There’s a question that many young professionals face at some point: What’s more important — advancing your career or protecting your well-being?

I didn’t expect to face that question quite so soon.

What was supposed to be an exciting first week in a role I’d been eager to start turned into a situation that pushed me to my limits emotionally. Instead of excitement, I found myself in tears. And for the first time in my life, I did something I never thought I would do: I walked out of a job.

No long notice period. No months of gritting my teeth. I walked into my boss’s office and explained, calmly and professionally, that I couldn’t continue.

Walking away from a role so quickly can feel like failure, especially when you’ve just graduated. There’s immense pressure to secure that “first proper job” after university – the one that proves all those years of studying were worth it. After years of working in hospitality to support myself, I thought taking another café job would undermine the effort I’d put into my degrees. So I took a gamble on a company I wasn’t completely sure about.

The gamble didn’t pay off. But that doesn’t mean it was wasted.

Turning a negative into a positive

What I’ve come to realise is that this experience has given me something incredibly valuable: perspective. It showed me that I can act decisively and professionally in a difficult situation. It reminded me that my well-being is not negotiable. And it taught me that walking away doesn’t mean giving up – sometimes it’s the most courageous thing you can do.

Having the bravery to recognise when a situation isn’t right – even when you’re the newest person in the room – and to tackle hostility diplomatically (when all you want to do is throw up because you’re so anxious) is so important, and I’m proud of myself for having the guts to step away so soon.

Yes, I’m back on the job hunt. Yes, I’m still figuring out what the right path looks like for me. But I’m doing it with my head held high. Because now I know: no paycheck, no job title, no “next step on the ladder” is worth compromising your health and happiness.

If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, you’ll know how tough that decision can be. But if you’re facing it now, here’s what I’d say: trust yourself. Protect your well-being. The right role, with the right culture, will come along – and you’ll be all the stronger for waiting for it.