After getting fired from a tech startup during my LofA where I was making 6 figures at age 21, I am now finally graduating this May… but everything feels bleak.

9 Comments

1. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 4:29PM UTC

   Perhaps therapy can you with your obvious depression.

   As for the jobs you are applying to.....I question 50 resumes I. A week? Why would you do that?

   I suggest considering a,non 9-5 job. Consulting and contract work provide great pay and allow you more freedom of when, where and how you work. I could never work 9 to 5 in an office. That is death to me.

   Get your mental health supported and then consider freedom of nontraditional work to not only pay your bills but allow you the freedom to live your life on your terms

2. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 4:33PM UTC

   I applied to 50 jobs in a week because I felt really behind on my job search and since I am on Spring Break I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up. I am financially independent and will run out of the money I’ve saved up fairly soon, so I am anxious to find a job that will start right as I graduate. Sorry, should have explained this in the post.

   I understand the value of contract work but I don’t think I’m qualified to be consulting right out of college with limited experience. I would need to build credibility through a career first. Also, given my expenses, I need to build some financial stability asap.

3. AnonymousMarch 21,2022 at 7:02PM UTC

   Ok you either want to take any job that pops up to earn a paycheck which will not br exciting and will require your soul or you really apply yourself and network and research to land a role that truly speaks to you. The odds of that happening by randomly applying to 50 jobs per week is just about zero

4. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 6:00PM UTC

   You are well past the point of depression and are experiencing a full blown mental health crisis. So that must be your primary concern. Your university health center will help with resources.

   Once you have your mental health addressed, you can start figuring out your professional objectives. Making 6 figures at 21 gave you an unrealistic measure of how your career would evolve. That was an anomaly and won't happen on your rebuild. What has changed is that there are numerous opportunities available to you to work outside the box you are steadfast envisioning for yourself. You never ever have to sell your soul to make a wonderful living on your terms. Period. End if story.

   In order to carve out a different kind of work life you must:

   1. Work for successful non traditional companies with great well known talent and reputation. That means stop with the 50 application to sub-par no name companies.

   2. Work as a consultant, contractor, free agent. If you want to stand apart, build a singular reputation and name for yourself, you must be outside the fray

   3. Create your voice. Write blogs, publish articles, speak on panels. Stand out. People and companies gravitate towards unique, creative voices. Be heard!!!!!!!!

   Finally, stop thinking like a drone. Don't resign yourself to mundane work with no trajectory. It's a sure way to fulfill your prophecy of a lifeless career.

   Do the work. Draft a plan for you, not just your career. Creative, genius people are not always easy to work with, but they are trail blazers and people work hard to get close to them. They are worth working with. Be that creative genius. Figure out how to elevate your gifts so you don't give up and sell your soul. You have to change your mindset and approach. Act differently, nontraditional, and create. Surround yourself with like minded geniuses and do the work.

5. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 6:16PM UTC

   I’m really sorry this has happened to you. I agree with comments below about focusing on your mental health.

   More recently I’ve become a senior member of my team in a tech job and it is never easy being a female in a male dominated workplace.

   For me, I am constantly in reactive positions where to do my job I have to find ways to get the organization to listen. This really shouldn’t be this way.

   I don’t know if this helps, but these are some things I’ve learned to do to brave weekly grind in my work place:

   1. Take care of yourself and focus on using positive self talk. Do this every day.
   2. breath before responding to bad male behaviors. It’s them not you. Always maintain your amazing professional self.
   3. know why you took the job and what you are passionate about. This is helpful to revisit when things get tough.
   4. practice gratitude and be thankful for your loved ones, friends, your abilities and education that have afforded you a higher paying job
   5. Continue to grow and assess What you need to grow in your field.
   6. build a reliable network to help you get to where you want to be. Find women in tech jobs who you can connect with throughout your career.
   7. Just know that no matter how tough it gets, you’ve got this!!

   by the way, congratulations on your degree?

6. AnonymousMarch 21,2022 at 2:59PM UTC

   Is age an issue. You point out maybe you could have retired by 30?

   If so, why apply to 50 jobs in 1 week? Surely those weren't well vetted, highly targeted jobs. Don't waste more time taking just any job for the paycheck.

   Since income is your driving force, I would get into a position of being mentored on a career track. Those jobs are highly desirable and take time to uncover. How's your network? Have you spent time cultivating relationships in your desired industry? You have this idea that the money you made for a short time at 21 is just random. You need to work to find those 6 figure jobs.

7. Glenport LifeMarch 21,2022 at 5:24PM UTC

   maybe volunteer somewhere while you retool for the job market to get your head into a different space? Find meaning while you try to find direction? Maybe you need to look at other fields of work that might excite your soul?

8. AnonymousMarch 21,2022 at 7:14PM UTC

   You need to take a step back to reassess because I'm seeing lots of conflicting desires here, which makes me believe you don't know exactly what you want, hence, of course, the depression and despair. First figure out what it is that you want. Do you want to retire by 30 with a job and within an industry that makes you miserable? So be it. Nothing wrong with that, and you could pursue your true interests afterwards. Or do you want a healthy environment that may pay less but also have better work/life balance? If you're looking for a healthy environment that pays extraordinarily with great work/life balance, that does pose a challenge. But I'm also confused. You were making 6 figures at age 21 and you haven't graduated yet? There's a lot to unpack here... Also considering you have been making 6 figures it seems you have at least some money (because school loans don't have to be paid off right away if you have any) to take your time finding a suitable job at a suitable company or even create your own business. I think maybe take a breather, don't rush to decisions because you seem to have some time, and focus on your mental health and what you want for yourself, as in your priorities.

9. AnonymousMarch 21,2022 at 9:57PM UTC

   I was making money while I was on a leave of absence. I will run out of money fairly soon, it was less than enough to last a year while pinching pennies. It’s easy for people on the internet to tell you to prioritize mental health and figuring yourself out but that’s just not a realistic life for some of us… I have rent, utility, and car bills and no financial support. It’s really putting me off when people suggest that as if it were that simple, I am a smart person, but what made me smart is that I have had a hard life and it seems to only get harder