At what age should one ideally have some job skillset, experience, and a clear career direction in mind?

[Stuntone]

I know a lot of us graduated hs, even college with no real skills and trades. Or direction or path to a career we desire. It's scarier now than ever.

I try to help out some family members and younger people with their job search. And they claim to work hard and have desire to make a lot of money. And when I get there resume and see:

3 semesters into a Business Bach. degree
Home Depot - 9 months
Walmart - 8 months
Call center - 11 months
Rent A Center - 2024 to Present



I'm at a loss of words. Especially for a person that's 25ish. I usually tell them you're going to have to get a trade/skill (electrical, plumbing, home improvement, car salesmen) something. Hell barbers making a killing now. Problem is, they already up to there neck in bills (rent, car, even kids) and have no time nor desire to go school or a extended training institute.


What kind of advice can you give them?

 

[Ahadi]

He needed to do an internship (paid if possible) if not, along wit a side job. The internship will position you for the career / industry you want to be in. He should’ve been doing this as young as 16. But since he’s 25…..

He could do sales. All of those jobs are transferable skills. You technically are your “own” boss in a sense, and uncapped commission. Or GRC, IT, help desk.

 

[BrothaZay]

31

 

[Regular Developer]

Maybe tell them that they need to look at training as investing in themselves, planting seeds to reap rewards later. Trade would be the way to go cause they have an apprenticeship type of set up. So if school is to boring at least you can do some in field training

 

[skyrunner1]

I just had a younger family member around new years sign up for fiber optic training, like 3 months, check with city for free training. He got a gig asap, like april and seems that much happier in recent history. He 27 and feel like he on a good path finally.

 

[Stuntone]

31

Better late than never, but 31 is late in the game. At 31, you got high school buddies that have been on there job 12 years and are in manager positions.

Personally I feel those first few years out of High School are so vital and can set you up nicely or set you back.

 

[Vandelay]

30

It was 25 fifteen years ago.

Just don't get in massive debt trying to fund any of it.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Well…

My pops told me by 25 you better have some sort of idea or plan on what you want to do in life.

I was working before that though, and held jobs in middle school, throughout High School, and until now. Different experiences doing different things and it was one reason I chose the Navy out of all branches, they taught you different shyt. I was also at a trade school before that. Worked as a cook, etc

Ups and downs the entire time, but yeah, I agreed with him. By 25 you better know what you want to do in life.

 

[acri1]

I think if you're under 30 you still have time.

Once you're 30+ though it gets pretty hard to change things up and it's really easy to get comfortable/stagnant with whatever you're doing. That's how a lot of people end up working at Walmart for 20 or 30 years.

 

[Mr.Bigglesworth]

50. "The only constant in life is change"

 

[Dave24]

By 25 probably

 

[42 Monks]

These days.... Idk. Its really more about not fukking your life up with debt, baggage, detractors, etc before you settle on a trajectory

I think by 27-28, you gotta have a direction. Not even successful or anything but at least a pathway. Doesn't even have to be the path you settle on for the rest of your life either. Just an established baseline more or less.

If you don't have a foothold by then you're probably cooked and content circling the drain working retail or fast food should be horrifying and drive you insane