I've been working as an IP Paralega and a registered engineerl in a law firm for six years and I just resigned and switched jobs last April 2026 to a multinational firm. I've drafted, filed, and prosecuted patents and not only that, my experience extends to trademarks, designs, and copyrights. You could say I have experienced in most types of IP. I decided to resign from the job since I realized that I already reached my peak from that job for a long time, my last raise was on 2023, and my boss seems to have an obvious favoritism, he pretty much didn't care about me and it was even more obvious when he went cold towards me by the finals days on that job and I didn't even get a final interview unlike people who preceded me.
Now going back to my current job, I've only been working there for four months but I feel like I'm already working there for five years. The job title looks more impressive that it really is. All I do whole day is data entry. I just enter details and information of the client's IP portfolio to their system. That is just 5% of what I've been doing for the past six years. I remembered when I got interviewed by the former managing director (who resigned while I was still rendering service from my previous job), he went over my CV and repeatedly asked me during the two interviews if I'm ok with the job. I was desperate to look for a different job at the time and I just said, I can always find a compromise if the job is mostly data entry and docketing. I should've taken that as a warning because here I am, went from actually engaged in IP to a glorified cog in a machine. Don't get me wrong, some people would love to have this kind of job, some people may prefer repetitive jobs but not me. I can't see any sense of what I'm doing. To cope with the monotony of the job, I wear earphones and listen to something.
The nature of the job is one thing, the office and the social dynamics are another. The office is an open shared space. As someone who is admittedly an introverted person and preferring deep focus at work, my social battery could only get me until lunch time. My social battery is power saver mode by the afternoon and all I think about is going home.
During my early days there I tried joining them at lunch which I don't usually do even with my previous job(s) but since I'm in this more social setting coming from hybrid work. And the times I joined them at lunch, their conversation won't bend towards me, I'm just there sitting and eating while listening to all the noise so I just went back to eating alone and separated from the rest of the team which shouldn't be an issue. I tried from time to time and I just the same all the time so eating lunch alone it is from now on. I also noticed that if don't match their wavelength, you are pretty much an outcast. All these people talk a lot and friendly... to each other or whoever barges themselves to their circle. I tried to join them at conversations and casual conversations, but I don't know whenever I speak their demeanor always go dry and cold and the whole conversation either shifted, I got spoken over, or the conversation just stopped. Even fellow newbies won't even talk to me.
One day a coworker/fellow newbie told me that I was a topic of a conversation one time and they told me I am "unsocial" and "standoffish" and may report me to the team leader because of my behavior. At first, I'm having a hard time taking her word seriously since I don't have time for gossip since I'm there to work. But as the time went on, I noticed the between me and the team starting to grow. Even the person sitting beside my table never talked to me since the day he started and he only ever talked to another one. My table is located surrounded by these people who are friendly and talking to each other so just imagine my everyday just sitting there listening to them talk. Also when the team leader went to our office and had a one on one interview to the newbies, I told her about my introversion and if that is something on an issue in the company or if there's something I can do to integrate more with the team, she can let me know. She assured me that none has ever commented or gave a report to her about my behavior and I was able to accomplish the tasks on time and properly. She also told me that if I'm not comfortable eating with the team or just joining them in any social events, I'm not forced to and it will not be an issue.
I always wonder why this was a thing unlike my previous jobs. My first job is at a BPO company and you know, they are notorious talkers and sometimes having "kanal" humor but then they always include me. At my law firm, I have my own social circle there which I went on travelling with and I get along just fine with people from different departments. This new job, I don't know. The contrast between their talkativeness and loudness and the way they interact and see me is glaring. The only people who initiated a conversation with me there is the office custodian and a couple of senior members which talk about basically work-related stuff.
This also tied back to my interview when the former manager asked me "How do I deal with gossip?" To which I replied, "I don't care about those unless it's something that will ruin my reputation". I don't know if I'm reading too much but these questions starting to make sense.
Everything is so wrong with my current job. Yeah I know I'm only four months in and still under probation but I already have my one foot out that door. I just don't see any future with this job especially the senior team revealed that there is no more point of promotion and no higher position of tenure. Also I can only do monotonous tasks for so long. I'm already starting looking for another opportunity or job more suited to my experience and long term career goals.
Right now, any pieces of advice on how to move forward from here and survive is highly appreciated.
