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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I graduated from UIUC with a master's degree in Computer Engineering in December 2024 at the age of 24.  When I was studying at UIUC, I had so much free time to regularly pursue hobbies such as working out at the gym, playing pickleball with my friends, and playing guitar and piano.  I started my first professional job in January 2025 with an AI company, and I get paid a lot of money.  However, I work between twelve and fourteen hours every day, sometimes even on weekends.  I have not been to the gym since January, not being able to see my friends, and most importantly, I have neither touched my guitar nor piano instrument for almost ten months.  I am always tired when I get home, and do not want to do anything else.  I was a very healthy eater in college, but I am not eating healthily these days.  The job is also affecting my mental health in a bad way.  My girlfriend even broke up with me, because I didn't spend enough time with her.

I know that I am very fortunate to be working and getting paid a lot of money for it.  There are so many people in tech like me who are currently unemployed.  However, the job is affecting me both physically and mentally.  I have been looking for a job that is much less stressful than this one for the past six months without much luck.  One of my colleagues asked for a month of absence, and was told no.  He quit one week after that.

My parents told me that I should quit this job and move back home to live with them for as long as I wanted, until I could find a new job.  I am just afraid that I will not be able to find another job if I quit my current job.  Thank you very much for listening.[/quote]

OP I have kids almost your age and am struck that I hear this type of comment often. You worked hard in school I'm sure to get where you are. You started what appeared to be a dream job, one certainly matching up with your education and training which is more than a lot of first time job seekers can say, and here you are. Wow. You have to work hard.

I think you're trying to solve this by looking at extremes. You know you're in over your head now with this pace of life, but quitting and going home to your parents is not the solution either. That would be a major step backwards.

The first major question is, outside of the insane hours and amount you're working: do you LIKE the job? Are you learning things? Do you like the people you work with? Is this the type of path and job you want to continue on, judging only by the work itself? [/quote]

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