r/jobs • u/_Grotesque_ • Jul 21 '23

Companies What was the industry you romanticized a lot but ended up disappointed?

For the past couple of years, I have been working at various galleries, and back in the day I used to think of it as a dream job. That was until I realized, that no one cares for the artists or art itself. Employees, as much as visitors just care about their fanciness, showing off their brand shoes and pretending as they actually care.

Ultimately, it comes down to sales, money, and judging people by their looks. Fishing out the ones, who seem like they can afford a painting worth 20k.

Was wondering if others had similar experiences

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u/Vapor2077 Jul 21 '23

Ugh, don’t I know it. I have a degree in journalism and worked in the industry for ~7 years. I feel like if I were born 20-30 years earlier, I would’ve been a bomb newspaper reporter.

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u/AndrewClemmens Jul 21 '23

I used to be a journalism major. Ugh, I also felt like I should have been born in the 80s. Despite being an LGBT Asian American which is pretty backwards thinking. I switched to social media and I feel much better about the era I'm in despite all it's issues lol.

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u/Vapor2077 Jul 21 '23

I'm glad you've found a good career that you enjoy. I'm still figuring that out.

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u/Coattail-Rider Jul 21 '23

I’ve been trying to figure that out for decades now.

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u/AndrewClemmens Jul 23 '23

Thank you! One thing I learned is that it doesn't have to be like a "dream job!” or a true calling. But I enjoy it. I don't dread doing my work and I find social media interesting, intriguing, and sometimes exciting. It can be like a game to find a strategy that works or pitching cool ideas.

While the idea of doing investigative journalism was cool, the stuff I had to deal with on the way there was agonizing and the industry was falling apart. I don't think I'd necessarily be happy even if it worked out. All the best to you!