“I hate my job.”

“This place is draining me.”

“My manager doesn’t respect me.”

I hear this all the time from UX designers who feel trapped in toxic workplaces.

But when I ask, “Why don’t you leave?” they say:

“…What if the next place is worse?”

“…At least I have a job.”

“…I don’t want to start over.”

Here’s the contradiction:

👉 They know their job is hurting them.

👉 But they’re too afraid to leave.

The truth? Staying in a toxic job is riskier than leaving.

💡 It drains your confidence.

💡 It keeps you from growing.

💡 It makes you doubt your own skills.

By the time you finally quit, you’re exhausted—mentally, emotionally, and creatively.

But what if you could avoid jumping from one bad job to another?

Here’s how to vet a company before signing on:

1️⃣ Ask about UX’s role in the company.

• “Can you share a time when UX influenced a major decision?”

• If they struggle to answer, UX might be an afterthought.

2️⃣ Observe how they treat you in the hiring process.

• Did they ghost you for weeks?

• Did the interviewers seem engaged?

• Red flags during hiring = worse red flags once you’re in.

3️⃣ Check for work-life balance signals.

• “What does success look like for this role in the first 3 months?”

• If they mention output over outcomes, expect burnout.

Staying in a bad job feels safe—but finding the right job is what actually protects you.

If you’re stuck in a toxic workplace and unsure how to move forward, reply with “culture” and I’ll send you my checklist for evaluating job fit before you accept an offer.