10 Stories That Reveal How Jobs Poisoned Relationships

Ever thought about how jobs can mess with a relationship? Some careers turn out to be a real test for love. Here, people share how certain jobs complicated—or almost ruined—their love lives. Get ready for some eye-opening, surprising stories!

1.

• School teacher. It’s just changed too much, and they carry such a heavy burden all the time. I’m not sure when the switch happened from teachers/parents as a partnership to teachers VS parents, but that is in the top 5 of worst things ever.
  My mom saw it coming, and I’m glad both of my parents got out of teaching with their mental health, physical health, and reputations intact. Teachers today seem like they are in a no-win situation.
  © WI_Sndevl / Reddit

2.

• I was working a bar job when I met a girl who had a regular 9–5 office job. We really liked each other, but the difference in schedules slowly started to strain the relationship. We barely saw each other, and over time, the frustration built up. In the end, the mismatch in our lifestyles is what caused the relationship to fall apart. There was no big fight — just two routines that never aligned.

3.

• I once dated someone who became an aspiring influencer towards the end of our relationship. She never gained a following, but she developed the attitude. Everything revolved around content and branding. It felt like I was talking to a customer service representative at times.
  She eventually wouldn’t take pictures with me anymore because I wasn’t “advertiser friendly.” She didn’t even have sponsorships! Don’t waste your time on superficial people. © PM_ME_UR_RITUALS / Reddit

4.

• I dated a nurse, and her job destroyed our relationship. She got called in to cover an emergency shift, and I was left alone at a dinner reservation. She didn’t respond to my calls. And when she finally called me back, she was in tears, telling me she’d lost a patient.
  She was never present when we were together. We’d try to plan simple things, like a quiet weekend, but her schedule always changed last minute. One weekend, I watched her leave for a 12-hour shift, and when she came back, she didn’t even look at me. She went straight to the couch, didn’t say a word, and fell asleep.

5.

• I dated a fast-food manager, and her job ended up destroying our relationship.
  She invited us for lunch at her own home, and my mom offered to help in the kitchen. I left them comfortable and went out. Everything seemed fine.
  When I came back, I was shocked to see my mom crying. I asked what had happened, and she told me that my girlfriend was being arrogant, giving orders and correcting every move, as if she were training someone on her shift.
  At that moment, I realized it wasn’t a slip or a misunderstanding. Her job had shaped the way she treated people — even in her own home, outside of work, with my mom, there was simply no room for it. My mom didn’t even want her around. And neither did I.

6.

• I dated a professional soccer player, and his career is ultimately what ended our relationship. His entire life revolved around training, injuries, recovery, and performance. During the season, he was constantly exhausted and moody, and in the off-season, he struggled without a strict routine, cycling between bad habits and panic to get back in shape.
  Our home slowly turned into an extension of his job — gear everywhere, lingering smells, schedules that always came first. In the end, there just wasn’t space left for a relationship alongside his profession.

7.

• I dated a hairdresser who was also a makeup artist, and I learned the hard way that I couldn’t do it again. She was constantly stepping out to take care of clients — home visits, last-minute appointments, jobs outside the salon. Her schedule was never really hers, and neither was her time.
  Even when we finally had moments together, she was exhausted. And all it took was one client calling for her to drop everything and rush out for another job. Eventually, I realized I was always coming second to her work — and that’s why the relationship didn’t last.

8.

• If they have a job doing remote therapy. I’ve met a number of girls doing this job, and they were some of the most unstable individuals I’ve ever met. They don’t actually have a degree in anything to do that job. They just want to indulge their mental health hobby. If you ever get your kids online therapy, you really need to pay attention to who you’re hiring. © Definitely_Working / Reddit

9.

• Lawyer. I am a lawyer. I know lots of lawyers who are married to other lawyers, and I don’t get it. Being in a relationship with another type A person who also likes to hear themselves talk and also has to be right about everything all the time is exhausting. © Hot-Dress-3369 / Reddit

10.

• I dated a journalist, and her job came between us. On my birthday, she left the party to cover breaking news. After that, she never contacted me again. The next day, worried, I called her. To my shock, her boss answered: “Oh, so you don’t know? When she’s covering breaking news, her personal life goes on hold. She had to travel to get more information for the story we were covering.”
  After that call, she stayed distant. I reached out again, hoping we could talk things through, but she didn’t make any effort to save the relationship.

But what happens when it’s not the job — but the relationship itself — that’s the problem? The warning signs are often there from the start.