Gender: MaleSubmitted on 17 August 2026 at 12:36 pm
I am thirty-one and still trying to figure out my career
My Career Confession at 31 I don't usually talk about my career struggles publicly, but I feel like sharing this might help me and maybe someone else going through something similar. I completed my Engineering from SPPU in 2017. After that, I spent several years preparing for the Civil Services Examination, until 2022. It was a period that taught me discipline, patience and a lot about society and governance, but it also meant that my career didn't move in the conventional direction. I then decided to change course and completed my Master's in Public Policy and Governance. Today, I am working with an NGO in Pune. I have gained meaningful experience in social impact, projects, research, governance and development. I genuinely value the work I do. But honestly, I am frustrated. I am 31 now, earning around ₹5 LPA, and finding it difficult to move forward in my career. I want to transition into the corporate sector, particularly into areas like ESG, sustainability, social impact consulting or related roles. The challenge is that my journey doesn't fit neatly into the usual corporate career path. Sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong choices. Sometimes I feel that I am starting my career much later than everyone else. And sometimes, despite having education and experience, I don't know what the next step should be. I know I cannot change the years that have passed. What I can do is make the next few years count. So, this is my honest confession: I am still trying to figure out my career at 31. If you have gone through a career transition, moved from the development/NGO sector to corporate, or work in ESG, sustainability, consulting or public policy, I would genuinely appreciate hearing your experience. Maybe I don't need sympathy. Maybe I just need some perspective, guidance and the right opportunity to prove myself. Still figuring it out. Still learning. Still moving forward.
Confessions and community comments reflect individual experiences and views. They are not a substitute for professional medical, legal, or financial advice. Please follow our Community Guidelines and report concerns to the team.
Sponsored
👍 Reactions
👍5
💬 Comments (3)
Anonymous21 August 2026 at 10:23 am
Its ok bro life is different for everyone some have figured out at 18 some are trying to figure out in late 30s and some are leaving everything and starting over from 0 in their 40s life is unfair you just have to keep moving forward loose 1000 times get up loose 100,000 times get up because giving up is the real failure as long you keep showing up regardless of results your mood universe will bless you one day as well i am proud of you brother keep going
👍 2
Anonymous21 August 2026 at 2:53 pm
Your profile is actually perfect for ESG/impact consulting. Companies are hiring people who’ve done the work, not just PowerPoints. Key tips: 1. Reframe NGO exp as "project management + stakeholder engagement + data + policy" 2. Do 1-2 ESG certifications like GRI, SASB to speak corporate language 3. Network with people in ESG teams on LinkedIn. You’ve got this. Keep going.
👍 2
Anonymous23 August 2026 at 11:20 am
I don’t think you should look at your journey as “starting late.” Your path is unconventional, but it has given you something many conventional corporate candidates don’t have, strong exposure to governance, public policy, research, social impact and complex societal issues. The key now is to stop trying to compete with candidates who have followed a traditional corporate path and instead position your experience for the roles you want. ESG, sustainability, public affairs, CSR, impact consulting, stakeholder management and policy related corporate roles can all benefit from your background. At ₹5 LPA, the frustration is understandable, but your current salary doesn’t define your future earning potential. Identify 2 to 3 specific roles, understand the skills and certifications employers are actually asking for, build those gaps deliberately, and network with people already working in those fields. Also, don’t spend too much time regretting the years spent preparing for civil services. Those years are part of your story, they don't have to become a permanent disadvantage. At 31, you still have decades of working life ahead. The goal shouldn't be to catch up with everyone else, it should be to build a career that makes sense for your strengths and experience. Your next move matters far more than the timeline you think you should have followed.
Have something to share?
Share your anonymous workplace story with our community. Submissions are reviewed for safety and published if approved — no account required.
Submit Confession💬 Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts anonymously.
ℹ️ Your comment will be posted publicly on Facebook if it complies with our community guidelines.
← Previous
They disrespected my family but expect me to run their event
Next →
Comments for Post #C27949