What would you do in this situation?

[ApplePersonFreak]

I’m 24 and I currently am trying to figure out what career path I want to take in my life. I have a passion, but I don’t know what I can do with it, so lately I’ve been trying out different jobs to see if I like it or not, and so far, I don’t. My current job right now, I just have come to the realization that this isn’t for me. That I’m not meant to be doing this for the rest of my life. I’m thinking about resigning, because if I’m unhappy and miserable, why should I have to continue to deal with that?

I’m passionate about technology, as I’m sure a lot are on this forum. I love cell phones, tech gadgets, apple products, computers, etc. a dream job to me would be a tech reviewer.. sort of like the ones you see on YouTube now. But that’s where the issue comes in. There’s already so many other people doing it, and are successful at it, that I wouldn’t even be able to stand out amongst them.

Just need advice on what you would do if you were me.. would you quit this job, or try to stick it out and see what happens? Would you still try to put out videos/reviews of tech cause you love it or does the fact that everyone else is doing is is a deterrent? Just kind of need a little pick me up.

 

[smallcoffee]

Don’t quit your job. Use your job as a way to fuel your passions.

And why does it matter if they’re are other tech reviewers? Is your goal to be popular or is this about your passion for reviewing technology?

If you’re genuinely passionate about reviewing technology than just do it. Post reviews on Amazon and YouTube and work to improve your technique and content.

You can work and keep your job while also reviewing technology and use your work funds to ensure you’re saving for retirement and for emergencies. Quitting your job is irresponsible and the wrong decision from what you’ve posted here.

 

[maflynn]

would you quit this job

Its easier to get a job if you have a job.

By working, you can pay for education, so that you can work in the field of your choice. The job you have may offer opportunities that you can leverage, i.e., transfer or be trained. I'd not quit until you had another job lined up.

 

[kazmac]

I agree with @smallcoffee and @maflynn - keep your day job and work on your tech reviews at night / weekends until you find a new job.

Keep job hunting? Why not consider some tech companies to work for (Apple, Google etc.) That way you can keep an ear to the ground with new tech and perhaps that would help your tech reviews. Keep on producing your reviews and videos. You may want research styles from several top reviewers.

I will mention the scant few tech reviews I watch are generally not snarky or talk down to their audience, know the company and/or product they are reviewing and keeping up with tech. A pleasant demeanor goes a long way. I watch Lisa Gade, Dave 2D (though his recent jokey reviews with Unbox Therapy were a turn off), Mr. Mobile and Marquez Brownlee.

But please keep your job, no matter how crappy it is until you get a new one.

--

Just some advice, I occasionally write content for my favorite film studio's website (currently on break until I am reemployed.) Sadly, it's not a paying gig (and I can run rings around the current professional publicity team this studio has hired), but it is exposure.

Perhaps once you get a few videos in the can, maybe see if someone online can use your reviews. Keep at it. The more skills you get with video and production, the more opportunities may open up. You never know where it will lead you. Education in the field and/or marketing would be a plus.

 

[A.Goldberg]

I too agree, do not quit your job until you find a new one or commit to another path (i.e. education). It’s not ideal to have a gap like that on a resume. You can dabble in tech reviews while still working. I suppose the only exceptions to quitting is if your company is doing unethical things you cannot sit with or if your job is severely pushing you over the edge.

Tech Review sounds like a fun job, but extremely difficult to break out into. I wouldn’t quit my day job until I could prove success.

Do you have a college degree? Do you have any desire to go back to school? What fields have you worked in, what did you like, what did you not like?

 

[gkarris]

Everyone is essentially correct...

Some of my favorite YouTube reviewers actually have a video on how they got started and tips on how to start your own... maybe tap into those?

I know some of them started "small" and just used a decent phone/tripod and a budget editing PC/program, then slowly went from there...

 

[hawkeye_a]

I dont know about the whole "following your passion" stuff, many friends did that and got undergraduate degrees and either:
1. Got sick of the profession and got a "day job". Or...
2 Could not find a job that would pay enough.

My only advice to you would be... do not expect YouTube videos to put food on the table(at least initially). As others have suggested, keep your day job and get started with what you want on nights and weekends, and only when you have a better understanding of the costs/benefits of the latter will you be able to make an informed decision.. IMHO.

Also, you're 24.... theres no better time to search and explore.

 

[lowendlinux]

While this is extreme

http://theroadchoseme.com/

This gentleman is a regular on all the Jeep forums he's and engineer and he works for a couple years and saves money then goes on epic road trips right now it's circumnavigating Africa a couple years ago it was Alaska to the far southern tip of South America.

Why not do this job you don't like for a year or two save your money then just take off for a while and think Kerouac style?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Quit your job without another to go to? I don't think that's ever a good idea.

As for being a YouTube or tech blogger, I'd say the market is pretty saturated, but why not go for it in your spare time?

I think for every one making a living at it, there's a 1000 (maybe 10000?) who don't.

I also think that bubble is about to burst. I think too many are just plugging products in return for freebies.

 

[jkcerda]

NEVER burn your bridges, you have a steady source of income right now, seems to me that you could do BOTH keep your job AND do tech reviews on the side

 

[ApplePersonFreak]

Thanks, guys. I like all of your suggestions. I think the reason why I was talking about quitting before anything else came along was because I’m simply miserable there, and the fact that I have a feeling that they’re wanting to let me go, and I feel that quitting would leave a better impression on a future employer vs being fired.

 

[smallcoffee]

Thanks, guys. I like all of your suggestions. I think the reason why I was talking about quitting before anything else came along was because I’m simply miserable there, and the fact that I have a feeling that they’re wanting to let me go, and I feel that quitting would leave a better impression on a future employer vs being fired.

Just don’t tell anybody you were fired - don’t ask don’t tell.

 

[ApplePersonFreak]

Just don’t tell anybody you were fired - don’t ask don’t tell.

If they were to call and find out wouldn’t they be told that way too?

 

[smallcoffee]

If they were to call and find out wouldn’t they be told that way too?

Companies don’t really call and check references anymore and if they do you just give them the name of somebody who would speak well of you.

 

[Conutz]

Thanks, guys. I like all of your suggestions. I think the reason why I was talking about quitting before anything else came along was because I’m simply miserable there, and the fact that I have a feeling that they’re wanting to let me go, and I feel that quitting would leave a better impression on a future employer vs being fired.

Isn’t there something you can do to turn things around? It’s not that you’ll be there forever, so do the best you can and leave a good impression. You might also take away some valuable knowledge and experience. Tell us what your job involves and where the hassle are and maybe we can offer some more specific advice...

 

[Apple fanboy]

Thanks, guys. I like all of your suggestions. I think the reason why I was talking about quitting before anything else came along was because I’m simply miserable there, and the fact that I have a feeling that they’re wanting to let me go, and I feel that quitting would leave a better impression on a future employer vs being fired.

Being a quitter doesn't leave a good impression either. One of the first things I look for when reviewing CV's is how many jobs they have had. If they've never been anywhere more than twelve months, they go straight to the no pile.

 

[ActionableMango]

Just need advice on what you would do if you were me.. would you quit this job, or try to stick it out and see what happens? Would you still try to put out videos/reviews of tech cause you love it or does the fact that everyone else is doing is is a deterrent? Just kind of need a little pick me up.

Don't quit your day job until you have a positive revenue stream from your hobby. Tech blogging is oversaturated so as a matter of timing you are unlikely to do well at this point unless there is something special about you, like access to trusted industry contacts (Cringely, Gruber, etc), already being famous for something else that you can leverage off of, or some kind of hook.

Some people like the guy that made "Dummies for XYZ" books or whoever made iFixit.com found a huge need that was untapped (high quality self improvement book and online DIY repair information combined with top notch pictures, simple steps, and available tool packs). Filling those niches made them rich.

Can you find a niche like that? If you have some ideas for how you can stand out, then maybe you can make something of it. On the other hand if you just want a job and you expect The Verge to hire you without a deep portfolio of quality examples published out there, I think you will have a hard time.

 

[techsavvy01]

I’m 24 and I currently am trying to figure out what career path I want to take in my life. I have a passion, but I don’t know what I can do with it, so lately I’ve been trying out different jobs to see if I like it or not, and so far, I don’t. My current job right now, I just have come to the realization that this isn’t for me. That I’m not meant to be doing this for the rest of my life. I’m thinking about resigning, because if I’m unhappy and miserable, why should I have to continue to deal with that?

I’m passionate about technology, as I’m sure a lot are on this forum. I love cell phones, tech gadgets, apple products, computers, etc. a dream job to me would be a tech reviewer.. sort of like the ones you see on YouTube now. But that’s where the issue comes in. There’s already so many other people doing it, and are successful at it, that I wouldn’t even be able to stand out amongst them.

Just need advice on what you would do if you were me.. would you quit this job, or try to stick it out and see what happens? Would you still try to put out videos/reviews of tech cause you love it or does the fact that everyone else is doing is is a deterrent? Just kind of need a little pick me up.

I can relate similarly with you. I am trying to figure out my place in this world. I am trying to figure out what college to attend in my life. We are both young. I am 22. We have our whole lives ahead of us

 

[ApplePersonFreak]

I can relate similarly with you. I am trying to figure out my place in this world. I am trying to figure out what college to attend in my life. We are both young. I am 22. We have our whole lives ahead of us

Yeah, we really do. It’s also why I want to try different careers, although probably not ideal, and see where it can take me, however still be doing what I love.
[doublepost=1510742830][/doublepost]

Being a quitter doesn't leave a good impression either. One of the first things I look for when reviewing CV's is how many jobs they have had. If they've never been anywhere more than twelve months, they go straight to the no pile.

Really? My coworker was telling me it’d be tougher to be fired and have to explain why (especially if they want to claim insubordination) than it is to quit. Also, I guess I have a chance to be re-hireable if I were to take the upper hand and leave. And for someone my age, who’s trying to find ourselves out there, I feel that it’s hard to stay in one job from 18-24 since we need to gain experience to be able to do what we want to do in most jobs nowadays. Either decision at this point I feel is a risk.

 

[ApplePersonFreak]

The Negative Stigma Is Nearly Gone

In days past, HR managers would disregard a resume that shows tenure less than two years at more than one job. These days, the stigma is quickly losing steam. According to a Robert Half survey, 57% of millennials who were asked, “Is job hopping losing its stigma?” responded yes.

As millennials rise into management positions and start hiring other employees, they will change in perspective on job-hopping. To be clear, I don’t see any hiring managers preferring candidates who have been at jobs for a three-month period or less. Transitional job-hopping would involve a change after 12-36 months on the job. Some employers may even prefer candidateswho can bring knowledge of their competitor and the ability to learn quickly.

Further, since industries are rapidly changing, don’t be surprised if you rarely see employees who consider themselves “lifers." A 2015 Elance Odesk survey found that 52% of millennials believe employee loyalty is overrated, so the idea of staying with one company for an entire career is unpopular.


Job-hoppers should be prepared to give an explanation for their changes when asked. Employers see some job-hoppers who change to learn new skills, add new challenges, or break into a new industry as top performers.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaytie...p-apologizing-for-job-hopping/2/#37ad79e3677e

 

[D.T.]

Don't quit your day job until you have a positive revenue stream from your hobby.

[...]

Quoting this because I think it's a terrific post that's positive, but also very realistic.

I have a job I totally dig on, but I have interests I love more - and the latter wasn't realistic to pursue for revenue so they remained non-professional pursuits, supported by a different occupation.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The Negative Stigma Is Nearly Gone

In days past, HR managers would disregard a resume that shows tenure less than two years at more than one job. These days, the stigma is quickly losing steam. According to a Robert Half survey, 57% of millennials who were asked, “Is job hopping losing its stigma?” responded yes.

As millennials rise into management positions and start hiring other employees, they will change in perspective on job-hopping. To be clear, I don’t see any hiring managers preferring candidates who have been at jobs for a three-month period or less. Transitional job-hopping would involve a change after 12-36 months on the job. Some employers may even prefer candidateswho can bring knowledge of their competitor and the ability to learn quickly.

Further, since industries are rapidly changing, don’t be surprised if you rarely see employees who consider themselves “lifers." A 2015 Elance Odesk survey found that 52% of millennials believe employee loyalty is overrated, so the idea of staying with one company for an entire career is unpopular.


Job-hoppers should be prepared to give an explanation for their changes when asked. Employers see some job-hoppers who change to learn new skills, add new challenges, or break into a new industry as top performers.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaytie...p-apologizing-for-job-hopping/2/#37ad79e3677e

I think people that quit without another job to go to and have gaps in their CV look like they are quitters. That's not an attractive quality in perspective employees.
When you have two similar candidates you want to know that people you are going to take the trouble to train and mentor aren't going to decide they've had enough after a few weeks.

 

[A.Goldberg]

The Negative Stigma Is Nearly Gone

In days past, HR managers would disregard a resume that shows tenure less than two years at more than one job. These days, the stigma is quickly losing steam. According to a Robert Half survey, 57% of millennials who were asked, “Is job hopping losing its stigma?” responded yes.

As millennials rise into management positions and start hiring other employees, they will change in perspective on job-hopping. To be clear, I don’t see any hiring managers preferring candidates who have been at jobs for a three-month period or less. Transitional job-hopping would involve a change after 12-36 months on the job. Some employers may even prefer candidateswho can bring knowledge of their competitor and the ability to learn quickly.

Further, since industries are rapidly changing, don’t be surprised if you rarely see employees who consider themselves “lifers." A 2015 Elance Odesk survey found that 52% of millennials believe employee loyalty is overrated, so the idea of staying with one company for an entire career is unpopular.


Job-hoppers should be prepared to give an explanation for their changes when asked. Employers see some job-hoppers who change to learn new skills, add new challenges, or break into a new industry as top performers.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaytie...p-apologizing-for-job-hopping/2/#37ad79e3677e

That article is citing (a limited number of) millennial opinions. Who knows how statistically valid it is. Chances are your boss probably won’t be a millennial. I was born in the later end of the 80’s, I wouldn’t necessarily want to invest in an employee with a track record of switching jobs frequently.

 

[Tarek]

I'm in the exact same boat as you.. I swear I felt like I was reading my own writing. I graduated in 2014 and worked in so many different jobs, none of which I liked or found suitable. Like you, I am extremely passionate about technology and cars, but I don't have a degree or a deep, technical understanding of either one so making a career out of them would be extremely difficult.

I recently decided to pursue another route, which is to study for a Master's Degree in Mass Communication with a focus on Digital Media, because that is a career I can see myself following in the near future, so I moved to the UK a couple of months ago and will hopefully be getting my degree in the Fall of 2018. This is definitely not the best answer, especially if you haven't saved enough money to actually move and study somewhere else while looking for a part-time job, but it has made me happier than I was before I quit my last job.

 

[USAFA2008]

I’m 24 and I currently am trying to figure out what career path I want to take in my life. I have a passion, but I don’t know what I can do with it, so lately I’ve been trying out different jobs to see if I like it or not, and so far, I don’t. My current job right now, I just have come to the realization that this isn’t for me. That I’m not meant to be doing this for the rest of my life. I’m thinking about resigning, because if I’m unhappy and miserable, why should I have to continue to deal with that?

I’m passionate about technology, as I’m sure a lot are on this forum. I love cell phones, tech gadgets, apple products, computers, etc. a dream job to me would be a tech reviewer.. sort of like the ones you see on YouTube now. But that’s where the issue comes in. There’s already so many other people doing it, and are successful at it, that I wouldn’t even be able to stand out amongst them.

Just need advice on what you would do if you were me.. would you quit this job, or try to stick it out and see what happens? Would you still try to put out videos/reviews of tech cause you love it or does the fact that everyone else is doing is is a deterrent? Just kind of need a little pick me up.

I know where you're coming from. Two weeks before I graduated from the Air Force Academy I did not get the job that I was told I would get. However I made the best of the job that I got and after a year applied to a newer career field and enjoyed it. A high school teacher told my class that we might enjoy something like photography or cooking but to think long and hard before we make a career out of it because it is one thing to do something for a hobby but another thing to do it for work. My uncle flies for an airline and he loves aviation but as he once told me it is still a job. If you go the YouTube route I would suggest setting up a Patreon page as well.

Everyone is essentially correct...

Some of my favorite YouTube reviewers actually have a video on how they got started and tips on how to start your own... maybe tap into those?

I know some of them started "small" and just used a decent phone/tripod and a budget editing PC/program, then slowly went from there...

That is the same with several YouTube channels that I follow both in and out of technology.

While this is extreme

http://theroadchoseme.com/

This gentleman is a regular on all the Jeep forums he's and engineer and he works for a couple years and saves money then goes on epic road trips right now it's circumnavigating Africa a couple years ago it was Alaska to the far southern tip of South America.

Why not do this job you don't like for a year or two save your money then just take off for a while and think Kerouac style?

That is awesome!

Quit your job without another to go to? I don't think that's ever a good idea.

As for being a YouTube or tech blogger, I'd say the market is pretty saturated, but why not go for it in your spare time?

I think for every one making a living at it, there's a 1000 (maybe 10000?) who don't.

I also think that bubble is about to burst. I think too many are just plugging products in return for freebies.

Great input. I wouldn't recommend quitting either because it is better to be miserable and employed than being unemployed. I have been both but my wife also works.

NEVER burn your bridges, you have a steady source of income right now, seems to me that you could do BOTH keep your job AND do tech reviews on the side

Excellent input! I still keep in touch with an old supervisor of mine from my 1st of 3 career fields in the Air Force. As much as I hated that particular job I worked with great people.

Thanks, guys. I like all of your suggestions. I think the reason why I was talking about quitting before anything else came along was because I’m simply miserable there, and the fact that I have a feeling that they’re wanting to let me go, and I feel that quitting would leave a better impression on a future employer vs being fired.

I understand where you are coming from. If you have the finances to sustain yourself for 6 months then that is 1 thing. But look at it as a paycheck.

If they were to call and find out wouldn’t they be told that way too?

I don't think they are allowed to say anything other than you worked there, when you worked there, and what your job title was. Perhaps I am mistaken but I don't think they can say why you are no longer employed at risk of a lawsuit.