Located in the United States. I’m only two years out of school and in that time I’ve been with two different companies as a full time engineer. The office life is killing me but I don’t know what else I could possibly like that would be a successful career.
I make well above the average salary for my experience level and have a good job with a good company with good benefits. While I was putting myself through school I worked a variety of jobs as an independent contractor and made about the same as I do now, just no benefits. I miss the freedom of that life so much, the only thing holding me back is the benefits because I am having fairly significant health problems, and because this was my “dream job” that I worked so hard to get. I’m just not happy with it, and there’s nothing wrong with the job itself so I don’t think finding another job would fix it.
I hate being tied down to set schedule, working in a depressing office, not being able to get time off for doctor’s appointments or to live my life, I hate mornings so I go to bed super early every night and have no life outside work. I’ve always been such a hard worker and worked way more than 40 hours a week my entire life but now it’s like 40 hours is completely exhausting and killing my mental and physical health.
I like engineering and the idea of this job I’m just having such a hard time settling into an office work environment. I’m just wondering if anyone has gone through something like this and could offer any advice. I should also mention that I was not a traditional student and am currently 28 so I feel like I’m running out of time to start over, if I even had any idea what I wanted to do. Thanks.
TLDR: working an 8-5 office job is making me miserable. My degree is in engineering and 8-5 office jobs are the only option I can find with my degree. I want to be successful, make a lot of money and live a comfortable life. This career path should get me there but it’s making me want to die.