Speaking from my own experience as Karen, over the three years since I graduated from graduate school, I've changed four companies (sweat drop), and only the first and current companies were somewhat longer-term positions. The other two companies—one I stayed for a month and a half, another for three months—don't really count as part of my resume.
But if there were good companies, who would want to keep leaving? Were the companies I left really that bad? No, actually they were all large companies. Some just didn't match my interests and were temporary shelters, while others had chaotic company systems and personnel issues that made me leave.
Actually, upon objective analysis, it can be categorized into three types of workplace anxiety.
1. Uncontrollable frequent job-hopping with no sense of achievement
In the workplace, some people constantly experience frequent job changes. Within a single year, they go through four or five companies. Finding a job might seem easy, but every job leaves them unsatisfied—either with salary and company management, or with interpersonal relationships and job content. Frequent job-hopping becomes a habit. When will it ever stop?
2. Many interview opportunities, but forgot what you want, ending up with a job that wasn't what you originally wanted
When first graduating, everyone has plans about what kind of career they want to pursue. However, some careers require "experience" rather than education. Big companies might not care if you're a "slash" talent. A resume filled with varied experiences without a specific field focus might seem like you've seen a lot, but in people's eyes it actually becomes "dabbling."
Therefore, when starting the job search, facing many setbacks, you forget your own requirements and ideals. Finally, you don't insist on the job you originally wanted most and settle for a "pretty okay" salary. Then a negative mindset emerges—watching friends around you love their jobs, you can't help but wonder if you're worthless.
3. Can't escape the comfort zone, ultimately becoming a "boiling frog"
You've been at the company for many years, watching colleagues come and go in cycles, and you wish you had their courage. But after years of work, you've never experienced a job change, haven't even switched departments. For three to five years you've been doing similar related work, and now you don't know how to write a resume or attend interviews. In the end, you want to jump but don't dare to, unsure where your future is.
What should you do?
1. Regulate your psychology
Many people think this is "stating the obvious," but a person's psychological well-being and their attitude toward the outside world are deeply related. When entering society, you might think you can take on major responsibilities, but you must recognize this is almost impossible (Extended reading: The Korean drama "Misaeng" realistically reveals: Work is a process of building "trust").
So friends suffering from workplace anxiety must maintain a positive and optimistic attitude toward life, view everything objectively, and earnestly do what you should do. Treat others with generosity, or consciously shift your attention to activities you normally enjoy, allowing your unsettled mindset to gradually calm down.
2. Find a sense of achievement
A sense of achievement can make people more confident, knowing where the "achievements" in this job are and how to attain them (Extended reading: Learn to "hide anxiety" at work and grow from opportunities by seizing the chance to perform) rather than treading water and repeating the same cycle without seeking change.
Once you've gained a sense of achievement, workplace anxiety diminishes. A person with a sense of achievement usually has a more fulfilled inner world and is full of strength. Therefore, those suffering from workplace anxiety should continuously increase their sense of achievement, recharge themselves when appropriate, and persistently strive at work.
3. Find meaning in life, not meaning in work
Many people become fixated on career development, their boss's attention, and their peers' perception. In essence, they care about the pressure others place on them, developing a "comparison" mentality. They think others are doing well and progressing smoothly at work, so they want to follow suit and do the same things. Or they believe their own work has no meaning and no future.
However, "work is only part of life." There's no need to focus solely on work while neglecting family and leisure. Work can be a tool for earning money, a way to make friends, or the pursuit of life ideals, but the key is to find meaning in your own life through it, not the meaning work provides. This way, work won't entangle your emotions.
