Ex-brain Surgeon Trades in Scrubs for Warehouse Work: “Time for Myself Was Worth the Pay Cut”
In a surprising career shift, a former assistant brain surgeon has traded in her surgical scrubs for a warehouse role at Amazon. Helen Xu, 31, from Brisbane’s south, made the move after growing exhausted with the demanding schedule of her medical career.
Xu began her medical career in 2018, working as an assistant brain surgeon at a hospital in Queensland. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, her workload intensified, with shifts lasting up to 30 hours. Without family responsibilities to balance her work and personal life, Xu found herself taking on extra shifts to compensate for the lack of available staff.
The pressure took a toll on Xu’s mental and physical well-being, leaving her feeling exhausted and with little time to socialize with friends and family. By September 2021, she had had enough and decided to leave the medical profession behind.
In an unexpected turn of events, Xu found herself drawn to Amazon‘s delivery efficiency during lockdown. She was impressed by the company’s ability to quickly deliver essential items and thought, “Why do they deliver so much faster than other companies?” This sparked her curiosity, and she began researching Amazon’s warehouse operations.
In October 2021, Xu took on a role as a casual warehouse associate, stacking shelves and preparing orders. She was initially drawn to the company’s inclusive work culture and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment.
Xu has since risen through the ranks and is now a full-time operations shift manager at Amazon. While she earned a base salary of around $113,792 as an assistant brain surgeon, she now earns approximately $32 per hour at Amazon. Although the pay is lower, Xu feels that the trade-off is worth it for the increased work-life balance and time for herself.
“I’d never worked in anything like that before, but I was frequently ordering things off Amazon and thought, ‘Why do they deliver so much faster than other companies?'” Xu said. “I’ve learned so much about myself and my abilities in this role.”
As for returning to the operating theatre, Xu has no plans to do so. Her career shift coincides with Amazon’s hiring spree ahead of the Christmas season, with 600 seasonal positions available across Australia.
Amazon’s inclusive work culture has been a welcome change for Xu, who appreciates the lack of judgment based on background or experience. “People are from all different walks of life… It’s really opened my mind,” she said.
Xu’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes taking a leap of faith can lead to unexpected rewards and a greater sense of fulfillment.
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