It can be tough being a student or recent grad in the professional world, and sometimes you might be unlucky enough to get screwed over at work.
A lot of employers will treat you fairly and with respect, but there are also employers who will treat you unfairly just because they can.
I’ve gone through my fair share of volunteer, internship, and work experiences, so here are some tips to help you avoid getting screwed over at work.
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!
1. “Back that shit up” -one of my professors
As my university profs always used to remind us, back everything up.
If you’re a freelancer logging your own hours on a shared Google Doc, save it as a PDF every so often.
If you have important emails or contacts on a company email, forward them to yourself.
Things can happen and things can get deleted, so protect yourself by backing everything up.

2. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself
Just because someone is your employer or client, doesn’t mean they can go bossing you around.
You shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for yourself if you’re put in a situation you know you’re being treated wrongly in.
3. Secure your payments
Don’t wait until a week after your paycheque is due to remind your employer – always stay on top of it.
It’s your hard work and your hard-earned money, and you ain’t working for free.
If you don’t stay on top of it, they might end up running off on you without giving you your last pay check.
True story, happened to me.

4. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
I had the chance to do an internship at this really cool company.
However, I was told that my tasks for two out of the four months would be serving coffee and doing food runs, and that I would possibly be able to actually do work depending on my work ethic.
I ended up not taking the internship.
5. Do your job, not your job x100
Your contract outlines what your job title is and what you’re expected to do.
It’s awesome if you take initiative and exceed your expectations, but it’s unfair to you if your employer expects you to go above and beyond and out of your way to do things that aren’t part of your job.
In smaller companies, you will probably be expected to take on roles beyond your job title, but don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
6. Ensure you’re being treated with respect
I once had an interview where I was interviewed by several different people, and the last interviewer told me, “I bet you just wanna get the fuck out of here.”
I got offered the internship, but I didn’t take it.
Just because people are your superiors in a company, doesn’t mean they can treat you disrespectfully.
And that definitely isn’t the type of company culture you want to spend 9 to 5 in.
7. Always make sure you’re safe
If you don’t feel safe or comfortable in a situation, do something to make yourself feel safe.
At the end of the day, it’s just a job, and your safety is more important than anything else.
It’s okay to say no to situations that make you uncomfortable, whether it’s doing something unsafe as requested by your boss or talking to a creepy client.

Have you ever been screwed over at work? What lessons did you take from it? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!
Feel free to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox.


Kirsten Ortez
Sunday 13th of November 2016
Interesting post. As I've only worked for large companies, I've never had a problem with the payment issue. I haven't experienced many of these actually (except people trying to take credit for my work, but I know my family has. Thanks for the tips before I really go off into the working world!
Kirsten - thewanderingbrunette.com
Jessica Lam
Sunday 13th of November 2016
Glad you found this helpful, Kirsten!
Karen Roldan
Saturday 12th of November 2016
I agree with everything you listed! I think I'm lucky because I haven't experienced any employers who treat people unfairly. Thank you for sharing!
Jessica Lam
Sunday 13th of November 2016
You are really lucky! Thanks for reading Karen 😊
Candy Kage
Saturday 12th of November 2016
Wonderful must do tips on looking out for yourself. Always check your payroll check to make sure it is correct.
Jessica Lam
Sunday 13th of November 2016
Thanks for the tip, Candy!
Natalie
Tuesday 8th of November 2016
What kind of freelance work do you do? Would be interested in hearing about your experience on that :)
Jessica Lam
Tuesday 8th of November 2016
I've worked jobs as a freelance editor, social media manager, and writer, and I'll definitely keep that idea in mind! Thanks Natalie 😊
themissf
Sunday 30th of October 2016
Great advice. Just wondering, do you have any advice on freelancing?
Jessica Lam
Monday 31st of October 2016
Thanks girl! I can't think of anything off the top of my head right now, but I'll try to help with any questions you have if you want to message me on Facebook or Twitter!