This is intended in a constructive way, so I apologize if it comes off harsh. Many of the complaints in this post betray an attitude of someone who has recentl

This is intended in a constructive way, so I apologize if it comes off harsh. Many of the complaints in this post betray an attitude of someone who has recently graduated from undergraduate, is very smart, but has little experience in the professional working world. In the future, you will encounter the exact same issues in the professional world - even amplified in some cases. Unless you want to quit every job you find, you will eventually learn the game, as most professionals do. Primary complaints: 1. No orientation, guidance Most jobs have minimal orientation and you can expect a fairly halfhearted orientation from peers. There will be nothing even close to an undergraduate course teaching you to do your job. For senior/managerial jobs there will be absolutely zero orientation, and there may be even be attempts by politically-minded peers/superiors to confuse you about your work responsibilities. 2. Work is 'performative' This is widespread at startups, corporations, and government. Much of the work we do as professionals is performative or geared towards meeting OKRs and having a whiz-bang presentation to senior leaders at the end of the year. This is not ill-intentioned. Every leader wants their org to get the resources that the company has, and must compete to impress the senior leadership. Perception is reality, and you want your work, and your people, to be perceived well. 3. Chasing low hanging fruit / Work is not important enough Nobody is working on the exact thing they dream of, unless they are a billionaire and bankroll their own spaceX. The reason someone pays you to work is because they don't want to be doing it. Your work will never feel important enough unless you are part of a very lucky and elite group of people who most likely have a massive financial stake in the work. 4. PhD as a gatekeeper This is no different from any job. You have to prove yourself before they let you fly the airplane. It is just how it works. It sucks when you feel 'ready' for higher aspirations and nobody will let you move forward. You are smart and motivated and want to do good work. The biggest challenge you will face in your career is this feeling you are feeling right now. There will always be a feeling of institutional inertia that holds you back. This will be ever-present for your entire life. The real test of your abilities as a professional is the ability to withstand it and keep finding ways to get traction under your tires when they are spinning in the mud.