Am I insane to leave a $100k job at 23?
I’m 23 and currently earn just over $100k in a specialised career I genuinely enjoy.
The lifestyle is strong:
- 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off
- 4–8 hour workdays
- Strong pension + progression
- Realistic cap around ~$175k within ~7 years
The main concern is stability. The industry is quite volatile - I’ve already been made redundant once (although I found work again quickly), and I’m not fully convinced about long-term security.
I now have an offer to retrain into a related field with significantly higher long-term earning potential and more international mobility. But the trade-offs are heavy:
- 2 years of full-time training (no salary, all expenses covered)
- Then ~5 years on $50k while a training bond is paid off
After that, earnings would return to my current level, with a higher long-term ceiling ($200k–$400k depending on country/route).
The offer is in the form of a legally binding contract, with job offer, from a leading national employer with one month to accept or decline.
So the decision is basically:
Stay where I am - strong income, great lifestyle, but capped growth and industry volatility
OR
Reset my earnings for ~7 years to unlock higher long-term upside and stability
From a financial/life strategy perspective, does it make sense to sacrifice your 20s income and compounding potential for higher long-term ceiling and stability, or stick with a strong but capped career while it’s already going well?
This is my first Reddit post so go easy on me 🫣
Jobadvisor
**No, you're not insane for considering it.** At 23, with a strong but volatile specialized role (sounds like FIFO oil/gas/mining or similar), this is a classic high-upside career pivot decision. Many in your position weigh exactly this. The math, lifestyle, and optionality all matter.
Financial Modeling: The Opportunity Cost
The core trade-off is **forgone earnings and compounding in your 20s** vs. a higher, more stable ceiling later.
**Rough assumptions** (adjust to your exact numbers):
- Current: ~$110k now, growing to ~$175k in 7 years. Assume average ~$135k/year during that period (conservative).
- New path: 2 years $0 (expenses covered — big plus), 5 years $50k, then ramps to $200k–$400k+ with better mobility/stability.
- Savings rate: At $100k+, high earners often save 20-40%+. Let's use 30% for modeling (realistic with good lifestyle but not extreme).
- Investment return: 7% real (after inflation).
- Taxes, etc., simplified.
**Break-even rough calc**:
- Years 1-7 forgone: You're giving up a lot of income. Cumulative pre-tax difference could be $500k–$700k+ over 7 years (high current earnings vs. low training pay).
- Compounding hit: Money saved now grows for decades. Missing $30k–$40k annual savings in your mid-20s is painful because of time value.
However, post-year 7, the new path could add $50k–$200k+ annually. Over a 30–40 year career, that easily overtakes if you hit the higher end ($250k–$350k average). Break-even often happens in your mid-late 30s, with massive upside after.
The **expenses covered** during training and legally binding job offer reduce downside risk significantly compared to self-funded retraining (e.g., med school debt). Volatility in your current industry (redundancy already happened) means the "stable" current path isn't guaranteed.
**Net**: Purely financial, it often makes sense if you believe in the long-term ceiling and can live frugally on $50k. Early compounding is powerful, but so is 20–30 extra years of higher earnings. Many career changers who take the hit recover strongly.
Non-Financial Factors (Often More Important)
- **Lifestyle now**: 2/2 roster, short days, enjoyment — this is rare and valuable. Your 20s are prime for experiences, travel, relationships. Resetting to training + low-pay grind can feel like a lost decade, even if expenses are covered.
- **Stability & mobility**: Current volatility is real in resources sectors. New path offers international options — huge if you want flexibility or to escape local cycles.
- **Enjoyment & burnout**: You like the current job. Will you enjoy the new field? Training is intense.
- **Age advantage**: 23 is *ideal* for this. Recovery time is long. At 33, it'd be riskier.
- **Pension/progression**: Factor in what you lose vs. gain in the new pension/benefits.
Recommendation: It Can Make Sense — But Run Your Numbers
This is not "insane." It's a calculated risk many successful people take (pilots, doctors, specialists with bonds often do similar).
**Do this before deciding**:
1. Spreadsheet the two scenarios with your exact salaries, savings rate, assumed growth, retirement contributions, and 5–10% volatility buffers.
2. Stress test: What if current industry booms/busts? What if new path caps lower than expected?
3. Lifestyle audit: Can you handle 7 years of lower status/income? Talk to people who've done the new path.
4. Negotiation: Any way to shorten bond or get retention bonuses?
5. Worst case: Current path has optionality too — you could always pivot later with more savings.
**Stick if**: You deeply value the current lifestyle, doubt the new ceiling, or hate the idea of low-pay years.
**Go if**: You want higher ceiling, better long-term security/mobility, and can embrace the grind. At 23, time is your biggest asset.
Your 20s income sacrifice stings, but higher lifetime earnings + stability often win for those who execute well. It's a personal call — not crazy either way. Congrats on the offer; strong position to be in.
Can a career coach actually help or am I about to waste money?
Hey all,
I'm 32F working in operation for about 7 years now. From the past few months, I just don't feel anything good about my career. Everything is in a standstill state. Nothing exciting to look forward to. Been stuck at the same level for the last few years and no up move in sight. Of late, I've been thinking that i've outgrown the role and it's time to move on but I'm not sure about anything yet. I thought after spending a few years at work, I would have it figured out. would know exactly what career path to take. but with every passing year, it's about more confusion. Each time something goes wrong at work, the whole thought of pivoting or staring something on my own starts creeping into my mind. As soon as everything is under control, I got into the status quo mode.
I feel i've lost my motivation and I need to do something about this. I spoke to few of my friends and they suggested I seek help from a career coach. I'm considering it but need to know if it's worth dropping that kind of money and how many sessions would I really need? Most of them charge $200 to $300 a session and say you need 5 to 8 sessions minimum. That's potentially $1500+ with no guarantee of anything.
Need advice from people who have worked with a career coach and was able to turnaround their career. How many sessions did it take and was there anything that you'd do differently with the information in hindsight?
Jobadvisor
It is completely normal to feel this way at 32. There is a common myth that by the time you hit your 30s, your career path should be a straight, well-lit highway. In reality, the "7-year itch" in a specific field like operations is incredibly common. Operations is high-stress and firefighting-heavy; when things are chaotic, you want out, and when things are calm, you're too exhausted to move. That cycle creates the exact "status quo mode" inertia you are describing.
To answer your question bluntly: A career coach can absolutely help, but they are not a silver bullet, and you are right to be skeptical of generic "5 to 8 session" packages.
Whether it is a waste of money depends entirely on what you expect from them and how you choose one.
When a Coach is Worth the Money (and When They Aren't)
Coaches do not have a secret list of unadvertised jobs, and they cannot magically figure out your passion for you. If you go in expecting them to hand you a roadmap on day one, you will waste $1,500.
| A Coach WILL Do | A Coach WILL NOT Do |
| Provide an objective framework to untangle your skills from your current job title. | Tell you exactly what career you should pivot into. |
| Hold you accountable so you don't slide back into "status quo mode" when work calms down. | Write your resume from scratch without your deep input (good ones iterate with you). |
| Mirror back your blind spots and help you realize why you are stuck. | Guarantee a job offer or a specific salary bump. |
The Reality of Sessions and Costs
The $200–$300 range is standard for a qualified coach, but locking yourself into a rigid 8-session package upfront is where many people feel burned.
If you are dealing with existential career confusion (e.g., "I don't know if I want to stay in ops, pivot to product management, or start a business"), you actually don't need 8 sessions of resume reviewing. You need structured self-discovery.
In hindsight, people who successfully used coaches usually report that 3 to 5 highly focused sessions were the sweet spot for a pivot plan, broken down like this:
Session 1: The Audit. Dissecting what you actually hate about your current job vs. what you actually enjoy (e.g., Is it operations you hate, or just your company's chaotic processes?).
Session 2: Pattern Matching. Aligning your 7 years of operational skills (project management, efficiency, logistics) to adjacent fields.
Session 3: The Roadmap & Action. Building the networking and upskilling strategy to bridge the gap.
What to Do Differently (Hindsight Advice)
If you decide to interview a few coaches, here is how to protect your wallet and ensure a turnaround:
Never buy a package on the first call. Any coach worth their salt will offer a free 15–20 minute chemistry call. If they spend that call aggressively selling a $2,000 package instead of listening to your specific operational background, walk away.
Look for an "Ex-Industry" Coach. Do not hire a generalist life coach who also does career coaching. Hire someone who used to work in Corporate Operations, Tech, or Corporate Strategy. They need to understand what "stuck in operations" actually means without you having to explain your day-to-day.
Do the homework. A coach gives you 1 hour of their time; you have to give 5 hours of your own time between sessions doing the exercises. If you don't do the homework, that is how money gets wasted.
Before you drop $1,500, you can actually do a bit of diagnostic work yourself to see if you even need an outside party yet.
What do I do at this crossroad of life?
So I'm currently in my 6th semester of BA with a major in psychology, pursuing from degree college.
I want to become a clinical psychologist and according to new RCI guidelines we should have a four year degree course in ug for that.
On one hand , ik I have the potential and want to give my everything to studies to become a psychologist but on the other hand the financial condition of our home isn't good and even scholarship won't be of much help.
I don't even have any good skills or computer skills.
Can't take tutions for various reasons.
So my problem is if I should take a drop year, learn data analytics and take remote jobs, then get back to a degree or complete the fourth year honors with research first.
The former option scares me, because of how much I've seen my life , if I take a pause now, i probably won't be able to come back to studies, it might become a permanent stop. I don't trust my fate.
I don't have anyone I can take help or advice from, so I'm here. Genuine advice will be highly appreciated.
Jobadvisor
First, I want to take a moment to acknowledge how much weight you are carrying right now. It takes a massive amount of resilience to navigate your final semester while carrying the pressure of financial strain and the uncertainty of changing academic regulations (like the RCI guidelines). It makes complete sense that you feel stuck at a crossroads, and it is incredibly brave of you to seek a way forward rather than just giving up.
Your fear about taking a drop year is highly intuitive and grounded in reality. In psychology, we talk about momentum. When you break academic momentum—especially under financial pressure—the gravity of everyday survival makes it incredibly difficult to restart.
Let's look at your options with a practical, strategic lens to find a path that protects both your dream and your family's financial reality.
The Reality Check on the "Data Analytics Drop Year"
While learning data analytics sounds like a clean, logical fix on paper, the execution right now carries high risks for your specific situation:
The Skills Gap: You mentioned you don't currently have strong computer skills. Learning data analytics from scratch to a level where you can compete for remote, paid jobs takes roughly 6 to 12 months of intense, dedicated study.
The Job Market: The entry-level tech and data market is highly competitive. Finding a remote job without a tech background or prior experience takes time—time during which you won't be earning or studying.
The Risk of the "Permanent Stop": As you accurately predicted, if you find a job, the immediate financial relief might force you to stay, permanently shelving your dream of clinical psychology.
A Third Way: The "Parallel Path" Strategy
Instead of choosing between a complete stop or financial drowning, the most sustainable path is to keep your academic momentum while building micro-skills in parallel.
Here is how you can break this down into actionable phases:
Phase 1: Secure the 4th Year (Honors with Research)
If there is any way to stretch finances—student loans with a grace period, university hardship funds, or minimal part-time work—prioritize staying in school.
Why? The 4th year gives you the "Honors with Research" designation required by the RCI for the clinical track.
The Psychology Advantage: A research year teaches you data entry, basic statistics (using software like SPSS or R), and data interpretation. Research skills are data analytics skills. You can learn the computer skills you lack while earning your degree.
Phase 2: Build High-Yield, Low-Barrier Skills (Skip Analytics for Now)
Since data analytics has a steep learning curve, focus on skills you can learn in 2–3 weeks using just a smartphone or a basic laptop, which allow for immediate freelance or remote work:
| Skill | Time to Learn | Where to Find Work |
| Academic/Psychology Transcription | 1–2 weeks | Rev.com, TranscribeMe, Upwork |
| AI Data Annotation / Evaluation | Sub-1 week | Outlier.ai, DataAnnotation.tech, Remotasks |
| Mental Health Content Writing | 2–3 weeks | Freelance platforms, mental health blogs |
Why AI Annotation? Companies are currently hiring thousands of college students to evaluate AI responses. If you have a psychology background, you can apply for specialist tracks that pay higher hourly rates to evaluate behavioral or academic content, requiring very basic computer literacy.
Phase 3: The Long-Term Clinical Pivot
Once you graduate with your 4-year degree, you will be eligible for assistant psychologist roles, research assistantships, or mental health content roles. This allows you to earn a steadier income within your field before you eventually apply for your M.Phil or Psy.D under the RCI framework.
Step-by-Step Action Plan
To prevent overwhelm, do not try to fix everything today. Focus only on the immediate next steps:
Go to your psychology professors or HOD. Explain your financial situation candidly. Ask about departmental scholarships, research assistant stipends, or fee-deferment options for the 4th year. Universities often have hidden safety nets for bright students.
Identify what resources you have. Do you have a laptop, or do you rely on the college computer lab? If you have lab access, dedicate 1 hour a day to learning basic Excel/Google Sheets and typing speed. This bridges your skills gap for free.
Create an account on a platform like DataAnnotation.tech or Outlier. Take their onboarding assessment. Earning even a small amount of pocket money remotely can relieve enough pressure to make the 4th year feel possible.
A note on your fate: Your fate is not a fixed script written against you. Your fear of a permanent stop shows how deeply you care about this dream. Trust that voice—it’s telling you that your mind belongs in psychology. Keep your foot in the door of academia, even if you have to squeeze through it slowly.
What do you do when your job won’t let you go to a burial?
For context I am 3 months into my 6 month probation period. Funerals in Mexico are quick, my cousin passed away a week ago. He is my first cousin, close to him. I received notice that the burial is Tomorrow Friday and I put in a request for UNPAID time off. Was denied. They said no employee during probation has any right to any time off. It is not like we work around deadlines, one day off could very well not affect my work. I tried explaining and was met with “I’m sure what you are saying is true, but I just can’t approve you the day.” I am sad though, shit hit like a truck. Can’t see my cousin one last time?
On the other hand, I have a job lined up. I just did the drug test today, just waiting for everything to clear and start. Better benefits , better pay. I just want to quit rn. Maybe not even quit, just not show up again. Talking out of emotions of course. I know my other job offer could be rescinded for whatever reason so I’m cautious. What do you do in this situation?
Jobadvisor
You’re balancing two separate risks here:
- Missing a burial for someone important to you.
- Protecting your income until the new job is actually locked in.
Given what you described, your current employer is showing you exactly what kind of place it is. “No time off during probation” is one thing as a blanket policy; refusing unpaid leave for a first cousin’s burial is another. That tells you something about the culture.
That said, I would still avoid impulsively no-showing before the new offer is finalized. Until you have:
- confirmed start date,
- signed paperwork,
- background/drug check cleared,
- and ideally onboarding instructions,
the safer move is to preserve optionality.
A practical approach:
- Go back once, calmly and directly.
- Don’t argue fairness.
- State the situation plainly.
Something like:
“I understand the policy and I appreciate your position. This is an immediate family bereavement situation for me, and I need Friday off unpaid to attend the burial. I wanted to communicate that clearly and respectfully in advance.”
Notice the wording:
- not asking for sympathy,
- not threatening,
- not debating policy,
- simply informing.
Then you decide what matters more:
- keeping this specific job intact, or
- attending the burial.
Because realistically, there’s a decent chance they may discipline or terminate you if you go anyway during probation. You should make that decision with clear eyes.
If it were me evaluating this strategically:
- If the new job is highly likely and already deep into hiring (drug test completed is usually a strong sign), I would lean toward attending the burial.
- I would not ghost the company.
- I would communicate professionally, even if they behave poorly.
Ghosting can burn references, create unnecessary stress, and sometimes follow you through industry networks.
Also: people rarely regret showing up for family funerals. They often do regret missing them for jobs they later leave anyway.
One more thing: if you do decide to leave soon regardless, you don’t need to announce that now. Keep your leverage until the new role is fully secure.