Every Job Has Value, Even the Ones You Hated

I’m not the most spiritual person out there, but I do believe we’re shaped by our experiences, the good, the bad, and the “what the hell was I doing there?” moments. That includes our jobs.

It’s easy to look back on certain roles and think, that wasn’t right for me or I got nothing from that experience. But honestly, it’s all about perception. Whether something feels like a waste or a win depends on what you choose to take away from it.

Sometimes the job you had wasn’t meant to be forever. It was meant to be a stepping stone. It was the thing that nudged (or shoved) you in a new direction. And if you really think about it, every “wrong fit” led you right to where you are now. Without those detours, you wouldn’t have landed in this version of your career or yourself.

For me, one of those moments was my year in the lab. It wasn’t for me. I knew pretty quickly that I didn’t want to spend my career in that kind of environment. But instead of seeing it as a failure, I used it as a mirror. It forced me to dig deep and ask, what do I actually want?

That reflection led me to medical communications, a space that blended science with creativity, which turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Every single experience since, from pitching to developing content to working across countless companies and disease areas, has added another layer of value. Even the projects I hated helped refine who I am and what I bring to the table.

Here’s the truth:

• Bad experiences teach you who you don’t want to be and what you won’t tolerate.

• Good experiences reinforce what lights you up and where you want to go.

All of it, every messy, confusing, frustrating, or fun chapter, builds the story of your career. None of it’s wasted.