I don't hate my job, I'm just burnt out.

Gosh I (27M) feel so trapped. I was stuck in the restaurant business for 10 years, then with my shitty wage got a car, CDL and a trucking job. The trucking thing didn't work out and the car got totaled no fault of my own, but after a year of unemployment and homelessness I landed a job in the trades. Started as a labourer and now I help fit steel, pipe and weld. I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I don't care about what I'm doing, it was only for a paycheck and to not be on the street. Fast forward two years and I'm doing somewhat better in life; I have a roof over my head and a partner, but I not only want more time but more energy to the enjoy the time I have.

It's not just the work that's burning me out, it's the work politics and bullying. Like I said, I did trucking and hospitality before this and they're ALL the same. Racism, bullying, gossip, the whole high school mentality in one package. On top of that, at my current job, a lot of shady shit goes on here. We're sent to do a job we've NEVER done before with no planning or materials, yet if the job doesn't get done on time, WE'RE thrown under the bus rather than the supervisors and project managers who were responsible in order to cover their own asses. I've seen people get fired for this and if not for my tenacity I'd be in the same boat, but this shit has me paranoid as hell. Even if I have a good work ethic and reputation, this job as a whole has got my nerves on fire for all the reasons mentioned and I'm fucking exhausted.

I don't know who to talk to or what to do. I work 10hrs 5 days a week. I live with coworkers that you can classify as "NPC's" so I need my "game face" on at all times and I feel I can never decompress besides when I walk to the bus terminal or go for a walk in general. I'm studying for IT/Tech, the Google IT Support course so I can HOPEFULLY get my foot in the door but I'm hearing mixed things about that and the tech field in general. I spent 4k on a high-end PC setup specifically for this and did some studying, but I'm so burnt out that besides applying for entry-level roles in the tech field I have no energy to study or stick it out at my current job. I need a concrete plan, but with our current job market I don't know if that's feasible.

I'm not looking for advice or to be saved, I'm just venting. I know life is unfair like that and at the end of the day, I have to study and put in the work if I want yet another career change, but getting my foot in the door and away from my current field would help a ton with focusing on studies and other priorities.

Posted Aug 14, 2026, 12:27 AM UTC

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