33 Things I’ve Learned About Work in 33 Years
Some wisdom. Mostly trial and error.
I turn 33 today, which means I’ve now cycled through a handful of professional identities – eager intern, underpaid assistant, burnt-out cog in the machine. Work, I’ve learned, isn’t a clear path so much as an absurd endurance test, where the rewards are as arbitrary as the punishments and the finish line keeps moving. Somewhere between the corporate jargon, the never-ending emails, and the creeping realisation that work is just… forever, I’ve picked up a few things.
Here’s what I’ve learned in 33 years.
1. Work is fake, but money is real.
Bills are very real. Stop chasing all your validation from a system that would replace you in a week. Get paid, protect your energy, and move accordingly.
2. Say no like you mean it.
The most successful people aren’t the busiest – they’re the best at saying no. “That’s outside my scope.” “I don’t have capacity.” Say it plainly, say it early, and don’t over-apologise.
3. Nobody reads cover letters – at least, not properly.
Hiring managers skim. If you don’t hook them in three lines, you’ve lost. Skip “I am writing to express my interest…” and start with something that actually makes them care.
4. Networking is just strategic likability.
People don’t hire resumes – they hire people they vaguely enjoy. Stay on their radar with a “Saw this and thought of you” email, a non-generic LinkedIn comment, or a check-in that doesn’t scream I need something.
5. If a company describes itself as a “family,” run.
Families come with blurred boundaries, unpaid obligations, and emotional baggage. Work shouldn’t.
6. Pay > Title.
A fancy title looks good on LinkedIn, but your salary pays the bills. Prioritise the latter.
7. One bad job isn’t a life sentence.
If you hate all work because of one toxic job, that’s like swearing off food because of a bad oyster.
8. Unpaid labour is still labour.
If your employer expects you to "act like an owner," tell them to start cutting you equity checks.
9. Quit like someone who knows their worth.
Not every job will be a perfect fit, so when it’s time to go, prioritise your well-being. A smooth exit is great – if it serves you, too.
10. Success is the best exit strategy.
A dramatic exit might feel good, but a higher salary, better conditions, and less stress will benefit you in the long run. Focus on what actually moves you forward.
11. Meetings should be illegal.
90% of meetings could have been an email. 50% of emails could have been a Teams message. 25% of Teams messages could have been silence.
12. “Passion” is a scam.
Employers love asking if you’re passionate about their industry because they don’t want to pay you properly. Be passionate about yourself getting paid.
13. Wearing ‘many hats’ just means doing three jobs for the price of one.
And that price is not nearly enough.
14. HR works for the company, not for you.
HR isn’t your enemy, but they’re not your personal life coach either. Their job is to protect the business first. Keep that in mind before oversharing.
15. But also, be nice to HR.
They’re the ones processing your leave requests, fixing payroll errors, and deciding how much of a headache your exit will be.
16. Leverage matters more than loyalty.
Raises don’t happen just because you deserve one – they happen because they’d rather keep you than replace you. Knowing your worth makes all the difference.
17. The “dream job” is a myth.
Jobs can be good. They can be fulfilling. They can even make you excited to wake up. But a dream? No. I don’t dream of labour.
18. LinkedIn is an embarrassing but necessary evil.
Yes, it feels like performing professionalism in a way that makes your soul itch. But recruiters haunt that place. If you want opportunities to find you, you’ll have to play the game (at least a little).
19. Work will never love you back.
You can give your company your best years, your nights, your weekends, and they will still let you go in a reorg. Make sure you’re giving your best self to you.
20. The key to job security is knowing when to leave.
People who are the best at their jobs aren’t necessarily the happiest. The happiest people know when to quit.
21. Sticking it out in a bad job isn’t noble – it’s unnecessary.
You’re not a better person for suffering. You’re just a person who is suffering.
22. If a company wants you, they’ll move fast.
If you’re waiting weeks for an answer, you’re their backup plan.
23. You are allowed to be a mediocre employee.
Not a bad one. But you don’t have to be the best to have a good career. Sometimes you just have to be good enough.
24. Some people actually like working.
And that’s fine. Just don’t let them make you feel bad for having hobbies.
25. A job should never be your whole personality.
There is no industry worth building your identity around. Not even the cool ones.
26. If you feel like an imposter, you’re probably doing fine.
The real imposters are the ones who never doubt themselves.
27. Make your career easy to explain.
If people can sum up what you do in one sentence, opportunities will find you faster. A clear niche doesn’t box you in – it makes you memorable.
28. Know what makes work bearable for you.
For some, it’s money. For others, it’s flexibility, a short commute, or never touching Teams after 5pm. Figure out your version of career happiness – and optimise for that.
29. Being irreplaceable is not a good thing.
If you’re the only one who can do something, you can never leave.
30. Job hopping is only bad if you do it wrong.
If you leave for better conditions, better pay, or better work-life balance, you’re doing it right.
31. Your boss has a backup plan – you should too.
Corporations restructure, budgets get cut, and “job security” is mostly a myth. Whether it’s savings, a side hustle, or a strong union, your real safety net is whatever lets you walk away on your own terms.
32. Make peace with uncertainty.
Everything changes. The only constant is your ability to adapt.
33. No job is worth losing yourself over.
Your career is a vehicle. It’s not the destination. The goal is never just to “have a good job.” The goal is to have a good life.
That’s the only lesson that matters.
Another Slice?
Turns Out, I Don’t Want to Be a Girlboss
Think I’m jaded now? At 16, I was writing a memoir before I’d even worked a single shift. This is her reckoning.
Thank you for these reminders!!
And happy birthday ☺️