I think most people who follow my writing on hive would know one important factor about me which is that I hated my job, I even wrote an article titled “unfulfilled and overworked” a month back and I went in-depth into how I felt at the time about my current job but I had a plan which I was trying to pull through and I felt a bit positive.
SOME BACKSTORY ABOUT MY PREVIOUS JOB
Now I think that before I move forward I need to give some backstory about my previous job because it would give some context. I had been unemployed at the time after leaving a job that I worked for a month without pay and at that period I wasn’t exactly actively looking for a job because I was frustrated at the Job Market in Nigeria so I planned to chill while waiting for a federal job that I had passed the exams hoping that it would come through soon.
One fateful day, my friend sent me an ad for this job and he told me to apply which I did, I got a mail-back saying they wanted an interview with me and I went for two interviews at two different intervals, one with the hiring agency and the other with the owner of the company.
After a few weeks, I got a call that I had gotten the job and I was to come for a brief and salary discussion which I agreed and went on the assigned day. The admin of the company spoke about the job descriptions which wasn’t much as it was a front desk role but I had issues with the salary and the working days because I was working Mondays to Saturday for 30,000 naira which is about 73 dollars monthly and my Saturdays are very important so I refused the job and walked away.
On getting home, I got a call from the manager who said he wanted to see me to talk which I did and he spoke about how he really wanted to work with me and how smart he knew I was, he said that he was willing to add 5000 naira which is about 12 dollars and I still refused but after thinking a bit I decided “what the heck, it wasn’t much work and it was something to do while waiting”.
I started work and it was more than they had told me, I was in charge of things I hadn’t bargained for and even substituting when the Admin went to school but I didn’t mind because it was a learning process, well until my mental health began sinking and I was gradually falling into a dark hole which wasn’t funny since I had my mental health on check this year but I decided that I was still going to at least stay till December while figuring it out.
Things didn’t get better but got worse and after missing an event very important to me, I immediately lost interest in working. There are a lot of things to say about where I worked but to cut the long story short I would say that it was a toxic working environment where even the salary couldn’t make it manageable.
I decided two weeks ago to not wait anymore because I had to choose my happiness over savings so I turned in my resignation letter which brought about more drama and I was even asked to leave before the end of the month which I didn’t mind, to be honest.
WHAT I LEARNED IN MY PREVIOUS JOB
I learned a lot working at my previous job and it wasn’t things that were career-related but mostly personal, I have a belief that you can learn from everything so I always try to. These are some things I learned while working there.
- I am an impatient person and I hated idleness which was the main reason I started working a job that I knew from the beginning I shouldn’t have accepted.
- I should listen more to my instincts and to the advice of others because I could have avoided the situation if I did, most people in my family told me that the job wasn’t worth it and I still went ahead to take it.
- I am a passion-driven person which was interesting to learn because I didn’t know and the moment my passion wasn’t being fueled, I went into depression.
- Your employers aren’t your friends because they would throw you under the bus the moment they can’t drain or control you.
- This was something I already knew but never share your ideas with your employer unless it is essential for your job.
WHAT ARE MY PLANS NOW
My plans now are pretty simple, I have been trying to diversify my income, and even though I don’t have that in check, with the help of family and friends I am staying afloat while still figuring that out. I am not a spender so it isn’t that hard as most months I just need data and food.
I also have been focusing on writing more and being consistent on Hive as right now that is my major source of income even though I don’t plan to withdraw from it because I am saving to get a laptop.
Lastly, I am actively job hunting even though this time I am patient and I am figuring out ways to leave my state which I am very tired of.
IN CONCLUSION
I don’t regret my previous job because my goal in life is to never regret decisions I make no matter how much they suck instead I have promised myself to always learn from it which I have in this situation.
I am very positive about my future and what would come next and I am trying to enjoy this waiting period while being hopeful.
Thank you for opening this box of passion