So I just wanted to share a milestone of mine with other job seekers out there who’ve been losing hope in this job market.

For context, I’ve been with a toxic company (my first job) for 7 months now. Here’s why I decided to leave:

• Toxic work environment
• Out of 2000  employees, fewer than 60 are regular employees
• Power-tripping HR department
• HR filed a case against me where the 1st offense could lead to dismissal, where I didn’t do anything wrong
• 6-7 day work weeks ON SITE with extended hours (up to 15 hours sometimes) and you have to work during holidays
• Colleagues frown upon me if I don’t work overtime
• No guidance or training programs; you’re left to figure things out on your own
• No HRIS system; everything is MANUAL
• Bundy clocks are still in use, lol
• No equipment provided, kung meron man 10 years old na computer apaka bagal
• They literally hire almost everyone, so many employees are incompetent
• No formal job offer was given after passing the interview

And there’s more… I started looking for a replacement job as early as my 2nd month. I submitted over a hundred applications, attended countless interviews (many up to the final rounds), and got a rejection every time.

After several wake-up calls and too many beat-downs from this job, I finally mustered up the courage to submit my resignation letter without a backup plan or a replacement job. During my notice period, I updated my resume (from 6 pages to 1 page) and continued applying for jobs. I got shortlisted for some and even had a few final interviews! One role, in particular, caught my interest because it was in a field I’m passionate about—a field I wanted to shift to and a field I’d never been shortlisted for before, since malayo sa major ko sa college. I've always wanted to venture out of my current career field, because I dislike the tasks and responsibilities. It's not something I see myself growing in. Fortunately, I landed a final interview for the role—and guess what? It was my first job offer, 8 months after graduating!

The offer was significantly higher (in terms of salary and benefits) than my last job! The best part: it’s a hybrid role with a 5-day work week (the opposite of my current job). I can’t express how happy I am writing this. My partner always told me I should just resign and step out of my comfort zone because I’d never know if an opportunity would come after taking that leap. She was right. I finally got an offer just weeks before my final day at my current job and it’s almost perfect.

So, ayun. Just wanted to share my story so others won’t lose hope. I’m glad I pushed through this year and finally found a job aligned with my career goals and growth ☺️☺️

TL;DR: I resigned without a backup plan, but I got a job offer two weeks before my final day. And it’s almost perfect