It’s a tough job market, but that doesn’t mean you should settle. 

Every job has compromises. No job is perfect, and you have to decide what sacrifices you’re willing to make. Maybe the commute is a bit longer than you’d like. Maybe the pay is a little less. Maybe it doesn’t match the vision in your head of your dream job. But you know you have to start somewhere, and every position you hold is going to have some sort of drawback. You just have to decide whether or not you’re okay with that level of sacrifice. It’s not easy to get a job, especially one in your field that you want to pursue. You can’t be overly picky, or else you’ll end up unemployed forever. But that doesn’t mean you should accept poor treatment. No job is worth your own sense of dignity.

Even though every job has sacrifices, you should be firm with your boundaries. It’s easy to get taken advantage of, especially when you’re the one who needs the job. Some toxic work environments thrive on being able to exploit their workers. They’re too scared to say anything, and the boss is relying on that sense of fear. But you have your own autonomy, and you have to remember that they need your work just as much as you need them. But standing up for yourself is easier said than done, and often comes at a cost. That’s the situation that this worker encountered when they started a new position.