Summary

An individual reflects on the transformative impact of frequently changing jobs, emphasizing personal growth, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment in one's career.

Abstract

The author shares their personal journey of leaving 14 jobs within 10 years, detailing the lessons learned from each experience. Initially excited by the promise of career advancement, they found themselves trapped in the cycle of overworking without the reward of promotion. This led to burnout, prompting a leap into the unknown by quitting without a backup job. The process of job-hopping became addictive, teaching the author to stand up for themselves and gain diverse experience across various fields. Eventually, they achieved their dream of becoming a web developer, learning to persevere despite challenges. The journey also highlighted the importance of work-life balance, the benefits of remote work, and the necessity of being selfish at times to prioritize personal goals. The author concludes by acknowledging that not all employers are bad and that each job change, whether positive or difficult, contributed to their growth.

Opinions

Employers often use the term "one day" to promise future promotions that may never materialize, leading to overwork without adequate recognition or reward.
Doing more than what is required can backfire, as extra effort may become an expected norm rather than a reason for promotion.
Burnout is a serious risk when one's hard work is taken for granted, and it is a sign to start seeking new opportunities.
Quitting a job without having another lined up can be both thrilling and scary but may also provide a sense of urgency that drives one to persist in their job search.
Regularly changing jobs can teach individuals to advocate for themselves and not accept being taken advantage of.
Exposure to different fields through multiple jobs can provide valuable and varied experiences, offering insights into personal strengths and preferences.
Pursuing one's dreams, such as transitioning to web development, requires silencing self-doubt and maintaining forward momentum despite intimidating circumstances.
Sometimes, stepping back from a dream job can be necessary to reassess goals and pursue new opportunities that align better with one's life circumstances.
The flexibility of remote work is highly valued, especially in the post-COVID era, as it allows for a better work-life balance and more time with family.
Despite the challenges of job-hopping, it can lead to meeting a diverse range of fantastic people and enriching one's life with meaningful connections.

How Leaving 14 Jobs in 10 Years Completely Transformed My Mindset

11 Thoughts From a Chronic Job Hopper

Starting a new job can be exciting and scary.

You’re progressing in your career, but you never know if the next place will be better or worse than the previous one.

What if you start quitting regularly while pursuing your dream job?

You could be surprised by how much you can actually learn along the way.

‘One day’ — Favourite Term Used by Employers for Promises They Cannot Keep

I remember one of my first jobs when I moved to London — I worked in a kitchen.

I would start at 5am and be there alone for the first hour, unpacking a massive walk-in fridge filled with heavy trays of food and drinks that delivery guys left overnight.

Physically and mentally — it was exhausting. You were never fast enough to satisfy them.

After a year, the big boss decided to talk to me — ‘If you keep working like you do, we’ll make you a kitchen manager one day. Don’t you want to be a manager?’

They usually want to talk to you when they sense that you’re about to leave, or when you’ve already handed in your resignation.

Not a minute earlier.

Doing More Than Necessary is The Biggest Trap You Can Fall Into

At the age of 19, alone abroad, and with English not being my first language, the possibility of becoming a manager ‘one day’ seemed like a dream.

But that day never came.

If you keep working more than any of your colleagues, remember that the extra unpaid hours can quickly shift from appreciated effort to expected performance.

Once they become accustomed to the results you’re providing, they may try to keep you doing it for as long as possible.

Forget about a promotion.

It’s likely that your lazier colleagues will get it, only to be replaced by someone more efficient and willing to do the hard work for free — like you.

While this is not the case every single time, it happens frequently.

Burnout Will Take the Best Out of You

Giving your all and being taken for granted can turn your mind into a ticking bomb.

Start looking for a new job once you notice that everything and everyone irritates you.

One day, I had enough, and I said I was leaving.

I felt immediate relief.

Embracing the Unknown Can Be Thrilling and Scary at The Same Time

I still needed to work at least part-time, but I left without having another job lined up.

I’m not saying it’s the best approach and that everyone should do it.

You need a lot of mental strength and resilience to navigate this path without losing your mind.

If you’re easily discouraged or a few rejections make you immediately give up, then you shouldn’t take this route. Find another job first.

There will be hundreds of ‘we found a better fit for the role’ or ‘your experience and set of skills doesn’t match what we are looking for’ kind of emails.

And you’ll be getting stressed and frustrated because you’ll need something as soon as possible — the bills won’t magically pay themselves.

Quitting Jobs Can Become Addictive

I’ve recently realised that until now, I never left a job with the next one secured.

It is scary, I won’t lie, not knowing what lies ahead.

There’s nothing pleasant about walking around with only a few pounds in your pocket, waiting for your first salary because finding a new job took longer than you expected.

But at some point I actually appreciated the sense of urgency that pushed me to persistently search until I achieved my goal.

Quitting began to feel natural once my expectations weren’t met in a new workplace.

Quitting Makes You Learn How to Stand up for Yourself

Because what can you lose? The job?

Well, you’ll find another. You’ve done it before.

I believe in kindness and patience, but it doesn’t mean you should stay quiet while some people take advantage of it and try to walk all over you.

You Gain Experience Across Different Fields, and Each One Teaches You Something New About Work and Yourself

Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked as a cleaner, nanny, and a dog walker.

I was a kitchen assistant and a cashier. I worked in warehouses, then I got a job as a foreign exchange consultant.

I worked as a call centre interviewer. Then I dealt with monitoring and quality assurance.

During COVID I became an administrator — that’s when I decided it was the time to try my luck with web development. My big dream.

I felt that there was still a lot for me to learn, but I knew that the market was full of entry-level positions and I could get one.

If You Keep Looking for It You’ll Find It Eventually

I got my first job as a Web Developer back in 2021.

It was a dream come true, but it doesn’t mean it was easy.

Being new with very basic knowledge, and the only girl in a team of more skilled and experienced guys, was intimidating.

You need to learn how to silence that little voice in your head and keep going no matter what.

And that’s exactly what quitting jobs taught me.

The sense of urgency makes you stop overthinking how you feel and what you like or don’t like.

You just keep going because you have no other choice.

You Know That Sometimes Taking a Step Back Lets You Take Two Forward

At some point, I quit my dream job to pursue other goals.

It was the hardest decision I had to make because for a while I believed I would stay there forever. When you work with great people and actually enjoy what you do, it’s not easy to walk away.

While working part-time as a kitchen porter (back to square one), I was still looking for work as a web developer with more flexibility.

I was back in the game within 3 weeks.

In the meantime, over the last few months, I’ve set up four side hustles, and they’re changing my life in ways I never expected.

You Learn That Sometimes Being Selfish is Necessary

After COVID, working from home has become a new reality for many people around the world.

Some employers hate it.

Those employers will tell you that you’re asking for too much, some will say that you’ve become lazy, and someone like Elon Musk will say that you’re living in La La Land.

I‘m living in La La Land. It’s pretty nice here.

I think that hybrid working is the best option because it provides a sense of freedom while allowing you to appreciate the time with your colleagues more when you’re actually together in the office.

In my case, it’s no longer about the money or job titles.

I love living in London, but I wish to spend more time with my family and they live abroad.

I believe that freedom is the best reward.

Not Every Employer is Bad

I quit jobs that didn’t satisfy me and jobs that I loved.

Some places I left with a huge smile on my face, and some with my eyes full of tears.

But each time, it was necessary.

Leaving places where you’ve met great people is the hardest.

But sometimes, in order to grow, you need to leave the past behind and start looking forward.

The more jobs I’ve done, the more I’ve realised how many fantastic people are out there, and I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet them if I had stayed in one place forever.

Thank you for reading!