“After So Many Wrong Turns, How Can I Trust Myself To Make The Right Career Choice?”

What’s your career history and current job?

I studied computer science, then worked in lots of tech-related roles for different types of companies, trying to find something I could stick with.

My most recent full-time role was in education, doing computer programming and software support.  I did that for the past three years.

I’m doing casual part-time work at the moment, to keep me going financially while I work out what to do next.

How do you feel about your work?

Ever since I graduated, I’ve experienced a huge amount of sexism as a woman working in computers, which made me feel frustrated and uncomfortable. 

I’ve also come to hate frustrating, drawn-out tasks like data analysis and coding.

Despite this, my most recent role came with a very good benefits package, and I appreciated the fact that I worked for such a good cause as education.  

Unfortunately, so many of my colleagues resigned during the pandemic that I was asked to take on more and more extra work, until I was doing three people’s jobs for no extra pay or recognition.  

The company frowned upon people working from home, but the office atmosphere became so toxic that I felt I had no choice but to leave.

What would you like to be doing instead?

I’ve known for a long time that a career in computers wasn’t right for me, so over the years I’ve looked into lots of alternative options. 

Amongst many other things, I’ve wanted to be an author, a translator, a teacher, and a pastry chef.

When I was a child, my dream was to be a marine biologist.  I’ve always cared deeply about sustainability, so I began a degree in conservation biology almost two years ago, which I combined with my full-time role.  

But now, after spending so much time at home during the pandemic, I’ve realised that I want to work from home permanently.  I’m able to eat healthily and be more active, while still getting my work done during the hours I choose.

Plus, I don’t want to be away from my family for long stretches of time.  I love travelling, but I want to be with my husband on holiday, rather than alone and at work.

So I feel this makes the marine biology idea a dead end.

I study foreign languages in my spare time, and I’m a very creative person.  I’ve drawn ever since I could hold a pencil, and I regularly do illustrations for fun.  

I’ve recently started taking courses in graphic design, with a view to working from home, designing for a company with a meaningful cause.

What’s the biggest obstacle in your way?

I’ve lost all trust in my ability to make the right decisions.

Every time I get excited about a career idea, feeling certain that I’m on the right track to fulfilling work, the circumstances change and suddenly it seems to turn into a disappointing dead end.

I’ve come too far not to finish my conservation biology degree, but I feel like I’ve been wasting my time studying for something I’ll never use, which makes me feel sad and frustrated.

Now I’m also busy learning graphic design skills and building a design portfolio. However, instead of enjoying the experience, I’m permanently on edge.  

Not only am I working hard toward a degree that isn’t going to benefit me, but I’m feeling burned out, I’m living mostly off my savings, and there’s no guarantee that I’ll even find stable work as a designer.  In my darkest moments, I worry that I’ll be left with nothing.

I feel that graphic design is my last hope to find a fulfilling career.  But after hitting so many dead ends, how do I trust that this time, I’m on the right track?

• Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now?
• How do you think Molly could move her shift forwards?
• Do you know anyone she could talk to?