A Conversation Between You and Your Job

You: Am I in a toxic relationship?

Job: With who?

You: With you… you are giving toxic.

Job: How? Explain.

You: When I was leaving the university, this wasn't the you I imagined.

Job: Ah 😢

You: You used to give me goosebumps but now it's giving "what I ordered vs what I got."

Job: (Scratches head) So what did you imagine?

You: By now, assets, a robust savings... just being further along.

Job: And what did you get?

You: Forget it… It's a whole lot. Where do I even begin?

Job: I insist, it involves me… I need to know.

You: Every quarter they raise your KPIs, even when I barely reached the last one.

Job: Yes, they do this.

You: But they don't raise my salary every quarter.

Job: (Whispers in shame) That's even if they do it yearly.

You: And even when they do, the economy would have caught up with the little adjustment and it's like we are back to the beginning.

Job: Wow, I never saw it that way.

You: I work… I swear I do… but why do I have to play politics to prove I'm worthy of you?

Job: To what end?

You: To have my work heard in rooms I cannot enter 🤦

Job: True 

You: Now I haven't taken leave this year.

Job: Why? I allow you to.

You: Every time I think about it, I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Job: You're not doing anything wrong.

You: Then why does it feel that way?

Job: Wow.

You: And even when I do take leave, I spend the same number of days clearing backlogs. The rest is never really rest.

Job: Hmm… true.

You: I have all these things going on, yet I still have to take care of myself to take care of you.

Job: Just curious… So what keeps you staying? Is it love?

You: Hmm. somewhere there…(Shy)

Job: Tell me.

You: I love you...

Job: 😊

You: It’s the reason I chose you to begin with. I love being called by your name… but.

Job: But?

You: I'm only staying because you are the only way I know how to survive.

Job: So you're using me?

You: (Yells) You use me as well! I lived my whole life learning how to keep you. You need me to work.

Job: (Softly) So we are tied together?

You: Fine. But tell me it gets better.

Job: It keeps getting better. You know how to be with me better than you did last year.

You: That's not exactly comforting.

Job: And if it doesn't get better  as I promise, please find another job… I don't want you to settle.

You: So what now?

Job: (Holds her hand gently) But while you're still with me, fight for me… for us.

You: How?

Job: Let's see a therapist.

You: Who?

Job: Subscribe to Careerbuddy newsletters of your choice. They handle this kind of relationship better.

You: Thanks. I'll look into that.

A Small Thought As We Approach Mid Year

In reality, you aren't married to your job, and you don't need a divorce process to end it. Am I saying you can just quit your job anytime you feel like? Not really…I'm saying no job is so serious that you cannot end it if it's not enough for you.

However, not every work relationship is broken. Some need ending, but some just need renegotiating. Only you know which one yours is. But the worst thing you can do is stay without deciding. Welcome to midyear, Buddy 🥂.