Who signed us up for this career rollercoaster? …Welcome to the ‘figuring it out’ stage
So this week, let’s talk about work. Or in some cases, the lack of it. Because honestly? Adulthood didn’t just sneak up on us with funerals and weddings, it also showed up with job searches, hustles, and LinkedIn pressure. 😅
Over the weekend, one of my friends called for our usual catch up. But somewhere between laughs and “how’s work?” we ended up deep in life talk about careers, hustling, and how adulthood is really not serving what it promised.
At one point, she went quiet and for a second I thought it was Airtel misbehaving again because I kept saying, “Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?” 👀📞. But nope, it wasn’t the network this time. She just sighed and dropped it, “Honestly, I thought by now I’d be in a job I actually love, coming home to my own place, maybe even parking a Vitz outside. At 25, life was supposed to be shiny. But here I am, almost in my late twenties, still trying to figure out my next move.”
That conversation gave me the idea to write this blog, because the truth is, she’s not the only one feeling this way. Many “new aunties and Uncles” out there can relate.
Growing up, most of us had a checklist to finish school, get a job, get married, buy a car, move into your own space by age 25. Simple, right? Dreaming is free and it’s allowed, but life said “Lol not today 😂”
Reality has been nothing but plot twists. Diplomas or Degrees don’t guarantee jobs anymore. And if you’re lucky to get one, the paycheck might not even cover rent, food, and transport altogether.
I’ll be honest, I’ve had my fair share of career drama. There were mornings I’d wake up at 04:00, preparing to show up at a job where they promised to hire me. They promised to bring me on board, so I showed up every day like a loyal intern-in-law, hoping this was “the one.” 💼✨ Spoiler alert? The job ghosted me harder than ZESCO during load shedding, just when you need electricity the most. 🙃
But that’s the reality of careers, nobody really prepared us for how messy, confusing, and sometimes disappointing it can be. People will promise you the world, tell you all the things you want to hear, and then disappear like that drunk uncle on a Friday night saying, “Send me your CV, I know the manager.” 😅 Add the endless “we regret to inform you”emails (or even worse, complete silence), and some days it’s enough to make you want to crawl back under your bed covers and pretend adulting isn’t real.
And don’t even get me started on LinkedIn. That platform is basically the red carpet of adulthood. Everyone’s out here looking dapper with their degrees, promotions, scholarships, corner offices, international conferences… you name it. And in Mr Zimba’s voice, “Who de hell?” 😂
Meanwhile, you’re just sitting there, trying to figure out how to make “actively unemployed but hopeful” sound like a catchy headline. 🥴
And then there’s the Ten Manga Group of Hustlers, the Business Gurus of this generation😎💼. We see you “new aunties and uncles”, and we’re clapping 👏🏾 for you over here! Honestly, if adulting handed out medals, hustlers like you would already be on the podium, waving at the rest of us still trying to survive the week, sleeping on Friday, and the next thing you know, it’s already Monday. 😅
That’s the nature of this generation of “new aunties and uncles.” We don’t just sit around waiting for things to happen. Hustles aren’t just side jobs anymore, they’re basically a survival kit. At this point, they’re part of who we are. Selling clothes, running salons, baking cakes, freelancing, sometimes because you love what you do, however in most cases, let’s be real, it’s just for survival. Because honestly, how else are we supposed to make a paycheck last? It starts with “just groceries,” but somehow your money catches the next bus and leaves you stranded. 🚌🤦🏾♀️. Either way, it’s real life, and we’re living it.
And just when you’re trying to figure things out, society decides to join the party with all its pressure. You finally land a job, barely remember everyone’s names in the office, and someone hits you with, “So… when are you buying a car?” or “When are you starting your master’s?”… Hello?? 👀 calm down please, I just found my desk!
Meanwhile, the reality is totally different for everyone. Some new aunties and uncles are staring at classmates who are already supervisors, wondering how they got left behind. Family expectations are always around, reminding you of what you “should” be doing, and those childhood dreams? Yeah, they’re judging too.
And let’s be honest, life doesn’t make it any easier. There’s always that one cousin who just has to remind you they got promoted… again. 😅 Or the friend posting a new business launch while you’re still figuring out how to stretch last month’s salary or “still searching”. Welcome to adulthood, where everyone’s leveling up and you’re just trying to survive the week without accidentally sending a “reply all” email. 🙃
In all honesty, this thing can crush you. Depression is real. The comparison game? Brutal. Some nights you’re just lying in bed asking yourself, “Am I late? Am I behind?” while scrolling Instagram or LinkedIn and boom, another “new aunty/uncle” is out here announcing a promotion, a new job, or their side hustle turning into a big business.
Meanwhile, you? You’re just out here clapping for yourself because you made it through another week of sending CVs that land straight in HR’s recycle bin, refreshing your email like it’s a WhatsApp chat that will never blue tick you, and pretending LinkedIn “open to work” banners are not haunting you in your sleep. At this point, even surviving unpaid internships deserves a standing ovation 👏🏾🫡
But here’s the thing…
As the “new aunties/ uncles,” we’re basically interns in this adulthood thing, still learning how to carry responsibilities while also trying to shape our own unpredictable paths. Half the time, it feels like we’re winging it, because we actually are.😉
Right now, some are grinding at a 9-5, others are managing two side hustles, some are running small businesses, and some are still hunting for that one big thing. And let’s be real, even hunting is also work. The rejection emails, false promises, and LinkedIn flexing that makes you feel like you’re the only one not “succeeding.” 🙃
But here’s the truth, just showing up, trying, and surviving? That’s already a win. We clap 👏🏾 for you over here. Because being in the game at all, whether you’re winning, losing, or just warming the bench, that’s still something.
We’re all just getting started, figuring it out and learning along the way. That’s the real face of this stage. And weirdly enough, that’s what makes us strong, though just a little tired, a little broke, but still strong. 💪🏾😂
What’s your hustle/career story? Share it. Let’s normalise the chaos together.
Until next time,
Your resident New Aunty 💁🏽♀️
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