Should I quit my apprenticeship?

Hi guys,

I honestly didn't expect to even consider this.

I'm turning 19 next month, living in Germany and I just finished my 1st of 3 years of an apprenticeship (work and school) in the IT industry.

I don't love it, but I also don't hate it - it's pretty chill and time passes by realtively fast, and the pay is pretty good compared to what other companies offer + christmas bonuses, etc.

So you can get an idea, I currently get about $1200 per month before taxes. After finishing the apprenticeship, if I do stay in the company I'll probably get around $3500 per month in the beginning, again, that's before taxes.

Now coming to my problem - I now pretty much make double the amount I'm currently getting "part time". I'm starting to think that there's not much more I can improve like this though, simply because there's not enough time left and I get tired. My schedule is pretty much: wake up, drive to work, work, drive back home, go to the gym (or train at home to save time) get a quick nap and work from 7 to 11/12. I try to get about 7 and a half hours of sleep per night, otherwise I can't really function properly more than 2 days in a row.

I don't see myself working as an employee for a long period of time, even after finishing the apprenticeship, depending on how much I'd make on my own I'd probably work for 1 or 2 years at most.

I still live with my parents - which means that I don't have huge expenses, and I also have enough money saved to basically cover 3 years worth of my current expenses. Even if I'd move out, living frugally I could still cover around 10 months.

I gave some hints about dropping the apprenticeship (Ausbildung) to my parents recently - talked more about it with my mother and, although she doesn't fully support it she is understanding, my father however is more inclined to the other side and wants me to finish so I have a stable degree. Although understandable, it's probably, and hopefully, a degree I'll never use.

The point of no return would basically be February/March next year, by then I'd have pretty much finished half of my apprenticeship, and I don't think I'd throw away 1.5 years like that.

I feel like if I'd have more time and wouldn't be so tired when working I'll be able to scale everything a lot more and also be able to further develop my skills and build other income streams as well.

This is pretty much my mini existential crisis this evening.

Well, first of all congrats on your skills and that you lasted so far in the school.(hehe). There are many things to say about this and we all could just point our directive opinion towards you but it won't change the fact that it's your LIFE!.

I think living a life that give you a purpose(not an automatic one: E.g - Wake up, go to work, come back, eat - repeat) will make it easier. Now money wise, tbh, if you're skilled in what you're doing, I wouldn't even bother to find a mobile job(If you can have a stable income from home). I find going to gym pretty cool(I also live in Germany, and I am also Jobless) that doesn't mean you can' t do something from home.

Anyway, as for your future, you should not abandon the school(apprenticeship ) even though I have never considered school as an "elemental factor of life" and I jumped out of it myself, I've always encouraged everyone else to make it to the end. It'd be lovely to have that diploma and be certified in something(IT in your case).

Anyway, make your choices wisely as you're only 19 and there's a long way ahead of you. Good luck!

Finish it, you've started it and you can always learn more or get connections and experience. I would only quit my stable job if I make at least double that and there's hardly any way for me to be left without money. Which for me means that I would have to have savings of up at least 1 full year to cover anything else that may go wrong. Work for them, secure your own money, save up to give you a good start on something you do as a side gig and to give you the freedom to turn that into something full-time.

I know this is probably not what you want to hear, but finish school first.

You are still very young, mate. I'd recommend you to finish your apprenticeship. You'll have a peace of mind, when you have at least something in your hand. A plan B if you want to call it. You will be 21, when you are finished with your Ausbildung. That's nothing, man. Quitting is a bad long-term decision in my opinion. I am or was in the same position as you. I thought of quitting college but having a diploma as backup is not a bad idea, even if you will probably never need it. I made a compromise with myself and decided not to invest my whole time into college and take it easier, so that I can focus more on IM. It will probably take me a few years more to get my diploma than other students but I don't give a shit. You have the benefit of getting a salary too, I don't. And you even enjoy it. Pull through these 2 years, save and invest your salary since you are not dependent on it.

Finish your apprenticeship.

It's always good to have a safety net, the worst thing in life if having no other option than doing factory work or some other shit job you absolutely hate. At least with a qualification that shouldn't ever be a problem for you.

Saying that, if it's something you know you'll never use and you have a clear idea of something else you actually want to do and that you're confident will be your source of income, then there's also that the time you spend on your apprenticeship could be spent on what you really want to do.

Like others said, you're young and putting some time into getting a safety net is a smart move. But make the decision for yourself. If you know that you want to go one way or the other, be confident in your ability to make good decisions and go for whichever one you choose 110%, irrespective of what anyone else thinks.

You'll have to rely on your decision making skills throughout your whole life.. it's important to continually keep working on them.. that happens by making tough decisions over and over again.

I would advise against quitting. Is what you're doing "part time" actually something you can still do in the long run?

I don't wanna be the guy, but leaving my apprenticeship (also in Germany) was the best decision ever. Actually these wankers kicked me out tho. I spent more time developing myself, learning something really valuable, which could ME make become rich, instead of me making SOMEONE ELSE become rich.

Its a tough decision. A real life changing one. If you don't hate it and its fine for you: Finish it, work on IM part time, learn as much as possible for IM and as soon as you finished the apprenticeship you can start your own business or make a long holiday first.

play it safe and finish your degree
or fuck it and pursue your own personal/business goals. 99% of people will not support you, not even your parents. part of the game.
bet you can fix computers on the side, focus in businesses. make more $ in 1-2hr than most make all day at a j-o-b.

I used to be like you

Wake Up , Office . back home,, work and get sleep for 6 hours or 8 hours.
Then My sleep schedule gets fcked.

Make sure your income won't get affected after you leave the work.
I made sure And now I am Good.

If it's not something that you hate, finish it. This way you'll have a safety net in case you won't succeed in IM.

Thank you guys for your answers!

It's not something I hate, but it's also not something I enjoy. It's mostly the thought that I could do more productive stuff during that time which will get me closer and faster to my goals.

The market I am in is also pretty underdeveloped in Germany compared to the US or UK, which means less competition. I currently only target US clients but I know that I could make good money with businesess from my area too - for that I need to develop my skills further though, and I don't really have the time for it currently.

What is currently holding me back from quitting, is the safety as you guys said. It's nice to have... but do I really need it?!

I'll give myself time until next year to reflect on everything, and based on how my business evolves I will make a decision.

And as you guys stated, I am young - which is also why I feel like taking the risk. If I fail, I can start another apprenticeship anytime, I still have my (pretty good) school degree.

UPDATE: I quit - September is my last month, quitting with one year left before finishing.

What made me do it:
- No time left for anything across work/school and business (not even gym)
- Very bad sleep schedule (overall unhealthy lifestyle)
- My business income surpassed what I would make working full time in the IT field with the diploma I would have gotten
- Not a job I see myself doing in the future
- Savings account & investments big enough to support almost 2 full years of living with 0 income, IF i move out and live alone. Living with my parents, my expenses are minimal.
- chances of passing the final exam with current knowledge pretty slim (under 50% in my midway exam)


Although I’m super young, turning 20 in November, I don’t want to waste any more time of my life doing things I hate (it’s gotten to the point where I can say that I hated what I was doing). Some recent events from my close circle of friends and family made me realize that life is short, sometimes shorter than expected - so I want to make the most out of it.

Yes, it is a bit scary, and it sucks that I won’t have about $900 hitting my account every month on the same date, 100% guaranteed, but I’m confident that the extra time I have on my hands will make up for it in extra income.

I would say finish it up and work your part-time gig on the side. Burn yourself out and rest when it's over. This gives you options but also a stable future no matter what comes up.

work hard - work smart - success does not come cheap or easy

Stay in school
Finish your apprenticeship

Carve your own path of what you want to do, remember time & money are scarce resources. But they are YOURS in life to manage.

I'd say stay in your apprenticeship and endure the final year as you can. The degree will always be one of your bigger assets when things will go south and there are times that they will because life doesn't always go your way.

Goof luck

Expect to have no food on plate for the next 5 years and battling yourself all that time until you learn all the stuff you need.

This is gonna be tough, but good luck in hitting the jackpot.

Which you have no plan for hitting.

I thought the same when I was 20. That I hate whatever I was doing.

Turned out it was just my wishful thinking I can live however I want.

And it turns out that to hit that jackpot, you need to do the stuff you thought you hate.

But once you see it bringing in the results, you start to love it.

Germany is one of those countries where hard work pays off. I am living to the east of Germany. I need only $400 monthly.
If I had Germania income, I would never leave my job cause it would bring 10 times as much as I need.

I thought about moving to Germany, but I was arrested and can't do shit now.

Stay careful and get part time job. I would work at least 80 hours a month.

Just make sure you know how to milk the client and make sure the client isn't milking you.
Always charge upfront and take payments in advance, so you don't get ripped off.

This is gonna be hardcore until you learn your skill, you learn sales and basically you become a businessman with a degree.
So that's why it's gonna be 5 years.