By News18
Chasing a big dream while simply trying to make it through each day is no small feat. A 27-year-old recently shared their journey of preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams while working full-time for years. After finally quitting a mentally draining job, they found themselves unemployed and exhausted, but not without hope.
In a post titled: “Burnt out. UPSC, job switches, and now jobless at 27,” the Reddit user shared that they have been preparing for the competitive exam for quite some time. To make ends meet, they took up a job in US IT recruitment and worked during night shifts.
“I’m 27 now. I’ve been prepping for the UPSC exam for a while. Like a lot of you, I got a job to stay afloat financially while studying – I worked in US IT recruitment, doing night shifts. It wasn’t ideal, but I told myself, ‘At least I’m making money, and I’ll study during the day. It’s doable,’” the Redditor wrote.
But for the aspirant, that plan slowly began to fall apart. The work environment became toxic with daily targets, constant pressure and micromanagement. Every time they tried to give more time to the exam, the job started slipping. After switching companies a few times just to cope, the user eventually had to quit.
“Now I’m just… floating. No job, no money coming in. And this exam? It’s still in my heart. I still want it. But it’s so hard to focus when your life feels like it’s falling apart,” the post continued.
“I picked a non-core IT role like recruitment thinking it would give me space to study. But it drained me instead,” they added.
But instead of giving up, the Redditor is now looking to start over, this time with something more manageable.
“Now I’m hoping to switch into something less mentally exhausting, maybe: QA testing (manual), Business analyst/support roles IT coordinator, product support. Anything that’s good for someone new to the field. Something remote or flexible so I can still keep studying, I’m not looking for a quick fix. Just something to help me get back on my feet,” the post stated.
The Redditor concluded their post with a request to fellow Redditors. They asked for advice, referrals or any course suggestions that could help them find a stable role while they continue their UPSC journey.
“Just someone who’s tired, but not giving up,” the user signed off.
Burnt out. UPSC, job switches, and now jobless at 27.
byu/sTaLiN03 inUPSC
In the comment section, many offered support and suggestions.
One user commented, “Bro, I can feel the pain in your words, but also the spark to get through. Best of luck.”
“You can try as a faculty in coaching institutes,” someone suggested, while another said, “You could try to get into product management and continue prep.”
“If you have a family to support you, let this year slide jobless and give your all to UPSC,” read another comment.
Walking away from a toxic job is becoming more common, especially as more young professionals choose mental health over burnout. Recently, a 25-year-old woman quit her role at a well-known startup after the stress began affecting her deeply. The work environment had become so toxic that she started experiencing panic attacks even before reaching the office.