I Started a 9-5.

A personal story from a recent university graduate in Australia navigating the harsh job market, low starting salaries, and the country's housing crisis. After landing a first full-time job with disappointing pay, the author took on two jobs seven days a week to afford housing and savings goals, only to eventually resign from the second job after their team was offshored. The piece reflects on the emotional toll of overworking, the tension between financial ambition and personal wellbeing, and the quiet acceptance of a slower pace of life.