Have You Ever Felt Undervalued at Work?
Have You Ever Felt Undervalued at Work?
I recently resigned from my job, and honestly I still don’t know exactly what to feel.
A part of me feels relieved, but another part of me feels hurt. I think one of the things that affected me the most was realizing that when I finally resigned, I wasn’t even stopped. My boss said kind words and congratulated me, but deep inside I think I was hoping someone would at least try to make me stay, especially after everything I gave to the company.
Maybe that’s also why I started thinking about all the signs I ignored before. Meetings suddenly not pushing through without updates, feeling like my opinions needed validation from someone else first before being believed, being included in almost everything even outside my scope, and even during bonuses, I couldn’t help but compare. I remember crying quietly because my bonus was significantly lower compared to almost everyone else’s even though I carried a very heavy workload and responsibility. It wasn’t even about the amount itself — it was more of what it made me feel.
And honestly, I know I also have lapses. I know communication is not always my strongest point, especially in English, but I was really trying. That’s why I always tried to document things properly, prepare reports, presentations, and explain things carefully so I could express myself better and support what I was saying. Sometimes I overthink if maybe that was one of the reasons I never fully felt trusted or appreciated enough.
What also slowly affected me was feeling like my professional knowledge was constantly being questioned. There were moments where even topics I had already studied and worked on for years, like expense categorizations and accounting treatments, were still being validated through AI or searched online right in front of me just to confirm what I was saying. I understand being curious or wanting to double-check things, and I know nobody is perfect, but over time it made me feel like my judgment and experience were not fully trusted.
What hurts is that I genuinely tried my best. I handled so many things beyond accounting. There were even times I became the runner for errands and office needs, buying supplies like trash bags, tissue, and other things needed around the office. I know no work is ever too small, but over time I started questioning myself and wondering if I was slowly losing the professional direction I originally wanted for my career.
I know I made mistakes sometimes, but everyone does. I was always willing to learn, adjust, and help however I could.
I think eventually I just got tired of trying so hard to prove my value while quietly questioning if it was even seen in the first place.
But maybe this is also for the best. Maybe some environments are simply not meant for us long-term no matter how much effort we give. And maybe leaving doesn’t always mean anger — sometimes it’s just finally accepting that you deserve to be in a place where you feel wanted, appreciated, and able to grow.
Despite everything, I’m still grateful for what I learned and the people I met along the way. I think I’m just finally choosing myself and the kind of environment I know will help me grow better moving forward.
Has anyone else gone through something like this where you gave your best but still felt unappreciated?