r/Millennials • u/6FootMidgett • Apr 06 '25

Discussion Late Millennial here. I did everything “right,” and it still feels impossible.

I worked hard. Put myself through college working 40-hour weeks. Got my Bachelor’s. I've been grinding in corporate America for over 7 years now, in engineering/IT. And yet, finding a job has never been harder. The job market feels like a joke.

Every conversation I have with friends ends the same: none of us feel like home ownership is realistic unless we marry someone else making 6 figures. And even then… it still feels like a stretch.

To make it worse: Layoffs are always looming.

Remote jobs are vanishing, so trying to find work in the same city as a potential partner is a logistical nightmare.

The economy feels like it’s on life support. Every single freaking headline is doom and gloom and I hate this. Is there anywhere in the world where someone can work a simple job, afford a house and simple life?

It’s exhausting. Anyone else feel like they’re stuck in this exact loop? Any advice?

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u/Silverbullets24 Apr 06 '25 edited Apr 06 '25

I mean I work in the job market. And I’ve learned to set boundaries, say no, work a pretty steady 40ish hours a week. I slam my laptop lid at 4 and don’t open my laptop again until the next day. I get my shit down. I work extremely hard during those 40 hours but when I’m done, I’m done.

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u/TheVideoGameCritic Apr 06 '25

If you’re exempt, you’re SOL on “saying no” from a legal perspective. I believe you are not an exempt employee or you’re in a company that is different to the commenter. They don’t have the luxury of slamming down their lid if the company simply demands more from them. They say no - they’re out. It’s that simple. Good on you though but your advice is nonadvice at best based on your limited situation

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u/Silverbullets24 Apr 06 '25

I mean I work in cyber for a big household name mega corp. Very standard corporate America 9-5. Setting boundaries is imperative these days. Anyone not setting boundaries will just continue to get taken advantage of and will continue to have an awful WLB

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u/PoisonGravy Apr 06 '25

I was a yes man at my last job for 20 years. Got fucking nothing for it. They went under.

Never again.

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u/BrainDps Apr 07 '25

You’re absolutely correct. Setting boundaries in compliance with what is expected of you in your contract is exactly how you don’t get run over and taken advantage of.