This generation isn’t rejecting work, they’re working on changing what it should look like.
For a long time, success seemed simple: finish school, get a good job, move up the ladder, and retire. But work doesn’t look like that anymore and somewhere along the way, especially after the pandemic, everything shifted. People started questioning whether working for one company until retirement was really the dream. Flexibility, purpose, and real fulfillment became just as important as titles and promotions.
Some are staying in corporate, making it work for them. Others are taking different routes, switching industries, freelancing, and building careers that fit their lives better.
Non-linear careers where you don’t just move straight up but across, around, and even back are becoming the future. And while it’s not always easy, it’s opening doors to more freedom, growth, and meaning than ever before.
According to Forbes, non-linear careers aren’t just a response to change, they’re a strategy for long-term fulfillment. Building a flexible, diverse skill set across industries and roles can help you stay resilient, financially stable, and creatively fulfilled. This kind of career takes work but people are choosing it for good reason.
I get it because I’ve lived it, too. I started in media, where creativity kept me excited and made work feel meaningful. Later, I moved into the tech industry as a social media manager, where I learned to juggle different jobs across industries and, honestly, I had fun doing it. But after my time in tech, I ended up in a traditional corporate setup that felt completely different. That’s where I saw, in my opinion, the worst of office politics, favoritism, and leadership that didn’t really value women’s voices. Although I built relationships I still treasure, the leadership culture deeply disappointed me. After that experience, I found my way back to the creative industry where I could finally work on my own (but guided) terms, doing what I love.
Now, I work on output, not hours. And most importantly, I’ve found fulfillment without having to chase titles or promotions and even get to teach in a university on the side, something that wouldn’t have been possible in most traditional corporate setups.
And I’m not alone. Here’s how other Filipino young professionals are finding their own ways forward.
Staying in corporate but doing it differently
For some, staying in corporate still makes sense. But today, they’re making sure it fits their lives not the other way around.
Hannah, an actuarial assistant in the financial industry, grew up thinking office life was the goal. “While growing up, part of me envisioned working in an office job, drawn by the comfort and prestige often portrayed in the media,” she said. “But as I became more aware of corporate cultures that can sometimes be inhumane and unjust, the appeal has dimmed.”
As I became more aware of corporate cultures that can sometimes be inhumane and unjust, the appeal has dimmed.”
Now, she is focused less on chasing promotions and more on building skills she can use to serve the public someday. “Stability is not solely linked to financial wealth but also to mental and physical health,” she said. “These aspects are often sacrificed in pursuit of delayed gratification, but I believe that nurturing and strengthening them is a more sustainable path toward a meaningful life.”
Olei, a sales leader at a tech company, had a different start. After trying freelance real estate and insurance, she realized she needed more structure.
“I started out freelancing… thinking that being my own boss would be the dream,” she said. “But the reality was tough. There was little to no structured training, managers were focused mainly on numbers, and I felt like I wasn’t really growing.”
I’m happy climbing the ladder but I’d be lying if I said I never thought about switching things up
Today, she loves working somewhere that supports flexibility and learning. “We’re only required to work in the office once a week, there’s strong support for employee engagement activities, and I even get opportunities to travel abroad.”
Still, she’s honest about the pressure. “I’m happy climbing the ladder but I’d be lying if I said I never thought about switching things up. There are times when the pressure gets overwhelming, and I catch myself daydreaming about doing something different, maybe even starting my own business someday.”
Rose, a support technician in the BPO/IT world, entered corporate mainly out of need. “It’s not something I’ve always wanted but I had to for the salary,” she said.
But hybrid work has made a difference: “Since our setup is hybrid, being able to work anywhere helps me a lot to not feel like a routine. And I look at our occasional office days as monthly catch up with work friends.”
For Rose, real stability isn’t about having a big job title. “I’ve come to realize that stability is not found in any type of job, it’s the way we handle our income.”
Choosing the non-linear path and finding something more
More and more, people are choosing careers that don’t follow a straight line and finding freedom they wouldn’t trade.
Brooklyn, a lifestyle photographer and data specialist, didn’t plan to step off the usual track. It just happened. “I have discovered that I like having my time to do chores without having the fear of getting misunderstood,” she said. “Working with Australians and the British has been incredibly helpful not just to my craftsmanship, but to my mental, physical, and spiritual health as well.”
Freelancing ended up being the perfect setup, it gave me the freedom and flexibility I was looking for.”
She also learned one lesson she thinks everyone needs: “Rest is not something you earn, it is important. And it’s okay to pivot.”
Pat, a video editor and director, spent six years in a corporate job before realizing it wasn’t for him. “I realized that kind of environment just wasn’t for me,” he said. “I’m a creative person, and freelancing ended up being the perfect setup, it gave me the freedom and flexibility I was looking for.”
Freelancing has its slow seasons, but Pat sees it as part of the adventure. “Freelancing isn’t always consistent, there are slow seasons, and you’ve got to learn to roll with it. Honestly, it just takes some creativity to fill the gaps and keep things moving.”
He believes the world has changed and careers have changed with it. “As the world keeps changing, everything else is too. The jobs we have now didn’t even exist a few years ago. And the best part is that we have more freedom to choose our own path thanks to all the flexibility we have today.”
The new definition of success
This generation isn’t rejecting work, they’re working on changing what it should look like. It’s no longer about chasing titles or following a fixed ladder. It’s about building a career that makes you grow. That might mean staying in corporate with better boundaries. It might mean freelancing, consulting, switching paths, or starting something new. It might mean doing all of the above in one lifetime.
Non-linear careers where you don’t just move straight up but across, around, and even back are becoming the future.
Non-linear careers where you don’t just move straight up but across, around, and even back are becoming the future.
But success today is about flexibility, purpose, and building a career that doesn’t just look good on paper but actually feels right.
And that’s the path more of us are choosing.
