LEFT MY FIRST JOB AFTER 9 MTS (w no back up plan)
(A different content from my usual post but thought to share my own experience after reading many post about work these days)
Am i really weak for leaving my first job after 9 months?
In the environment that i was bought up, it was seen as though not being able to stay in one job would seem useless/ weak and in Chinese they call it 没出息。
When i started my first job initially i think or almost everyone would think to stay for a year or 2 before hopping to a better place, but when work started, 3-6 months in, i started having the thoughts to leave due to various reasons. That's when i realised i started questioning myself, am i really that weak to not be able to last even 1 year, am i just not suited for this, what was my initial goal and purpose and what's my breaking point or limit.
As someone with partially tradition parents/ relatives (partial because my mum really tries to understand & supported me in what ever decision i make) its really disheartened to get shoot down and mock over everything i do that's not perfect or wonderful or the standards, and having this comes from your family or close one can make one feel even more miserable. Hence everything that i was struggling from work was seen as nothing as back in their days they have it tougher (which i gets tbh), but i feel in todays generation we all have a different kind of struggle and it shouldn't be overlooked. so with family members opinions that really matters, i couldn't leave, more like i didn't dare to leave my job when i really wanted to.
From the pics your might be able to guess the industry of the job, and if those that know this industry is known for the harsh environment physically and mentally, and that it has a majority male and minority female population (although in recent years there's been an increase of females in the industry)
So reasons i left this job... so many reasons these are just the few that impacted me more.
1) I was overall very unhappy, i realise i always bring the emotions i have back home and my family members have to endure the attitude i gave them due to the stress from work i was having.
2) Genuinely exhausted mentally & physically.
3) Health- poor sleep with the extreme stress ( ie waking in the mid of the night to realise I may have made a mistake in my work.
4) Different treatment in gender - in the sense that my work have to back up with my other male colleagues (that’s fresh grad like me), one occasion where I had to explain to him just to explain to another person cos they won’t listen from me.
5) Workload - at the point when I was serving my notice I was doing work that not 1 but of a few seniors roles was previously/ should be doing … moreover I was just a fresh grad, not saying I can’t, just thinking about the jump responsibilities & stress to be accountable for things you don’t know.
6) Under Appreciated- this was my breaking point tbh
7) last straw was - we were force to come back to work on Sundays when we already working more than 5 days a week and this happen in the month when i was serving my notice before that it was announced that our AL will be froze untill we hit “our goal”. Understand that it’s crunch time and critical period, but it just doesn't sit right with me. Don't ppl have a life outside of work ? I do have quite a number of things planned outside of work, and having this disrupting my schedule really irks me.
To some, might think it’s fine this is life/I’m free anyways/youth is the time of struggle. But then when do we draw the line between putting ourselves first or pushing ourselves to expand our capacity. Personally came to realise I should put myself first and decide to leave after finally hearing my dad finally told me “ leave bah”. Which to me was a final acknowledgment, that maybe my decision to leave wasn’t a 100% wrong decision.
For those that are just stepping into working world or like me still fresh to the working world, nothing should matter more then your own mental health and physical health, no health don’t even think of earning money, and in turn u might have to even spend more money healing yourself ❤️🩹
That also doesn’t mean we should anyhow leave our jobs, weight your pros n cons and once u have decided, just believe everything will be fine, + take action to make a change. You can always try again as long as pride n ego doesn’t get in the way. 🤣
Although I did left my job with no back up plan (ie no next job) as I want to take a break, I did manage to find myself a job just 2 months after. So for those that left your job and are still looking for jobs jiayou 💪🏻💪🏻
Thanks for reading to the end, if there’s any part would like me to go in-depth on can lmk!!
Leaving a job shortly after starting can feel daunting, especially without a new position lined up. From my own journey, I've learned the importance of recognizing when a job is harming your well-being rather than helping it. It's not about weakness but about self-awareness and courage. Many people hesitate to quit because of societal or family expectations. In my case, traditional views made me feel guilty for leaving early, but eventually, I realized that mental and physical health must come first. No job is worth sacrificing your peace of mind or personal life. The physical toll I experienced was real — from eye infections affected by the work environment to chronic exhaustion and stress-induced sleep issues. These health struggles made me reevaluate what I was willing to endure. Another challenge was the gender dynamics and uneven workload, which added emotional strain. Feeling underappreciated and overworked led me to understand that respect and recognition are crucial. After weighing these factors, and with the support of a few understanding people, especially my mom and eventually my dad, I took a break. It was scary to leave without a backup plan, but it turned out to be the best decision for me. Taking time off helped me recover, regroup, and eventually find a new job better suited to my needs. For anyone thinking of leaving their job early, I’d say: listen to yourself, honor your feelings, and don’t be ashamed to prioritize your mental health. It might feel risky, but sometimes it's necessary for personal growth. And if you do leave without another job, stay positive and active in your job search — opportunities will come. Remember, everyone's career path is unique, and taking unconventional steps is okay. Your well-being is the foundation for any success you aim to achieve.
I'm 8 months into my first job too, feeling drained mentally and physically as well. Feel like quitting too, but I'm not sure if I can find the next job soon, and if the next job will be better...🥺