Why I just quit my Product Manager job at TikTok

i just quit my job at tiktok. last week. ⊙﹏⊙
this isn't super easy for me to talk about, but I hope my story can help give insight to how people like me think through big career transitions. we always see the successes on people's linkedins, but how one chapter ends and another begins isn't always talked about. i hope this perspective brings more transparency and helps others tackle their own career questions so they can make more meaningful and intentional decisions in their professional journeys.
so what's next? well, i'm gonna share how i'm figuring all of that out in next week's video (& on ig), so stay tuned ~ (subscribe w/ notifs!) for now, i really just gotta chill and take care of all the things i've neglected while working. ✌️💖
yours,
chlo・ᴗ・
📚 chapters 📚
0:00 - intro
1:36 - reason #1
4:35 - reason #2
8:30 - reason #3
10:34 - reason #4
11:48 - my reflections
13:14 - why I share this
✨ faq ✨
name: chloe (she/her)
ethnicity: taiwanese-american ♡
location: ny ➭ sf ➭ tw ➭ la
what's this channel about? my career as a product manager in tech and my adulting diaries going thru life
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[@ryannicoletti7093]

Just got rejected for a Product role at TikTok after 5 rounds over the course of almost 2 months…and this video just popped up. Maybe its for the best, thanks for sharing!

[@charlesjoseph1031]

Take your skills somewhere else king! ✊🏾

[@djson1]

Things happen for a reason. Take it as a blessing in disguise.

[@InTheNameOfLife1]

You’ll end up where you need to be 🙏 I know that pain, this happened to me recently with my dream job.

[@bajza6046]

I hate tech interviews for this reason exactly

[@elyssacalderon8738]

5 rounds? Seriously. I feel like that is so disrespectful for the time of the interviewee. 5 rounds is not necessary to determine if someone is a good candidate, period.

[@jalabi99]

No company is worth giving up 16 hours a day for, especially since you're not an owner of the company.

[@OiVinn-eq1ml]

Right? That's insane! I work 30-40 hrs a week & can barely keep up...

[@rio1408]

exactly

[@rafa.c8930]

My wife works at TikTok as a Product Manager. And it's 100% what you described.... Personally, I think it's a distorted lifestyle and I'd always said treat this as a landing pad from something greater and better. Well done to you Chloe for mustering up the courage to quit! I also like your direct style in performance meetings - that is 100% the way to do it.

[@imAnnaMolly]

It takes a lot of courage to post this, so thank you! Managers who just judge your performance but don’t help you with the clear path to growth is so relatable. I actually worked at TikTok (when it had just rebranded) before making the decision to jump to esports & looking back, it was the right decision (even though I absolutely loved my coworkers there) but the problems are pervasive across all companies.

[@chloeshih]

Omg! Hello ex-TikToker! These problems are definitely not new, unfortunately. :( I'm glad you made the switch into esports and I hope your new role has been treating you far better!

[@lawalhakeem6734]

How did you jump into esports please, currently looking at moving into gaming and esports

[@shyiamaesha]

Do you have a direct contact with workers, I’ve been trying to recover my account & no one has got back to me and I can’t get in it b/c they changed my email and number

[@TheKelpsinator]

I promise no one there is handling that culture "just fine." Everyone is burnt out and upset about it. Some people are just better at hiding it. Remind yourself of that when you feel like you failed because you didn't stay longer.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Blue! Thank you for your support! I did get a lot of messages after posting this video that they’re going through extremely similar things and it was great to feel seen here. We really don’t talk about this in enough specificity to be actionable. :(

[@shirleywang7054]

Hi Chloe! I'm also a product manager at TikTok and I 100% relate. The work culture is very toxic (esp. in China offices), people would compete who stayed the latest at work and blamed people who left at 8pm (which is already pretty late for me). PUA culture is also very true and it keeps making myself questioning whether I'm a capable PM. I do not get recognized for the hard work I've done, the leadership encouraged taking over other people's scope in order to get a promotion, co-workers backstabbing everyone... unfortunately I've experienced all of this and it's been making me really sad and wanting to quit :( I really appreciate you sharing this and just wanted to say that you made the right choice and I'm accumulating my courage to make the decision too !

[@zhangjim4988]

It's true. The word toxic accurately describes the current vibe here in TikTok. It's still a good company with an abundance of talents and kind people that I do not regret working with. it's still a good company if you want to do exciting projects or try crazy thoughts, as long as you don't expect to climb the corporate ladder with certain fairness. Otherwise, choose teams cautiously. Hope for the best for all bytedancer!

[@mmarus]

As a career manager of 20+ years, my biggest trigger was a lack of clearly defined goals for leveling. Completely unacceptable in 2021. That would be the first in warning sign to leave ANY company. Not even for leveling but for anything. As seen in your example this leaves too much room for... "opinions. Which never works and leaves room for discrimination, nepotism, favoritism and many other isms. Imagine if the board of directors measured the top brass in the same way... in fact... actually nevermind. Thank you very much for this post. Well done and well said. This needs to be done more often!

[@chloeshih]

20 years! Super seasoned!! Thank you for validating this experience as well. A lot of senior execs tell us that “we’re on a rocket ship. We won’t have all the processes figured out, but we’re working on it. You should just be focused on making big impact”. These all sounds “fine” at first, but in the end, leveling and concrete career development are pushed aside, which then leads to all the things you mentioned. It is a yellow flag that turns in a red one real fast!

[@theMannyfresh1]

This comment is so valuable and it took me so long to figure it out. Ask the company or hiring manager how he defines success (and bonus points if it is a number). If he can't give you a straight answer, he probably hasn't thought about it. This is a red flag! You don't want to extend the pain of working in the wrong environment because you failed to ask these questions when you got hired.

[@todayiglowup4286]

what does leveling mean

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@StellaChuu]

So insightful! I'm glad you're teaching others about this. It takes a lot to change the culture of a company and industry.

[@justinc5043]

I think it may be the case where it's a function of insisting on an 80s working culture in today's environment. True it now will take a lot to change, but that needed not have happened in the first place.

[@chloeshih]

Thank you @Stella!! You’ve seen me through the years struggling at different companies haha. It’s been a long time coming and I hope to share more of these battles publicly to bring more awareness to how people treat each other when there’s no accountability.

[@RiceToss]

A lot of this is more to do with Chinese working culture bleeding over to overseas entities as well. Most American tech companies are notoriously lax in their work culture (e.g. LinkedIn).

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@nelsonshuchmacherendebo7688]

This is a great video, Chloe. We all can tell this has not been an easy decision for you, but seriously GOOD FOR YOU to put yourself first and walk away from a situation that was no longer serving you and respecting your boundaries. A lot of good will come out of this, and the fact that you are so candidly paying it forward on YT will also bring you many good things that you can’t even predict yet. Wishing you all best, and thanks for sharing this experience.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Nelson 👋 Ahh yes it was pretty hard. I went back and forth a lot while filming, editing, and almost uploading. Im glad you found it helpful!! That’s all I was hoping for. :)

[@Bingeworthy]

Whoa so cool of you to share this! You sound like an exceptional leader!!

[@chloeshih]

Ah thank you for the kind words! I'm def just trying to share some of my honest thoughts in this process. Appreciate your support on this!

[@audylikethecar8322]

I’m interviewing for Tiktok right now and culture is sooo important to me. Thanks for giving a heads up on what it might be like there.

[@chloeshih]

Glad you’re getting extra signals! I do want to say that not every team will have this experience. Honestly, I really wish I could have stayed. There were plenty of other teams that recruited me and I think their situations were pretty great. I just didn’t see a full fit for my career focus, team culture, and leadership opportunities all in one. Make sure you do your due diligence with the direct teams you’re interested in!

[@nickraoyj]

It certainly made me think thrice about considering a career at Tik Tok in future

[@on9francisyu]

Culture has been underestimated in the sense that it drives people and things.

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@Jade-ss1xe]

this happens so often at companies that use 'entrepreneurial spirit' as a cop-out for unstructured development and disjointed support

[@chloeshih]

I know! It’s a total cop-out. They’re like “we’re on a rocket ship and we have 10x growth which means we won’t have all the processes in place”. Which honestly is fine in principle, but it turns out to be an excuse to never think about how to make sure there’s equity and fairness for talent to develop

[@Lafemmefutile]

They’ll be like « comfortable working in an ambiguous environment! » 🙄

[@Eredhell]

This is the first video I ever watched from you, but you're incredibly brave for posting this. I feel like more and more people, especially women, are opening up on their workplace experiences. I find this really important that we can finally start talking openly about our workplace experiences, good or bad, since the workforce is usually forced to remain quiet out of fear for retaliation. Especially women. You're doing yourself and a lot of people a huge service by sharing this. So thank you. I can only imagine how much consideration this must have taken to post this.

[@royy9010]

Chloe, I'm so glad you posted this. It is so hard to know what is a toxic work culture when you are living it. Your outline helps us all recognize the signs. So many of those examples were truly unbelievable to hear. I am glad you made the decision that was right for you. I can't wait to see what's in store for your future. I look forward to more updates/videos!

[@chloeshih]

Hi Roy! I’m glad you found this video helpful! Seeing the signs made it so much easier for me when I realized what was happening. I’m glad this information helps others see the patterns to help make the right decisions in their lives! I definitely plan on sharing more about my journey on this channel ~

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@AlisaHaman]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It’s so helpful to hear things like this so that other people know it’s okay to walk away from an environment that just isn’t suiting their needs. Hope you find a great new opportunity that empowers you and gives you some work life balance!

[@chloeshih]

Hi Alisa!! Wow - another PM!! :D And yes, learning to walk away isn't an easy thing, but I'm glad I've been able to exercise that muscle this time around.

[@faithneo7872]

Hey Chloe, thanks for speaking up about this. I experienced this myself working in a SEA office 2 years ago. I thought that maybe things might have changed since then but your video shows otherwise. Honestly, you really need to be in tune with their way of doing things if you want to climb in the company. Glad you’re moving onto a place that really appreciates you! All the best in your future endeavours!

[@chigsav6381]

Thank you for speaking out and for giving ex employees like myself a voice to speak the truth in such a graceful way ❤️

[@juliaduong5585]

Love this video so much Chloe! So refreshing to hear someone share their work experiences because it really is something that's never discussed and everyone always feel alone when going through these things! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@shoshysam6355]

I am so sorry to hear what you have gone thru and happy at the same time as you have decided to move on. You will do great in other places. I truly understand the importance of mental peace while working as a PM and it should be non-negotiable.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Sam 👋 thank you for your words of support. Mental peace does so much for us. Will always cherish that!

[@PamNg]

I'm so, so glad you shared your experience, Chloe!!! I don't think I could ever be as articulate as you, and I hope you know that a lot of folks are going to feel so validated hearing your story. I'm wishing you all the best in finding a workplace that gives you what you're looking for

[@chloeshih]

Hi Pam!! Thank you for your words of support! I wish I could’ve shared more details. There were so many WOC stories that happened to my friends that I wanted to bring to light. There were also so many tense microaggression moments that are so nuanced to talk about in a 15 min video :(. I just wish that being a WOC doesn’t hold people back in their careers soon. Wishing you the best in your career as well!! 🥰

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@SolaAlagbeO]

So happy to hear from you on this topic. I have faced few of those and yes, life is so short to take any form of negativity. Found out tests should really be carried out by employees on companies they would work for, regardless of their assumed workplace culture. The words in the book "You don't have to be mad to work here..." still ring bells in my head when I evaluate companies I would want to work with.

[@chloeshih]

Totally agree. I had to have very honest conversations with my friends and therapist that I can also choose not to work at a place that brings me negativity. Life's too short to deal with these kinds of places!

[@sliceofalice]

It's not easy to speak up for a topic like this. I agree health should be the first priority. Thank you so much for sharing, Chloe!

[@chloeshih]

Ah it took so much going back and forth for me to finally decide. I was even scared wild filming and while editing. I’m glad the message got through. Thank you for your support, Alice!

[@pinokodayo]

Thank you for sharing these stories publicly. I have worked back to back at a handful of very toxic companies over the last few years, many with similar themes to what you've shared. It made me feel absolutely crazy and gaslit, and it has taken me over a year of therapy to even START to feel somewhat better. Hearing stories like yours helps me feel less crazy, less alone in these struggles. I am very saddened to hear you experienced this, and applaud your bravery at sharing these stories. I hope you find peace and greener pastures.

[@axiomac]

One thing I have learned in my entire career life, being too outspoken doesn’t brings you anywhere but actually created the air of intimidation especially to your superior.

[@dekthaiklaibaan]

What I learned from this clip is that we need to set clear boundaries and identify our non-negotiatabels. This will be the foundation of any decision we make throughout our careers. This is so valuable! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️

[@lnwl7004]

Thanks Chloe for coming out and sharing this story. I could 100% relate to you, as someone who used to work in a tech company with similar leadership and culture as TikTok (I shall not name it - it’s a public listed company in the US market and one of the very first unicorns in SEA). I totally agree that health took a big toll on me, not just physical but also mental health, and was one of the main reasons for my resignation. It took me a year to realize and had the courage to quit, despite the fact that I had to take a pay cut in the next company. But I felt so much relieved and I never regretted it. As your friend said, health cannot be traded for anything. Having said that, it doesn’t mean the company is totally bad. On a bright side, I have met so many great colleagues who still remain friends until today and I’ve learned sooo much in such a short period of time. It’s just that this culture is not for everyone, and we all have different priorities in our career.

[@chloeshih]

Ah I’m sorry to hear you went through this before :( I wish this weren’t so common. Health really cannot be traded. I gotta challenge myself to put health first in my next step.

[@Losstheboss]

Toxic environments still exists, And while I've experience a good bit of them, I've never experienced what you did so directly like that. You're such a strong woman Chloe! I'm glad you took action and at the same treated it as a learning experience and improved from it. (I keep adding something more to say, but keep removing it cause, well it's mean. Let's just say I'm super aggravated that you had to experience this kind of treatment. I probably would not have taken it so well.) I'm proud of you Chloe!

[@chloeshih]

Hi Kevin! Ah I know. Unfortunately, my time here wasn’t the worst that I’ve experienced in my career. In an unfortunate way, my previous toxic workplaces built up a lot of my skin so I was pretty prepared coming here. I really don’t think it should be the norm for people to experience this, and I hope employers set up accountability to encourage treating people right all over the industry

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@felixtsai6349]

Thank you for being so open and putting this together so well! This is incredibly well done and you are doing what's right for you. Excited for your growth and future!

[@chloeshih]

Felix!! Thank you for continued support. Excited for the next step as well!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@MaskedGamer]

Chloe, I hope one day you find a team that really opens the doors to the opportunities you deserve, or that you just end up showing companies how it's done with your own company (who knows maybe even via this KZbin channel!). I was lucky to work with you at Caffeine, you left a really big impression, and I know big things are out there waiting for you. :)

[@chloeshih]

OMG OHM!!!

[@vivaquitocarajo]

Good for you Chloe! No amount of money or high status position justifies ruining your mental and physical health! I think you are a very bright inspiring person and I look up to you! Cheers Martin

[@chloeshih]

Agreed! But honestly I’m still struggling with that. It’s definitely easy to say but hard for me to judge when the hard work weeks come. :( hope I can keep growing to develop healthier habits and boundaries! Thank you for dropping a comment.

[@jieying3032]

Hey Chloe, thanks for being so bold to step up & voice out your experience. It's a courageous action to put a limit to things and to prioritize what is truly important to you. Keep goin gurl! Believe that your body & mind will thank you for taking care of them :)

[@chloeshih]

Hi Jie! 👋 Ah yes it very much is. I’m still very not good at it haha, but that’s my next big growth focus. Thank you for your support!!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@user-fp4dr1ne7z]

I can totally relate from working at another company. What I’ve learned is a job is just a job, and you should always be prepared to leave. Also, while feedback is good and helps you grow, there can be so many awful people who just give bad feedback and with bad intentions, so just take it as a grain of salt and always always always know your worth! Find a place where they value you. I’m happy to say I’m working at a much better place and getting paid more. I had to think through and deal with some of the trauma I had from my old work. It’s not easy but I believe it made me stronger and more resilient. There are bullies in the workplace and they are actively trying to push people down just for the sake to make themselves look better and/or they really want to hurt someone they deem as a threat. They know how to play the system and be buddies with the right people. They will not hold back because in their mind it’s you or them. Every company has these kinds of people but when the company and its culture encourages and is apathetic to these types of people and their behavior, it’s a huge sign this place is toxic.

[@isramohammed204]

Amazing amount of self reflection.. I truly appreciate authentic content like this that comes from a space of vulnerability. Thank you Chloe and all the best to you :)

[@IAmPeterCook]

Thank you for sharing publicly about this, Chloe. I'm frankly shocked about some of the feedback managers shared with you, terrible! I'm glad you found the courage to pick up your stuff and leave, to pursue a life that's more aligned with your values. I also appreciate that this is not a 'kicking back' video, but that you shared your personal experience and also noticed the good/interesting things that happen there.

[@jawbraker84]

I was so triggered the entire time. I've experienced all of this before in a toxic company and I'm proud of you for leaving!

[@chloeshih]

Ahhh I should have provided a trigger warning. I’m sorry to hear that you experienced this too. It really should not be this common!! :( thank you for your words of support, DivineFeelings!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@helloklho]

I recognized some of the burnout and unhappiness sprinkled throughout your videos. I have been in a similar situation and I'm SO happy for you. Those hours are unsustainable.

[@chloeshih]

Haha I know! I definitely wanted to keep things more authentic on the vlogs. It really was not a sustainable schedule. Thank you for your continued support, KT!

[@kingant84]

Thanks for articulating the various issues which "leaders" or "maangement" always try to make it seem an non-issue, probably because it's due to themselves not having any incentive to deal with it. You take care and I think you are really a amazing individual, clearly intelligent and a go-getter who dare to share what you want. You are my new role model.

[@yulinsu2185]

I support you, Chloe. Thank you for sharing. I understand you deeply, you are strong and better things are coming. Grateful for you and your experience!

[@industryliaison]

Girl! The way that I can relate to every thing you are saying! You explained this so well and very respectfully. I’m proud of you for taking that leap and thank you for the courage to admit that things were not working out. It sounds so difficult to go through what you dealt with. I hope your health continues to improve more. I recently left my last employer for just about the same reasons and also has issues sleeping.

[@LexiDarcel]

Thank you for the transparency on this! It takes a lot of courage to share about these topics, my fear has been the backlash of potential new employers. But when I shared my video on being fired from a toxic job, it was scary yet therapeutic.

[@halla7346]

Chloe! Thank you so much for putting this video out - I know it wasn't easy but it is incredibly insightful. I interviewed for TikTok this year and was extremely hesitant with going through due to the reasons you listed, which I kinda gauged from Glassdoor. As a woman of colour - psychological safety, career growth, internal sponsorship, and work-life balance is CRITICAL. TikTok is a fast-growing startup company but if it doesn't have the internal infrastructure to create a good team environment, then that's a full-stop. Success is not a success if it is at the expense of our mental health and growth. I am super glad you are putting yourself first and know your worth.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Halla! Also check Blind too! I feel lots of reviews are moving there nowadays. I’m glad you were able to get the right signals for your decision. My psychological safety was truly impacted. :( Im definitely looking out for these signals for myself too!

[@janelu9600]

@@chloeshih LOL I actually found your video from blind! You've come full circle girlie 👏👏

[@SunandiniSingla]

My goodness, coming across this video today is a blessing. Ive just been thrashed of hike, let alone a promotion after slogging a whole year! Thankyou for being honest and open about it.

[@LezNiicole]

Thank you for sharing Chloe! You’re amazing! Bravo to you for doing what’s best for you, I know it’s hard. Sending you good vibes and positivity! 😊❤️

[@alexd4795]

I felt so much from watching this and hearing you speak your truth Chloe. I've been thru this before. Except i didn't know how to express it. People didn't believe me when I tried to explain it. Proud of you for sharing and esp documenting the incidents.

[@chloeshih]

It took me a while to write this 😭😭 there was so much I initially wrote but trimmed out a lot and kept things vague in fear of retaliation or idk anything really. I’m sorry to hear that you went through something similar too. Hope you’re in a much better place!

[@candidlyvivian]

Hey Chloe! As a fellow girl working in Tech over in Sydney (and small KZbinr), thank you for sharing your experience with everyone! Work culture is SO important and I'm so sorry to hear you had to experience that. I'm glad you took the steps and I'm excited to hear about the next steps of your career :)

[@chloeshih]

Hi Vivian! Ah yesss! Another woc in tech!! Great to chat with you. It was a tough experience but I’m excited for the next step!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@kelvintow]

Had a similar experience as well but as a senior product designer. It's good to know that we're all starting to openly talk about how the culture can effect both our career growth and our mental / physical health. For me it got to a point where I have to take medical leave for therapy, and I hope everyone watching this video takes the most important tip here: save yourself before you need serious medical help. It's not worth it. Your relationships with friends and loved ones, your health, your outlook on life is the most important thing. You lose that health mindset, and you will be spending more money recovering over time, than what you're earning on the job. Thanks for being open and starting the conversation here Chloe.

[@Cindayyee]

This was so incredibly insightful - particular your first reason, about progression and unclear growth. Such an important thing to consider - yes a team can be great, but if they aren't transparent about your growth 👀

[@chloeshih]

Unclear growth is such a trap!! :( such a red flag because they don’t ever prioritize it.

[@69thAndYorkAve]

This was amazing, Chloe. Super strong & courageous. As you said, “Connection, relationships, mentorship, team building.” These are the foundations of a truly great culture which can sustain companies, communities, and nations for generations. Thank you for doing this! 👍🏻

[@jaysauer834]

I recently left an internship with a company I loved and hearing you talk helped me think about the reasons I left + what hope for in my next job. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[@allymarieaz]

You explained everything I went through in my last position. When I tried reaching out to HR they came back and called me a liar which is when I knew enough was enough. It's unfortunate that this happens way more than it should, especially for females in the tech field. Good for you for getting out and talking about it!

[@chloeshih]

Ally!! Omg this happens just way too often. I’m constantly shocked at how HR at companies tend to react when there are sticky situations at work. More often than not, the person at the “lower rank” gets booted out even when the senior manager is the person at fault. :( calling you a liar is so out of pocket. I’m glad you’re out of there too!!

[@SW-td6kf]

@@chloeshih When the overall working environment is bad in a company, don’t expect how good the HR team can be, they partially represent the working culture already. Some signs can be found even during the first round interview with them.

[@jujuapples7283]

Thank you so much for sharing this. This really hit home for me, about the division I used to be a Product Manager for, that I left for good. Once you go through that it's hard to recover and get used to a healthier work environment. Thank you for highlighting all of these. Especially the part about negging / gas-lighting. I had gone through that before but haven't realized how toxic that was till now.

[@eoghanaldo1459]

Speaking from further down the line Chloe, you've absolutely made the right decision. I resigned from the UN late last year, after many of the issues you've experienced affected me also. So much so, it was not only affecting my own health, but my family's directly too. I had missed my daughters first year entirely due to 70+hr working weeks and with my Chief of Mission's callous and sociopathic leadership style, I couldn't give any more of myself to facilitate her journey to the top. It's been the best decision I've ever made. However, with similar negging and gaslighting behaviours from my CoM, prepare yourself for bouts of self-doubt, esteem rebuilding and a feeling of loss or grief. They will pass, of course. But, if I could give you any one piece of advice it's this... be kind to yourself, be proud and reassured that you were in the role for a reason and particularly give yourself enough time to step into a new role again. Don't rush. Just breathe.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Eoghanaldo 👋 I’m sorry to hear about your insanely rough experiences at the UN. :( you would think such a reputable place would have accountability for this, but the reality doesn’t reflect that. I’m honestly so worried about this trend in the workplace to dedicate so many waking hours to “emergencies” at work especially when I will have children. I definitely don’t ever want to miss special events for my family in the future and am building the muscles to keep healthy boundaries now. Thank you for your kind messages and words of wisdom!

[@EVL-xj5vc]

I’ve heard UN is highly political and toxic. Such an irony because they stand for human rights. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@eoghanaldo1459]

@@chloeshih Being honest Chloe, it was rough indeed, but I'm a white European male and know it could've been so much worse if I had been of other demographics. I've heard of, and seen, people at a variety of other locations and of other ethnicities, gender and cultural backgrounds loaded with far more additional behaviours linked to those factors. That being said, I share your thoughts in having to highlight that the misbehaviour I experienced is often displayed at senior leadership levels. These are levels where a corporate race attitude purveys. It's 1%. I couldn't and cannot say anything to the detriment of the hundreds of thousands of general and lower professional staff within the UN who sacrifice so much daily. They're the ones really who keep the ship steered the right way 🙂. I think it's interesting though the contrast, or lack thereof, between agile and modern leadership often highlighted within tech and the hierarchical archaic version seen in older institutions. Often, they come full circle to the classic, kill or be killed carnivore leader who is threatened by collaboration and resistent of supporting others along their journey. It's a certain human nature for some to abuse their way to seniority. Thank you for shining a light on an industry that often goes under the radar when it comes to employee welfare. Wishing you all the very best in your next steps Chloe! Enjoy this time 🙂

[@jsopar]

You have no idea how much your post resonated with me! Thank you for sharing your experience and advice.

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@LJJCcacing1]

It takes a lot of courage to speak about these issues openly, big kudos!

[@chloeshih]

Hi JJ!! 👋 It really is. :( thank you for the kudos!

[@theregoesdrelie]

thank you so much for your vulnerability. ALL of your experiences (sadly) resonated with me and this video makes me feel .. so many feelings-- Less alone, seen, and enraged that so many others go through this, etc. Cheers to you and your honesty. Thanks for speaking out for the rest of us!

[@ib_concept]

Chloe Shih's space is incredible! Her tech and product management videos are a game-changer for me. I've learned so much and feel inspired to pursue a career in these fields. Thank you, Chloe, for sharing your expertise and making it accessible to aspiring professionals like me!

[@sliderdimension]

A lot of what she's saying is the corporate abuse that is culturally accepted in Asian countries. It isn't acceptable, but it's clearly widespread and hyper toxic. I'm glad she left!

[@rareliquid]

oof sounds like a tough environment and glad you got out of it. i've worked in banking and while i didn't go through the same struggles as you, definitely know what toxic co-workers and a no-sleep work culture is like. this was a very insightful video looking into the cultures of one of the most successful companies of all time - thank you for sharing and wish you all the best with your next opportunity!

[@chloeshih]

Omg banking sounds so scary to me based on what I’ve heard. I joined tech because I thought the culture would be nicer. Thank you for your words of support! I hope to continue to share!

[@kwcdude]

I appreciate your transparency & honesty in this video Chloe! I too recently left my job due to toxic culture. A culture which I unfortunately see with my own eyes over the years of how the act of 'constantly looking out for each other' is a facade. It's like exactly what you said of "people who thrive are the ones who put people down when they’re being chewed out". Looking forward to you being able to work in a better workplace and not experiencing this horror again! 😊

[@HI-ie3pj]

Wow Chloe. I'm so proud of you for stepping up to do what's right for yourself and for others to know what its like on the inside although its been known to the outside world what is actually happening there. Thanks for the valuable advice and deep insights. Honestly, I have applied for a position recently and with this video appearing at the right time, i believe this is a sign as to why i should not proceed. All the best to u Chloe. You have great potential and i sincerely and deeply feel that you are gonna be someone super successful one day being who you are. I'm a transparent person myself and i really wonder why most management staff are not like us at all. And this negativity believe it or not will actually be there for like the rest of our lives. Enough said. I'm ecstatic that you did this video in time for me to avoid a career and personal life experience disaster. You're a lifesaver! 🤗

[@jamsawamsa]

ngl, I had an identical experience with my product manager job in digital bank that I left recently. crappy culture behind closed doors, unreasonable expectations placed on a PM's shoulders to have thought of everything and unclear paths of progress moving up the promotional ladder. It's comforting to know that others are experiencing similar stuff too, thanks for sharing!

[@lengl1125]

Thanks for sharing this Chloe! As a mum of 2 myself, hearing about the Culture part and how many hours you were working, it's ridiculous and impossible (and just wrong) to ask that of you or anyone. Sounds like you made the best decision. Remember no job is worth your mental health. All the best in your career path x

[@vz8443]

Thank you so much for sharing this - Very appreciate that you are so candid & transparent on the challenges that you faced. One of the most helpful videos on Chinese tech culture & PM work I've seen. Good luck on your next endeavor.

[@RasidaB]

Chloe you articulated this so well! I went through a very similar thing and it is awful to feel your feelings are invalid. Excited for your future and sending you so much love🌞

[@chris.hohoho]

Thank you for sharing this Chloe. I appreciate your voice, intent and optimism. It seems that most of the individuals you dealt with at Bytedance carries similar gaslighting and suppresive traits. I suppose these aren’t a concern during HR screening for a company which I dare to say still defining its values and culture. Am glad you have transcended from this episode and will definitely move on to greater heights. Thank you!

[@chloeshih]

It was unfortunate, but I’m sure the people I’ve worked with are all good, hardworking people. I think it is really the system and the lack of accountability that allows for this type of behavior to happen. Interviews are actually pretty disorganized there D: we had a lot of inconsistencies, but I hope they improve!

[@Evelyn-rp1jv]

Appreciate your courage and transparency, Chloe!

[@chloeshih]

Thank you for sharing your support, Evelyn!!

[@Victoria71936]

I’m happy you shared this, Chloe, a lot of us go through so much to get into a company just to learn that it’s agonizing, and its scary to go through that whole process again so we live with it and end up with going to therapy thrice a week

[@sonyakhan2172]

👏YES👏 GIRL👏 So proud of you Chloe! Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story. It's vital we share these stories with the world. Your courage here is deeply appreciated. Rooting for you in your next journey!

[@chloeshih]

Thank you Sonya!!! 🥰🥰🥰 appreciate your support!

[@amylovescoffee4759]

Good for you Chloe for standing up for what you believe in. I've read so much about the toxic culture at bytedance in Chinese media, (people resign within a month is not rare). You're so awesome, and I'm sure other top tech companies would be lucky and happy to have you.

[@chloeshih]

Hi Amy 👋 ah yeah tenure is pretty low here and onboarding is very challenging to do remote, across time zones, and across cultures. I’m glad you enjoyed this video!! I’m excited for the next chapter as well!

[@ReppinGoldSteel]

I’m sorry you had to go through that. The Great Resignation has demonstrated that employees won’t stand for this kind of toxic culture anymore. Hope your next journey is more fulfilling and is a better fit career wise and in alignment with your personal goals.

[@allisonwodar]

Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s hard to find guidance when you’re unhappy in a career. But you articulate your experiences so well, and I feel like you’ve helped a lot of people by doing so.

[@DaughteroftheLight]

Thanks for sharing this. It took a lot of courage & vulnerability to post this. It shows that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. And gives a great warning to newer people in the work place. Not to mention, what women deal with in the workplace as a whole. Super proud of you and thanks for sharing your experience and being a role model. 💕

[@kenfarinas12]

Hi Chloe, I remember commenting on your video, Day in a Life as a PM, and I am just so proud of you for taking your stand here and realizing how toxic the environment is. I wish you all the best in your next move and I can't wait to hear more from you soon. Thank you so much for being transparent.

[@chloeshih]

Haha yes I’m sure some people can tell it was not a sustainable schedule. Thank you for your continued support!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@katben1625]

It’s so unfortunate that this happens to far too many people in so many tech companies, moving goal posts when it comes to promos, managers putting pressure on their reports to “prove” to them that they deserve to be promoted when it’s literally their job to manage to your success… backstabbing between a colleagues, list go on for ages. Good for you for drawing a line in the sand and getting out of there. Hope your next role is more rewarding professionally and interpersonally.

[@Aripoma]

Wow I'm really shocked you posted this but I'm so happy you did. Not enough people do this. I just started talking to a tiktok recruiter and your video is extremely helpful. I had heard gossip about your reason #2 but it's good to hear it from the source.

[@minionanuta608]

Wow! Thanks so much for having the courage to share this! I had a similar experience at a tech company, and hearing your story helped me validate a lot of my own feelings and that I wasn't crazy to expect more. I also quit! Best decision of my life! Please keep sharing your experience, you have an incredibly warm personality and the ability to articulate things so eloquently! Keep on creating! :)

[@allthehui]

Omg I had never heard of workplace PUA before, it’s wild that there is even a term for this behavior 😢 thank you for sharing your experiences here, Chloe! It is so brave of you and also so importantly for others out there to know that they are not alone and there are other possibilities out there in life!

[@chloeshih]

Same here! Was so wild for me to learn about that! I’m not the expert on it though - just heard it from another colleague who shared a few articles. Wish I never had to make a video about this in the first place :(

[@journeytrials]

As a guy, I never heard of it either. Kind of sleazy! And weird! Who goes to work with that kind of mentality? I just want to do my job and best of my ability!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@AparnaJain1]

This was so hard to watch because it was triggering. I experienced a lot of paper cuts at a company that is supposed to be a “good culture” and it came to a point that I can no longer stand to be in the industry anymore. Thanks for sharing and normalizing this conversation. Sending you healing vibes ✨

[@MrJersey]

Thank you for being vulnerable and share this publicly.

[@HoshiTantan]

I was there for less than a year and our experiences align. I don’t work in product, but ~80% of what you articulated here, I echo. I’m forever grateful for the opportunities and knowledge BD provided for me growth. I met some really brilliant people there too. in the end, the culture was what pushed me away, and the work schedule / style weren’t sustainable for me. Speaking of workplace PUA, I used to think the PUA and public-shaming were just a straightforward no-sugar-coating way, but gradually it took a toll on my mental health, and attacked my self-esteem. It became ultimately negative reinforcement to me. I was really relieved when I quit. A little sad that this is a common experience for many people who worked there. It really shouldn’t be. Props to you for having the courage to speak your truth. :)

[@keveatsgood]

Thank you for speaking up! I'm in Monetization rn looking to head into Product later, hopefully we can contribute to a healthier environment and push leadership. Best of luck and happiness to you

[@Andre-Nader]

This is wild. Thank you so much for sharing Chloe and putting it all out there! Really hard to get true behind the scene experiences and people are so taboo talking about the impact on their mental health.

[@chloeshih]

It really is quite taboo! I always hear it in my private chats or 1:1s with friends, but on our socials, we always post how great it’s been and how excited we are. Hope this helps reveal the harder decisions we make in career!

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@jlau7017]

Thank you, sincerely, for sharing your experience. I went through a similar experience at my last company and came to very similar conclusions. Your courage for sharing your experience publicly has definitely help validate, in part, similar decisions to focus on what makes sense for me. Double high five on the aspect around health and time with loved ones. Late night zoom meetings with China meant not being able to spend time with my children and that just killed me inside. I spent so much time trying to convince my partner that this is worth it that I stopped believing it myself. Absolutely agree that no amount of money can be traded for your health and happiness. No amount of money can buy back time. Congrats and good luck. Not sure how this video came across my KZbin feed, but I'm glad it did and I wish to continue to follow your journey onwards!

[@dreamerparadise]

Hi Chloe, thanks for being so open and sharing your experience! As a woman of colour as well, many of the things you mentioned were SO relatable. Similarly it took 2020 and 2021 pandemic to push me to realize that life is too short and that nothing is worth more than your health. Good on you for recognizing that you needed to get out of this toxic environment and I commend you for your courage to quit snd look for the change that will be good for you. I think there is a time and age for a certain work/lifestyle choice snd something like work culture and work life balance becomes a real deal breaking (especially as we get older). I hope you take the time to recharge physically and mentally, and I’m looking forward to what your next adventure may be!!

[@PineberryMummy]

Thank you Cleo for your courage and the well-articulated video. I experienced something similar during a byte dance (tt’s parent company) PM lead interview - red flag even the in interview stage. The hiring manager in BJ asked me a use case question which wasn’t articulated clearly and I had no idea what she wanted me to answer, so I politely asked her to clarify i.e. are you looking for xxx or something else? Then she immediately changed her face to upset face and told me: aren’t you a PM? Why don’t you know what I am asking? Another story with another Chinese company: when the CEO asked my friend to connect her with me, she expressed that she wanted me to be the co-founder/CPO. However after we finished all the discussion about the job scope, timelines and etc, I asked what would be my role and title (I didn’t even talk about $). She got really upset at me and scolded me for not having startup mindset and only caring about the level and boundaries of my work. I know she was trying to PUA me! But I didn’t fall for it ;)

[@StevenBrener]

Wow...I'm a PM myself, but it's sooo different where I am - it's cooperative and you feel like the team is working together and mgmnt is very supportive. Sorry to hear about your toxic experience.

[@royouterbridge160]

Thank you for being brave enough to share your experiences. This is helpful, not only to those that may be considering working for TikTok, but for everyone that is in the workforce and may be facing similar challenges.

[@ellovieey]

Thank you so much Chloe for sharing your story. I truly admire your bravery, vulnerability and authenticity.

[@yenah_joe]

Chloe you have no idea how much this video means to me and prob a lot of others! I've experienced similar toxic work cultures and I'm glad you're speaking out on them. I hope more people can speak out and things will change. But I wish you the best in your career and I look forward to more of your videos. Ooo, also would love to see the template :)

[@Luke-rm1kw]

Oof, I admire your ability to overcome those negative experiences and unfair treatment while still taking away the positive parts of it. Thanks for sharing!

[@chloeshih]

Hi Luke 👋 Thank you for your words of support! Appreciate your kind comment. I wanted to keep this positive since there were lots of good moments for me as well. Im glad I grew a lot from this experience. :)

[@growthmindset848]

to whomever is reading this, wishing you the best possible day/night -- remember, what we think, we become!

[@corinasoto8179]

I love that you posted this video. This topic is usually “hushed”. The same experience you had happened to me recently as well. I am a Sr PM in Tech as well. I am very happy you posted about this, it’s common in the industry but never talked about.

[@AndresTheDesigner]

SO GLAD you made this video. You’re giving others the courage to speak up! And you’re also inspiring me to continue making more videos. 🚀🚀🚀

[@MaryBB.]

So proud of you!!! Moving away from a toxic environment is not easy, you go girl!!! X

[@chloeshih]

I really isnt! Thank you for your words of support!

[@TorontosVO]

I love this video 10x, I 100% believe in hard work and working for a company you feel is both beneficial for you and where you want to be 3 to 5 years or more. How ever I find "managers" or people who are in these power seats thoroughly enjoy having people grovel for growth inside the company. Toxic environments is exactly why the younger generation don't want to work for anyone but themselves because who will appreciate you more than you. Long are the days people take interns under their wing and teach them good skills and help them reach their goals.

[@chloeshih]

Agreed. :( it’s quite rare to come by a manager who truly supports their teams and uplifts them! Hope work culture changes for the better!

[@yun7456]

Hi Chloe, thank you so much for sharing this! You are so brave to speak out and generous to shed lights by sharing our own exeriperience! As a Chinese, I felt really ashamed that a Chinese company can be so successful with such horrible company culture there (I shared your video with my friends working for ByteDance in China, you are not alone and it's not your fault.). At the mean time, thanks for sharing this to push the change of the company culture, I really appreciated it and so did my friends in China. Hope nothing but the best for your new journey!

[@AvithaLydiaFernandes-zj2wg]

Chloe you are a very strong and successful person. All this should not bring you down, as it might be done intentionally to break you and force you to give up. I went through the same situation in one of the start-ups and went through the same as you just said. I will carefully choose the company I would want to work with and it's okey if it takes time. It took me a little effort to gear back and now I am unstoppable. Love to you, lady.

[@mirandal.4932]

I've been through the exact same things, toxic work culture is so very real. I don't know what kind of people actually thrive in those careers. Oh wait, it's the people that are putting you down, there's someone higher up chewing them out so they take it out on you to "survive" there instead of doing the decent thing. It happens when we're too agreeable and eager to please, and so optimistic we assume the better of people until the moment's passed and we don't feel comfortable bringing it up anymore. We're not equipped handle toxicity because we live in a good mind space, and toxic people can see that and immediately know that we're easy prey so they target us, knowing that they'd be able to walk away with their hands clean with 0 fuss from us. I hope you can be more assertive in your next career. In a perfect world, nobody would need to be assertive to be treated with respect, but what can you do. You're clearly a very nice and thoughtful person, so cheers to your future endeavors!

[@chloeshih]

Miranda! Omg haha yes I totally agree. It’s crazy how the people who thrive are the ones who put people down when they’re being chewed out. It’s a self-perpetuating culture. I honestly am way too “nice” and “helpful” at work and end up doing a lot of unnecessary work that I don’t get credit for. :( it’s tough, but I hope to just grow from it all.

[@mirandal.4932]

​@@chloeshih Haha I'm just like you Chloe! I'm so glad you shared your experience on KZbin (keep it up btw!), it's so refreshing to see someone else go through this and know that I wasn't the exception! I've "toughened up" since then, but it'll always be hard when your nature is to be kind and think the best of those around you. We can definitely be both assertive and still keep the best parts of ourselves though! :) I look forward to following your journey, you should be so proud of everything you've done! a year at TikTok looks great on the resume either way ;)

[@chloeshih]

@@mirandal.4932 agreed! I really don’t want to compromise on my values and the person I want to show up as, but people do take advantage of it. It’s hard to tell when I should switch modes to protect my boundaries. Rooting for the both of us!

[@elliegrizz]

I would definitely agree and confirmed with you that it is not a language barrier- people and or superiors from that region are insanely rude, I'm based from Manila and work for people in the region you are referring to, and I experienced the same hardships of getting shamed, questioning my abilities, etc. good thing tho, after leaving the company I worked for, I realize the importance of setting a high standard for my career and with the people I deal with.

[@chloeshih]

I really tried to make it work in terms of the language issues. I know those do exist, and I did all that I could to bridge those gaps. Unfortunately, I think I saw this behavior happen far too consistently :(. I'm sorry to hear that you also went through similar challenges. I'm so glad you left and are onto better things!! Wishing you the best in your next steps!

[@brwler1]

can't thank you enough for putting this out. Went through so much of this same shit. "Not every hill is worth dying on". you got me.

[@GeorgeZoto]

I am sorry you had to go through all of these challenges Chloe, I am glad you made the right decision and shared your journey with us. Wish you all the best.

[@xxwafflez]

Came from your LinkedIn post, and this video is fantastic! Reasons are well thought-out, supported, and insightful. Idk if your LinkedIn post can still be edited, but the post came off as "I'm leaving TikTok because of personal health reasons, and I'm a woman in tech". That would've been my impression (and I'm sure the impression of others scrolling across their feed and quickly read through) if I didn't watch this 14-minute video. IMO I would incorporate some of the content inside this video into the post, because these reasons are significant, and would help in getting the right message across (I'm sure this is the point as to why you made this video, and I'm sure your post has probably hundreds of thousands of impressions). just my thoughts