why i left

Summary

A young woman reflects on her journey from the Netherlands to Germany, where she moved for her boyfriend's studies. Despite finding jobs in the service industry and working on her YouTube channel, she faced poor job conditions, low pay, and mistreatment in several roles. After a difficult breakup and months of job searching, she finally found a remote graphic design position but faced dissatisfaction with the low salary and unclear job expectations. In the end, she decides to return to Latvia, focusing on her passion project, Little Chef 2, and looking forward to new opportunities while reflecting on the lessons learned from her experiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker moved to Germany in 2022 after finishing their studies in the Netherlands, looking for a job and new experiences.
• 😀 Despite having a degree and internships, the speaker struggled to find a job in their field due to limited German language skills and high competition.
• 😀 To support themselves, the speaker worked in service jobs, including at an Irish pub and a café, gaining experience in customer service but facing mistreatment from employers.
• 😀 The speaker faced frustrating work environments, with miscommunication, lack of clarity, and unpaid wages in both service jobs, leading to multiple job changes.
• 😀 While working at the café, the speaker encountered questionable practices, such as irregular scheduling and illegal working hours, contributing to dissatisfaction.
• 😀 The speaker's YouTube channel began growing, reaching 7,000 subscribers, and they also took on freelance work, eventually deciding to focus on building their portfolio.
• 😀 After breaking up with their boyfriend, the speaker faced financial struggles, including a large health insurance bill due to being incorrectly classified as a mini-job employee.
• 😀 Despite setbacks, the speaker found hope through a job offer as a junior graphic designer, although the low salary and unfulfilling work left them feeling unappreciated.
• 😀 During a business trip to Hamburg, the speaker realized that many colleagues shared the same frustrations with the company, including low salaries and poor communication.
• 😀 After negotiating for a higher salary and working fewer days, the speaker ultimately decided to leave the company due to its toxic culture and lack of appreciation.
• 😀 The speaker reflected on their time in Germany, acknowledging both the challenges and personal growth, and decided to return to Latvia to focus on their YouTube channel and a passion project, 'Little Chef 2.'

Q & A

Why did the narrator initially decide to move to Germany?

The narrator moved to Germany in 2022 with their boyfriend, who was pursuing a master's degree. They also wanted to explore life in Germany, as they had previously studied German and found it an exciting opportunity for a change.

What challenges did the narrator face while job hunting in Germany?

The narrator faced difficulties finding a job in their field due to language barriers, as their German was only at an A1 level. They also struggled with a lack of opportunities that matched their qualifications and were forced to consider service jobs instead.

How did the narrator's experience working at the Irish pub unfold?

The narrator was hired at an Irish pub, despite having no prior customer service experience. Initially, they found the job overwhelming, especially interacting with customers and learning drink names. Over time, the narrator became more comfortable, but issues with management, such as poor communication and mistreatment of employees, led them to quit after several months.

What were some of the red flags the narrator noticed at the second cafe job?

At the second cafe, the narrator noticed irregularities with scheduling, including last-minute shift changes, and issues with working conditions, like employees working longer hours than legally permitted. Additionally, their pay was split between bank transfers and cash, which raised further concerns.

How did the narrator's finances change while living in Germany?

While in Germany, the narrator faced financial strain. They had to pay €2,000 to cover health insurance costs, and the earnings from their YouTube channel were insufficient to cover living expenses. This left them dependent on freelance work and their service jobs to make ends meet.

What led to the narrator's breakup with their boyfriend?

The narrator and their boyfriend broke up due to personal reasons. Although it was sad, the narrator believed it was ultimately for the better, and they continued living together for a while until he finished his master's program.

Why did the narrator eventually decide to leave Germany and return to Latvia?

The narrator's decision to leave Germany stemmed from a combination of factors, including poor job experiences, an unsatisfactory salary, and a lack of job satisfaction. Despite securing a graphic design job, the financial conditions, especially the company's refusal to negotiate a fair salary, made them feel undervalued. They eventually decided to return to Latvia for a fresh start.

What were the narrator's feelings toward the remote graphic design job in Hamburg?

While the remote graphic design job seemed promising at first, the narrator became frustrated with the lack of communication and unfulfilling work. They felt underpaid for the amount of responsibility they had, especially considering the low salary offered for moving to Hamburg. This dissatisfaction eventually led them to decline an offer to relocate.

What was the result of the narrator’s salary negotiation with their company?

The narrator attempted to negotiate a higher salary after being informed that moving to Hamburg would result in a salary reduction. Despite their efforts, the company refused, offering only a small increase, which was still insufficient to cover living expenses in an expensive city like Hamburg. The narrator decided to leave the company after feeling undervalued.

How does the narrator plan to move forward after leaving their job in Germany?

The narrator plans to focus on creating content for their YouTube channel and working on a new game project, 'Little Chef 2.' They are excited about this passion project and hope to launch a Kickstarter campaign for it. This project, along with freelancing, represents their next steps in pursuing a more fulfilling career.