This is my first serious reddit post, so please be nice! I apologize in advance for how long this is going to be. I’m just really desperate for some advice…
I’m currently 22, soon to be 23 in a couple of months. I have been unemployed for the entirety of my 20’s. I graduated high school in 2022 for context, so over four years ago now. I worked in high school for about a year and a half, but quit to focus on my first semester of college. (Fall 2022.)
I then, dropped out of college after my first semester. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I felt overwhelmed with life at the time. I took a few months off after that, and ended up getting a full time job at Walmart in March of 2023. That was when I was 19. I worked for about 7-8 months there, before leaving to attend an Esthetician program. They didn’t want to work with my new schedule, so I didn’t really have another option at the time. I truly wish I had never left, as that was my last job.
I was enrolled in my Esthetician program from November of 2023, until I completed it in May of 2024. During that time, I focused strictly on the program and didn’t work. Then I kind of procrastinated for the summer like a dumb 20 year old. I didn’t take the exam to get my license until September of 2024.
From that point on, is where things really go down hill for me. I didn’t immediately start looking for Esthetician jobs, or any job in general for that matter. I was struggling with severe mental health issues at the time, and started going to therapy for the first time. I’ve been doing that for exactly two years now, so at least there’s that! I’m much better. Still no job though. Other than therapy, I didn’t do anything remotely proactive for about 9 months. I was mostly just stuck.
I didn’t start applying anywhere until the summer of 2025. (Age 21 then.) That’s about a year after getting licensed. I tried a few places and didn’t get hired due to lack of experience in the field. At least that’s what I was told every time. That discouraged me a lot. There aren’t many places to work as an esthetician in my area, and I can’t afford to rent a room and work for myself without another job first.
I originally wanted to get my esthetician’s license to get into the dermatology field. I was going to go back to school and get a BSN, and eventually become a Dermatology/Aesthetic nurse. I planned to work as an esthetician & gain experience with skin, while attending school. I’m not even sure if that’s exactly what I want to do anymore, but I’m not gonna waste time regretting getting my esthetician’s license either. That’s pointless and depressing. I know I could use it on the side/as a retirement plan anyway. It just isn’t really what I want to do as a career though.
I spent the second half of 2025 and the first half of 2026 (now age 22), applying/interviewing for ANY job I could find. I wasn’t able to get anything. I’d like to add that I have mild-moderate social anxiety, and I feel like it really acts up during interviews. In general it’s gotten worse since I haven’t been doing things outside of my comfort zone for the past two years. It used to be VERY mild. I feel pretty bad about myself, and I feel like I have noticeably low confidence during interviews.
I’m not even trying to get a GOOD job, I just want to work at Walmart again or any retail job. I just need a job, so that I can go back to feeling like a semi-functional human being again. I’ll worry about the rest when I return back to the real world. I’m now 22, and I’m going to be 23 in the next couple of months. Most of my friends graduated college back in May, and are heading towards their real careers. I feel embarrassed, ashamed, and incredibly behind. I’ve been trying to figure it out, but it’s rough.
My partner and I got an amazing opportunity to rent a house from someone he knows. We have been together since high school, and he is currently 24. He’s way ahead of me. He can afford our rent, but that’s really not the point. I don’t want him to support me. He’s already been on his own for a few years, but this is my first time moving out. He really wanted me to move in with him, as I’ve been living in a really unstable environment. He believes this has contributed to my mental health and ability to move forward in life, and I agree. It’s not the sole reason, but it has definitely contributed to my struggles.
Anyway, I really want and need to contribute to our finances. So now, I REALLY need a job. It’s no longer only about me wanting this for myself, but I also need to do this for him. I want to contribute and be an actual partner. I need to be an actual adult. I literally just want any job. ANY job. I don’t care if it’s minimum wage for now. I just want to be a real person again.
My resume is obviously not good. I only have two years of work experience split between three jobs, there are months of gaps between them, my last job was three years ago, I have a random license, I’m not currently enrolled in college, etc. It looks terrible. I know it does. I have a bad resume and I have interviewing anxiety. I don’t know how to stand out. I don’t know if I need to do something to my resume, do something specific during interviews, or both probably? I just need help.
How should I approach my resume/explain employment gaps? What can I do to improve my interview skills and manage my anxiety? How can I stand out when the job market is so competitive? It’s even competitive for extremely entry level jobs. Should I be focusing on certain jobs? I’m willing to work hard.
If you took the time to read all of this, I greatly appreciate it. Seriously, you’re amazing, I know my life story probably wasn’t necessary, and the self deprecation might be over the top. I would love to hear some advice and feedback though. Thank you so much!!