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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zalginni - creamshake
louie zong - waking dream & starting again (endscreen)
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[ryannicoletti]

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!

[rafa.c]

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.

[shirleywang]

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 !

[jalabi]

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

[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. <3

[audylikethecar]

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.

[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!

[Bingeworthy]

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

[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.

[nelsonshuchmacherendebo]

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.

[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

[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!

[shoshysam]

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.

[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!

[chigsav]

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

[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.

[jawbraker]

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!

[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 <3 As WOC, we have to support each other - no matter the industry - in feeling like full people in their careers!!

[Jade-ssxe]

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

[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.