A letter for when I felt invisible at work
This year, i turned 29.
And i have been thinking about all the things i wish someone had told me - not to fix anything, but to simply say: ‘i see you’ or, ‘this is a valid feeling’.
So here are 29 letters to myself. Maybe to you too.
Dear you,
Work is never meant to be easy. Perhaps it felt easy when you were younger, but trust me when i say that it only gets harder (or maybe only so for you but i doubt so hahaha). I think when we first entered the workforce, we were so innocent and naive and honestly, touch my heart even now also can say, i met really amazing people. And that really shaped how i felt at work, and how happy I expected myself to feel, even as i left the place i started.
I know the feeling of your work being overlooked sucks. The feeling that no matter how hard or how good you work, it doesn’t seem to matter in the bosses’ eyes - because it is not visible to them. You usually don’t care about such visibility; you trusted that your work would speak for itself.
But as you get older, as you interact with more people, as you swipe more “corporate advice” TikToks, you realise what is key is actually:
Being consciously seen and heard by the bosses.
That was never difficult at the start. You had a great team, you had great rapport with the bosses, and perhaps most importantly, you had a smaller team hahaha. It’s hard to be seen in a big team, especially when being seen usually comes with loads and loads of attention - sometimes unwanted and premature. But as you question whether you would stay for long, visibility starts to creep into your thoughts and you wonder if you are doing enough.
Beyond that, you start to question why you are working hard. Why you do so much “behind-the-scenes”, only for them to be considered “invisible work”.
Slowly, you start to become quieter and quieter. To draw lesser attention to yourself. Because you question the value of your “invisible work”, when everyone seem to be doing great, showing up in front of bosses and showcasing what they are doing. People tell you that you are doing a lot, that you are doing great, but at the same time you know that these “great work” are not reaching the eyes of the people who matter - your bosses. But its not that you don’t try, its that what you have been assigned, is not the topic that your bosses care about.
Hearing that your workstream is not key sucks. Because, how does one choose to be assigned a “key” workstream? But life is never fair, let alone at work. Hahaha, that is probably the most unfair place. At least, one of.
But don’t be discouraged. Don’t stop doing the great work that you are doing. Why? Because you are more than the “invisible work” that they claim. Because your life doesn’t revolve around being visible to bosses. Only your work life does.
Continue to trust that your work will speak for itself, because it does. Your work speaks volumes - even if not directly to your current bosses.
Continue to work hard, not because you are proving yourself to your current bosses. But because you want to be truthful to yourself, and you want your work to always be the best work you put forth. If you feel tired of this fight, take a break. Rest for a bit, and then pick yourself up to do your best work again.
Continue to be unapologetically you - because that is who truly shines and thrives. You don’t have to be the brightest star in the galaxy, but know that you are a star that is shining in the Milky Way. Many stars are shining alongside you, but that doesn’t dull your shine. At least, try not to let it hahaha.
Know that when you are feeling “invisible”, you are visible to others. Not everybody will see your magic, and not everybody will see you. But at the end of the day, you do you and you be you.
Remember, your self-worth is not dependent on others. Your worth at work might be, but your workplace can always change. But your self doesn’t. So being invisible at work doesn’t make you invisible in real-life, it only means it is a stumbling block right now.
Keep thriving, girl. Keep working hard and shining. One day, someone who sees your shine will discover you. And that is when you will shine brighter than ever.
PS: but continue to attempt to shine :) you don’t have to remain passively invisible :)
Love,
pf
When you feel invisible at work, it's easy to start doubting your contributions and question your place in the team. I've been there, too. One thing I learned is that invisibility doesn't mean you're not important; sometimes, it's just the nature of the work assigned to you or the organization's focus. In my experience, acknowledging these feelings without harsh self-judgment helped me regain my confidence. Instead of waiting for recognition, I found ways to make my efforts more visible by communicating my progress in small, consistent ways—sharing updates with managers or collaborating openly with colleagues. It felt uncomfortable at first, but it slowly shifted how others saw my work. Also, I realized the importance of finding mentors or allies who could advocate for my work or give honest feedback. They helped me see strengths I was overlooking and suggested ways to navigate the workplace better. Remember, taking care of yourself during this time is crucial. If the pressure feels overwhelming, it's okay to rest and reassess your goals. Your worth is not solely tied to your visibility at work. Keep growing, stay authentic, and one day the right people will notice your unique contribution—just as the letter encourages. This journey taught me that invisibility is often temporary and sometimes signals it's time to seek new challenges or environments where your voice and work are valued more. Whatever you choose, hold on to your self-worth and keep striving confidently.
Your letter resonates with me because I feel undervalued at work. But im too afraid to leave the company while the job market is not doing well now. 🥺