Failed at the career I worked for for 13 years and not sure what to do now
I am 25 female.
i put my all into a career, and have finally accepted I failed miserably.
i need to start over, i will not mention what the career was because I don’t want to talk about it or hear any suggestions for things related.
never mind, since everyone wanted be rude and downvote me and get upset I won’t share- it was an acting career. yes you can start pursuing acting as a child. please do not talk about how hard the industry is or suggest anything related to the entertainment. I don’t want to focus on the past I want to move on, I do not want to spend my life reminded of it
i really need to find something that I can put a lot into, something I can continue working on when I get home if that makes sense.
i will never be able to get married or have kids unfortunately, so I need something that I can actually dedicate a lot of my life too.
I absolutely love to travel, I also love being artistic. I’m pretty good with scheduling things, and planning.
I don’t have great social skills, I really don’t have any skills at all. nothing that requires math/science. unless it’s very basic math.
i like to work independently, I would be interested in careers that can be done remote.
im not great with tech, im good at cooking/cleaning
my goals right now are just to get a job, and my own apartment without roommates. like I said marriage/dating is not going to happen, so realistically i dont need to make millions, just to pay rent, groceries. would like to make enough to travel as well but not necessary. I am open to lower pay, average rent in my area is 1800$ for a bachelor though.
im also still paying off debt so in need of something that doesn’t require a big investment
Jobadvisor
I hear you—13 years is a major investment, and walking away takes serious courage. Let's focus on what comes next. Based on your need for remote, low-social-interaction work that taps into your love of travel and planning, here are realistic paths forward that don't require heavy math, science, or big upfront costs.
## **Immediate Options (Start Earning Within Weeks)**
### **1. Remote Travel Coordinator/Consultant**
This directly uses your planning strengths and travel passion. Many agencies hire entry-level remote workers and provide paid training.
**What it involves:** Booking flights/hotels, building itineraries, managing travel documents. Most communication is email-based and structured, not spontaneous socializing.
**Realistic pay:** $35,000–$50,000/year to start, with commission potential.
**Companies actively hiring (from recent listings):**
- **BCD Travel** – "Senior Entertainment Travel Consultant" (ironic, but you can pivot away from entertainment)
- **American Express Global Business Travel** – "Travel Consultant – VIP"
- **AAA** – "Leisure Travel Consultant"
- **Holland America Line** – "Cruise Vacation Planner"
**How to start:** Apply on LinkedIn, Indeed, or FlexJobs. No degree required—highlight your scheduling, research, and detail-orientation skills from acting (managing schedules, contracts, travel for shoots).
---
### **2. Transcriptionist (Creative Content Focus)**
Extremely low social interaction—just you and audio files.
**What it involves:** Converting podcasts, interviews, or video content into text. You can specialize in travel or creative industry content to stay connected to your interests.
**Realistic pay:** $15–$25/hour. Can hit $2,000+/month if you build speed.
**Pros:** Zero startup cost. Can take free practice tests on Rev, TranscribeMe, or GoTranscript to get started.
**Cons:** Repetitive. But it pays bills while you figure out longer-term plans.
---
## **Build-A-Skill Paths (3–6 Months to Freelance)**
### **3. Digital Creative Skills (Low-Cost Learning)**
You love artistic work—this can be remote, but you'll need to build basic tech skills. The good news: free tools exist, and you can practice at night.
**Most accessible options:**
**a) Graphic Design for Print-on-Demand**
- **What:** Create designs for travel mugs, t-shirts, planners on Redbubble, Society6, or Etsy
- **Tools:** Canva (free, intuitive) or Photopea (free Photoshop alternative)
- **Learning:** YouTube tutorials (search "print on demand for beginners")
- **Income potential:** $200–$2,000/month after 6 months of building inventory
- **Social interaction:** Near zero. Upload and let it sell.
**b) Video Editing for UGC (User-Generated Content)**
- **What:** Edit short travel vlogs, TikToks, or YouTube videos for creators
- **Tools:** DaVinci Resolve (free, professional-grade)
- **Learning:** "DaVinci Resolve for beginners" on YouTube
- **Income potential:** $20–$50/hour once competent
- **How to start:** Offer to edit free for 1-2 small travel YouTubers to build a portfolio
**Why this fits:** You can practice at home, it's artistic, and travel creators need editors who understand wanderlust.
---
### **4. Virtual Assistant for Creative Solopreneurs**
Use your organizing skills to support people who hate admin work.
**What it involves:** Managing calendars, inbox, booking travel, uploading content. Mostly asynchronous communication via email/Slack.
**Niche idea:** VA for travel bloggers or artists. They need planners, not chatterboxes.
**Realistic pay:** $18–$30/hour
**How to start:** List on Upwork or Belay. No degree needed—just demonstrate reliability and organizational skills.
---
## **Longer-Term Career (12+ Months)**
### **5. Travel Blogger + Affiliate Marketing**
This is the "put your life into it" option. It's slow to monetize but offers unlimited creative depth and travel potential.
**Reality check:** Takes 1–2 years to earn $1,000/month. Don't rely on this for immediate rent money.
**Low-cost start:**
- Use Medium (free) to write travel guides
- Build Pinterest boards (drives traffic, minimal social effort)
- Monetize with Amazon Associates, booking.com affiliate program
- Later: Sell digital travel planners on Etsy
**Why it works for you:** You love travel, you're artistic with words/images, and you can work alone at 2 AM if you want.
---
## **Bridge Strategy: Stack Two Income Streams**
Given your $1,800 rent + debt situation, consider this practical approach:
**Month 1–3:** Get a remote travel coordinator job ($2,500–$3,000/month gross). This covers bills immediately.
** Nights/weekends:** Build print-on-demand store or learn video editing (1–2 hours/night). This becomes your creative outlet and future exit plan.
**Month 6+:** If side income hits $800+/month, consider dropping to part-time travel work to scale the creative side.
---
## **Addressing the Tech Concern**
You mentioned not being great with tech. That's okay—start small:
- **For travel jobs:** They provide proprietary software; you just need basic computer literacy.
- **For creative work:** Focus on ONE tool (Canva or DaVinci). Watch one 10-min tutorial per day. Muscle memory builds in 30 days.
**Free skill-building resources:**
- **HubSpot Academy:** Free travel industry certifications
- **Google Digital Garage:** Basic digital skills
- **YouTube:** Everything else (no paid courses needed)
---
## **Final Honest Take**
Your acting career didn't fail—you acquired 13 years of discipline, project management, and resilience. Those transfer.
The jobs above aren't glamorous, but they give you:
- Remote work ✅
- Low social pressure ✅
- Room for artistic side projects ✅
- Travel perks (especially travel coordinator) ✅
- No massive debt for training ✅
Start with the travel coordinator path. It's the fastest bridge to financial stability that honors your love of planning and travel. Let that fund your next chapter while you rebuild in private.
You don't have to have it all figured out today. Just get one application out.