I am a university graduate having qualifications that are quite respected in the business world. Nevertheless, I never worked because of the prohibition of working in a mixed environment and because I wear niqaab. My refusal to work is a serious disappointment for my parents. I do not feel guilty for not becoming a career woman, but I do feel regret three things:
(1) My parenets' unhappiness and sadness keep me feeling guilt that I broke their hearts and shattered their dream of seeing me as a successful career woman.
(2) When I come across my class fellows who now work in reputable international companies, I feel tempted and lacking.
(3) When people reject my marriage proposal because of my niqaab and because I do not want to work, I experience unexplainable emotions (might be depression).
I started memorising the entire Quran, which I have almost completed, and replaced my hijaab with the niqaab. I tried my best but could not find a job in a non-mixed environment. My parents sacrificed alot for my education; so I cannot handle their sadness and their aversion after their love.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

First of all, we ask Allaah to relieve your distress and make for you a way out of your difficulties and sorrow and facilitate your worldly affairs as well as those of the Hereafter and make your parents pleased with you.

We also congratulate you for the grace of Allaah on you by guiding you to the right path and to memorizing the Quran and wearing the niqaab. We ask Allaah to make us and you steadfast on His religion, to enable us to die upon performing a righteous deed, and to make us avoid sins.

We advise you to always be careful of the lures of the devil in trying to seize the opportunity of your distress to cast thoughts in your heart that might tempt you in your religion and your Hereafter. Indeed, the devil is the enemy of man; Allaah says (what means): {Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.} [Quran 35:6] So you should not pay any attention to these thoughts; rather, you should repel them and seek refuge in Allaah from the accursed Satan. Rather, try to irritate the devil by feeling the grace of righteousness and being grateful to Allaah for it and asking Him for more.

As regards work, then, indeed, you did well by avoiding working in mixed places, and it is normal that your parents are sad that you did not get a job, but this is a kind of affliction, and a believer should be patient when he is afflicted as the outcome of patience is goodness in this worldly life and the Hereafter.

For more benefit on the virtue of patience, please refer to fatwa 83577.

Along with patience, you should supplicate Allaah to bless you with a job that is free from Islamic prohibitions such as mixing and the like; hoping that Allaah will enable you to this effect. Indeed, Allaah answers the supplication and fulfills the need of His slaves. Allaah says (what means): {And when My servants ask you [O Muhammad] concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:186]

For more benefit on the etiquette of supplication, please refer to fataawa 88296 and 92363.

We also advise you to consult some trustworthy people who are religious and pious from among your relatives and others hoping that they will help you in getting a job.

If you are not married, then you should endeavor to get married hoping that Allaah will bless you with a pious husband who would help you in getting a job, even in another country where Islamic conditions are met.

It should be noted that it is permissible for a woman to look for a husband, and she may seek the help of others in this regard. She may also propose herself – within the limits of Islam – to the man whom she wishes to marry, as has been clarified in fatwa 82471.

Allaah knows best.