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At 31, Tiviya Lakshmanan describes her life as a roller coaster, filled with ups, downs, and moments she never saw coming.
If you were to glance at her resume, she admits it might not look impressive at first.
Honestly, my resume is very poor, especially with all the job hopping and short durations,” she admitted.
But behind that resume is a story many don’t see: one of rejection, self-doubt, and quietly trying over and over again.
Never planned this path for herself
Like many Malaysians, Tiviya didn’t fully choose her own path at the start.
She had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, but coming from an Asian household meant practicality came first.
“I didn’t want to take STPM, but most kids don’t get to decide. Our parents push us towards careers with more status,” she shared.
Still, she pushed through.
STPM eventually led her to pursue an English degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where she thought she would become a teacher or work in something related to her field.
But life had other plans. During her internship, Tiviya unexpectedly stepped into journalism, something she had never imagined for herself.
‘I’m a degree holder. I can do better than this’
Her first job after graduating was in customer service. And at the time, she struggled to accept it.
“I felt humiliated. I thought to myself, ‘I’m a degree holder, I can do better than this.’”
That decision would later become one of Tiviya’s biggest regrets.
Although I stayed for about 1 1⁄2 years and even got promoted, I left when an opportunity in journalism came calling as I was driven partly by pride and the belief that I deserved something “better.”
“Little did I know that if I didn’t quit, I could have built something there.”
Job hopping and silent struggles
After that, things began to spiral into a pattern which saw Tiviya going through 6 to 7 jobs and leaving during probation periods.
And with each new role came a familiar feeling of instability.
“I’ve always been under the retrenchment category since I graduated. Every time I attend interviews or probation, I lose hope.
“There were numerous times I cried in the toilet or in my car during lunch breaks,” she revealed.
To make things worse, the work environments Tiviya encountered weren’t always kind, and over time, it took a toll on how she saw herself.
I constantly felt like something was wrong with me. Like I wasn’t good enough. Even during interviews, I could sense the judgment.I know that look they give me…like I’m not worthy.
“The judging wasn’t limited to strangers only. Even my parents judged me.”
Hitting rock bottom
Tiviya’s lowest point came when she was retrenched from her journalism job, leaving her with no stable income and struggling to pay rent.
The only job she could find wasn’t accessible by public transport, which forced her to buy a car, adding more to her financial burden.
Eventually, I had no choice but to return home at the age of 28. It was a shameful experience. Even today, that feeling hasn’t completely disappeared. I still do feel like I’m falling behind.”
Things began to shift when Tiviya discovered pet-sitting via the platform D’Paw as she was desperately looking for a job after getting retrenched.
Today, at 31-years-old, she now cares for animals while doing part-time work to sustain herself.
“I felt a sense of freedom. I get to take care of fur babies, and in return, I can sustain my life.
Now I’m a pet nanny for many owners and I’ve been doing this since 2021. It may not pay much, but it gives me joy and contentment.”
What job hopping really taught her
Looking back, Tiviya no longer sees her journey as a failure. Instead, she sees it as something that shaped her.
“It forced me to reflect on my strengths, work on my gaps, and handle rejection without losing confidence.
“It also made me realise that sometimes, it’s not just about capability but timing.”
When asked whether it’s okay for one to not have everything figured out in their 30s, Tiviya’s answer was this: “Perfectly fine.”
She points to people like Colonel Sanders, the iconic figure and founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), who only found success later in life.
I’m 31 and still figuring things out, but I’m not going to stop doing what I love. If you feel lost in life, don’t panic. Pressure will come from every direction, but how you handle it will shape your path.”
“Just remember this: there is always an alternative.”
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