Fear of having a professional career

[NylaCAT]

Is anyone else terrified about having a professional career? I’ve drop out of college many times and didn’t complete job training out of fear. Now I’m considering doing job training for IT but the idea of have a good well paying job brings me so much anxiety. I fear that I’m not smart enough or calm enough in social settings. This line of thinking is terrible because at this rate I’ll be living in poverty forever like the rest of my family.

[EndUser13]

Kind of. A crowded workspace, deadlines and being relegated to a strict schedule would stress me the hell out. I still receive disability benefits, quite thankfully as they are of tremendous help. In the meantime, I've been building up my woodworking hobby to the point that I could actually make money from it some day.

If you can find a happy balance and manage without a lot of stress, all the better for you

[NylaCAT in reply to EndUser13]

That’s awesome you’re good at woodworking. It’s important to have a valuable skills

[EndUser13 in reply to NylaCAT]

I fear that AI is ruining a lot of creative things 🤨

[Thankfulforhelp22]

You can do it. And when you do you’ll be so proud of yourself. “Fear” is afraid that if you stick with it , you will succeed and become empowered. Allow yourself to be afraid and do it anyway.

Praying for strength for you.

[Dell12345]

Hi NylaCAT, I know what you mean, I'm a professional but before I was I used to fear that it would be really difficult, scary etc. Actually I found the opposite was true, my colleagues were much nicer and much more understanding than my old colleagues in nonprofessional jobs ever had been. I have changed companies and found the same was true elsewhere too.

Professionals are generally very welcoming and understanding people. In IT especially there are lots of people with either mental health problems or neuro divergence of some sort (autism, ADHD, etc). Big companies are often much better than small ones at providing for this and encourage their staff to be understanding and help each other.

Also, the image portrayed in films or on TV of high pressure fast paced environments full of alpha males and horrible bosses couldn't be further from the truth in my experience. No one wants to work in an environment like that. In IT or engineering it is very much the opposite, lots of calm nice people, quietly getting on with what they need to do, and helping each other.

I hope this helps, good luck in your studies 🙂

[NylaCAT in reply to Dell12345]

Thats very encouraging to hear. I’m glad you found a career you enjoy

[Tealpillow in reply to Dell12345]

I want to tag along with what Dell said. Many neurodivergent people work in IT. I work in cybersecurity and I love it. Most jobs like this allow you to work from home so social anxiety is greatly reduced. I used to teach but switched careers. Started small by checking out cybrary.it and then earned the CompTIA Security+ cert. I’ve met some very kind and interesting folks working in IT. It’s almost like that’s where misfits belong

[NylaCAT]

Thank you for the reassurance. my city is offering free training class in cybersecurity! I’ve been looking into it. Even downloaded the a CompTia A+ study guide just to feel of the discipline.

[Tealpillow in reply to NylaCAT]

Oh heck yes!! You are on the right path, friend. A+ is the best starting point when you begin. I’m rooting for you!

[Kelst001]

Facing anxiety and self-doubt when considering a professional career is common, but it's important to remember that everyone has their own journey. Job training in IT can be a great opportunity to develop valuable skills. Don't let fear hold you back from pursuing your goals. Remember that intelligence and social skills can be cultivated and improved over time. Additionally, consider exploring the fields of DevOps and DevSecOps(forbytes.com/blog/devops-vs... , which offer diverse career opportunities and a balance between technical expertise and security. Focus on self-growth, seek support from mentors or career counselors, and believe in your potential.