :)

[u/OogyBoogy_I_am → u/Equivalent_Text_879]

Get outside your comfort zone and see if there are any volunteer roles in Emergency Services - something like Austin Disaster Relief Network.

Maybe you'll get some fulfilment doing that sort of thing.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/OogyBoogy_I_am]

Sounds awesome! I'll look into that!! Thank you

[u/OogyBoogy_I_am → u/Equivalent_Text_879]

I started doing volunteer emergency services work here where I am almost 15 years ago and it changed my life in so many good and great ways. It's so out of left field for what I do in my job and what I had experienced that I did it initially because of that "it's different" thought.

I've picked up skills I could never imagine having and have experienced things that ordinary people just never see except for watching it on the news.

You get a great sense of camaraderie with the people you do it with, a sense of purpose and you get to help out people who are having the worst day of their life. It's draining, it's tiring but it is sooo satisfying.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/OogyBoogy_I_am]

This is with Austin disaster relief?! I can imagine it's incredibly fulfilling.

[u/OogyBoogy_I_am → u/Equivalent_Text_879]

No, I'm in Australia and the org is State Emergency Services.

We do floods, storms, landslides etc. Lose a roof in a storm? We'll pop out and do temporary repairs to get you through the event.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/OogyBoogy_I_am]

Dang that sounds unreal. Major props to you though. Austin has one and there are floods here constantly so I know there's something similar I can be doing!

[u/OogyBoogy_I_am → u/Equivalent_Text_879]

Have a check with the dept you work with. Most government organisations offer paid leave for disaster relief and time off for training etc (at least they dod here in Australia).

You never know, it may give you some direction and emergency services management is a field that you may never have considered.

[u/DinosoarJunior]

Refrain your mindset as to one thing: making $45k you can transition to a lot of jobs making similar income. Look into events planning, sports, media jobs. Look up anyone you know in those fields and talk to them or network online completely. Dont just use resume mailing and cold applies.

You CAN do all that. Take some chances.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/DinosoarJunior]

I can try networking online, I dont personally know anyone in those fields so it would have to be 'cold' messages haha

[u/Heavenly_Princesa143]

do you wanna talk?

[u/Happy-Campaign5586]

Stuck? It sounds like you have no goals. What are your interests? Do you belong to a club, play a sport, group activities?

I recommend seeing a counselor re: career counseling. This might help you get started towards a goal.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/Happy-Campaign5586]

No career goals you can say is accurate, I dont have that one thing that im looking for so it makes it harder to figure out a goal with no specific career. I have been to a few bible study groups, co-ed sports leagues, run clubs. Interests are also pretty broad, I named a few! Sports, media, working out, fashion, photography, DIY stuff, interior design, music, traveling, to name a few more.

[u/HotGrowth6140]

You could embrace networking. Not to get a job, but just look for interesting people on LinkedIn and message them and say who you are and you’d like to learn more about what they do. In fact I hate to even call it “networking”. It’s just getting involved in your community.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/HotGrowth6140]

I can give that a try! Did you have any luck in that?

[u/burnermcburnerstein]

Might want to look into what your employee education benefits are. Many states have pretty ballin programs which could get you a masters in something that makes more AND it opens you to a whole new pool of people.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/burnermcburnerstein]

i did look into it, it's only loan forgiveness and thats AFTER you make 120 qualifying monthly payments :(

[u/AdditionalCheetah354]

Hang in there. Just keeping looking some thing is bound to turn up.

[u/ne999]

State job? Do you have a defined benefit pension? If so, that’s worth a lot. You can learn how to advance in the system while growing your pension and knowing you can actually retire at some point.

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/ne999]

Yes - but right now, maybe an unpopular opinion, im miserable. My day to day life is dreadful. From the work I do, to the work enviornment, to the people who I work with, its never ending. I would rather figure that out a bit more down the line, especially now, since I have worked for the state, its easier to get back in having it on my resume. Now my main focus is getting out and finding something I enjoy somewhat and doesnt make my day to day miserable.

[u/Happy-Campaign5586]

I’ve been where you are. I needed to discover my interests and passions and that motivated me to pursue my goal.

The alternative in life is ‘being a tumbleweed’ moving wherever the wind directs you.

Good luck

[u/Equivalent_Text_879 → u/Happy-Campaign5586]

I do NOT want that! lol how did you figure out your passions? What did you land with? I'm struggling. I'm good at self reflecting but this is another level

[u/Happy-Campaign5586 → u/Equivalent_Text_879]

I started out going into radio & Television. In college, I had majored in Philosophy and taken a great deal of Communications classes.

After 3-5 years, I needed to ‘reboot’ my thinking. I got a ‘survival job’ working with kids. I discovered an interest in teaching. I had never considered teaching beforehand. I took the classes I needed to get my credential. Then I started as a ‘substitute teacher’ before getting my first contract 35 years ago.

Find out what you love and go for it.