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“All right, just gonna hit send.” And like that, my resignation letter hit my bosses’ inboxes.
I’ve never quit a job before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I’d be lying if I say it didn’t keep me up a bit at night.
It’d been in the making for weeks. My soon-to-be-former boss found out I was shopping around and tried to make me an offer to stay. After being dicked around about getting more money, the increase wasn’t nearly worth it. Long story short, I’m one week away from getting a substantial raise via a new job with a better title and more responsibility. If my current job wasn’t so unfulfilling, I probably wouldn’t have looked, so I guess they did me a favor. One of the worst feelings in the world is feeling like what you’re doing is a waste of time.
The new job wanted me to start right away, but that was only a week’s notice. Even though this place doesn’t really deserve the industry courtesy (and I have to now wait a month for a paycheck), thanks to years of Catholic guilt and the fact that I may apply for jobs higher up in the future, I’m stuck here for the duration of the two weeks’ notice. There’s a few big-time events coming up I coordinated so I felt a bit obligated to leave the place better than I found it.
I’m in a weird limbo right now. Things are continuing to move forward with projects, and they’ve reposted my job. People I’ve worked with for the past six months are all congratulating me and thanking me, but I know it is all obligatory. I’ve been in their shoes and someone leaving means at best, more work on a temporary basis, and at worst, they will absorb my duties. I’ve been on both ends and I know the, “We will miss you” small talk bullshit is for naught. They genuinely will not miss me.
Whenever anyone leaves, you know other people will talk about it. People have asked me questions like, “Did you not like it here?” You must tactfully answer this because again, I’m not out to burn bridges by saying, “No, they paid like shit and I feel like I am wasting my time” which would be brutally honest. Keeping it real is sometimes hard, but I found short and polite is the way to be. “No, everyone is great, this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” aka money talks so talk mo bucks.
The older generation often gives our (I hate using the term millennial) generation shit for leaving a job. Lack of dedication, fleeting interests, “that’s so typical of a MILLENNIAL to leave after six months.” I know it’s being said, not that I care. People are so stuck in the past they don’t even look for better opportunities. Maybe it is complacency or comfort in what they know, but honestly, if you aren’t moving jobs every few years, the minor “lifestyle adjustment” raise isn’t going to cut it. Every year I got one of those, health insurance went up and I then made less than I did before.
As of now, I am halfway through my two weeks and it is torture. The day takes forever and there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is bleak and seemingly far off. I am jammed with meetings to pass on my knowledge and last minute things to finish. The courtesy two weeks is kind of shit, especially because they can fire me at will and I am too spineless to give a one week notice. Hopefully, it all works out for the better and I can get back to almost enjoying work, rather than contemplating driving into a telephone pole every morning on the way to work like I have for the past six months. Hope to see you on the other side. .
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Madoff
I specialize in damage control, being the drunkest at any and all functions and social assassination. Always appreciate a strong gif game. Follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I put up cool stuff about golfing at the local dirt tracks.
@BLMInvestment
quitting via email is millennial as hell, though.
You know I’d never do that to you. I’d at least call.
top 5 comment.
Congratulations Madoff!
Like it or not, our generation needs to hustle a bit to get to the top.
The amount of lunch beers I would consume over this period would be staggering. Godspeed, my good man.
Never quit via email before. Have always just walked into my bosses’ offices and just told them I’m out.
I told my direct boss in person but put it in email form so it is in writing. Our mutual boss (higher up) already knew I was looking so it wasn’t shocking. Where I work, you have to be have everything in writing (due to incompetence as well as so there is a record). I also don’t really enjoy working here so I don’t really give a shit.
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Quitting after six months really is a PGPM. I’ve been in my current gig for almost two years and it is getting incredibly old. I already have a job lined up but it won’t be open until May. I have already signed the offer letter but as Tom Petty so eloquently put it, the waiting is the hardest part….
Congratulations and Good Luck, Madoff. Godspeed.
Congrats, Madoff. If you’re comparing an unfulfilling situation to one that could go either way – always take the chance. Worst case, at least they’ll be paying you more to be unfulfilled.
Every time I walk into my boss’ office and say I need to talk to him, he always seems to tense up like he’s expecting my two weeks. Honestly I just find it flattering that he’s worried about it.
I’ve seen plenty of people laid off in different departments at my company in the 2 1/2 years I’ve been there. People that had been there 15-20 years that figured they’d probably retire there.
When these same people shit on Millennials for leaving for greener pastures, I remind them of the dangers of drinking the kool aid and becoming complacent. No one is safe, always take the money and look out for yourself first and foremost.
The way most corporations set it up leaving the company is really the only way to get ahead.
I had a similar post in the works, damn it. Couldn’t have said it better though. There is no point in staying in a job that makes your miserable. Tomorrow is my last day, I hope your two weeks goes as fast as mine did!
There’s lots of fish to catch, I’m sure you can think of something. Much appreciated, just gotta make it until Friday.
2 weeks is the right move. I’ve taken 3 new jobs after my first out of college. Haven’t burned any bridges yet, and have used many old employers as new references. But all in all it does suck taking a new job. Good luck Madoff.
Great perspective. I’m leaving my job in a few months to start my MBA and that limbo feeling is all to real