Quiting Your Job

[FreeTime]

After 12 years at the same company I really want to quit and explore other opportunities. I get excited just thinking about getting out of the rat race. However, I am fearful to do so. If you have quit your job to try something new, what did you do to give yourself the strenght to just do it?!
Thanks

 

[AKL_Megs]

I did.

When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to be an interior designer. I went to college - on my parents dime, bless their hearts - graduated, and landed a job doing what I always wanted to do... or so I thought.

As weeks turned to months, and months turned to a year, I realized that I was truly unhappy. My clients treated me terribly (very insecure, needy women spending their husbands money on my opinions, only to pick them apart and do what they wanted anyways... an expensive hobby was what I was), my boss treated me terribly, and I dreaded going to work every day.

I took my first trip on an airplane when I was 21, and from that moment, it was in my blood, my heart was set on being a flight attendant one day.

Of course, I had this CAREER that I had gone to college for. My parents had spent SO much money on everything. I had to suck it up. Besides, who really becomes a flight attendant anyways?

Finally, one day, I had had enough. I was 23, exhausted beyond my years, emotionally drained, and just not happy. It was a terrible day. I don't even remember what happened, but I remember my boss making me cry before I went to lunch, and just feeling like a terrible failure. At lunch, I called my mom crying, and she told me, "If you DON'T quit, don't bother coming home."

I found a box, cleaned my desk and left. I had NEVER felt so weightless and wonderful before, and I wouldn't feel that wonderful again until the moment I was hired on by my airline. I remember the car ride home being absolute bliss.

It just so happens that today, I am having one of the WORST days ever at work, and still, it doesn't feel like work, and I am NOT at all unhappy. I am livin' the dream!!!

I had just needed someone to tell me it was okay... I was too young to tell myself, but looking back, I was a terribly sad, depressed, hopeless girl who was unhappy. My mom was my strength, but now that I am older, I know I have that strength myself. YOU have it in yourself as well.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks for the quick response! It makes me all giddy just to think of leaving the cube farm and never having to go to that place again. But then, I think of the bills that I have to pay and that they won't just pay themselves. But, I think if I just do it I will be so much more happy and things have a way of working themselves out.

 

[Planogirl]

Since bills are a consideration, could you go to part-time and pursue your dream? Maybe split the difference so to speak.

I was lucky enough to quit a job I despised once and it felt wonderful. I didn't really have anything else in mind but the job was driving me crazy and we could afford me quitting at the time. I'm in an even worse job now (I have the worst luck but I have had good jobs too!) but now I can't leave. I did cut it back to part-time though and that helps for now. Eventually I'll get it all worked out.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[tasha99]

I quit a pretty low level job at Royal Caribbean to work part time in a legal office. I decided to take the downgrade in pay so I could focus more on being a mom (quitting work altogether wasn't an option since I'm a single parent, but it was feasible to tighten up our finances in the interest of having more time for the kids).

Later I quit that job to get my Masters in Communication Disorders and Sciences. My boss was sooo supportive, and let me work odd and irregular hours during my year of post bacc work. I gave him over a year's notice before quitting--it wasn't a whim but something I'd carefully planned.

I am really glad I went back to school to do something that interests me, and after years of struggling and making do, I will feel rich on my starting salary. Money is tight right now, but not as bad as you'd think. In some ways, it's less tight since I qualify now for all the po' folks programs that I just barely didn't qualify for before.

 

[minkydog]

Well, don't quit your job until you have another one. They say that people are more attractive to potential employers if they are already employed. And you sure don't want to be without income for any length of time.

I quit my job 3 years ago. I was working for a big hospital doing a job that required me to make a certain quota every hour. I was very good at the job and had very high ratings, but I struggled to make the quota every month. It was 7 calls/hour and one month I only made 6.9. That was enough for them to put me on probation. There were serious sanctions. I was livid! I was one of the best and they treated me like a 5yo. So I decided to get my quota up and then move on. I found another job fairly quickly and turned in my resignation with no regrets. They begged me to stay, apologized all over the place, and promised to change the policy because they didn't want to lose anymore workers. I had no pity. I moved on, and while the new job didn't pan out like I thought it would, it proved to be a stepping stone to another job that is a perfect fit.

I wish the same for you. Sometimes you just know it's right. Best of luck finding something else.

 

[gregokdisney]

I got my undergraduate degree in International Business & French, and went on to work in a major manufacturing company in the International Customer Service department. It seemed like a perfect fit, and I worked there for 9 years, working my way up to the manager of the customer service department. I gradually began to realize that I hated it.

Then I had my daughter, and I realized life was too short to work each day at a job that made me miserable. I was looking at another 30 years on the job, at least. I wanted to do something that I loved each day.

So, I quit my job and went back to school. I got my master's degree in library science to become a librarian, and then went on from there to get a teaching certificate. I am now a school librarian. I LOVE my job and I love getting up and going to work every day. It is rewarding, and exciting, and although there are days when the kids drive me crazy and I'm overwhelmed, I never feel the soul-sucking drudge I felt answering phones and taking customer complaints and orders every day all day (and into the night - I worked 50-60 hours per week). I am doing something that matters - I am helping kids learn to love to read. It is amazing.

However, the transition was hard and expensive. I'm paying a whole new set of student loans. I was out of the job market for several years, so I have a lot of retirement contributions to make up for. The trade-off was worth it for me, though.

 

[amyy]

I quit my job in the mental health field to go back to graduate school in Communication Science and Disorders (like Tasha99).

I did plan it out a bit and had my car paid off, credit cards paid off, a bit saved, cashed in my retirement and borrowed a lot of money. I just couldn't see myself working in mental health for the 30 or 40 years. It is amazing what you can do without when you need to (Christmas wreath, clothes, junk food etc. I was so happy when I could finally afford a fresh Christmas wreath again

Maybe you will know when the time is right. Good luck.

 

[Robinrs]

I would not quit a job in today's economy for ANYTHING. Do all of your searching and while you have a job, today's economy not only has less jobs but a much more sophisticated group of unemployed people going after the few jobs offered.

You could find another job that you THOUGHT was great and be in the same position you were in originally. Take your time and find that other job and then quit your current job.

Good luck!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

If you genuinely want my 2 cents like others said, i would never ever consider quitting anything in todays job market without a sure thing right behind it. No matter what sorts of gibberish you hear on the news about us being in an upswing they are wrong, dead wrong. Have you been watching the news? The lines that go for blocks when a job opens up in certain parts of the country? Have you heard about the bailouts spreading through Europe & the riots there? The financial instability in China, the country which has been keeping us afloat? The stock market skid late last week? No, this Depression isn't going anywhere and people's skittish mindsets make modest gains unreliable... no indicators are very reliable right now since so much is based upon mood and the mood isn't good. Unless you are independently wealthy I think it's a much better idea to stay put and put out feelers. Sometimes, the very action of looking for something new can have an uplifting effect on a person's frame of mind. I am sorry your job is getting you down & hope you feel better with whatever you choose to do in the end.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It is easiest to get a job while you have one. You can look around and once you find a new job then you can quit your current one. And, when you are offered a job and they ask if you can start immediatelly, the correct answer is that you feel that you should give your current employer notice; that way it shows the new employer that you do respect your current employer.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I agree with RobinRS and LuvOrlando. In the past it was possible to quit your job, go back to school and get a better job right away. Times were better then. Today, once you get out it could be years before you get another job...even one that pays minimum wage.

If you're married and your spouse's job is Depression-proof and will cover the bills, that's one thing. But if you're counting on your own salary to help meet expenses then it's better to put up with the soul-sucking for the sake of survival rather than losing everything simply because you were unhappy with your current situation.

It's a sad place to be in, but until the economy improves there's really no other choice. By all means, be on the lookout for something better. But, like LovOrlando says, make sure the new job is a sure thing that isn't going to be a downsize or lay-off in the next few years.