In the two years since graduation, I've worked at four different companies, all in the media industry—some quite well-known ones including a TV station, online news outlet, and PR firm.
"Work is only a matter of 'fit' and 'adaptation'"—these words came from a manager at a 4A PR group.
I have a somewhat restless personality and am easily influenced by the people around me. Unfair situations can seriously affect my mood.
I studied mass communication in university, so I've been exposed to all aspects of the field—videography, editing, planning, graphic design, journalism, PR, and marketing—and my work has always maintained a certain standard.
While still in school, I worked part-time at a TV station. Later I had to leave temporarily due to coursework, so after graduation I was very eager to return to television. Unfortunately, after three months of applying and interviewing everywhere, I had no luck. Honestly, the job conditions at the time—a salary of 25K with 12-hour workdays—were just hard to accept.
My first job was at Taiwan's current top-traffic online media company. Although I picked up the work quickly and received praise, I soon discovered that the environment wasn't challenging or competitive enough for me. My position kept me doing repetitive tasks due to time constraints, lacking professional growth and development.
I never forgot my dream of working at a TV station, but I felt the news environment wasn't as thriving as before. Plus, I was more skilled at planning work, so I jumped to a 4A PR group company. I won't deny that part of it was about the "prestige" factor—wanting to challenge myself at the world's top PR group.
Once I started, the work came naturally to me. I quickly grasped client needs and solved problems. During events, I knew how to complement my colleagues to make things run smoothly. The multinational environment was reassuring—no one looked down on you just because you were a rookie.
This kind of work autonomy was actually great, and there was plenty to learn. Overall, I felt my abilities were well-suited to this job.
But I still really wanted to work at a TV station. At the same time, I was tired of always "cleaning up messes" for clients, issuing "contrary to expectations" PR statements, and giving endless speeches. So my restless heart started acting up again shortly after starting.
I told my manager I wanted to resign. During our conversation, he asked, "Did you encounter any difficulties at work?" Actually no—I felt I was handling everything smoothly. "Did anyone say you're not suited for this?" No, actually most people thought I was doing well. I just didn't like it myself.
He said,
"Work is like this—there are things you like and things you don't like. No job will satisfy you completely. If you're talking about fit, no one thinks you're unsuitable, and you're doing well. But if you're talking about adaptation, no one can help you with that. You need to think it through yourself."
At the time, I didn't quite understand what he meant. I still believed that work was simply about liking it or not, and if you want to do something, you should just do it. I ignored my own capabilities and rushed out of the company, eventually landing at a TV station.
Once I finally started working at the TV station, I discovered that every day is a race against time. Every second matters. Sometimes even my superiors get rushed by time and say unpleasant things, which made my early days at the station very stressful. (Though I've since gotten through that period successfully.)
Later I realized the real issue was that "my thoughts" didn't align with "the company's thinking" and "my boss's thinking," creating communication gaps and poor coordination. Combined with my stubborn personality, when people raised their voices, I'd get so nervous I couldn't speak. Eventually, going to work became unhappy.
Or I'd convince myself that I was being nitpicked every day, that people thought my abilities were lacking, gradually losing confidence in doing things well. I found myself in an endless cycle of darkness every day, constantly doubting myself, and my physical and mental health deteriorated.
Then I remembered those words about "fit and adaptation." Because everyone has different personalities and work attitudes, I should first assess what I could do and what I could do well, then evaluate the job content and overall environment—rather than blindly chasing after an imagined "ideal" job based solely on "liking" and "interest."
In the end, an unsuitable environment, job, or industry will only break you down. Finding a place where you can truly exercise your abilities and build confidence is the essence of work.
I also shared these reflections with my previous PR manager, and he said, "I'm glad you have more insight into work now. If you ever want to come back, just say the word." It really made me feel he was a good manager.
Many things you only truly understand after trying them—whether you can actually do them, whether you can do them well—rather than just assuming through imagination that you can manage, do well, or succeed. In the end, forcing yourself only creates a mess. If you won't adapt to the environment, then change it—it's just a matter of willingness.
Finally, here are the key points:
1. Work you like or want isn't necessarily right for you.
2. Work is only a matter of "fit" and "adaptation."
3. Consider your nature and find work you "can do and do well."
4. A good manager can help you reach the next level.
5. The right job builds confidence and helps you become better.
