Has anyone just ever quit their job?
 

OK so things are starting to get really bad where I work. Really bad. I don't want to just quit without having another job lined up but I am so stressed and frustrated all the time it is starting to really affect my personal life too. I have some savings but not enough to last more than a few months. I don't want to totally screw over my boss either because he's great, it's just the nature of the job I hate. Advice anyone?

Stop being so high strung and stop taking things so personally.

I am not sure how to stop being that way . . but its a well meaning suggestion.

Anyway, things like frustration and stress are as much about whats happening inside of you as what is happening at work.

That could be part of it, but my boss also had a heart to heart with me and said that this one program we deal with (which is the one main reason I hate where I work), he has a friend there who has personally told him that her boss has said "she has it out for our agency". Apparently a few years back, way before I was there, there were major problems with another program, but since then, things have cleaned up, but this agency still seems to be doing everything in their power to make our lives miserable. It sucks because the economy is so shitty here for Social Workers and "just quitting and getting another job" is easier said then done, especially because I am living on my own and have major expenses I am responsible for and no one to bail me out.

since you mention you have a ton of financial responsibilies and not enough in savings to last very long, personally i think you should start looking (if you haven't already).

I don't really understand the whole agency thing that you were talking about though.. but I am guessing that's a field thing that I have no knowledge in :)

Yeah, I have started sending resumes out, so hopefully I will get a bite. It's just so degrading sometimes, I guess that's the word, because the places that DO call me for interviews, the salaries are even less than I am making too, which is another major issue--I cannot afford to take a pay cut. But as you pointed out, I think just "quitting" would probably be really dumb at this point too.

I worked in social services before I went to law school and again after -- BRIEFLY. I will NEVER GO BACK to the field, ever. Of all the jobs I've ever had, I've had the most drama with social service/social work types -- there are so many women with issues who work in the area it's just too hard, in my opinion, to find a decent place to work.

I think it would be totally understandable if you just quit. If you give notice, you're not screwing over your boss -- you can't stay somewhere that's making you miserable because you don't want to upset someone else. If it's so bad you can't sleep at night or you think about it all the time when you're not there and dread going in, I'd just quit. It's not worth it.

ETA: I did just quit the job I had last year and hated. I don't regret it.

I've done this twice. It was financially stupid, but when you hate going to work every single day, you have to do it. I turned both experiences into prolonged vacations, and never regretted it. I only regretted not quitting sooner.

I think that everyone has given good advice so far. Send your resume out and use your personal and professional contacts to see what jobs are available in your field or in another field.

I am so sorry that the stress of your job has been getting to you so much. Maybe you should take a vacation and clear your head.

Winney...

I know we've chatted about your predicament before...I'm sorry it's not getting any better...

When I was working with the County, things were getting really bad for me as well. I was coming home every night just physically and emotionally exhausted. I was depressed and apathetic. My husband and I talked about our options. We had a decent savings account and decided to take out an equity line of credit. I got the loan approved and turned in my resignation the next day!!

Somehow, an angel was smiling on me in that another job found me (literally!!) and upon completion of my 2-weeks notice, I was still able to take another 2 weeks off before starting the new job...

I guess I lucked out...Hopefully you'll have the same sort of luck!

Sorry to hear your job has gotten you down.

I've walked off a job once. The client was a complete d!ck who couldn't pay his invoices on time and treated everyone in the office (even his own wife) like cr@p. Finally one day, when he demanded that I work extra time unpaid, I snapped, turned around, and walked right out of his office.

In some situations, you just have to quit for the sake of your own mental health. If you absolutely can't stand your job, put in your notice, ask your boss for a reference, and start looking.

Good luck!

Thanks again everyone for all the good thoughts! I did have another talk with my boss today and he told me he was actually GLAD I had a little breakdown on Friday because it made him realize he needs to work harder to make the program better. In any event though, while he wants me to come to him more often now, to yell and even curse my head off, I still am sending resumes out. I know that quitting would probably not be wise, but this can't be my forever-job. I did find something really cool in the Times today that I sent my resume to, that would be completely up my alley. It is for a Social Worker at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, mostly to help people with loss issues around their pet. I've been there once with a friend and it seems like it would be a really cool place to work! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I hope that you get the job, it sounds like a great one!!! Keep us posted!!!:)

Good luck in finding a new job! :)

No one makes enough money to put up with the amount of SH&T that most employers think that we should put up with (especially those employers of the jobs that make just over minimum wage!). I literally just quite this afternoon - no two weeks notice, just that I was not going to be coming in today, Monday, or Tuesday. I told the person on the other end of the line (who is a coworker as the manager had the day off - its a video store, by the way) that it was just not working out for both parties. The reaction was "Oh" - mind you, she was part of the reason why I left so I didn't expect any other type of reaction! LOL I definitely didn't mind burning that bridge because I won't go back and work there for moral reasons (as well as I really don't care for the disregard for privacy from the manager!)

Anyway, good luck and don't worry about things because everything REALLY works out for the best!

Sarah

I was working at a small pizza place this past summer, and it was really nice because it wasn't too far from my house. I was walking to work one day when I got attacked by a dog. To make a long story short, the dog's owner ended up driving me to work, and it turns out that the owner was a friend of my boss (whom I really didn't like but could put up with her). My boss accused me of provoking the dog into biting me! I'm sorry, who the hell wants to be bit by a dog? I quit the next day. I didn't give notice whatsoever.

Good luck in finding a new job! I hope you find one you'll love!

I don't know about you guys, but for some weird reason it always seems easier for me to find a job if I already have one.


You know what you might consider is taking some of your vacation days -- even 3 or 4 would probably be great. Stick them on a weekend. Take the weekend and do something that gets you in an enthusiastic, egotistical mindset -- I do think that affects your resume and cover letters, and how you come off to employers -- and then for the vacation days, treat finding a job like an 8 hour a day job in and of itself.


good luck!