First job after graduation with great environment but unbearable unpaid overtime - what would be the correct action?
I (22F) just graduated a year ago and ended up working in a field (Data) different from my major (Marketing). Over time, I figured out a niche interest of mine that could actually land me an internship, which eventually got promoted to an employee.
This is my first job after graduation. I work at a small-scaled research agency. The environment is great, we have some big clients so I get to learn a lot about the industry, and my manager is an open person who’s genuinely willing to train their employees. I truly appreciate my coworkers and the work I do.
But here’s the problem. The pay is significantly below the market average for this role. Since I still live with my family, it hasn’t been a pressing concern. What’s really gotten to me is the overtime. Instead of the half-Saturday stated in the contract, I mostly end up working full Saturdays, and some weeks, Sundays too. All unpaid. I’ve wondered if it is just me or I’m bad at managing my workload, but turns out it’s the same thing with my coworkers, who worked here for longer, too.
I’ve lost so many weekends I could have spent with family or friends, and even finding time to learn something new feels impossible. I don’t mind a little bit of extra work here and there, since I’m open to learning. But I feel like this is the company’s culture to work as much as the project (or the boss) demands.
I feel like I’m learning a lot in this role, but I also feel suffocated. I haven’t even started looking around yet since I genuinely don’t have the time. I know the job market is rough right now, so I want to think this through carefully. What would you do in this situation?
Edit: Thank you for the comments and kind words. I really appreciate the comments. I’ll try mentioning my boundary first and start prepping my resume. This isn’t sustainable at all, I agree (/ _ ; )