You make $65,000 (USD 🤢) in a dead end career doing nothing but showing up sometimes. Guaranteed employment without change in intensity or salary until retirement in 15 years at age 62. You receive 3 weeks paid vacation, reasonably priced medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k matched at 2.5%, and virtually unlimited sick days as long as you don’t call out too often (>3x month). You are given 6 college credits per semester to use at the local university. You’re currently working on a PhD.
You live comfortably and have 1 year’s salary saved. Zero dependents.
Do you ride it out, or do you seek a career change before it’s too late.
I know, infinite unknown variables, but what would you do regardless?
UPDATE: I’m slightly taken aback by how many of you actually took the time out of your day/evening to reply to my personal crisis. I’ve think I’ve replied to everyone, which, in doing so, made this morning surprisingly sunnier. So thanks for that.
Adding some thing I’ve shared in replies. I’m a homeowner with zero debt aside from a very affordable mortgage. Purchased my car outright new in 2024, had household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, HVAC systems, sump pump, water heater, shed, remodeled bathrooms), have three degrees, and a lifetime of piss poor fortune.
I would ride it out assuming inflation and rising cost of living didn’t exist. Well, those things do exist. The question you need to ask yourself is if you would be unhappy living with the spending power of ~60% of what your spending power is now. If the answer is anything other than a solid yes then you should be looking.
Finish up any schooling and get a new job lined up before you leave your current job. The current job market is incredibly toxic and near impossible to navigate. People are posting vague job descriptions they have no intentions of hiring for to make it look like they are growing when they are really stagnating. AI is being used to push highly skilled workers back into the market.
Thanks for the advice, and for insight on the job market.
Oddly enough, just did the math and ~60% spending power in 15 years alongside what I save up to that point might actually be doable. I have zero debt aside from the mortgage (costing significantly less than current avg rent costs), a car purchased outright new in 2024, all major household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, new HVAC systems, new sump pump, renovated bathrooms, new 10x10 shed).
I believe I’m dying, but my doctor thinks otherwise. Clean bill of health with all milestone checklist procedures completed. Family life expectancy is the kinda average 68-74 (cancer, heart disease).
Of course the unknown and the $$$$ that requires, but otherwise, doable?