A Malaysian man recently went viral on Threads after sharing how a career move that once looked like a huge salary upgrade ended up affecting his mental health and finances.
In a series of posts, the 36-year-old detailed his salary progression over the years, which steadily grew from RM2,000 in 2012 to around RM10,000 to RM12,000 between 2023 and 2025.
Left stable job for RM17K offer
According to the man, he later moved to a new company that offered him RM17,000 a month.
However, he resigned after just three months due to mental stress and workload pressure.
After leaving the role, he struggled to secure another high paying position and eventually accepted a new job with a salary of around RM5,000.
He admitted the sudden drop in income has been emotionally difficult, especially as he is nearing 40 years old and his children are about to start school.
“Every day feels sad and sometimes I cry. I don’t know how to face this,” he wrote.
The man also said he regretted leaving his previous stable workplace, adding that senior level jobs with similar salaries are now much harder to find.
In another post, the man revealed that he actually has enough savings to survive for around two years if he does not downgrade his lifestyle or reduce his commitments.
However, he said his current salary is no longer enough because he has effectively lost around 50% of his previous income.
He also asked netizens whether he should immediately downgrade his lifestyle and commitments or “hold on” for another year in hopes of securing a better paying job again.
“I regret quitting my previous job. Senior roles with high salaries are especially hard to find now.”
He shared that he felt too embarrassed to open up to his longtime friends because he was afraid of being judged.
As a result, he created another account just to express his feelings online.
“Tough day today. Even at this age, I cry like a child,” he wrote in another post.
Later shares positive update
In a follow-up comment posted five months after his initial confession, the man shared that he has since secured a new job in the oil and gas industry with a RM9,000 salary.
He added that he had around RM200,000 in savings before resigning from his previous role, which became his backup plan during the difficult period.
The post resonated with many Malaysians, with some sharing similar experiences of burnout, toxic workplaces, contract uncertainty, and lifestyle inflation after earning higher salaries.
