Career advice
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Avoid student loan debt for nursing if possible, as it can trap you in a job you hate.
Debt can prevent you from quitting even when you are losing your mind.
one person who lived it
Consider third-shift pressure washing jobs, which can pay higher than call centers due to night shift differentials.
One person reported this was their highest-paying job.
one person who lived it
Consider nursing as a pragmatic path to escape poverty if you need low barriers to entry and financial stability rather than passion.
It provides enough income to stop living paycheck to paycheck and ensures you have enough food at home.
- You likely will not save much for retirement.
one person who lived it
Package diverse work experience as adaptability and cross-training rather than job-hopping.
You possess a diverse skill set that most people who stay in one lane do not have.
one person who lived it
One approach that helped: Work long hours as a USPS letter carrier to earn enough income to escape poverty.
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Look into remote client service or member services jobs, leveraging retail experience for customer-facing work from home.
Retail experience is cited as a good fit for these roles.
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Focus on jobs offering consistent 40-hour weeks to ensure financial stability.
Consistency is key.
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Work as an occupational therapy assistant with an associate's degree to earn a variable hourly wage depending on location and setting.
- Pay depends on location/setting.
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Recognize that remote work is unlikely unless you have highly sought-after skills.
Companies are less likely to offer remote positions except for top performers.
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Enter the window cleaning trade, which requires fall arrest certification but no college degree.
Trades are considered a good option currently.
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Consider water treatment operator roles for stable government jobs with good benefits.
One person reported great insurance where they pay only $2 for everything.
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Transition into construction estimating by learning Excel, operations, management, and negotiation, then job-hop to broaden your skills.
It may pay less initially but is better long term.
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Look into mortuary or funeral services careers.
Both are big growth industries.
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Start in construction as a non-union laborer, where entry-level positions can pay well without prior experience.
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Maintain an active online presence on platforms like LinkedIn to attract recruiters even when you are not actively applying for jobs.
Recruiters may find your resume online and reach out with interview invitations.
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Consider becoming a school bus driver for the enjoyment of driving and interacting with children.
The role involves fun physical driving and great interactions with kids.
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Pass state testing for water and wastewater operator licenses to secure county jobs with high hourly wages and benefits.
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Join the National Guard to fund nursing school, then aggressively gain varied experience and job-hop to transition into travel nursing.
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Study for certification exams like Ramsay using practice tests and YouTube, then apply broadly for maintenance technician jobs.
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