Lauren McDonald offered this great story of her past experience working at a job that was a really bad situation. She talks about what she did and makes a suggestion for how you can learn from her mistakes.
When I worked at a recruiting firm in NYC from 2004 to 2005, I would be feel sick before I walked into the Chrysler Building.
I made a mistake when I took the job + I went from bad to worse. It was a toxic environment + I left after 10 months. Found out years later they were embezzling. You can’t make this stuff up.
These situations happen. Please make sure when you feel desperate you don’t make it worse by jumping into something to get out of where you are!
I didn’t have anyone to talk to + I wish I had stayed where I was + pushed through it instead of leaving + going from the firepan into the fire.
Know you’re not alone when you feel that way! I’m rooting for you! #gogogo #youvegotthis
I’d like to echo Lauren’s advice not to rush into a position that’s suboptimal. I know that’s easy to say when you have a job and hard to live when you don’t have a job and you’re not sure how you’re going to last without an income. However, rushing into the next job can set back your career in ways that are even more damaging long term than the short term suffering you might have to endure while you wait for the right position.
The other clear lesson is to not assume that every workplace is a toxic environment. Certainly, there are far too many toxic employers out there, but there are plenty of great employers who will reward you for an honest days labor. Take your time and make sure you’re working in a great environment that will value you and help you to become the best person you can become both professionally and personally.
