Trying to figure out what to do as a career

[river121693]

If you're ok with mindless work, you might be able to make it working as a cashier or stockers for grocery stores if you can find cheap housing and live very frugally. The pay isn't great, but you're not working with a lot here...
Call centers and tech support pay pretty decently. You set your own schedule and you can work from home. But the job is also high stress and pretty competitive. Could be good though.
Data entry or clerk jobs, but again these are kind of competitive and often requires some experience.
You can also check out online test grading jobs. Though these are part time and seasonal, so it's not really a "career."

I totally understand having anxiety and physical exhaustion when it comes to work, but honestly, you're going to have to suck it up in any jobs. Even mindless jobs will exhaust you real quick.

[AnonymousHouseCat]

I don’t know if this will be helpful, but I wanted to share some tips/ things I’ve been doing/ advice I’ve recieved. I’m pretty much in the same boat in terms of looking for my first full time job.

use your networks: do you know anyone with a job you think you’d be interested in? Call them/email them to see how they like it and what it involves

don’t be afraid to try things out. Since it’s your first job you don’t have to stick with it forever. I avoided getting a work study job in college the first three years not because I was lazy, but because I literally felt like I wasn’t qualified for anything. Then I got a library job and was able to handle it pretty well. I had a couple of part-time jobs after that that I thought were above my skill level, but I applied anyway, was hired, and grew into them over time. Also don’t feel like you have to keep doing something just because you’re more familiar or comfortable with it. I’ve always thought of myself as a humanities person, but I’ve liked lab work as a summer job because it is relaxing, predictable, and you are just carefully following steps (I’m better at being accurate than fast)

I agree with some other people here that natural “talent” isn’t a real thing. It’s more a matter of practice and time commitment. Is there anything you’d like to learn to do/ do better even if you don’t feel good at it now?

I also agree that your work doesn’t have to challenge you or be your passion if you have other priorities in life.

lots of things require writing, even if writing isn’t the main job, so it’s a good skill to have.

It’s ok to fail and make mistakes. That’s how you learn and grow!

Anyway best of luck and I hope this was helpful!

[Swamp]

I'd look into assembly tech jobs. Due to physical/mental issues, I have a lot of the same limits, and can't do most cashier jobs since American ones aren't set up for a wheelchair.

I really love working as an editor. If you're willing to Sell Your Soul to a Corporation, lots of marketing teams need content writers and editors. If you aren't good at non-prose writing, translators are also in high demand.

Due to The Economy, there isn't much editing work right now, so I'm looking for work in manufacturing. You made it clear you can't do heavy lifting, but there's plenty of detail assembly work out there, and the pay can be really good.

Banking on breaking into a creative field isn't a good bet, and a lot of creative jobs might be more high-pressure and soul crushing than you expect, so I think it's really good to build skill in another area. It's fine to be starting. I know plenty of people who love their career and didn't figure things out until their 30s or 40s.

[goatbat]

I've been on the grind job-searching after college and finally got something after a loooong time getting rejected- I'd recommend picking up something part-time at least while you look more for your dream position. Unfortunately it's a very good idea to pad out your resume a little because gaps in resumes don't really look very good to employeers, so picking up something you don't necessarily want to do forever is often necessary. (I have a super long gap in my resume, so I'm not judging you on your job anxiety- I do understand.)

I've had a bit of luck with part-time teaching positions. If you're nervous about affecting the kids, then maybe try to look for ones that are remote positions. Thrift stores, post offices, and restaurants also appear to be hiring right now- so looking for jobs that allow you to sit down for those might be wise if you don't want to be on your feet all day.

Also, a lot of job requirements sound like they require more skill than the job itself. Just apply anyways- applying to tons of stuff like hundreds of stuff is how you get an interview- and once you're there, then you can gauge if it might be too much for you. Most of the jobs I've applied to sounded way harder on the application than they were in reality.

[bootsii]

Have you considered teaching? For example, there are some programs that allow you to teach English abroad, so long as you have a BA (Korea and Japan for example). In the US, the local equivalent would be Teach for America.

I used to work as a private investigator's assistant as someone only with an AA, and that job was pretty fun albeit a little boring as something of a "desk job". I basically had to stalk people on social media and document everything they'd posted LOL... In any case, it goes to show that if you look around, like on indeed, you may find some interesting stuff that your bachelor's status alone will allow you to pursue

Some suggestions off the top of my head that match your interests...
Editor, technical writer, maybe check your city's website and look for job offerings that match your interests (it came to my head when you said "creative" as some cities have recreational centers etc).

As someone with a similar educational background and interests, I'm going gung ho applying to many film, game, and other entertainment company internships. It's known among my classmates to be a real drag of a hunt, but once you land one, it's meant to really shoehorn you into the field you went to school for.

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

A lot of jobs require a paper from college to be qualified.

I'd say that's more true for so called "white collar" work (think of office or professional careers) than jobs like in service industry & such. There's quite a lot of work that requires some training or expertise that's often specialized but they don't require college work (think stuff like mechanics, electricians, metalworkers, welders & such). Some of those can be really good paying jobs, too.

[Wumbl]

I hate to say it but with this kind of attitude you won't be motivated to find a better job than just retail... Any job 'higher' than that requires you to commit and to learn skills. You can't really take on any kind of labour without trying hard and learning skills. It's the nature of the labour culture we live in.

I'm 23 and now a full time professional writer but spent the first 4 years of my adult life doing the kinds of jobs I hated. Bartending, doing sales on the phone at an insurance company, retail work, even doing a desk job for the armed forces... that one was extremely stressful and almost traumatic. All of these jobs were dangerous - half of them exposed me to danger, and the other half involved doing stuff that could negatively impact others. That's the nature of so-called 'unskilled' labour. You're expected to degrade yourself to a certain degree.

I burned myself out for almost 4 years on end because I had to build up my writing career on the side. We don't really live in a world where getting the job you want is easy or where you can make a living while 'turning your brain off'. It's a lot harder than that. I wish there were easy answers but there aren't. You're going to have to work jobs you don't like if you don't have other options. You could learn a trade (things like welding, for example) or you could take on something entry level and learn as you go. That's pretty much what everybody else on earth has to do.

And besides, once your interests become your job (in my case, writing and illustration) the stuff you're doing isn't fun because it's a chore. I don't have fun writing 90% of my hired projects, I do them so I can pay for the things I need. Labour is inherently quite unenjoyable in the world we live in even if it's your 'dream job'. Personally, I do not dream of labour.

[SleepingPoppy]

Trying not to stress about careers is how a lot of people ended up where I'm at. I've been out of college for a few months now and during my time in there I kept searching for something, but ended up with nothing.

I think that's pretty normal! I felt like shit those first few months after finishing college, because I couldn't figure out what to do, and I felt like a failure. I couldn't break into the industry my degree was in, and honestly didn't really want to by then. But I got different part time jobs, and eventually found a path to my current career. I'm really happy but it took a few years to figure out, and then a fewer years to accomplish (graduate school).

It's okay if things don't fall perfectly into place now.

Sorry I don't have practical suggestions, but I hope my experience is of at least a little comfort that things can work out along the way.

[system]

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