I was loyal to my company for 7 years and regret it. I left with debt and without a 401(k).

• Andie Mercer worked at the same PR firm in New Mexico for seven years before leaving in 2023.
• She discovered a non-functional 401(k) and restrictive non-compete clause at the end of her employment.
• She wishes she had questioned workplace norms and advocated for her personal rights at the company.

When I started my career at a boutique PR and communications firm in the Southwest, I did everything by the book.

I stayed loyal to one company, earned my MBA, climbed my way up from intern to vice president, and believed that if I just worked hard enough, followed the rules, and proved my worth, I could build a future for my family and me that offered financial freedom and job security all the way to retirement.

Seven years later, I left that same company in 2023 with debt, no 401(k), and a non-compete agreement that temporarily ended my career in my own state.

I thought I did everything right

When I became a full-time employee in 2017, I remember the onboarding paperwork, the forms about benefits, healthcare, and retirement. I checked the box to enroll in the company's 401(k) and set up a 3% contribution to receive the full match.

Seven years later, when I was preparing to leave the firm, I reviewed my financial accounts, and I realized my 401(k) balance hadn't changed from $0. Confused, I called the provider and learned that my account existed, it was open and on file, but no contributions had ever been deposited.

At the time, I was a young professional and didn't realize how closely I should've been monitoring my retirement contributions. I assumed everything had been set up correctly after my enrollment meeting.

It wasn't until I contacted the plan administrator while preparing to leave the company that I learned no investments had ever been made. After several calls, I still didn't receive a clear explanation for why the contributions never went through, only confirmation that they hadn't.

My second mistake was signing a non-compete agreement without a second thought

When I first joined the company, I was in my early 20s, thrilled just to have my foot in the door. The non-compete seemed like a formality, something everyone signed. I couldn't imagine leaving, let alone being in a position where it might matter.

When I finally did leave, that same clause came back to haunt me. It essentially barred me from working in my field anywhere in my state, New Mexico, for two years. After dedicating my entire professional life to one company, I was suddenly told that I couldn't take those skills anywhere else.

I began applying for jobs outside New Mexico, but the job market has been especially difficult. I'm still actively searching for a long-term role today, three years later.

In the meantime, I've relied on contract work, bookkeeping projects, and gig jobs like DoorDash to make ends meet while continuing my search for stable work.

I felt boxed out of opportunity

The MBA that I had hoped would open new doors only added another layer of irony. I went back to school while working because I believed education would make me competitive if I ever needed to find a new job.

What I didn't anticipate was entering a market where advanced degrees don't guarantee stability. I'm still paying off my $12,000 debt years later while fighting for roles that barely cover childcare costs.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the "by the book" path isn't always the safest.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is pause, ask questions, and advocate for your future self, even when it feels uncomfortable. Check your accounts. Read every line before you sign. Protect your autonomy like it's your paycheck, because in many ways, it is.

I wish I'd had someone to tell me that loyalty is not the same as security

I didn't leave the company because of the work itself; I left because, over time, it became clear the environment was no longer the right fit for me.

I think a lot about what I'll tell my daughter when she starts her career. I'll tell her she doesn't owe loyalty to any company, and her work ethic shouldn't come at the expense of her values.

I'll tell her to advocate for herself early and often, to ask questions about pay, benefits, and boundaries, even when it makes people uncomfortable. I'll tell her that no job, no title, and no amount of prestige is worth losing yourself for.

I used to believe success was about checking all the right boxes: degree, promotion, title, loyalty. Now, I see it differently.