Somewhere between deadlines, meetings, work and real life, this blog went quiet. The work didn’t and neither did the life lessons that came with it. This post is a reflection on a few things I have learned while working full time.

I first started working full time with a lot of energy, and willing to give a lot of myself to my job. Over two years into working full time, there are a few things I have learnt and a few things I would do differently. This is what I would tell myself if I was to start work for the first time. If I were starting a job for the first time all over again, these are the lessons I’d want to hear from day one. 

Lessons from working full-time 

Balance is essential

When I first started work, I really wanted to prove myself. I went into working life really willing to go above and beyond. Whilst being dedicated to your work is good, like with everything, balance is important. Proving yourself should not be at the expense of potentially burning yourself out or being willing to always work past your hours, especially if you are not being paid for it.

You are more than your job

Being in the legal industry, and the particular line of work I chose, is quite intense. As a result, I have and sometimes still find a large part of my identity is related to my work. As much as it is natural for your identity to be shaped by your job, I have realised that a job is just that, a job. It is a part of who I am, but at the end of the day it is only a part of my life. I am also a person who is creative in many ways outside of my job, loves spending time with friends and family and my partner.

Your value is more than your paycheck

My line of work, like many others, is grossly underpaid and this is probably one of things I find most frustrating about my job. Admittedly, sometimes when I’m feeling lower or more stressed, the low salary can make me feel like I am not worth much. The truth is a lot of jobs are sadly paid a lot less this they deserve and you are more than your paycheck.

Know your worth and protect your peace

Life is too short to remain in a job that doesn’t provide you with growth opportunities or where the culture is toxic. It’s a rough job market so I think there were points where I tried to make my previous job work for me when it was clear that I needed to move on. I was nervous at having to put myself through a ruthless job market again and I tried to put it off. However, changing a toxic boss or trying to a fix a broken company culture isn’t your job. If your company refuses to see problems and solve them, it’s not worth your peace. Know your worth and leave for somewhere better.

Be patient, but don’t wait

I have learnt that there’s a place for patience but it shouldn’t mean just blindly waiting. I very much first fell into my company’s marketing trap as a fresh graduate, believing that dedication to them would mean career progression. However, a company will always put their interests first. I don’t think that means that a company cannot have good career progression, but merely waiting for it is not enough. I have learnt that in a saturated system, you need more than dedication if you want to advance. If a job isn’t providing the growth you want, don’t wait.