People Who Actually Got Their “Dream Job” Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories)

As you may have learned by now, expectations don't always live up to reality. And, as a recent post on r/AskReddit shows, that can be true even when you embark on what you believed to be the best career in the world.

Created by user u/American-pickle, it asked people, "Did you ever obtain your 'dream job' to realize it wasn't actually what you wanted—why did it not live up to expectations?"

Immediately, zookeepers, flight attendants, and many other professionals started replying, explaining how the day-to-day realities such as long hours, monotony, and workload have disappointed them.

This post may include affiliate links.

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I dreamt about working in Veterinary Medicine my whole life. When I finally did, I ended up traumatized. It wasn't the blood, the abuse, or even the euthanasia. It was how we just didn't talk about it. Bad day? Don't talk about it. Got hurt? Don't talk about it. Rude pet parent? Don't talk about it. Burnt out? Don't talk about it. I felt so alone in situations where having support was essential.

lilybear032 , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Final score:

172points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

I was actually looking to see if someone would put being a vet. I can't imagine being the person that puts down people's pets everyday while the family cries around you

85points

View More Replies...

View more comments

We managed to get in touch with u/American-pickle and they agreed to tell us more about their now-viral question and the discussion behind it.

"Before posting I was reflecting on how many times I changed majors in college — always feeling like I couldn't figure out what direction to take my career in as it seemed like too major of a decision for someone fresh out of high school and 18 years of age to make," the Redditor told Bored Panda.

"I thought it was quite funny, my career has nothing to do with anything I decided to study, but I find it quite enjoyable. I thought it was ironic that I stumbled into a profession I never once before considered, while thinking about others who are dead set on a career choice from a young age, only to end up miserable in a situation completely unlike they imagined."

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) All throughout childhood and college I wanted to be a zookeeper.

When I was finally offered the internship though, it took me less than a week to realize I couldn't stomach it.

It's a lot less "playing with and training cute animals" and a lot more "cleaning up the vilest messes and being bombarded with the absolute worst smells on planet earth" than I imagined.

duneden9 , Trubble Report

Final score:

169points

POST

Zitronella 1 year ago

Surprise, surprise...

78points

View more comments

u/American-pickle said that most replies "were similar in that ambition of their employees is not something businesses nurture and grow."

"I feel from reading most responses, if these people had better leadership within their companies, that they would feel more fulfilled. When people feel fulfilled it can only bring the business more productivity. [The thread] shows how disconnected we are from how to achieve real and long-term results."

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Yes I wanted to be a freelance graphic designer because I heard you work for yourself. Turns out you can have 18 a hole bosses at once.

Slamboni12 , Antoni Shkraba Report

Final score:

153points

POST

Blue Mar 1 year ago

I'm graphic designer and is very stressful job, I decided to quit after 10 years.

27points

View More Replies...

View more comments

The Redditor thinks that so many people form wrong impressions of the job market because our culture likes perpetuating myths.

"Nobody hears about a person who fails miserably at their job and then sets themselves up to follow in that path. These unrealistic standards of how they view their future career set them up to never feel fulfilled. Perhaps that's why I love what I do — I never thought about how great I would be at it during my teen or college years. I get to accept the position for what it is and not what I imagined it to be.

"Don't let your career run your life," the author of the post added. "Take your PTO. When your time comes, no one will be reading your performance reviews at your funeral."

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I always wanted to be a flight attendant. Then I actually was one. No thanks ever again but for a few years it was fun, then it just became a series of indistinguishable hotel rooms and it wasn't worth putting up with the passengers anymore

oy-withthepoodles , Vinh Lâm Report

Final score:

139points

POST

2x4b523p 1 year ago

I had a few friends who became flight attendands. While they hammer into you that you are there for the passanger safety first and foremost, 90% of the time you are just a travelling waitress. Except your customers are tired, irritated and don’t tip. None of my friends lasted more than three years.

53points

View More Replies...

View more comments

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Never really enjoyed driving but always wanted to learn to fly. Dropped 10k on a pilots license and found out flying was just driving with up and down added. Weird was how quickly a childhood dream turned to meh.

thecoolerllcoolJ , Matheus Bertelli Report

Final score:

138points

POST

Zitronella 1 year ago

The bus driver of the air...

55points

View More Replies...

View more comments

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I got to work on 3d models in a large game studio.

Turns out I hate working in an office setting, I can't stand office culture, and they don't pay living wages for new employees.

Now I get to help sick and injured people while living in a small mountain town, making enough money to buy a house and travel when I want.

loblegonst , Ivan Samkov Report

Final score:

136points

POST

Blue Mar 1 year ago

Yes, designer job sucks! Happy that you found your place to be. I also hated office culture in agency... Everyone so individual but mostly the same copy-paste people.

18points

View More Replies...

View more comments

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Being a professor. The academe is full of know-it-alls and stuffy experts with attitude problems. Hard to work when it feels like you're walking on eggshells every time you approach a senior faculty member. Plus, they exploit the living hell out of the younger faculty members, saying that this is for experience when it is clearly just running tasks that they don't want to do.

ParasiticToxo , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:

136points

POST

hardrad2009 1 year ago

And let’s not forget about cage fighting for tenure…

52points

View More Replies...

View more comments

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Doctor.

Currently working 7am-7pm 6 days a week for months at a time. 4 weeks of vacation a year. I am getting paid about $12 per hour when you do the math out.

That is residency. I wanted to help people but this field takes advantage of that and the hospital CEOs and decreasing insurance reimbursement takes advantage of that.

I chose to do diagnostic radiology because this internal medicine lifestyle and workload is just ridiculous.

amuslimdoctor , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

116points

POST

Tamra 1 year ago

I don't know how it is in other countries, but here in the US there is such a ridiculous culture of over-working healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses. How does it make any sense to put these people through long hours and brutal shifts when they're responsible for people's health? Makes no sense.

107points

View More Replies...

View more comments

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) My first job out of college was as a forestry field tech. Turns out camping is way less fun when you worked 10 hours, don't have cell service, are on a random flat spot you found, and there's no one to talk to. Now make that 8 days in a row, your only water is in jugs in the work truck, and you're covered in grime and wearing the same clothes for the entire time.

Now I get to stay in a cabin during field season. Having running water, a bed, and four friendly people on the crew is a godsend. I am so much happier just having company and running water, "adventure" be damned.

Mirrorflute88 , Amine M'siouri Report

Final score:

98points

POST

Ranger Kanootsen 1 year ago

This one is the closest one to my current job (park ranger). I still do quite a bit of forest field tech these days, and I enjoy it a lot! I however have a small hut rather than a tent, and I do have cell service hence my online presence. I love having no one to talk to because people don't tend to like me very much and the feeling is mutual!

89points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#10

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Sort of. I got close to it. Close enough to see what that life would actually be like. And it sucked. It turns out, I don’t like working on celebrities. They’re kind of annoying clients. It’s not fun and glamorous. It’s unnecessarily stressful. And I don’t want to be a famous stylist or famous anything. It makes people weird. Mark Ruffalo is only normal because he hasn’t figured out he’s famous yet.

I still enjoy doing hair. And I still like people, for the most part. So I went with a more low key path. I’m very happy with my choices. Sometimes on the way to your dream job, you have to make adjustments.

friendlynbhdwitch , David Geib Report

Final score:

96points

POST

Chrissie Anit 1 year ago

I'm not sure if I should be glad that Mark Ruffalo seems to still be a nice guy, or if I should be sad that he will eventually become annoying as well. ;o)

29points

View more comments

#11

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Healthcare.

It's one of the most soul crushing jobs out there.

A kid in the pediatric intensive care unit with severe injuries while his parents tell conflicting stories on how he got injured.

Knowing and seeing what "teratogenic" is.

Children getting severe infections and getting declared brain dead and then you have to tell the parents that their kid is now just a living meat bag.

Pay is good at least.

Hadren-Blackwater , Pixabay Report

Final score:

89points

POST

Agfox 1 year ago

Teratogenic drugs are drugs that cause birth defects

65points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#12

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Teaching. Thought it be nice but was totally not suited to it, was dreadful at managing behaviour and just couldn't understand how to plan or deliver lesson. I sucked. It amazes me how much teaching is promoted by the mass media and society as a "anybody can do it job". It certainly isn't and I met some unhappy colleagues who hated it too or that weren't suited to it either when I was there but were trapped in it.

Also if you can't control a class don't expect management to understand,they won't. They'll see it as your fault. To them, the school is their business and the kids and their parents are their customers they want kept happy. Parental complaints look bad on you so don't expect management to side with you or have empathy. They often see it as your fault and you as the problem.

It definitely is a marmite profession that comes back to your personality type. Just being able to manage kids alone isn't enough, it's so much more that requires a massive array of skills and talent. You either have the knack or you don't and in my new profession now I'm often asked why I left such a "cushy job/ handy number" like teaching. The same people won't believe me when I try to tell them and believe it's an easy gig. People appear to think because the holidays are good it makes it a dream job and negates everything else.

billythepub , fauxels Report

Final score:

89points

POST

Dawn Marie 1 year ago

I was a public school teacher for 25 years and I totally understand. I began my career teaching elective classes in high school. The fun classes. The classes the students choose to take. I THOUGHT I wouldn't have discipline issues because they want to be there. I got a HUGE wake up call before my very first class even started. I will never forget what this kid told me on his way into class:. "We ran off the last teacher, we'll run you off too." Through the years I became a robot. It became teach to the test. There was more teachable moments. Drill, drill, drill!!!! I could handle discipline for the most part. My last 7 years I taught first grade. I love it, except the parents, "the work was to hard, the work was to easy, my 'other' child was reading by now, why does she have to do this, he doesn't do that at home, you will not keep him out of recess again, do not call on my child during class, (the child was extremely smart, the parent wasn't) I could go on and on.

42points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#13

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I worked a lot of physical demanding jobs during my 20s and had these recurring fantasies about working in a store, sitting all day waiting for people to buy something, and have all that free time

Well a couple months ago I found that job. Great pay, some benefits, great bosses, but every day it's slower than the last, and weirdly enough I come back home tired from doing almost nothing all day long, tf with that?

Now sometimes I fantasize about going back to my old job, where I would end up covered up in sweat and dirt but at least there was a feeling of accomplishment

So dumb, I hate it

MaeSolug , MART PRODUCTION Report

Final score:

86points

POST

Barbara Kayton 1 year ago

You are not alone in your experience. A friend of mine told me about his in- law who experienced this exact same thing. It’s astonishing how exhausting being in an office “behind a desk.”

43points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#14

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Working as a chemist in an academic research lab.

Academia is full of narcissistic nutjobs that pretend like their research is the holy grail of their field when it's actually practically inconsequential. The stakes are so low that the results dont matter and everyone is just scavenging for what little funding they can pull together for something nobody really wants or needs. The amount of pettiness, sabotage and frankly fraud is rather pathetic. But they face little to no repercussions because, again, nobody cares.

Which is why I now do research in a corporate lab.

AbortionSurvivor777 , RF._.studio Report

Final score:

80points

POST

Chrissie Anit 1 year ago

Read that as "alchemist" first and thought "cool, that's a real job?!?!?"

25points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#15

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Teaching at a college

I ***love*** my field and I love research. It's easy to ramble for hours on end about a topic. The passion and curiosity I held for my discipline, I thought, would make me a good instructor. What I did not expect was how much hatred, contempt, jealousy, and sabotage would come from administration.

* "Oh, you're enjoying teaching an entry level class with 30 students? We'll raise the cap so it has 75 enrolled. Have fun grading until you cry each week!"
* "Oh, you want to be an expert educator in one area? Then you get to be the (unpaid) consultant on *all* department exams on that topic. Enjoy re-writing 7 midterms for your colleagues with one week's notice!"
* "Oh, you haven't had a raise in six years? The football coach *needs* to be highest paid person in the state. If you ask for a cost of living increase again we'll set the students against you by claiming inflation adjusted raises for instructors would result in doubling tuition costs for students!"

And so many of the students see the courses as box checking and are burnt out from previous bad educational experiences. I don't blame them, but no matter how hard I tried to be kind and share my excitement for the subject it felt like throwing a dandelion into the grand canyon of despair.

Clever_Mercury , kochangbok Report

Final score:

78points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

The internet is full of teachers stories like this, so unfortunate and still nothing seems to be changing

22points

View more comments

#16

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Yes I did. I went to culinary school, worked my way up in restaurants (as a woman) washing dishes, being the fry cook, closing two stations without a change of pay at a couple places, and finally made it to an up scale restaurant in DTLA where the owners had, STILL have, a great reputation in the industry. We were nominated for two Michelin stars while I was working for them (I was a pastry cook and worked directly with the owner/head pastry chef). I finally had that job I worked so hard for, but I was extremely unhappy, unfulfilled and burnt out. I came to realize that it was always going to be “go go go” and I was never fully going to be able to rest and spend time with family. I knew it was a laborious job going in, and I was ready. What I did not expect was that I was never going to be properly compensated. Cooks are extremely underpaid, over worked and undervalued. It was a huge disappointment finding out that I would never make enough to live on my own, let alone start my own business which was my end goal.

I do not regret taking that path though. When I began I was shy, quiet, and didn’t know how to speak up for myself. It doesn’t happen with everyone, but working those 8 years in the industry toughened me up, and gave me the confidence and courage I needed to accept that I was unhappy and had the option to change careers.

MooseNizzle , Elle Hughes Report

Final score:

78points

POST

🧶𝔹𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕂𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣🪡 1 year ago

There's a lot of burnout in that industry. Also, a lot of burnouts, as in drug addicts and ex cons...not that that's a bad thing, per se - everyone needs to have a chance to work and rebuild their life - but when the demands of the job are constant hard labor being on your feet for an entire 8+ hour shift, low pay, and a willingness to basically accept subpar working conditions while the glorified front of house staff are the ones taking home hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars in cash every night despite YOU being the one to make the product that's bringing in the customers, it tends make anyone with the option to pursue something else do exactly that while the ones who need a job just for the sake of having one tend to stick around cuz they'll head back to jail or back on the streets if not. My husband worked as a cook for years & experienced everything OP did as well. When he FINALLY quit for good, my son & I were so glad. He's still depressed & resentful from that grind.

20points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#17

Got a job with a U.S. state as a child abuse investigator. Like great, I get state benefits, I get to help kids, I thought it was a lot of money.

How wrong I was.

Chronically understaffed, overworked, underpaid, kids lying to get their step parents in trouble. Plus the actual cases… my god. I’ve never cried so much in my life from the stress and sadness.

I now appreciate the life lessons it taught me. I was only 22 when I started that job. We celebrated people lasting 6 months. I made it 18 haha.

I now work in order management for a big U.S. corporation. It’s boring but it pays the bills without life or death consequences.

thekelsey21 Report

Final score:

74points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

Another job I can't imagine doing. Kudos to you

20points

View more comments

#18

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) For sure! Worked in forensics and while the gruesome parts didn't affect me directly, I kinda lost my smile? It's a dark world, yet exciting. Worst part was for sure the work place and how it was managed.

Dardrol7 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

71points

POST

ShaZam Beaubien 1 year ago

I've heard some cases make you have nightmares for years.

12points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#19

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I dreamt of working at Disney World for YEARS, finally got hired at 23. The first couple of years weren’t that bad (I had blinders on). Year 3 I realized I was literally paying to work there I was getting paid so little. Took me 4 more years to get out of the mouse trap but once I was gone I’ve never looked back.

littlemarcus91 , David Guerrero Report

Final score:

69points

POST

Chrissie Anit 1 year ago

mouse trap... hehehe

47points

View more comments

#20

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I've worked at a few nonprofits. I like my current job well enough but some things I've noticed:

1. They tend to be filled with overdramatic people. More so than other jobs I've had like retail or fast food.

2. The pay ranges from sucks to poverty.

jacyerickson , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

64points

POST

Sloth29 1 year ago

I worked for 3 years with one of the top 5 non-profits in my country. I started as a volunteer at a very disillusioned time in my life and that experience gave my life meaning. So, I thought I'll make my career in it. So what if it pays less at least it's meaningful. I ended up taking a full time role with them which was basically recruiting paid volunteers for the program. And I realised how truly f****d everything was. How target driven, corporate and down right sales it was. How impact was just another word for numbers fudged up to suit organisations agenda. It wasn't all bad. That job taught me a lot of planning, organisation and the best ability to b******t authentically. But at the end of the day it didn't give me any purpose and it just felt like any other job with less pay. So I moved. Now I earn more and donate directly to the people who need it the most rather than going through any of these non-profits.

16points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#21

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Wanted to be an actress. Got a place at drama school and the thing was that from day one you learned that every basic thing you always did your whole life was wrong. Talking, going, standing, speaking, breathing.... Everything was wrong. But I guess that's okay, as this was to be expected. It's a hard job.
Problem was that I had an accident while rehearsing and the school gaslight me that this was my wrong doing and that I was not meant to do that job if a light push would break my jaw..while actually someone fell full force with their knee straight in my face, while I layed - as instructed - with closed eyes on the floor.

Long story short. That experience was very traumatic and I really couldn't do that job anymore.

LimaZim , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

64points

POST

Thot Waffle 1 year ago

oh my goodness, this sounds truly awful

25points

View more comments

#22

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) When I was younger, I desperately wanted to work on the railway as the money was great, and I really loved railways and everything in that world. I eventually managed to get a job as a welder with a local firm.

It was f*****g wank. Permanent nights, working every weekend in all weather, with equipment that weighed an absolute tonne that had to be loaded up dark embankments. I was working with thermite and explosive gases, usually after pushing all the gear about 3 or 4 miles down the track. One Christmas, I worked a shift on a site where a guy was killed the previous weekend after getting his arm chopped off by an excavator. They had a collection box in the site cabin with a picture of him and his young kid on it. F*****g heartbreaking. And to top it off, everyone I worked with was a complete and utter c**t.

F*****g s**t job.

CommentOne8867 , Donald Tong Report

Final score:

58points

POST

Alexandra Davis 1 year ago

How does their censor not censor 'wank' but doesn't f*cking?!

12points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#23

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) Yeah. I always wanted to be a part of the music industry but didn't want to be a performer. I went to college for audio engineering, and was a live sound engineer/stage tech/guitar tech for about seven years. I did love the job and I'm glad I did it, but it was pretty clear after I started touring that it wasn't feasible for me as a lifestyle.

In order to do the job consistently you have to basically be homeless and miss everything that happens at home. It wasn't like I was miserable and being held hostage, but after missing enough birthdays and holidays with family and instead spending them with other random stage techs that you aren't super close to, it gets hard to rationalize.

The days are long but the pay doesn't reflect that. If it was a show day, I'd usually work like 16 hours straight. I was working with pretty big-name acts but my day rate was still about $175 a day and if I asked for a raise they'd call someone else. Everything I did was also as an independent contractor, so my taxes were f****d to begin with. That was actually what forced me out of doing it full-time, the change to the tax code in 2017 pretty much ruined my career. I went from paying in $600 per year to paying in $4,000 in one year.

When I quit, I still kept doing it on the side for a few years with some of the local audio companies I worked with coming up, but it paid way less than touring which already didn't pay a lot. After about two years and the beginning of COVID, I walked away entirely to focus on my career as an electrician which is a much better fit.

I miss the experiences but I don't miss the lifestyle. Again, I'm glad I did it, but I'm glad I don't do it.

DeltaBearlines , Marc Schulte Report

Final score:

57points

POST

CHRIS DOMRES 1 year ago

I was a keyboardist in pop and soul bands road back in the 1970's. We would pass road sign that pointed to a great natural wonder of the world and could not stop to visit it because we were on a deadline getting to the next gig. We got to travel the country and not see any of it as we were gigging six nights a week. Then when we had time off we were broke because the pay was so low and could not afford to travel.

23points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#24

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I got my dream job as a designer of skiing magazines, but then my workload doubled with no raise, the raises I was promised never came, all of the people I liked working with left, and things just got gradually worse. I left three months ago, and they still haven't been able to fill the position because they're offering a wage that was low nine years ago for half of the work.

partial_birth , Tony Schnagl Report

Final score:

57points

POST

Blue Mar 1 year ago

Yeppp, another designer... That's how it is in this profession unfortunately. Been there.

7points

View more comments

#25

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I actually have my “dream job.” Growing up I would watch ASPCA cops and loved the idea of being a dog trainer or behavior person to help the damaged dogs get better and be adopted by loving families.

I condemn a lot more dogs to death and see broken dogs unable to be saved that ASPCA cops did not show lol

haydawg8 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

55points

POST

Uncanny 1 year ago

I think this wins the prize for the most inappropriate lol I’ve seen on line.

139points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#26

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) all through college I wanted to be a software engineer. I got the job and hated everything. the work was tedious, the impact I was making was miniscule, and my team was constantly s**t on and under appreciated. I also realized I could definitely do more than code for the rest of my life

sharkomiii , ThisIsEngineering Report

Final score:

54points

POST

Dan Padgett 1 year ago

I'm loving this list. I'm a graphic designer currently studying software development. Apparently I'm in for a world of pain.

24points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#27

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) My dream job for a long time was being a paid writer and/or screenwriter. I’ve more or less reached that point where I’m making a living writing, but boy is it different than what I expected. I could be cut/let go at anytime. Years on a temp contract with no benefits. I get the weirdest notes on scripts by someone who has no idea what story telling is. It’s a lot of keeping your head down, producing content and hoping it doesn’t get noted to the point you have to restart. My freelance writing work is similar where no one has what I dreamed of being an “artistic vision”. It’s more “we can’t shoot this in Los Angeles, so change it to Seattle” and then I have to go through the script and make the changes. A lot of it is just textual grunt work. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to make a living like this, and when I say “I’m a writer” as my living, people get all starry-eyed, but the life of a working writer is really just implementing notes and trying to make it seem like no one else can do what you do.

mattwillis , Ron Lach Report

Final score:

51points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

Same with music and arts

7points

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#28

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I thought I wanted to be a manager but ended up only having to deal with my employees personal lives and feelings and not having any time left to do the fun stuff so I left. It clearly wasn’t my thing.

WorriedOcelot1187 , Jonathan Borba Report

Final score:

48points

POST

ExistentialSoup 1 year ago

I was in upper management for a while. People hate you from both above and below! It's great. (It's not)

21points

View more comments

#29

Worked at IBM. Dream job! Especially as an OS/2 user.

The work itself was excellent. Truly excellent. Building out huge nation-spanning WANs. Deploying 1000s of workstations and the associated servers at each site. Really fun stuff.

But... the bureaucracy, OMG. The endless soul crushing pointless bureaucracy. I literally attended meetings about a meeting next month that was about a meeting a few months out that was a pre-meeting for a meeting to talk about a few hours of work. 100s of hours of time to talk about a few hours of work for 1-2 techs.

Because the work was so good I lasted 6 years, but eventually I told my boss to go f**k himself (after, for the 4th time, he tried to sneak a "promotion" past me in a review that would have made me a "manager" and also exempt from the ~$30k of overtime I was making each year.)

Zacpod Report

Final score:

44points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

I wanted to say something critical about bureaucracy, but I'm still waiting for my dog and her chew toy to give their approval on it

14points

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#30

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I am a teacher and when I first graduated college, I couldn't decide what age range I wanted to teach. My first job was 4-12 orchestra. At first this was amazing, because I could guide the same students from beginners to graduating, but I quickly learned that the 4-12 position was supposed to be a three person job and not a one person job. I unfortunately had to quit because I was so overwhelmed and my school wouldn't hire anybody else. I lasted 6 years and I don't regret it, but I also don't miss it...

karaoke_knight , fauxels Report

Final score:

43points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

Music + teaching + school administration + kids + parents + ...

11points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#31

Professional fine artist (oil paints). Went to art school, had gallery shows, eventually a couple museum shows, started to get into private collections, reviewed by art critics and started to have galleries contact me for representation. I was having to work my 40 hour a week job (which I loved) AND work at least another 40 hours making art, networking, etc

We were not taught in art school that you'll be a self-employed small business owner entrepreneur working 60-100 hours a week running a business.

After growing up poor and having to work 2-5 jobs, finally landing a 9-5 that I was decent at and enjoyed... yeah, no way I was going to continue to pursue my "dream" of making art and working my a*s off at 60-100 hours a week. No thanks.

GM_Jedi7 Report

Final score:

15points

POST

StrangeOne 1 year ago

This is how I feel about being an artist now, too. I just want it to be my own hobby, creating things I like. I would find it difficult to come up with something innovative and original every single day.

3points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#32

I worked for a small non-profit doing work that I was super passionate about. I thought it was going to be a dream job. In reality, I was super overworked and underpaid. And being such a small organization there was lots of interpersonal drama that I was just not into.

I now work a more “corporate” job, but it’s still work I’m passionate about and makes a difference. I’m getting paid over double than what I made previously, my work load is manageable, and I am way less stressed. I also really like my coworkers and boss AND I work from home full time. The job I was unsure about wound up being the dream job.

littlepinch7 Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Glengoolie Blue 1 year ago

Good to hear a positive outcome.

3points

View more comments

#33

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I dreamed of landing a job as a programmer at a large company like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc. And after years of grinding I finally made it. Only to find that making any sort of change was painfully slow with layers of bureaucracy. Sure, the pay was great, but after a certain point it just became another paycheck.

I’m considering quitting and working at smaller startups instead.

goblin_goblin , olia danilevich Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

Cost/benefit

2points

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#34

People Who Actually Got Their "Dream Job" Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories) I went to school for fashion merchandising. I had an internship in NYC where I was free labor for about 6 months at a top fashion house. It made me realize how out of touch the fashion industry is. A lot of nepotism as well. It was a lot like devil wears Prada but before Andy gets a makeover.

Curious-Collar-6109 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Froggi Juice 1 year ago

I've been wanting to go into fashion since forever, but looking at what people say about it makes me nervous that I'm not going to break into it or make any money.

1point

View more comments

#35

I always wanted to be a graphic artist. I wanted to pass by billboards that I designed, print ads I made, a portfolio with all my paid work and case studies. I even centred my major around it. When I got to the professional world of it, I found out it wasn’t as fun as it was when it’s just a hobby, not even close to how I thought it was going to be. The sleepless nights, the deadlines, moving goalposts brought by irrational revisions and indecisive stakeholders; it’s draining.

I shifted careers and started a job as a backend software developer. I find it more enjoying. If the code quality passes and it works as expected then I’m off the hook — no “Can you try a different font? I just wanna see it.” and “What happens if you switch this and that? How is it gonna look?” types of stuff. Fast forward I’m on an architect / designer role now. Best decision I’ve made for my long-term well-being. I still do graphic design, but it’s for my passion projects now.

abmendi Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Blue Mar 1 year ago

Hmmm, maybe that would be solution for me as well. Enjoyed graphic designer role but after 10 years Im feeling burnt out. The same issues, underpaid and lot lot of stress. Recently I reach my final version 37 of one project... Quit this profession but just not sure what now as I do feel creative and would like do something with it.

1point

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#36

QA tester for a video game company. I love games and gaming. Legitimately on my days off from my current job I can play video games 8-12 hours straight with only breaks for the bathroom.

However when it became a job for me I absolutely hated it. There is no freedom. You can’t talk about what you are working on with your gaming friends and buddies either since you have strict NDAs for titles. You also have weird quotas for finding bugs in the game. It’s so odd that quantity ends up becoming more of a priority than quality. Especially if you are assigned something you actually care about. Don’t even get me started on crunch times and how swaths of people get laid off so easily even when they do great work.

pureply101 Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Anyone-for-tea? 1 year ago

Oh no, this is the job I want! I don’t care about NDAs as I don’t feel like I need to talk about games with my friends and family, but I’m still hoping it will be worth it!

7points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#37

I have been fortunate enough to land my dream job several times. Sometimes I actually hired into it, but most times I hired into another job but was able to create a dream job for myself with an internal transfer after doing superlative work for a few years.

And every single time it didn't last. No matter how well I did the job, no matter how profitable for the company, no matter how satisfied the customers, at some point upper management wants *more* and hires in additional management to "improve" the situation. The new management *doesn't know what we do or how we do it* and starts micromanaging until the dream job is a daily nightmare. *Every single time.* Idiot managers often don't even know what damage they have done until we all quit and the business collapses. Some of the worst management-idiots even escape to a new promotion and suffer no consequences for the destruction.

Still salty about it? Yes, yes, I am.

primal7104 Report

Final score:

8points

POST

KatZen 1 year ago

Omg. This my ex-boss. My previous boss was great at her job AND a nice person but she had a baby and moved away. This was as the pandemic was easing and finding employees was impossible. And that includes hiring management! The new boss was the only one to interview for the job. She'd been fired from her previous job. She was a completely incompetent troll. Mean and bad at her job in every way. I quit with much "flourish".

2points

#38

i didn't really obtain my "dream job" but i got close and saw that everyone who was doing it was a depressed loser on the deep down, so i just didn't bother pursuing it anymore.

dream job was big law, and i got to the right law school for it, sat in the big law panel where they talk about their jobs, they were all d***s and bragged about how they only sleep 3 hours a day. one of them was obviously on something, adderall or cocaine. they seemed like a bunch of losers "but at least we have money"

i didn't even bother, few of my friends went into it and haven't heard from them since.

i don't know what i was expecting, probably the best people who are disciplined and not on f*****g drugs all day.

blackhistorymonthlea Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Wilhelm1313 1 year ago

Big pay, bad life. Small pay, good life?

1point

View More Replies...

View more comments

#39

I got an amazing prestigious job, great pay, benefits, ego stroking, and community respect. The internal politics were brutal. The boss was a narcissistic nightmare. They proclaimed the be an ethical thought-leading organization and we’re anything but. They treated staff so incredibly poorly. By my last few months, I was sleeping maybe 2-3 hours a night due to stress, and was horribly depressed. This was my dream job and I’m still dealing with the repercussions of the stress.

When I quit, the HR person cried, and gave me a hug and told me how proud she was of me for standing up for myself. I was the first of over 90% staff turnover. I left for a part time job making a quarter of the wage. But I started sleeping again. It was absolutely worth it.

Now, five years later, I have a new job that’s so much better, making almost as much.

ghostinyourpants Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 1 year ago

What sucks after you leave a s**t job is that it takes so f*****g long in the new job to get back to the salary level you were at before you left the s**t job. Always having to start over from scratch.

3points

#40

realtor.

I thought i would be helping people find their dream houses while also understanding the housing industry.

instead it’s a bunch of scheming and flat out lying to people, my boss flat out told me “ look if A wants to sell the house for 300k ,and B wants to buy the house for 300k, thats means we make 0$, so your job is to make A sell for 250k, and B buy for 350k so we make 100k.

Don’t trust what your realtor tells you,
I got out in less than a year.

runawaycity2000 Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago

Lionel Hutz was once a realtor so that should give people a good idea of what it would be like

4points

View more comments

#41

I wanted to run a lab and be a principle investigator in biotechnology. I got into a great grad school right after college and was part of a cutting-edge laboratory. I was on the fast track to the career of my dreams. As I learned more about what running a lab is actually like, and how bureaucratic the academic sciences were, I just lost interest. I decided to leave my PhD program early with a Master's instead and I haven't really looked back.

SemioticOverload Report

Final score:

8points

POST

M T 1 year ago

This is the fifth post about academia. Aside from freelance art type jobs, this is the most posted so far. Anyone reading this with aspirations to become a scientist, flee. We talk doom and gloom, and reality is so much worse. I cry every morning going into work, no joke.

6points

View more comments

#42

I wanted to be a scientist.

Did undergraduate degree, and tbh already knew that was not a field for me.

Did a PhD because… I knew I didn’t really like science, but I didn’t know what I did want.

Did a postdoc position (scientist). Hated it. Underpaid AF. I hate the publish or perish stressful nature of science. And the position is only 2 years, so no stability. You’re supposed to do like 2-4 of these positions before any hope to get anything permanentish. Maybe.

Became a scientist at a medical company start up. I still don’t like science. But I do get paid well enough that I am not desperate to start anything new.

CindyV92 Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Susie Elle 1 year ago

Which is the reason I stayed in the position of lab tech, and have had the luck of working for a university that put me on a research project instead of just assisting in everyone else's work. So I work as a scientist-light; without the pressure of publishing and grant-hunting, which is what my superior does, but with the in-depth research of 'my own' project.

3points

#43

Yeah, wanted to work on space stuff. Got a software engineer degree, ended up working on an instrument on a satellite (can't really say more than that without revealing too much). The job is interesting, but everything is so awfully slow. Basically, between making a decision and getting the result of that decision (ie. Changing a setting and seeing how it affects data), a whole month has passed. Projects last a long time, they're planned on full decades, maybe more. Stuck on a s****y instrument that's badly designed ? Welcome to dealing with it for the next 10 years. It's... I wouldn't say horrible, but certainly not for me. I got the degree, and I actually enjoy programming, so it's not like I'm stuck or anything, and the experience can only be seen positively for future endeavors. But I don't know what I want to do now.

Anakinss Report

Final score:

7points

POST

#44

I am a programmer. I love my job, but it's giving me a constant headache and sometimes even anxiety because if I can't finish a project in time my boss is probably going to scream at me or my coworker just because we're extremely short staffed and we need more people but my boss thinks "it's only typing on a keyboard how hard could that be"

I love my job. I love being a programmer. But trust me, it's not as good as you might think.

Even when you're home you will think about work because you work with your brain and your brain does not stop working, you are training your mindset to be a programmer most of the time and it's hard not being one

On the bright side I do most of the things in the house since I can work my ways around most things

DaviLance Report

Final score:

4points

POST

Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago

"It's only typing on a keyboard...". By extension of his thinking, everyone should also be a great novelist. Maybe he is the sort of person who thinks all those monkeys typing on a keyboard *will* write the complete works of Shakespeare

2points

What do you think ?

Cassandra Hager 1 year ago

In this thread: people who drank the "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life!" Kool aid for real. Little did they realize all labor sucks you just have to choose which one sucks the least for you.

Diolla 1 year ago

Exactly! We would not do that stuff if we weren't getting paid to do it. If we loved it we would volunteer.

0points

Load More Replies...

XenoMurph 1 year ago

A lot of these are people who lost their childhood wonder in the ordinary day to day mundane reality. But ALL jobs become mundane. If you can't still have wonder by being close to elephants or flying above the clouds, then sitting in an office or at a call centre is not going to be any better. Appreciate the little things, find that childhood wonder again, cos life doesn't get much better than that.

Beruthiel45 1 year ago

I'm sorry but this sounds a lot like farting rainbows and unicorns. Exhaustion and reality are eye openers and you cant condemn people for being disillusioned. They were probably the most idealistic people in the first place. Old saying: Cynics are disillusioned idealists. I forget who said it but as an old woman who started out all starry eyed I can assure you of its truth. The lucky few who never lose it are admirable but don't blame those who lose their rose coloured glasses because they've seen and experienced too much to bear.

Kevin J. Henning 1 year ago

The first mistake is failing to realize it's called "work" for a reason. Flowering as an individual while at "work" is nice but don't plan on it. BTW I was an ordained minister for 22 years. I now consider myself ecclesiastically agnostic.

5points

Load More Comments

People Who Actually Got Their “Dream Job” Share Why It Actually Sucked (30 Stories)

Games

Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower