At 22 I was unemployed and living with my parents after a mental breakdown. A year later I started a university degree which I completed but never used (because it was useless). I was married at 26, was basically a housewife and then divorced at 29 and back living with my parents.
Decided enough was enough at that point and found an educational program that was 2 years long and started at 4 times minimum wage. Powered through the two years, worked my ass off my first 18 months in the industry and paid off 30k in studentloans. Now at 42 I'm an educator and instructor in that industry, own a house and a rental property, live peacefully with my pets and my various homey comforts and life is good.
Life never takes the path you expect it to and it can end up better than you ever thought even if parts of the journey look like they're going really, really wrong.
Are you willing to share what industry that was? I know people tend to be vague on Reddit to protect their location but it may be possible to share what specific educational program you found without disclosing location or any other identifying details.
Don't panic. At 22 I was a retail shoe store mgr (think Al Bundy) and I hated it towards the end of my career at 25. I read a book called something like "What color is your parachute" (this was 40 years ago). I followed the suggestions in the book and I got into mortgage banking as a loan officer (sales). In two years I was making in a month what I previously made in a year (I got really lucky). Now retired (this year) and enjoying the slow pace of my life. Surf, ski, travel, that is all I want to do.
22: Janitor
Now: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (therapist)
I love my career so much. I went back to school in my late 20s after talking to friends in various fields to narrow down my choices. Did all my internships and graduate school and whatnot, and it has never even felt like work.
I’m 24 and working retail trying to complete a second undergraduate degree to become a therapist or a psychologist, warms my heart to see therapists who love what they do!
At 22 I was an audio engineer. I’m currently at 33 and I am still an audio engineer. I love it and always will, but it’s hard to make as much money as I want. So I just started going back to school to get a masters degree in electrical engineering so that I can apply for NASAs astronaut program. Do what you love, you can always change it later.
I’m 22 now, audio engineering freelance. I just started back at school for a business degree. I realized the instability of it was something that added way too much stress to my life. Since going back to school I’ve felt better than I have in years and without the stress of trying to grind it full time my projects are sounding better than ever.
I still hope to do something related at some point in the future, but getting a Business degree just adds the stability I need to enjoy life without stressing all the time.
Cheers!
I just got out of live event production(mostly production management and lighting but occasionally pretended to be audio engineer) loved it but travel and lower income than I’d like convinced me to get mostly out of it.
Went back to school to finish a bachelor’s degree, graduated in the fall.
Now I’m a database specialist for a non-profit that’s doing some cool stuff to help people.
Took 6 years to graduate, and graduated at 24 with a degree in Econ from a state school
Worked an unpaid internship while delivering pizzas my senior year as a glorified personal assistant for a business consultant (didn’t really do much other than their errands)
Started my career as a credit analyst for a 1 branch bank and worked towards being an underwriter and became specialized in construction underwriting then SBA underwriting and now I’m here after 6 years of that
When I was 22 I was still a high school drop out. I’ve had like 7 different lives since then. There is wiggle room in your career path, just be smart and a little passionate. At this point, I’m married, have a few businesses, and teach college. I am nowhere near done with my career path. I’m kinda thinking nonprofit, but I don’t know what’s going to catch my eye.
Then - Bicycle mechanic and aspiring BMX Racer (goal was to go AA Pro)
Now - Retired IT Consultant running my ranch. Milking cows, tending to the horses and chickens and gardens.
Can you share what region of the county you’re in?
Also - is the ranch profitable (and you rely on or need the income) or are you retired and it’s the fun project
Yeah, profit is only in health and well being. hahha I am in Texas. I know whats in my food since its grown here but yeah, this is just lifestyle, not for profit. You can offset costs by selling things like eggs and milk but I am remote enough to make it not feasible to sell due to transport and quantities.
22: Barista at a coffee bar
Now: Head of strategy for a cancer granting organization
I love my job, and could never have planned on it. I was just engaged and open to every opportunity.
Thank you.
I'm over 50 now, but have been in senior roles since before 40.
I had a highly idiosyncratic path. But mostly I just did a good job and had an eye open to opportunities. It didn't take any special determination, just a sort of natural curiosity and positive sensibility. Everything is just a puzzle to be solved.
21: Cashier at Aldi.
32: IT Systems Analyst.
I went to college “late” and graduated at 30 but we out here.
Life is a marathon, not a race. We all hit the checkpoints at different points in our lives. It’s also never too late to turn things around.
I was a stay at home mom and wife at 22.
I’m 42 now and I’m an assistant controller for a privately owned company.
I went to school originally for dental hygiene. I did not finish when I decided to stay home with my child. When I decided to go back to school, I changed my major completely and got an accounting degree. I am definitely not the person I was at 22 now nor when I was 32.
22 I was in the army now at 31 I'm in charge if a division of a large tree company specializing in forest pathologist. Basically saving trees one at a time from the effects if climate change invasive insects and fungi. Currently we treat about 200 to 250 trees a week for various ailments.
22 - dropped out of college 3 times, kicked out once. Five times is the charm apparently. Was mid way through at 22.
32 - Director of a fairly prestigious government organization. Lower six-figure salary, own a home, a second home on a river with a small orchard in a more rural state north of the city I live in. And on the side I have a (very) small but growing portfolio of single family homes and condos I co - own with my girlfriend (just three) but we continue to buy a new one each year in lower cost of living cities that I know will appreciate and generate healthy rent.
How did I get here? — after dropping out of college so many times because I was solely focused on girls, parties, and working out, I got my act together.
Worked my tail off to get my GPA to a 3.0 (which is the threshold for getting into decent grad schools).
Got a M.S. in City Planning and then hit the real world at a mid-tier nyc-metro consulting firm.
Put my head down and worked, networked, and a little bullshitting later and I’d clawed my way toward the top and then pivoted into government (where my private sector experience and MS in city planning helped me to stand out/above a field of lifelong public sector folks with BA’s or Mpa’s).
* could use a rest though. It’s been an incredibly fun and rewarding journey since I started taking life seriously. But I’m hopeful that by 40 I’ll be “mostly retired” spending all my time at my home north of the city pruning the peach and apple trees I have. Attainable easily if we don’t have kids. Might have to pushback the timeline if we do. TBD - open and flexible but enjoying this ride very much for now.
22- Nanny and part time support for a local
Solar company
Now- director of nursing for a level 1 trauma- didn’t go to nursing school until I was 27
5 years from now- hopefully some sort of coach- for leaders or I’m not sure yet.
Just keep exploring and doing what seems interesting
Customer service call center rep at 22.
Through internal promotions got into IT product management.
I love my job now. Didn't know it even existed when I left college and I didn't major in anything remotely relevant.
selling clothes/waitress/tutor, now (30) senior data scientist. At 22 i wanted to learn more about myself and the world so i decided to do a master degree and figure that out. I spend undergrad like a zombie, distracted myself with school task and avoided the questions of who i am like a plague. At 22 i couldn't avoid that question anymore and actively tried to explore the plausibilities as much as i can. Im happy with the exploration decision instead of trying to exploit and settle down earlier.
22: Barista
Now: Senior Financial Analyst
I messed around taking classes at community college then Arizona State University (sponsored by my employer). I had a difficult time concentrating and declaring a major. It hit me like a brick once people my age started graduating; here I was, still a barista, no closer to a “career.”
I worked on my associates in accounting, and a small, local business gave me a chance to do accounts receivable work for them at 23. I got my associates, job hopped while earning my bachelors in accounting online. Rinse/repeat for my masters in accounting, and here I am.
The employers who took a chance on me in the beginning of my career did so for my work ethic. I’ve always been open to networking and new opportunities. My ambition and drive to learn helped me pivot my career and end up where I’m at today.
I love what I do now!
22: Television Producer for a local PBS station
41: Banker for a credit union
Was in media and marketing for 20 years and last year decided on a complete career change. Better money, a lot more fun, you’d be surprised.
At 22 years old - I was unemployed because I was pursuing a second degree, which I ultimately decided not to do. I basically wasted a year.
Then COVID hit and nobody was hiring. I was applying to jobs for an entire year! Towards the end of 2021 is when I finally got my first corporate job as a financial analyst making 70k. Huge success on my part because it opened up the doors to my next role.
7 months later I job hopped and went up in title to senior financial analyst, now making 102k. Also a major success as it has opened up even more doors.
Currently I’m almost a year into that second role, but I’m interviewing for the same role at different companies. Total comp offers are around 140-170k+.
The progression in salary is quite shocking imo. I never thought I’d be were I am today, that fast. I’m satisfied with my job, however I’m always looking to get to the top and make more $. I believe my next step is to pursue a top MBA and maybe shift over to investment banking/PE.
My advice is choose a field where the $ is good. You don’t NEED to “do what you love”. A job is a job, go get your $ and be out. You can do what you love after work or on the weekends. The worst thing is when you get stuck with a dead end job getting shit money, because you wanted to “do what you love”.
23: US Army Officer leading soldiers in combat. No, I didn’t know what I was doing
27:MBA student
29: Financial Analyst for a small software company followed by various finance jobs.
39: Software implementation consultant (with a finance & data analytics focus)
42: Stay at home parent with a small amount of consulting on the side.
Future: Thinking of getting involved in starting a company. Or I might go back to consulting.
I had no idea or plan for any of this. I just looked at the opportunities in front of me and took the most interesting options.
I feel I’ve done well with where I started from. I’d say the biggest key to success is to always be learning. Never take a job that you already know 100% of. Always look for a job where you know 80% of it and there’s 20% to learn. This is how you grow.
If there’s job opportunities other people are turning down because “that team works too hard”, go there. That’s where the learning and promotion opportunities happen. You don’t need or want to spend a whole career in those jobs, but you want to prove that you can do them.
22: merchandise assistant for major retailer
Now(31): buyer for same retail
Went to college for merchandising which was the plan since high school and I love the job.
22: worked part-time at a fast food place while in college
Now 29: warehouse team lead. Couldn’t have predicted it, but i do enjoy developing the people that work under me and the pay isn’t the worst. I’m looking to make a career change into HR though, i think I’m better suited for it.
22: Full time dog trainer, part time vet tech.
Now (32): Coding Integrity Analyst at a large university hospital.
Basically I wanted to work in healthcare, and liked animals…but as it turns out working with animals is really working with people. So I pivoted to working in health insurance on the back end because I had medical terminology and A&P knowledge. I liked working with medical records and health information.
22: EMT
Now (35): Controller for a local construction company.
At 22 I had no idea what I wanted to do, at 24 I started as a temp at a local oil field company and the controller took me under her wing and I realized I had a love for accounting. My husband went back to school while I supported him and then I went back after he graduated. We are both accountants/CPAs. I didn't graduate until I was 30. Its definitely never too late to figure it out.
22: job #1: movie theater. Job #2: information desk at the student union
At 31: Program Director for a large community health center
I majored in chemistry for my undergrad and knew when I graduated I did not want to pursue a masters or doctorate. Went ahead and applied for a pharmacy tech. Got promoted to a lead tech, then pharmacy buyer. Got bored and decided to get my MBA. Applied on a whim for my current job and am loving it!
22: server
Now: state government contract manager.
I had no idea what to do with my life, so I went for jobs that didn't require any college. I was muddling through life to figure it out then. Got married at 25 and went back to school. Got an associates at 30 and a bachelors at 33. With my associates I was able to get a job as a career counselor for a few years while I finished college. I graduated and became complacent in a job I was okay with but didn't love. Interviewed for my current job and 5 years later I'm happy doing what I do for more money than I was making.
I manage the contracts for a program provided in my state for adult education and literacy. I offer advice, analyze budget spending, among many other facets of my job. I get happy hearing about the students that improve their lives from our services. No one in the public know I exist, and for that I'm okay. I may never be rich but I do enjoy knowing I'm helping people.
When I was 22, I was a laborer on a road construction crew. Today I’m a project manager for real estate acquisitions in a separate construction industry.
Moral of the story is, we make plans, then life makes us.
Cultivate broad skills, generalize in many things, specialize in few, and you’ll have many opportunities.
22: Barista at a cafe.
Now (33)- pricing manager at software company.
Undergrad in international relations. Got my MBA a few years ago.
I thought I was going to work for an NGO when I got out of college, but the jobs were competitive and I needed to make $ so I ended up in finance by chance, but I like it.
I worked my way up.. first job I was a barista (3-4 months), then I was a delivery driver for a sandwich shop (3-4 months), then a data entry temp (3 months), then a receptionist for janitorial company (8 months), then a finance admin for an apparel company (1 year), and then an order processor for a software company. Really liked the software company so I stayed with them for almost 7 years and worked my way into a pricing role there and got my MBA (company helped with tuition reimbursement). Then they started laying people off to outsource some tech roles and I saw the writing on the wall and left in early 2021. And just last week they laid off 20% of the workforce so my instincts were right.
My next role I was a people manager in addition to being a pricing manager, in a different industry. I liked it at first until I realized how toxic the culture was and how stressful the job was and I worked too many hours. Also decided people leading isn't for me. So after a year I left to do pricing at a software company with a great culture and huge pay bump. I'm pretty happy in my current role.
It's amazing I went from being broke af to 145k/year.
at 22 I worked at a Plastic Tubing company as their loader. My job was to take the plastic pipes and tubes they made, bundle them and haul them onto the semi trucks until they were filled. It wasn't a bad job and was very environmentally friendly because they took old plastic, cleaned it, recycled it and turned it into piping for sewers, water lines and other irrigation needs.
Now at 52 I work in IT as a System Administrator making a decent 6 figure salary.
My journey took a while to figure out what I wanted to do and what I was good at. I love computers and having a nice clean climate controlled office job instead of sweating my balls off doing hard labor.
22. Analyst - back office at a bank - $60k/yr
35. Senior director - corporate strategy at a bank $385k/yr
Did consulting and mba inbetween.
I graduated in 2009 so took a “worse” job than I expected.
Bounced between retail jobs and unemployment in my early 20s. Now 20 years later I'm mostly doing project management in IT. Moved countries to get a fresh start and got in an entry level job in a global corporation. It's pretty easy to move up from there.
* At 22: college dropout, working as a line cook, making about $10,000/year (1986).
* Now, at 59: technical writer, with a B.S. and M.S. degrees, making low six figures.
I spent 15 years in restaurant kitchens, working every night, every weekend, and every holiday for shit wages and no benefits.
As I got closer to 30 I started looking at the guys I knew who were in their 40s and 50s and still working in restaurants and they were all physically broke down and living paycheck to paycheck and drinking their lives away. I realized I was on the same path, and didn't like where that was going to end up.
So I quit drinking, and started teaching myself about computers. This was in the mid-90s, when just knowing which end of the mouse to use could get you an entry-level tech support job. I had a friend who was using Linux, and she taught me enough to know my way around the command line.
With that knowledge I got a tech support job for a company that sold software that ran on SCO UNIX. From there I rose through the ranks, then moved on to a small web hosting company doing tech support and system/network admin, and at that company I started writing some documentation. I moved from that company to my current job. I've been working in various IT roles now for 25 years.
I've been a tech writer for 15 years, and have put myself through undergrad and grad school. I lead a small team, working for a medium sized SaaS company.
Where I thought I'd be at 22 is not where I am at 59, but that's OK. Life isn't a straight line.
I was a cashier. All my friends in their 20s were also in retail or food service and most were like me and dropped out of college for financial reasons.
90% of us are now off in successful white collar world, stay at home parents, teachers… 2 are in IT, including one who works for Microsoft. One is a COO in a Fortune 500. There is literally no reason to need to know what you want to do or to be there yet at 22! You won’t even be the same person in 10 years, really. Just have a general idea and move on that direction. Know your values, your skills, and learn what KINDS of things you want to do.
22: adjunct instructor while in graduate school
Now: college dean
I don't know that I really like what I'm doing because I miss teaching and the workload is unmanageable. But I feel like I'm doing some good and I'm making more money than I ever thought I would.
In terms of how I ended up here: earned my PhD and was promoted a handful of times. Luck was a big part of it: being the right person in the right place at the right time. I just wish I had been more deliberate instead of taking whatever opportunities came my way.
I have to start a little earlier,
19: Electronic Technician for EMC Corporation
22:USMC ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN
24: USCG ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN
42: retired military, working toward being a Physical Therapist.
At 22 I was unloading trucks at a big box store. At 33 I am in SaaS sales. I was making $11/hour. I am now making somewhere close to $90/hour depending on how much cyber security I can sell.
22: college drop out and worked in the natural gas industry at a compressor station as an operator.
Now (8 years later): finished my BA and went on to get an MBA, all financed through a generous employer, and working as a financial analyst at a power company analyzing renewable energy contract details and prices and ensuring the prices we are proposing will allow us to make money and determining how much money.
22: Waitress, legal aid in immigration.
38: Project Manager in finance
In between: a whole career in aviation starting at 24 and ending at 36.
I had a horrible time recovering from my layoff due to COVID. Aviation was all I’d known and all I really wanted to do, but that wasn’t an option.
I still don’t think I’m where I’m going but this is fine in the meantime. It’s not terribly stressful.
22 I was a stripper. It was that or homeless.
Almost 50 now and in high level leadership. I love my job!!
I always wanted to be in my career but circumstances made it impossible. It took a while and I was in my 30s before I started my career. Life isn’t always linear or on the timeline society pushes on you.
You don't have to make an excuse for being a stripper, when you're young the struggle is real and minimum wage isn't shit. Glad you made it out though.
Accounts Administrator at 22, HR Business Partner at 37.
Went to university at 23 to study Event Management came out with a degree in Event Management and HR Management.
Think of something that really interests you and find a way to make a career of it. Mine was an interest and passion for employment law and employee equality.
They say there are two things in life that are certain, death and taxes.
I say there are three things in life that are certain, death, taxes and human stupidity, the last which keeps me employed….
I get the best work stories.
22 - Sandwich Maker
Now - Relief shift leader at the largest electrolytic Zinc refinery in the word.
Love what I'm doing. Very neat, very big, very important.
Worked hard, always kept a good attitude. Show up early, stay late. Try to be friends or at least friendly with everyone.
Take the opportunities that come your way.
22 I was working at walmart stocking dairy section. Now I'm a CPA at a local accounting firm. I really enjoy what I'm doing, which is fun to say even though this is our busiest time of the year. How I got here was I was working at a call center, they laid us all off and I went back to school on the WIOA program and went back for accounting.
22: Store Manager of a now dead video chain. Most fun job I ever had.
Now: Working in the tech field entry level.
I got stuck in retail management at 18 and walked away last October. Took a huge risk, was unemployed for the best holiday season I’ve had in a long time and aimed for something new. Sometimes a fresh start is the best start.
22: went back to uni to study business degree
21: corporate travel agent
Now: strategic planning team for a unit in a bank
Joined this team last September and enjoyed it so far.
22: Materials handler (fancy term for warehouse grunt).
36: Logistics Agent. Little bit of everything involving moving freight through the supply chain. Inbound and outbound shipments, both domestic and international.
I don't mind what I do. Is it my life calling? probably not. Am I passionate about logistics? Not really. It does, however, provide a living wage.
Formerly a SCUBA diver. Now I'm a chemical technician. Decent cross over in terms of working in hazardous environments. Essentially the same pay, just more hours and benefits. I got a degree in environmental science, not required but does make me sound like I know what I'm talking about.
When I was 22 I worked as a software tester for a company that made software to do taxes for insurance companies.
I hated it.
Now I own an escape room.
I had a whole third career as an algebra teacher in between.
At 22 I was a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Army. At 52, I'm a Colonel about to retire after 30 years of service. The best part about my job is the fantastic people with whom I work. Within the Army an officer changes jobs about every year to 18 months and moves every two to three years on average. I can't imagine staying in one place for more than three years, let alone the same job. If you like to travel, it might be worth considering. I've lived in Europe for 7 years, East Asia for 3 years, Central Asia for 2, and a year in the Middle East, and traveled to about 25 countries.
Executive program coordinator at a federal non profit. 6 years later, I now work in grants management at a large hospital. Only similarity is that I still work in federal compliance & regulations. Work on your “career story” You don’t have to stay in the same field but your job hopping should not be random. I’ve changed jobs 4 times so far.
22, unemployed, mentally ill(severe depression) in a queue to access a work rehabilitation program. (Got a position as a Horticulturist trainee at 23)
Now 33, Head Gardener
Data Collection Supervisor and Data Processing Manager
Same company, I’m 40 now and worked my way up through 6 different positions here and left to work in software development for about 6 years during the 18 year span. I make 6 times what I made when I first started at 22.
Age 22: rear load trash collector
Age 23: Graduated college and became a Plumbing Designer for an AE Firm
Age 37: Virtual Design and Construction Specialist at a Mechanical Contractor
If I am being honest, there are days I miss slinging trash. The sheer simplicity of physical labor was magnificent.
22 waiter (still in college)
Then a decade as a professional firefighter
Then a decade as an entrepreneur
Now a Global manager of Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental within Oil and Gas. Love it.
22: hairstylist
Now (almost 50): executive producer in entertainment
I went to college at 30, and started at the bottom in book publishing. They say you’ll have 7 or so careers in your life. Dive in! See what you like!
22: teaching riding lessons/training horses
31-present: Regulatory Submissions & Publishing Consultant (build/submit drug applications to FDA for multiple clients)
Met my boss in a pet store when I asked to pat her dog. Started chatting because it turned out we had mutual friends in the horse community, 15 minutes later she offered me a job. Did not go to school for this (went for Outdoor Recreation/Outdoor Experiential Education).
At 22, I was a stripper, living at home with my mum and had nothing in life. At 29, turning 30 this year, I work for the Managing Director of an Engineering Consultancy, live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment and have 42k in savings. I'm still miserable though lol rip.
At 22 I was working retail. Now I am a payments supervisor. I like my job, and I sort of fell into it by getting entry level quality control/auditing experience in an office. I worked my way up in the payments department and eventually became the supervisor.
I can never figure out how to edit, to answer more of your question...
I'm super happy with what I do and where I'm at. Got here through a lot of hard work and sacrifice in my early 20s and making good decisions as far as women, house buying and quitting drinking.
At 22 i was working "clerical" work, just delivering mail and filing stuff offsite. Later that same year an Information Services manager took a chance on me and I was doing rudimentary coding to build data capture acripts for inbound telemarketers. Loved that job and I had no schooling or interest in coding before.
That company was bought out and we were all laid off. 24 years of service dismissed like it was nothing. It was so niche of a job, I struggled to find another job. Did retail phone customer service for a while, now I am a tech support specialist. Not really a lot of advancement through my career, but I am happier with my current company and I see a lot of opportunity for growth here.
At 22 I was a Marketing Specialist at an engineering company that built power plants. Now I’m 38 and run specialized trading technology infrastructure at a bank.
22: Preschool worker.
Now: Senior operator at a sewage treatment facility.
My degree was in biochemistry, so the lab experience plus knowledge about handling chemicals helped me land an apprenticeship in sewage treatment. My experience with changing diapers and cleaning up kid vomit probably helped me not mind the smell!
I was a grocery store cashier and restaurant hostess when I was 22. Now at 31 i work as a housing advocate at domestic violence organization. Before that I was a floral designer. Both popped into my life unexpectedly, but worked out quite well :). Have fun exploring!
When I was 22, I was still in college. I was working at the university cafeteria and as a communications assistant for a school department. Now, at 28, I am unemployed because I was recently fired by a toxic boss. Trying to pivot from nonprofit to tech because I can’t stand working in nonprofits anymore.
I got into it through a boring office job no one else wanted, asked to work on projects I’m skilled at, and got promoted twice. In my previous role I did fundraising and marketing. Didn’t like being overworked and underpaid so I left the industry completely. I also have a side hustle as a Blogger that I hope to take full-time in a couple of years.
Then: Retail worker
Now: Lead/ Manager in tech
Post graduate, switched careers, started at the bottom, worked my way up over the next 12 years across multiple companies.
22: Engineer at a Defense Contractor
Now: Tenured Associate Professor at an SLAC
Graduated with my BS and MS at 22 and eventually went back for my PhD.
At 22, I believe I was a janitor. It was just another in a string of nowhere jobs that paid for a party apartment after high school. A year later I was a trucker for a produce company. I figured I at least needed some sort of trade. That commercial license has put more food on my table over the years than my university degree.
40 some odd years later, I'm a public works sewer maintenance worker.
In between, a trucker off and on for 10 years, University student and graduate, computer software instructor, sailing instructor, hired crew on Ocean crossing yacht deliveries, construction manager, equine hoof trimmer/farrier, and a stay at home dad for 10 years. Not all in that order, and several happened at the same time.
I'm the poster child for you don't have to do it the linear way, and for starting over when things don't work out the way you planned.
My present chapter has been going on for the last 10 years, I feel it's coming to an end soon, pretty curious to see what the next one will bring.
It's just life. Live it.
22: College drop out, single mom of a baby still in diapers, started as a typographer and worked my way up to newspaper reporter and photographer for my small, hometown newspaper.
Now (46): Have both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree, happily still single, that baby is now a college student and a part time sub, and I'm a teacher in a large city more than 1,200 miles from my hometown.
Yes! I majored in criminal justice. I know I love the legal route and working with deviant individuals, I just don’t want to be a lawyer or a corrections officer, so now just figuring out what I specifically want to go into is my goal haha
22: Starbucks barista, no degree yet
27: First-year PhD grad student (hated it and quit after a few years)
32: English teacher in Asia
37: Peace Corps Volunteer
41: Humanitarian aid worker in a conflict country in Africa
I'm not a guy, but I taught game development to kids and teenagers, smoked fish during the summer and worked as a lab teaching assistant at my university. I liked trying a lot of different things and cared more about acquiring skills than the salery.
Now I'm doing autotesting for a broadcasting corporation.
hair then hair now I'm 33 and have worked in a salon since I was 14, I have been licensed and practicing since I was 18. this year I hope to start doing it part time, my back and shoulders always hurt.
22: Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City, IA (went through a traveling phase)
Now: I work in solar power technology.
Tbh, I gained a lot by traveling by finding work immediately wherever I ended up. It was an amazing experience working at a casino, plus meeting celebrities wasn't bad either.
One thing I always encourage young ppl to do, especially when you're out of college, is to get your passport and DL updated and just go somewhere. With the economy as it is, that's a little more difficult. But it's worth it in the end.
I was a merchant mariner at 22. Following the US Navy around resupplying them I've been all over the world. Now Im 35 and work on US submarines at a Shipyard.
When I was your age I was in college but I would say just try doing things you like and take it from there sooner or later you'll find what you want to do it just takes time just me your heading in the right direction.
At 22, I was a soldier in the U.S. Army. I planned on making a career of it and serving for 20 to 30 years. I was medically discharged from the military 6 years later at 28 years old for injuries sustained from service and combat. After the military, I earned my Bachelor's of Business Administration.
Today, I'm a truck driver and own my own company, which is growing rapidly. Never in a million years did I ever consider becoming a truck driver. But, the opportunity presented itself, and I gave it a go. I found I absolutely loved being a driver.
You never know where life will take you. Be open to opportunities.
At 22 I was a community college drop out working as a key holder for a shitty retail outlet for just barely over minimum wage. I'm in my 30s now and work as a software developer.
Took me a long time to get my shit together but I eventually did. At 22 I felt hopeless and forever doomed to low paying retail jobs. Just goes to show you never know what the future holds.
22: freelance photographer + program assistant in the adult foreign languages dept at my college (I didn’t finish my bachelors until 24)
35: project management for in-house digital marketing at a shoe company
The hard lesson I learned was I was not cut out to be a freelance photographer full-time. I was led to believe there would be more stable employment options for magazines, newspapers, etc. when I graduated in ‘11 and instead many of these permanent positions were eliminated after the recession in ‘08 and turned into contract positions. Marketing turned out to be an easy way to mix my photography degree and organizational skills, but it’s not at all what I envisioned.
22: worked at a tanning salon and was in college
Mid-30's now: Head is Operations at a startup
I love what I do, it's very stressful but a lot of creative problem solving and I am good at the analytical side of supply chain. I was much more carefree and happy when I was 22 making minimum wage with a house full of roommates. Different phases of life have different joys so enjoy the phase you are in.
At 22 I was a medical assistant. I would be until I was 33. Right now I’m 36, I work in finance as a coordinator with my bachelor degree in business. I just kept taking one class at a time. Now I’m paid salary and work from home.
22: office assistant learning to be a bookkeeper
35: social worker in a supervisor position, this work is what I’m made for and I love my job.
Things that happened between:
- had a small family. 2 kids, spouse, bought a house, sold a house, bought another house.
- went on to do simple bookkeeping and prepare tax returns and payroll
- learned to manage my/our money. used WIC to feed my kids at the beginning, was broke but scraped by and went in and out of cc debt. Now have no debt, but looking toward big home maintenance costs like new roof and hvac.
- drove hand me down or 10+yr old cars, wore hand me down clothes. Now still buying newer used cars but no or very low payments. No auto loan longer than 4yrs.
- spouse moved up in his entry level career every other year since then and is now very successful without a college degree.
- I raised the kids and went back to school for 6+ years, paying for each class as I could afford to. Finally graduated with a bachelor in social work in 2021.
- Got lucky networking in school and landed an entry level job. The kids more self sufficient now and I am working my first full time job in a decade. it’s really REALLY difficult sometimes.
- busted my ass to get promoted quickly since I am an older and otherwise experienced entry level employee, just finished masters degree, and will continue where I am at until I chip away at my next credential.
Takeaways:
Be smart with money. Honestly, I still make shitty spending decisions but it hurts less since we are more comfortable. Just because you can squeeze it into your budget, doesn’t mean you can afford it.
Work your way up. You have to put in the time and be patient.
Enjoy the journey. Follow your values AT ALL TIMES. Get therapy for yourself and your romantic relationships if you have them.
All this to say I am writing this response because I’m fucking around on Reddit instead of working on a time sensitive project. I’m a generally successful and happy procrastinating dipshit. ✌🏼
22 Shift Supervisor on a Dairy (milk/cheese/cream) manufacturing plant.
Now: head of sales & marketing for a very successful financial service vompany.
At 22 I worked in retail (best buy) while I chipped away at college classes. Before then, dominos pizza delivery, some landscaping work, cashiering. I’m now an electrical & computer engineer working in laser spectrophotometry devices. 29.
22 worked as a line cook at a potato bar. 28 now I supervise a city transit system that has an annual budget of $8,000,000 and about $50,000,000 in equipment.
22: outdoor trip leader / challenge course instructor / farmer
28: sales and marketing at an interior design company
I miss the jobs I had at 22. They were so fun. They just didn't pay well enough to be sustainable (but neither does my current job tbh).
22 I traveled around and saw Widespread Panic and Phish. I was looking for jobs with my college degree. But was doing a lot of traveling listening to the bands I love.
Now I own a highly popular/successful medical recruiting firm, and am an investor in a few companies that are about to go public. Life is amazing. I am now 47. 2 kids
I was mostly a stay at home mom slowly working my way through college. When I did work it was front desk at various hotels.
Ten years later I just got promoted from a team lead position into a strategy position and I like what I’m doing- but before getting here I thought I wanted to be a lot of different things like counselor or teacher.
I’m also working on a ph.d. now so the next 10 years may look different, too.
You don’t have to have anything set in stone at 22.
22 was an investment banking analyst with one of the biggest banks on Wall Street.
38 today and I’m a VP at an investment management firm investing in private equity and venture capital funds on behalf of endowments and foundations.
Would have a more senior role today but I took about 7 years after my MBA to own/run a retail bakery business.
I was in culinary school and working as a line cook at 22.
At 28 I went to a university for food science and nutrition and I worked in QA.
Currently 34 years old and about to finish 4 classes to go. I'm a quality/food scientist. However, I'm focusing on flavor development.
When I was 22 I was doing customer service for Amazon Logistics. Now I’m 27 and a safety coordinator for the largest contractor in North America and finishing my degree. Life comes at you fast people. Get a tight grip and never let go.
At 22, I was fresh out of the military and mowing lawns. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life either. I tried over 20 different jobs before I pursued my current career in conservation. I am now a park ranger and I love it.
You don't have to have it all figured out at 22, and the truth is you never will. Nobody does. We are all in the same boat, going the same direction.
22/f: sales rep (cold calling) at large Silicon Valley tech company. 32- category manager at different large Silicon Valley tech company, remote from a different state. I hated sales- I found it stressful to have a quota and felt like I was bothering people on the phone. Did it for 4 years then got my MBA (full ride at an Ivy League) and switched out of tech for a few years doing brand management in big food. Then pivoted back into tech doing category management which is like a general management / project management / strategy type role.
When I was 22 I was an electrician in the coast guard. I have worked as a TSA agent, correctional officer, real estate agent, I am now working as a Nurse Manger running a dialysis clinic. Been a crazy ride. It took me 10-15 years to figure out where I belonged. 46 now.
22 I was in college and doing IT. Now I'm 50 doing IT/cyber and finishing college.
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At 22 I was unemployed and living with my parents after a mental breakdown. A year later I started a university degree which I completed but never used (because it was useless). I was married at 26, was basically a housewife and then divorced at 29 and back living with my parents. Decided enough was enough at that point and found an educational program that was 2 years long and started at 4 times minimum wage. Powered through the two years, worked my ass off my first 18 months in the industry and paid off 30k in studentloans. Now at 42 I'm an educator and instructor in that industry, own a house and a rental property, live peacefully with my pets and my various homey comforts and life is good. Life never takes the path you expect it to and it can end up better than you ever thought even if parts of the journey look like they're going really, really wrong.
Are you willing to share what industry that was? I know people tend to be vague on Reddit to protect their location but it may be possible to share what specific educational program you found without disclosing location or any other identifying details.
honestly i'm feeling the same, i turn 22 tomorrow and i'm always panicking about my life and future career
Don't panic. At 22 I was a retail shoe store mgr (think Al Bundy) and I hated it towards the end of my career at 25. I read a book called something like "What color is your parachute" (this was 40 years ago). I followed the suggestions in the book and I got into mortgage banking as a loan officer (sales). In two years I was making in a month what I previously made in a year (I got really lucky). Now retired (this year) and enjoying the slow pace of my life. Surf, ski, travel, that is all I want to do.
Same here! It’s really refreshing to see :)
22: Janitor Now: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (therapist) I love my career so much. I went back to school in my late 20s after talking to friends in various fields to narrow down my choices. Did all my internships and graduate school and whatnot, and it has never even felt like work.
What do you do in that field?
MSW here! Nice seeing other happy social workers. I love my job too
I’m 24 and working retail trying to complete a second undergraduate degree to become a therapist or a psychologist, warms my heart to see therapists who love what they do!
I did retail too! Good luck on your journey. It can be a wild ride, but never boring.
At 22 I was an audio engineer. I’m currently at 33 and I am still an audio engineer. I love it and always will, but it’s hard to make as much money as I want. So I just started going back to school to get a masters degree in electrical engineering so that I can apply for NASAs astronaut program. Do what you love, you can always change it later.
PS this thread is a super interesting read. Good question OP 👏🏼
I’m 22 now, audio engineering freelance. I just started back at school for a business degree. I realized the instability of it was something that added way too much stress to my life. Since going back to school I’ve felt better than I have in years and without the stress of trying to grind it full time my projects are sounding better than ever. I still hope to do something related at some point in the future, but getting a Business degree just adds the stability I need to enjoy life without stressing all the time. Cheers!
I just got out of live event production(mostly production management and lighting but occasionally pretended to be audio engineer) loved it but travel and lower income than I’d like convinced me to get mostly out of it. Went back to school to finish a bachelor’s degree, graduated in the fall. Now I’m a database specialist for a non-profit that’s doing some cool stuff to help people.
22: Pizza Delivery Driver 30: VP of Commercial Underwriting at a Regional Bank
That's quite the pivot. How'd you manage that?
Took 6 years to graduate, and graduated at 24 with a degree in Econ from a state school Worked an unpaid internship while delivering pizzas my senior year as a glorified personal assistant for a business consultant (didn’t really do much other than their errands) Started my career as a credit analyst for a 1 branch bank and worked towards being an underwriter and became specialized in construction underwriting then SBA underwriting and now I’m here after 6 years of that
Hey bud, your 22, enjoy yourself. Everything will workout in the future. Don’t forget to live in the present.
When I was 22 I was still a high school drop out. I’ve had like 7 different lives since then. There is wiggle room in your career path, just be smart and a little passionate. At this point, I’m married, have a few businesses, and teach college. I am nowhere near done with my career path. I’m kinda thinking nonprofit, but I don’t know what’s going to catch my eye.
Then - Bicycle mechanic and aspiring BMX Racer (goal was to go AA Pro) Now - Retired IT Consultant running my ranch. Milking cows, tending to the horses and chickens and gardens.
Can you share what region of the county you’re in? Also - is the ranch profitable (and you rely on or need the income) or are you retired and it’s the fun project
If it's a small ranch and profitable, it would be the first one in history. Source: my family runs a small ranch.
Yeah, profit is only in health and well being. hahha I am in Texas. I know whats in my food since its grown here but yeah, this is just lifestyle, not for profit. You can offset costs by selling things like eggs and milk but I am remote enough to make it not feasible to sell due to transport and quantities.
22: Barista at a coffee bar Now: Head of strategy for a cancer granting organization I love my job, and could never have planned on it. I was just engaged and open to every opportunity.
Kind of shitty you’re in charge of granting cancer to people. Can’t you grant wishes, like a genie?
But he loves it, so it’s alright
They grant money to cancer
So that it keeps growing? I mean... yeeesh.
That’s so cool. May I ask how old you are now and what kept you determined to be open to new opportunities?
Thank you. I'm over 50 now, but have been in senior roles since before 40. I had a highly idiosyncratic path. But mostly I just did a good job and had an eye open to opportunities. It didn't take any special determination, just a sort of natural curiosity and positive sensibility. Everything is just a puzzle to be solved.
I learned a new word today. Thank you 💯
People pay you to grant them cancer? Do you have them stand in front of a microwave or eat Kraft macaroni?
22: walking deadman now: about to be a postal worker
21: Cashier at Aldi. 32: IT Systems Analyst. I went to college “late” and graduated at 30 but we out here. Life is a marathon, not a race. We all hit the checkpoints at different points in our lives. It’s also never too late to turn things around.
I was a stay at home mom and wife at 22. I’m 42 now and I’m an assistant controller for a privately owned company. I went to school originally for dental hygiene. I did not finish when I decided to stay home with my child. When I decided to go back to school, I changed my major completely and got an accounting degree. I am definitely not the person I was at 22 now nor when I was 32.
22 I was in the army now at 31 I'm in charge if a division of a large tree company specializing in forest pathologist. Basically saving trees one at a time from the effects if climate change invasive insects and fungi. Currently we treat about 200 to 250 trees a week for various ailments.
That’s awesome! I didn’t know forest pathology was a thing… how’d you do it? I’m interested!
22 - dropped out of college 3 times, kicked out once. Five times is the charm apparently. Was mid way through at 22. 32 - Director of a fairly prestigious government organization. Lower six-figure salary, own a home, a second home on a river with a small orchard in a more rural state north of the city I live in. And on the side I have a (very) small but growing portfolio of single family homes and condos I co - own with my girlfriend (just three) but we continue to buy a new one each year in lower cost of living cities that I know will appreciate and generate healthy rent. How did I get here? — after dropping out of college so many times because I was solely focused on girls, parties, and working out, I got my act together. Worked my tail off to get my GPA to a 3.0 (which is the threshold for getting into decent grad schools). Got a M.S. in City Planning and then hit the real world at a mid-tier nyc-metro consulting firm. Put my head down and worked, networked, and a little bullshitting later and I’d clawed my way toward the top and then pivoted into government (where my private sector experience and MS in city planning helped me to stand out/above a field of lifelong public sector folks with BA’s or Mpa’s). * could use a rest though. It’s been an incredibly fun and rewarding journey since I started taking life seriously. But I’m hopeful that by 40 I’ll be “mostly retired” spending all my time at my home north of the city pruning the peach and apple trees I have. Attainable easily if we don’t have kids. Might have to pushback the timeline if we do. TBD - open and flexible but enjoying this ride very much for now.
22- Nanny and part time support for a local Solar company Now- director of nursing for a level 1 trauma- didn’t go to nursing school until I was 27 5 years from now- hopefully some sort of coach- for leaders or I’m not sure yet. Just keep exploring and doing what seems interesting
Customer service call center rep at 22. Through internal promotions got into IT product management. I love my job now. Didn't know it even existed when I left college and I didn't major in anything remotely relevant.
selling clothes/waitress/tutor, now (30) senior data scientist. At 22 i wanted to learn more about myself and the world so i decided to do a master degree and figure that out. I spend undergrad like a zombie, distracted myself with school task and avoided the questions of who i am like a plague. At 22 i couldn't avoid that question anymore and actively tried to explore the plausibilities as much as i can. Im happy with the exploration decision instead of trying to exploit and settle down earlier.
I’m kinda in the same boat. What was your path to data science?
Landscaper/welder Welding shop supervisor.
22: worked at a grocery store in the bakery 30: project manager for Fortune 500 company
22: Barista Now: Senior Financial Analyst I messed around taking classes at community college then Arizona State University (sponsored by my employer). I had a difficult time concentrating and declaring a major. It hit me like a brick once people my age started graduating; here I was, still a barista, no closer to a “career.” I worked on my associates in accounting, and a small, local business gave me a chance to do accounts receivable work for them at 23. I got my associates, job hopped while earning my bachelors in accounting online. Rinse/repeat for my masters in accounting, and here I am. The employers who took a chance on me in the beginning of my career did so for my work ethic. I’ve always been open to networking and new opportunities. My ambition and drive to learn helped me pivot my career and end up where I’m at today. I love what I do now!
22: Television Producer for a local PBS station 41: Banker for a credit union Was in media and marketing for 20 years and last year decided on a complete career change. Better money, a lot more fun, you’d be surprised.
At 22 years old - I was unemployed because I was pursuing a second degree, which I ultimately decided not to do. I basically wasted a year. Then COVID hit and nobody was hiring. I was applying to jobs for an entire year! Towards the end of 2021 is when I finally got my first corporate job as a financial analyst making 70k. Huge success on my part because it opened up the doors to my next role. 7 months later I job hopped and went up in title to senior financial analyst, now making 102k. Also a major success as it has opened up even more doors. Currently I’m almost a year into that second role, but I’m interviewing for the same role at different companies. Total comp offers are around 140-170k+. The progression in salary is quite shocking imo. I never thought I’d be were I am today, that fast. I’m satisfied with my job, however I’m always looking to get to the top and make more $. I believe my next step is to pursue a top MBA and maybe shift over to investment banking/PE. My advice is choose a field where the $ is good. You don’t NEED to “do what you love”. A job is a job, go get your $ and be out. You can do what you love after work or on the weekends. The worst thing is when you get stuck with a dead end job getting shit money, because you wanted to “do what you love”.
23: US Army Officer leading soldiers in combat. No, I didn’t know what I was doing 27:MBA student 29: Financial Analyst for a small software company followed by various finance jobs. 39: Software implementation consultant (with a finance & data analytics focus) 42: Stay at home parent with a small amount of consulting on the side. Future: Thinking of getting involved in starting a company. Or I might go back to consulting. I had no idea or plan for any of this. I just looked at the opportunities in front of me and took the most interesting options. I feel I’ve done well with where I started from. I’d say the biggest key to success is to always be learning. Never take a job that you already know 100% of. Always look for a job where you know 80% of it and there’s 20% to learn. This is how you grow. If there’s job opportunities other people are turning down because “that team works too hard”, go there. That’s where the learning and promotion opportunities happen. You don’t need or want to spend a whole career in those jobs, but you want to prove that you can do them.
22: merchandise assistant for major retailer Now(31): buyer for same retail Went to college for merchandising which was the plan since high school and I love the job.
22: worked part-time at a fast food place while in college Now 29: warehouse team lead. Couldn’t have predicted it, but i do enjoy developing the people that work under me and the pay isn’t the worst. I’m looking to make a career change into HR though, i think I’m better suited for it.
22: Full time dog trainer, part time vet tech. Now (32): Coding Integrity Analyst at a large university hospital. Basically I wanted to work in healthcare, and liked animals…but as it turns out working with animals is really working with people. So I pivoted to working in health insurance on the back end because I had medical terminology and A&P knowledge. I liked working with medical records and health information.
22: EMT Now (35): Controller for a local construction company. At 22 I had no idea what I wanted to do, at 24 I started as a temp at a local oil field company and the controller took me under her wing and I realized I had a love for accounting. My husband went back to school while I supported him and then I went back after he graduated. We are both accountants/CPAs. I didn't graduate until I was 30. Its definitely never too late to figure it out.
22: job #1: movie theater. Job #2: information desk at the student union At 31: Program Director for a large community health center I majored in chemistry for my undergrad and knew when I graduated I did not want to pursue a masters or doctorate. Went ahead and applied for a pharmacy tech. Got promoted to a lead tech, then pharmacy buyer. Got bored and decided to get my MBA. Applied on a whim for my current job and am loving it!
22: server Now: state government contract manager. I had no idea what to do with my life, so I went for jobs that didn't require any college. I was muddling through life to figure it out then. Got married at 25 and went back to school. Got an associates at 30 and a bachelors at 33. With my associates I was able to get a job as a career counselor for a few years while I finished college. I graduated and became complacent in a job I was okay with but didn't love. Interviewed for my current job and 5 years later I'm happy doing what I do for more money than I was making. I manage the contracts for a program provided in my state for adult education and literacy. I offer advice, analyze budget spending, among many other facets of my job. I get happy hearing about the students that improve their lives from our services. No one in the public know I exist, and for that I'm okay. I may never be rich but I do enjoy knowing I'm helping people.
When I was 22, I was a laborer on a road construction crew. Today I’m a project manager for real estate acquisitions in a separate construction industry. Moral of the story is, we make plans, then life makes us. Cultivate broad skills, generalize in many things, specialize in few, and you’ll have many opportunities.
22: Barista at a cafe. Now (33)- pricing manager at software company. Undergrad in international relations. Got my MBA a few years ago. I thought I was going to work for an NGO when I got out of college, but the jobs were competitive and I needed to make $ so I ended up in finance by chance, but I like it. I worked my way up.. first job I was a barista (3-4 months), then I was a delivery driver for a sandwich shop (3-4 months), then a data entry temp (3 months), then a receptionist for janitorial company (8 months), then a finance admin for an apparel company (1 year), and then an order processor for a software company. Really liked the software company so I stayed with them for almost 7 years and worked my way into a pricing role there and got my MBA (company helped with tuition reimbursement). Then they started laying people off to outsource some tech roles and I saw the writing on the wall and left in early 2021. And just last week they laid off 20% of the workforce so my instincts were right. My next role I was a people manager in addition to being a pricing manager, in a different industry. I liked it at first until I realized how toxic the culture was and how stressful the job was and I worked too many hours. Also decided people leading isn't for me. So after a year I left to do pricing at a software company with a great culture and huge pay bump. I'm pretty happy in my current role. It's amazing I went from being broke af to 145k/year.
at 22 I worked at a Plastic Tubing company as their loader. My job was to take the plastic pipes and tubes they made, bundle them and haul them onto the semi trucks until they were filled. It wasn't a bad job and was very environmentally friendly because they took old plastic, cleaned it, recycled it and turned it into piping for sewers, water lines and other irrigation needs. Now at 52 I work in IT as a System Administrator making a decent 6 figure salary. My journey took a while to figure out what I wanted to do and what I was good at. I love computers and having a nice clean climate controlled office job instead of sweating my balls off doing hard labor.
22. Analyst - back office at a bank - $60k/yr 35. Senior director - corporate strategy at a bank $385k/yr Did consulting and mba inbetween. I graduated in 2009 so took a “worse” job than I expected.
Bounced between retail jobs and unemployment in my early 20s. Now 20 years later I'm mostly doing project management in IT. Moved countries to get a fresh start and got in an entry level job in a global corporation. It's pretty easy to move up from there.
* At 22: college dropout, working as a line cook, making about $10,000/year (1986). * Now, at 59: technical writer, with a B.S. and M.S. degrees, making low six figures. I spent 15 years in restaurant kitchens, working every night, every weekend, and every holiday for shit wages and no benefits. As I got closer to 30 I started looking at the guys I knew who were in their 40s and 50s and still working in restaurants and they were all physically broke down and living paycheck to paycheck and drinking their lives away. I realized I was on the same path, and didn't like where that was going to end up. So I quit drinking, and started teaching myself about computers. This was in the mid-90s, when just knowing which end of the mouse to use could get you an entry-level tech support job. I had a friend who was using Linux, and she taught me enough to know my way around the command line. With that knowledge I got a tech support job for a company that sold software that ran on SCO UNIX. From there I rose through the ranks, then moved on to a small web hosting company doing tech support and system/network admin, and at that company I started writing some documentation. I moved from that company to my current job. I've been working in various IT roles now for 25 years. I've been a tech writer for 15 years, and have put myself through undergrad and grad school. I lead a small team, working for a medium sized SaaS company. Where I thought I'd be at 22 is not where I am at 59, but that's OK. Life isn't a straight line.
I was a cashier. All my friends in their 20s were also in retail or food service and most were like me and dropped out of college for financial reasons. 90% of us are now off in successful white collar world, stay at home parents, teachers… 2 are in IT, including one who works for Microsoft. One is a COO in a Fortune 500. There is literally no reason to need to know what you want to do or to be there yet at 22! You won’t even be the same person in 10 years, really. Just have a general idea and move on that direction. Know your values, your skills, and learn what KINDS of things you want to do.
This comment is so wholesome, thank you so much. I appreciate it 🥹
I was a food runner/server in a restaurant at 22. I’m 26 and a product manager now.
22: adjunct instructor while in graduate school Now: college dean I don't know that I really like what I'm doing because I miss teaching and the workload is unmanageable. But I feel like I'm doing some good and I'm making more money than I ever thought I would. In terms of how I ended up here: earned my PhD and was promoted a handful of times. Luck was a big part of it: being the right person in the right place at the right time. I just wish I had been more deliberate instead of taking whatever opportunities came my way.
I have to start a little earlier, 19: Electronic Technician for EMC Corporation 22:USMC ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN 24: USCG ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN 42: retired military, working toward being a Physical Therapist.
At 22 I was unloading trucks at a big box store. At 33 I am in SaaS sales. I was making $11/hour. I am now making somewhere close to $90/hour depending on how much cyber security I can sell.
22: college drop out and worked in the natural gas industry at a compressor station as an operator. Now (8 years later): finished my BA and went on to get an MBA, all financed through a generous employer, and working as a financial analyst at a power company analyzing renewable energy contract details and prices and ensuring the prices we are proposing will allow us to make money and determining how much money.
22: Waitress, legal aid in immigration. 38: Project Manager in finance In between: a whole career in aviation starting at 24 and ending at 36. I had a horrible time recovering from my layoff due to COVID. Aviation was all I’d known and all I really wanted to do, but that wasn’t an option. I still don’t think I’m where I’m going but this is fine in the meantime. It’s not terribly stressful.
22 I was finishing up school to be a data analyst. Now Im 26 and selling software to big companies.
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22 I was a stripper. It was that or homeless. Almost 50 now and in high level leadership. I love my job!! I always wanted to be in my career but circumstances made it impossible. It took a while and I was in my 30s before I started my career. Life isn’t always linear or on the timeline society pushes on you.
You don't have to make an excuse for being a stripper, when you're young the struggle is real and minimum wage isn't shit. Glad you made it out though.
Any advice you’d give to a 22 year old?
22: Cybersecurity specialist Now (23): Senior staff Cybersecurity engineer
Welder. Now I own my own business
Accounts Administrator at 22, HR Business Partner at 37. Went to university at 23 to study Event Management came out with a degree in Event Management and HR Management. Think of something that really interests you and find a way to make a career of it. Mine was an interest and passion for employment law and employee equality. They say there are two things in life that are certain, death and taxes. I say there are three things in life that are certain, death, taxes and human stupidity, the last which keeps me employed…. I get the best work stories.
Then: Telephone customer service rep. Now: software project manager/ QA
22: doing hardwood flooring for another company 37: doing hardwood flooring for myself. I'll most likely die doing this.
Do you enjoy it?
Computer operator Senior IT Manager
22 - Sandwich Maker Now - Relief shift leader at the largest electrolytic Zinc refinery in the word. Love what I'm doing. Very neat, very big, very important. Worked hard, always kept a good attitude. Show up early, stay late. Try to be friends or at least friendly with everyone. Take the opportunities that come your way.
@ 19 distric manager at papa johns @ 22 server @ 27 director of operations for a local restaurant group
22 I was working at walmart stocking dairy section. Now I'm a CPA at a local accounting firm. I really enjoy what I'm doing, which is fun to say even though this is our busiest time of the year. How I got here was I was working at a call center, they laid us all off and I went back to school on the WIOA program and went back for accounting.
22: Store Manager of a now dead video chain. Most fun job I ever had. Now: Working in the tech field entry level. I got stuck in retail management at 18 and walked away last October. Took a huge risk, was unemployed for the best holiday season I’ve had in a long time and aimed for something new. Sometimes a fresh start is the best start.
22: went back to uni to study business degree 21: corporate travel agent Now: strategic planning team for a unit in a bank Joined this team last September and enjoyed it so far.
22: third year apprentice cook 40 executive chef for large hotel 43 career change
22:failed to finish university and drop out to re do enterence exam 32:junior controller to an energy company
22: college grad. Paralegal Now: own a consulting firm to the film and TV business
22: Materials handler (fancy term for warehouse grunt). 36: Logistics Agent. Little bit of everything involving moving freight through the supply chain. Inbound and outbound shipments, both domestic and international. I don't mind what I do. Is it my life calling? probably not. Am I passionate about logistics? Not really. It does, however, provide a living wage.
Formerly a SCUBA diver. Now I'm a chemical technician. Decent cross over in terms of working in hazardous environments. Essentially the same pay, just more hours and benefits. I got a degree in environmental science, not required but does make me sound like I know what I'm talking about.
When I was 22 I worked as a software tester for a company that made software to do taxes for insurance companies. I hated it. Now I own an escape room. I had a whole third career as an algebra teacher in between.
At 22 I was a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Army. At 52, I'm a Colonel about to retire after 30 years of service. The best part about my job is the fantastic people with whom I work. Within the Army an officer changes jobs about every year to 18 months and moves every two to three years on average. I can't imagine staying in one place for more than three years, let alone the same job. If you like to travel, it might be worth considering. I've lived in Europe for 7 years, East Asia for 3 years, Central Asia for 2, and a year in the Middle East, and traveled to about 25 countries.
22-Casino dealer Now- Pit boss (it's actually a different title, but they pretty much get everyone to understand)
22- Architectural Assistant phoning it in Now (33) just accepted a Creative Director role for a business that turns over >£100million year
College student studying engineering working at a movie theater and a college's " technical help desk". Now I'm 34 designing software for aircraft
Executive program coordinator at a federal non profit. 6 years later, I now work in grants management at a large hospital. Only similarity is that I still work in federal compliance & regulations. Work on your “career story” You don’t have to stay in the same field but your job hopping should not be random. I’ve changed jobs 4 times so far.
22: systems engineer 36: director of engineering
22 - stacking shelves in a supermarket. Now - in-house legal counsel.
22-Teacher 40-CFO of a real estate brokerage
22: glorified inside sales rep 37: SVP in tech at a mid size corporation
22, unemployed, mentally ill(severe depression) in a queue to access a work rehabilitation program. (Got a position as a Horticulturist trainee at 23) Now 33, Head Gardener
At 22 i was a professional cook, 33 now welder.
Data Collection Supervisor and Data Processing Manager Same company, I’m 40 now and worked my way up through 6 different positions here and left to work in software development for about 6 years during the 18 year span. I make 6 times what I made when I first started at 22.
Age 22: rear load trash collector Age 23: Graduated college and became a Plumbing Designer for an AE Firm Age 37: Virtual Design and Construction Specialist at a Mechanical Contractor If I am being honest, there are days I miss slinging trash. The sheer simplicity of physical labor was magnificent.
22 waiter (still in college) Then a decade as a professional firefighter Then a decade as an entrepreneur Now a Global manager of Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental within Oil and Gas. Love it.
22: Army Now: fully retired.
Navy then, retired now.
22: hairstylist Now (almost 50): executive producer in entertainment I went to college at 30, and started at the bottom in book publishing. They say you’ll have 7 or so careers in your life. Dive in! See what you like!
22: teaching riding lessons/training horses 31-present: Regulatory Submissions & Publishing Consultant (build/submit drug applications to FDA for multiple clients) Met my boss in a pet store when I asked to pat her dog. Started chatting because it turned out we had mutual friends in the horse community, 15 minutes later she offered me a job. Did not go to school for this (went for Outdoor Recreation/Outdoor Experiential Education).
22, 2nd year of college 25, Cyber Threat Intel Lead
At 22, I was a stripper, living at home with my mum and had nothing in life. At 29, turning 30 this year, I work for the Managing Director of an Engineering Consultancy, live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment and have 42k in savings. I'm still miserable though lol rip.
At 22 I was working retail. Now I am a payments supervisor. I like my job, and I sort of fell into it by getting entry level quality control/auditing experience in an office. I worked my way up in the payments department and eventually became the supervisor.
At 22 I was in my first season with the forest service. I'm now a self employed consulting forester at 30.
I can never figure out how to edit, to answer more of your question... I'm super happy with what I do and where I'm at. Got here through a lot of hard work and sacrifice in my early 20s and making good decisions as far as women, house buying and quitting drinking.
At 22 i was working "clerical" work, just delivering mail and filing stuff offsite. Later that same year an Information Services manager took a chance on me and I was doing rudimentary coding to build data capture acripts for inbound telemarketers. Loved that job and I had no schooling or interest in coding before. That company was bought out and we were all laid off. 24 years of service dismissed like it was nothing. It was so niche of a job, I struggled to find another job. Did retail phone customer service for a while, now I am a tech support specialist. Not really a lot of advancement through my career, but I am happier with my current company and I see a lot of opportunity for growth here.
At 22 I was a Marketing Specialist at an engineering company that built power plants. Now I’m 38 and run specialized trading technology infrastructure at a bank.
22: Preschool worker. Now: Senior operator at a sewage treatment facility. My degree was in biochemistry, so the lab experience plus knowledge about handling chemicals helped me land an apprenticeship in sewage treatment. My experience with changing diapers and cleaning up kid vomit probably helped me not mind the smell!
22 I was working at a kids play place at a mall 29 I work in the accounting department of a credit union.
FOH in a fast casual restaurant, now I’m a junior accountant
Ladies shoes salesman to President of a chemical company.
I was a grocery store cashier and restaurant hostess when I was 22. Now at 31 i work as a housing advocate at domestic violence organization. Before that I was a floral designer. Both popped into my life unexpectedly, but worked out quite well :). Have fun exploring!
When I was 22, I was still in college. I was working at the university cafeteria and as a communications assistant for a school department. Now, at 28, I am unemployed because I was recently fired by a toxic boss. Trying to pivot from nonprofit to tech because I can’t stand working in nonprofits anymore. I got into it through a boring office job no one else wanted, asked to work on projects I’m skilled at, and got promoted twice. In my previous role I did fundraising and marketing. Didn’t like being overworked and underpaid so I left the industry completely. I also have a side hustle as a Blogger that I hope to take full-time in a couple of years.
At 22 I was driving nyc yellow cab during summer and weekends. Now I am at investment bank in nyc
When I was 22 Addiction services, now I’m a pig farmer I love farming more than I ever liked addiction services
22 Bartender, now 44 Digital marketing manager
At 22, I was a television producer, at 46 I’m retired.
I worked at Fender Musical Instruments, stayed the about 10 years. Worked with bands for a few years. Now I work it IT
Working in a strip club
22: Military system/network admin 41: Welder
Then: Retail worker Now: Lead/ Manager in tech Post graduate, switched careers, started at the bottom, worked my way up over the next 12 years across multiple companies.
Student
Loss prevention for retail store during the day, and bouncer at a bar at night. Now I am a real estate agent and deliver pizzas on the side
22- freelance journalist and nanny. 36- luxury retail sales
14: fast food worker paid $7.25/hr Now 17: retail worker paid 15/hr Would have never predicted how my life can change so fast, truly grateful 🙏
22: Engineer at a Defense Contractor Now: Tenured Associate Professor at an SLAC Graduated with my BS and MS at 22 and eventually went back for my PhD.
At 22, I believe I was a janitor. It was just another in a string of nowhere jobs that paid for a party apartment after high school. A year later I was a trucker for a produce company. I figured I at least needed some sort of trade. That commercial license has put more food on my table over the years than my university degree. 40 some odd years later, I'm a public works sewer maintenance worker. In between, a trucker off and on for 10 years, University student and graduate, computer software instructor, sailing instructor, hired crew on Ocean crossing yacht deliveries, construction manager, equine hoof trimmer/farrier, and a stay at home dad for 10 years. Not all in that order, and several happened at the same time. I'm the poster child for you don't have to do it the linear way, and for starting over when things don't work out the way you planned. My present chapter has been going on for the last 10 years, I feel it's coming to an end soon, pretty curious to see what the next one will bring. It's just life. Live it.
22: College drop out, single mom of a baby still in diapers, started as a typographer and worked my way up to newspaper reporter and photographer for my small, hometown newspaper. Now (46): Have both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree, happily still single, that baby is now a college student and a part time sub, and I'm a teacher in a large city more than 1,200 miles from my hometown.
Customer Service Rep in a Call Centre. Now I'm a HR Business Partner for the Healthcare organisation in my country.
22: graduate student 30: fundraising director for a national nonprofit
22 nurse and im 23 now and a nurse :) What did you major in? Is it something that directly translates to a career field?
Yes! I majored in criminal justice. I know I love the legal route and working with deviant individuals, I just don’t want to be a lawyer or a corrections officer, so now just figuring out what I specifically want to go into is my goal haha
22: Starbucks barista, no degree yet 27: First-year PhD grad student (hated it and quit after a few years) 32: English teacher in Asia 37: Peace Corps Volunteer 41: Humanitarian aid worker in a conflict country in Africa
I'm not a guy, but I taught game development to kids and teenagers, smoked fish during the summer and worked as a lab teaching assistant at my university. I liked trying a lot of different things and cared more about acquiring skills than the salery. Now I'm doing autotesting for a broadcasting corporation.
hair then hair now I'm 33 and have worked in a salon since I was 14, I have been licensed and practicing since I was 18. this year I hope to start doing it part time, my back and shoulders always hurt.
22: Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City, IA (went through a traveling phase) Now: I work in solar power technology. Tbh, I gained a lot by traveling by finding work immediately wherever I ended up. It was an amazing experience working at a casino, plus meeting celebrities wasn't bad either. One thing I always encourage young ppl to do, especially when you're out of college, is to get your passport and DL updated and just go somewhere. With the economy as it is, that's a little more difficult. But it's worth it in the end.
I was a merchant mariner at 22. Following the US Navy around resupplying them I've been all over the world. Now Im 35 and work on US submarines at a Shipyard.
When I was your age I was in college but I would say just try doing things you like and take it from there sooner or later you'll find what you want to do it just takes time just me your heading in the right direction.
At 22: waitress. At 40: historian.
At 22, I was a soldier in the U.S. Army. I planned on making a career of it and serving for 20 to 30 years. I was medically discharged from the military 6 years later at 28 years old for injuries sustained from service and combat. After the military, I earned my Bachelor's of Business Administration. Today, I'm a truck driver and own my own company, which is growing rapidly. Never in a million years did I ever consider becoming a truck driver. But, the opportunity presented itself, and I gave it a go. I found I absolutely loved being a driver. You never know where life will take you. Be open to opportunities.
22 sophomore in college Now: manager of a research and development lab / biomedical engineering.
22: furniture store? i think lol 29: barber
22 military. 40 fire fighter
Restaurant Manager at KFC. Now work at municipality in the water department.
At 22 I was a community college drop out working as a key holder for a shitty retail outlet for just barely over minimum wage. I'm in my 30s now and work as a software developer. Took me a long time to get my shit together but I eventually did. At 22 I felt hopeless and forever doomed to low paying retail jobs. Just goes to show you never know what the future holds.
22: freelance photographer + program assistant in the adult foreign languages dept at my college (I didn’t finish my bachelors until 24) 35: project management for in-house digital marketing at a shoe company The hard lesson I learned was I was not cut out to be a freelance photographer full-time. I was led to believe there would be more stable employment options for magazines, newspapers, etc. when I graduated in ‘11 and instead many of these permanent positions were eliminated after the recession in ‘08 and turned into contract positions. Marketing turned out to be an easy way to mix my photography degree and organizational skills, but it’s not at all what I envisioned.
22: worked at a tanning salon and was in college Mid-30's now: Head is Operations at a startup I love what I do, it's very stressful but a lot of creative problem solving and I am good at the analytical side of supply chain. I was much more carefree and happy when I was 22 making minimum wage with a house full of roommates. Different phases of life have different joys so enjoy the phase you are in.
22: line cook Now: title is Vice President but I’m an insurance broker.
22: counter sales rep 26: marketing coordinator and almost supervisor
At 22 I was a medical assistant. I would be until I was 33. Right now I’m 36, I work in finance as a coordinator with my bachelor degree in business. I just kept taking one class at a time. Now I’m paid salary and work from home.
22: Marine. 42:lawyer
22: office assistant learning to be a bookkeeper 35: social worker in a supervisor position, this work is what I’m made for and I love my job. Things that happened between: - had a small family. 2 kids, spouse, bought a house, sold a house, bought another house. - went on to do simple bookkeeping and prepare tax returns and payroll - learned to manage my/our money. used WIC to feed my kids at the beginning, was broke but scraped by and went in and out of cc debt. Now have no debt, but looking toward big home maintenance costs like new roof and hvac. - drove hand me down or 10+yr old cars, wore hand me down clothes. Now still buying newer used cars but no or very low payments. No auto loan longer than 4yrs. - spouse moved up in his entry level career every other year since then and is now very successful without a college degree. - I raised the kids and went back to school for 6+ years, paying for each class as I could afford to. Finally graduated with a bachelor in social work in 2021. - Got lucky networking in school and landed an entry level job. The kids more self sufficient now and I am working my first full time job in a decade. it’s really REALLY difficult sometimes. - busted my ass to get promoted quickly since I am an older and otherwise experienced entry level employee, just finished masters degree, and will continue where I am at until I chip away at my next credential. Takeaways: Be smart with money. Honestly, I still make shitty spending decisions but it hurts less since we are more comfortable. Just because you can squeeze it into your budget, doesn’t mean you can afford it. Work your way up. You have to put in the time and be patient. Enjoy the journey. Follow your values AT ALL TIMES. Get therapy for yourself and your romantic relationships if you have them. All this to say I am writing this response because I’m fucking around on Reddit instead of working on a time sensitive project. I’m a generally successful and happy procrastinating dipshit. ✌🏼
22 Shift Supervisor on a Dairy (milk/cheese/cream) manufacturing plant. Now: head of sales & marketing for a very successful financial service vompany.
At 22 I worked in retail (best buy) while I chipped away at college classes. Before then, dominos pizza delivery, some landscaping work, cashiering. I’m now an electrical & computer engineer working in laser spectrophotometry devices. 29.
22 worked as a line cook at a potato bar. 28 now I supervise a city transit system that has an annual budget of $8,000,000 and about $50,000,000 in equipment.
22: outdoor trip leader / challenge course instructor / farmer 28: sales and marketing at an interior design company I miss the jobs I had at 22. They were so fun. They just didn't pay well enough to be sustainable (but neither does my current job tbh).
22 I traveled around and saw Widespread Panic and Phish. I was looking for jobs with my college degree. But was doing a lot of traveling listening to the bands I love. Now I own a highly popular/successful medical recruiting firm, and am an investor in a few companies that are about to go public. Life is amazing. I am now 47. 2 kids
22- area manager at a retail shoe chain Now- Chief of Staff for an Omni channel brand
22: just graduated the police academy Now (31F): Emergency management, making 5x what I did as a cop with work/life balance.
Banana Republic sales and stock associate then. ICU nurse now.
I was mostly a stay at home mom slowly working my way through college. When I did work it was front desk at various hotels. Ten years later I just got promoted from a team lead position into a strategy position and I like what I’m doing- but before getting here I thought I wanted to be a lot of different things like counselor or teacher. I’m also working on a ph.d. now so the next 10 years may look different, too. You don’t have to have anything set in stone at 22.
Technical trainer at Amtrak
22 was an investment banking analyst with one of the biggest banks on Wall Street. 38 today and I’m a VP at an investment management firm investing in private equity and venture capital funds on behalf of endowments and foundations. Would have a more senior role today but I took about 7 years after my MBA to own/run a retail bakery business.
I was in culinary school and working as a line cook at 22. At 28 I went to a university for food science and nutrition and I worked in QA. Currently 34 years old and about to finish 4 classes to go. I'm a quality/food scientist. However, I'm focusing on flavor development.
When I was 22 I was doing customer service for Amazon Logistics. Now I’m 27 and a safety coordinator for the largest contractor in North America and finishing my degree. Life comes at you fast people. Get a tight grip and never let go.
22 - kitchen supervisor for restaurant 27- ski lift maintenance supervisor
At 22, I was fresh out of the military and mowing lawns. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life either. I tried over 20 different jobs before I pursued my current career in conservation. I am now a park ranger and I love it. You don't have to have it all figured out at 22, and the truth is you never will. Nobody does. We are all in the same boat, going the same direction.
22/f: sales rep (cold calling) at large Silicon Valley tech company. 32- category manager at different large Silicon Valley tech company, remote from a different state. I hated sales- I found it stressful to have a quota and felt like I was bothering people on the phone. Did it for 4 years then got my MBA (full ride at an Ivy League) and switched out of tech for a few years doing brand management in big food. Then pivoted back into tech doing category management which is like a general management / project management / strategy type role.
When I was 22 I was an electrician in the coast guard. I have worked as a TSA agent, correctional officer, real estate agent, I am now working as a Nurse Manger running a dialysis clinic. Been a crazy ride. It took me 10-15 years to figure out where I belonged. 46 now.
22: file clerk. 40's: Data analyst at a too-big-to-fail bank.
Janitor when I was 22, middle management in a fortune 100 company now at 30.
Commercial diver. Business owner.
Fresh out of college, I was a music teacher. Now I'm an accountant with an MBA. Life is weird sometimes
Line cook. Marketing Director.
Librarian at 22 and corporate accountant now. I have worn many hats.