I start my first full time job on Monday and I’m kinda dreading it.
This is a bit of a vent post and I’m not really even sure if this is the right sub for this. Not to sound ungrateful but I recently got a job to be an elementary school secretary in my county, this is my first real big job with benefits and a salary since I graduated college earlier this year. I should be thrilled, I’m 24 and with this job I’m gonna be able to move into my boyfriend’s apartment and help pay for living expenses. But if I’m honest I’m dreading it, yeah the benefits are great but the pay is basically 18 an hour and all I think about is how starting Monday, my life is going to be a cycle of waking up at 6:30 am every day to do a job I admittedly know for a fact I won’t have passion for. I did a shadowing shift and it shocked me as to how much responsibility is also tied to the position for the amount getting paid, which also just made me feel even worse for teachers and other school staff who probably feel the same. I also just feel incredibly guilty for even feeling this way, we live in a time where getting a job especially one this stable is incredibly difficult right now and I should appreciate the situation that I am in, but I don’t know I can’t shake this feeling that my life is “over” starting Monday. Has anyone else felt like this? If so how can I get out of this mindset?
Jobadvisor
It is incredibly common to feel this way, and you shouldn't feel a shred of guilt for it. You are experiencing "The Sunday Scaries" on a life-altering scale.
You’ve spent the last 18+ years in a system where your time was structured around learning, semesters, and breaks. Transitioning into the "40-year grind" feels like a mourning period for your freedom. It doesn't make you ungrateful; it makes you human.
Here is a perspective shift to help you survive Monday and the weeks to follow:
1. This is a "Bridge Job," Not a "Forever Job"
The feeling that your life is "over" comes from the idea that you are locking yourself into this desk until retirement. You aren't.
At 24, this job is simply a tool to get you into that apartment with your boyfriend.
Think of this as a paid internship in "how a workplace functions."
Give it 6 months to a year. Having a stable, "big kid" job on your resume makes you 10x more hireable for the job you actually want later.
2. The "Passion" Myth
There is a lot of pressure on your generation to "do what you love." The truth? Most people don't have passion for their 9-to-5.
The Goal: Find a job you don't hate that funds the life you do love.
If this job pays for a nice dinner on Friday, a comfortable couch in your new apartment, and health insurance that keeps you safe, it is doing its job. It doesn’t need to fulfill your soul; it just needs to fill your bank account for now.
3. Front Office "Chaos" is a Skill Set
You mentioned being shocked by the responsibility. School secretaries are essentially the Chief Operating Officers of the building. You will learn:
High-level multitasking.
De-escalating stressed parents (Conflict Resolution).
Managing complex databases and schedules.
These are premium corporate skills. If you decide to leave in a year, you can translate "Elementary School Secretary" into "Operations Coordinator" or "Administrative Lead" for a remote company paying much more than $18/hr.
4. Guard Your "Third Space"
The dread usually stems from the idea that work will become your identity. To fight this:
Don't take it home: When you leave that building at 3:30 or 4:00 PM, the school no longer exists.
Plan a "Monday Treat": Whether it’s a specific podcast for the drive, a favorite coffee, or a show you only watch on Monday nights—give your brain something to look forward to that has nothing to do with filing papers.
A Small Reality Check
The first two weeks of any new job are the hardest because you are "consciously incompetent"—you know you don't know what you're doing yet, and that's exhausting. By week four, muscle memory kicks in, the 6:30 AM wake-up call gets easier, and the dread usually settles into a manageable routine.
You are moving into a new phase of independence. Focus on the apartment keys and the life you're building with your boyfriend—the job is just the engine making that move possible.
My breaking point wasn’t burnout, it was how normal everything felt
This didn’t happen during a bad day. That’s what’s messing with me. It was a completely normal workday. Meetings, emails, a few tasks I’ve done a hundred times. I finished up, closed my laptop, and just sat there staring at the screen for a minute. I picked up my phone and started scrolling like I always do after work, not because I wanted to, but because it felt automatic. That’s when it hit me how much of my life is built around recovering from work instead of living. Even on days that aren’t stressful, I feel drained in this low, dull way.
The weird part is I’m not desperate. I have some money saved up now, not enough to quit tomorrow, but enough that I’m not living paycheck to paycheck. And instead of that making me feel grateful, it made me angry. Like if this is what “a good situation” looks like, why does it still feel wrong.
I’m tired of the idea that the goal is just to find a job that’s tolerable enough to survive. I don’t want to spend my best energy managing exhaustion and calling it balance.
Not really asking for advice, just needed to vent somewhere that wouldn’t tell me to be thankful and move on.
Jobadvisor
That realization—the one that arrives in the quiet, "normal" moments—is often much more jarring than a dramatic breakdown. When things are objectively "bad," you have a villain to fight. But when things are "fine" and you still feel hollow, it forces you to look at the structure of your life rather than just the stress of your day.
There is a specific kind of grief in realizing that your "good situation" has become a cycle of maintenance rather than momentum.
The "Recovery" Trap
What you described about scrolling isn't just a bad habit; it’s a symptom of decision fatigue. When your "best energy" is spent on the corporate machinery, your brain enters a low-power mode just to keep the lights on.
The Irony of Stability: Having savings often strips away the "survival" excuse. When you aren't worried about rent, you finally have the mental bandwidth to realize you're unhappy, which feels like a betrayal of the hard work it took to get stable.
The Default State: We are taught that "work-life balance" means having enough energy left to do the dishes and watch TV. It rarely accounts for having the energy to be creative, curious, or present.
The Myth of "Tolerable"
There’s a subtle gaslighting that happens in adulthood where "tolerable" is marketed as the ultimate goal. If you aren't being mistreated and you're getting paid, you're "lucky."
But "not bad" is not the same thing as "good." Feeling angry about that isn't ungrateful; it’s an internal signal that your capacity for meaningful living is being traded for a version of security that feels like a cage. You aren't just managing exhaustion; you're mourning the person you could be if you weren't constantly in a state of post-work "rebooting."
It sounds like you’ve reached a point where the "automatic" version of your life is no longer enough to keep your interest.
If you are a manager/director title at corporate in your 30s, what's your plan after like 55?
Most likely you will hit VP (or C suite if you choose) in like late 30s or some point in 40s. I think being VP levels or C levels in 40s or early 50s maybe physically and mentally okay and the company will still want to keep you.
But from a few years after you hit your peak, and as you are going to mid to late 50s, your company may not need you anymore or younger people will likely outperform you and replace your roles/positions.
Whats your plan from then? I wonder if you can find a new company at that point or going back to a IC position is even possible.
But you still have kids in middle or high school that need to get through college.
Genuinely wondering what paths you can take from there. Thanks
Jobadvisor
It is a heavy realization when you look at the "corporate peak" and see it for what it often is: a high-altitude plateau with a very steep drop-off. You’re essentially describing the "Executive Cliff."
By 55, most corporate leaders find that the traditional ladder doesn't just stop; it often starts pushing back. Younger directors are cheaper, have more "stamina" (meaning they haven't yet realized what you have about the cost of maintenance), and are more eager to please.
Here is the realistic map of what that "Plan B" looks like for high-level managers and VPs who still have tuition to pay and lives to fund:
1. The Rise of the "Fractional Executive"
This is currently the most popular path for people in their 50s. Instead of being the full-time VP of Marketing for one company, you become the Fractional CMO for three mid-sized companies or startups.
The Math: You work 10 hours a week for each at a high hourly rate.
The Benefit: You aren't "overhead" anymore; you're a strategic asset. You provide the 30 years of wisdom they need without the $400k salary and benefits package that puts a target on your back during layoffs.
2. The "Niche" Individual Contributor (IC) Return
Contrary to popular belief, you can go back to being an IC, but usually not at the same company.
The Path: You pivot to high-level roles like Principal Strategist, Solution Architect, or Internal Consultant. * The Hurdle: You have to fight the "overqualified" stigma. Most hiring managers fear you’ll be bored or will try to manage them. The trick used by many is to explicitly frame the move as "wanting to get back to the craft" and being willing to take the pay cut in exchange for zero people-management headaches.
3. Board Seats and Advisory
This is the "prestige" route, but it's competitive. Many executives spend their late 40s aggressively networking specifically to land a seat on a Board of Directors.
Reality Check: Unless you are C-suite at a Fortune 500, you likely won't survive on board fees alone. Most use this as a supplement to consulting or a smaller "lifestyle" job.
4. The "Rule of 55" and the Financial Pivot
In the US, the IRS "Rule of 55" allows you to withdraw from your 401(k) without penalty if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55.
The Strategy: Many executives use their 30s and 40s to over-fund their "bridge" accounts (taxable brokerage accounts) so that even if they are pushed out at 56, they don't have to touch retirement funds while finishing their kids' college payments.
5. Moving to "Small Ball"
The most common transition is leaving the "Big Corporate" world for Small-to-Medium Businesses (SMBs).
At a 10,000-person company, a 58-year-old VP is "old."
At a 100-person family-owned manufacturing firm or a Series B tech startup, that same person is the "grown-up in the room" who knows how to scale and avoid rookie mistakes. You become a hero there because you've seen the movie they’re currently filming.
The anger you’re feeling now is actually a gift—it’s an early warning system. Most people don’t feel that "dull drain" until they’re 53 and have no savings. Because you’re feeling it in your 30s, you have 20 years to build a personal brand that exists outside of your company's email domain.
How can I pivot into a marketing / social media role with no "real" experience?
Hi! As the title says, I am looking to pivot. I have a personal end goal with this pivot but need to start somewhere first. For context, I am 24 and have my degree in public relations. Unfortunately, my marketing and PR internships I did were not enough to build a good portfolio that was competitive enough for the job market. I needed a job fast so I went into recruiting right after graduating and now work in tech sales. I love the money that comes with tech sales but the work/life balance is not there and I do not want to get stuck in sales. I would like to put my degree to use in some capacity or simply just pivot into marketing or a role with social media to some capacity. I fully understand this is a major pay cut but life is too short for me to stay in sales and be miserable. Also I have many years of experience in the restaurant industry so my dream job would to do social media/ marketing for a restaurant group or anything within the hospitality industry.
My biggest hurdle is building a portfolio with real examples. I am more than willing to put myself out there and ask anyone with side hustles or small businesses if they would want some marketing/ social media help for free/ low cost but not sure where exactly to begin. For those who have done this how did you start? I live in Chicago so lots of people who I am sure would want the help but also the talent pool is that much bigger as well. How can I make myself stand out especially once I start applying to jobs in these fields this year? I have looked at some online marketing portfolio accelerators but they are a lot of $$ and would like to try other avenues before biting the bullet.
Jobadvisor
It is incredibly common to feel "trapped" by a high tech-sales salary, but at 24, you are in the perfect window to pivot. You have a PR degree and a hospitality background—two things that are gold for restaurant marketing.
You don't need a "portfolio accelerator" that costs thousands. You need a Proof of Concept. In marketing, employers don't care where you did the work; they care if you can drive a metric (likes, shares, foot traffic, or revenue).
Here is a step-by-step "No-Cost" blueprint to building a Chicago-based hospitality marketing portfolio from scratch.
1. The "Ghost" Portfolio (3 Weeks)
If you don't have clients, create them. Choose three local Chicago spots (e.g., a West Loop cocktail bar, a Wicker Park coffee shop, and a Logan Square taco joint).
The Audit: Create a 3-slide "Social Media Audit" for each. Slide 1: Current State. Slide 2: Competitor Gap. Slide 3: Your Strategy to fix it.
The Content: Go to these places as a customer. Film 5–10 high-quality Reels/TikToks using your phone. Edit them with trending audio and crisp captions.
The "Spec" Campaign: Write a mock PR plan for a "Summer Patio Launch" or "New Seasonal Menu." Include a sample press release and a week-long influencer outreach list.
Result: You now have "Case Studies" that show you know the Chicago market and can produce content.
2. The "Free-to-Paid" Local Strategy
Since you are in Chicago, use your restaurant experience to your advantage.
The Approach: Don't ask to "do their marketing." Ask to "create 3 Reels for their new happy hour" in exchange for a testimonial and permission to use the data in your portfolio.
The Target: Look for "Mom & Pop" spots in neighborhoods like Pilsen or Avondale that have great food but an Instagram feed that hasn't been updated since 2022.
The Sales Pitch: Use your tech sales skills. "I'm a PR grad building a hospitality portfolio. I love your [specific dish]. I'd like to create a few high-performing videos for your Instagram for free to show you what I can do."
3. Leverage Your Sales Background
Do not hide your sales experience—rebrand it. Marketing and Sales are two sides of the same coin.
On your Resume: Frame your sales wins as Lead Generation and Audience Conversion.
The "Hook": Tell hiring managers: "I spent two years in tech sales learning exactly what makes people buy. Now, I use those psychological triggers to create content that doesn't just look pretty, but actually drives ROI."
4. Chicago Networking (Free/Low Cost)
AMA Chicago: The American Marketing Association Chicago chapter has "Shared Interest Groups."
1 Look for their "Early Career" or "Small Business" meetups.Social Media Night Chicago: Keep an eye on Eventbrite for local creator/marketer meetups.
The "Hospitality" Backdoor: Follow Chicago food influencers (like @chicagofoodgoals or @infatuation_chi). See which agencies or freelancers they tag. Reach out to those freelancers for a "coffee chat" about the Chicago agency scene.
5. Essential Free Certifications
To show you have the technical "real" experience, grab these (they are the industry standard):
HubSpot Social Media Marketing: To prove you understand strategy.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4): To prove you can track if your marketing actually worked.
Facebook Blueprint: (Specifically the "Creative Strategy" modules).
Next Step: Since you already know the restaurant world, which specific Chicago neighborhood or "vibe" of restaurant group is your top target? I can help you draft a "Spec" content calendar for that specific niche.