Brave, or foolhardy?

[trinityofone]

PRO quitting job on Monday:

+Hate job. Job drives me batty. Have become very dull person who does nothing else but talk about how much she hates job.
+Would get to go to Peg2, see wonderful friends, see London again, do something for self for once as should have done right after college, instead of going straight into job.
+Would have time to regroup, work on novel, find new job.
+Honestly do not think I would have too much trouble finding new job (if not necessarily comparable job). ETA: I've been looking at what else is out there for about two months. There's stuff, freelance work at the very least.
+Have enough saved to last six months or so, so money not an immediate issue.
+Am 22 years old. Perfect time to take risks.

CON quitting job on Monday:

-Job = money coming in. No job = no money coming in.
-Have been at job six months. Too soon to quit?
-Two weeks post-giving notice will be intensely unpleasant.
-Have to have more dental work (starting tomorrow, ugh). Insurance ends when job ends.
-May not be able to find as good job. (In terms of pay, position; environment would almost certainly have to be better.)
-No more swag, or opportunities to mail stuff for free. (WHAT?)
-Am 22 years old. Oh, what a perfect time to fuck things up for yourself!

I keep completely convincing myself of one choice, then turning around and convincing myself of the other. I feel like I'm standing at a precipice. Do I take that leap of faith? What do I do?

Y'all can pretend this is like a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' or something. "If you think Trin should quit, go to page 42. If you think Trin should stick it out, go to page 13." *weak laughter*

Seriously, I almost made a poll for this, but then I realized that if I actually made a life decision based on an LJ poll, I would have to have my limited adult credentials revoked.

Comments

[amireal.livejournal.com]

Oh trin, this might seem like a novel idea-- but start looking for a job before you give notice?

You can do that. If the market seems very thin, wait a month and try again.

[trobadora]

Hehehe, that's what I was going to say!

Seriously. Look first, quit later.

[rokeon.livejournal.com]

I'd say stick it out long enough to milk the dental insurance dry, then run like hell.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I can't believe that my frickin' TEETH are proving to be such a deciding factor, but they kind of are. It's going to be interesting to hear what the dentist has to say tomorrow—if he thinks I'm going to need lots and lots of work, I might have to stay. If it's just a filling? I'm OUTTA here.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That's probably the most sensible advice. The only problem is, I have been looking and have just lacked the energy to really pursue anything else while I'm here. If I quit, I'd HAVE to put energy into finding something new, instead of just...putting up with this, and putting up with it, and putting up with it...

Also, I really want to go to Peg2. How lame is that?

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

I vote for quitting, just because if you have enough money to not be starving or dying of malnutrition, then I think putting your happiness as your next priority is perfectly understandable. I think it's kind of sick that people are expected to spend their whole lives on stuff that makes them miserable, right up to when they're old and sick, at which point they can't even enjoy the money they've managed to save up. Life's too short as it is.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I like this answer! ;-) Is it a bad or good sign that I seem to mostly just want people to tell me this?

Voice of experience

[diluvian.livejournal.com]

Have been at job six months. Too soon to quit?

No. If it's causing you that much stress, get out. There's this seekrit thing called "Quality of Life" and it's pretty important.

And yes, you're young. And yes, your next interview(s) will prolly ask you why you left. But there are all kinds of answers you can give that clearly tell your prospective employer, "I *not* a flakey diva who arbitrarily flounced away from a good thing."

Two weeks post-giving notice will be intensely unpleasant.

Two weeks versus how many more months of more crap? Bail. Take care of yourself. Stress like that messes with your mind and messes with your health. You're in a toxic workplace -- get out. If your [best friend/sibling/parent/whatever] was coming home every day beaten down by their job, wouldn't you support a decision to find something better?

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's smart.

Re: Voice of experience

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, your icon. It's funny 'cause it's true!

But there are all kinds of answers you can give that clearly tell your prospective employer, "I *not* a flakey diva who arbitrarily flounced away from a good thing."

Like...it was sucking my soul? Or probably, more diplomatically, "I want to write about things that matter, and not about Paris Hilton."

I appreciate your advice. I hope I'm brave/foolhardy enough to take it.

[shiny-starlight.livejournal.com]

Damn, thats a tough decision. I say do what feels right in your gut. I'm kind of in the same position now. I hate my job, but am not brave enough/cannot afford to quit before I find another job. But then, that is the right decision for me. It might not necessarily be the one for you. I'd say go with what feels right.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

Quit.

Life is far too short - and you hate your job. It's not a matter of being restless, or feeling like your talents aren't quite appreciated, or wondering if it's *quite* the right fit - you hate it. You are not, I guarantee, going to look back at this portion of your life when you're 80 and say 'geez, I wish I'd stayed in that soul-sucking situation for a few more weeks!' Not gonna happen, love.

If worst comes to worst, you can temp. There are good temp agencies offering high paying jobs in conditions that cannot possibly suck your soul more than this.

You're absolutely right that this is exactly the moment to take a risk. When you're 45 and have responsibilties of whatever kind - mortgage, huge car payment, family - *then* it becomes hard to go, shit, I cannot leave, I have too much resting on this. Now? Now you need to put your happiness ahead of everything, and this job's killing you bit by bit, sweets.

[blade-girl.livejournal.com]

I tend to think like Amireal and the others who suggest you find a job before quitting this one. The saying "It's easier to find a job is you already have one" is true more often than not.

HOWEVER... I've been in a situation where the job actually was killing me (emotionally, spiritually) by steady increments. I couldn't quit, because we had a young child and house payments and car payments and I was the one with benefits, so I stuck it out for eleven long years. Yes, I survived, but it's been a long road back to recovering myself.

You're 22. It's pretty hard to fuck up your life at 22 merely by quitting a job, particularly if you hate that job and it's sapping your soul.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

I also went straight from college to work, and my first job seriously sucked, and after a year of it, I'd saved some money. So I quit and traveled for a few months and then figured out something different to do, got a new job and went on with my life. That was almost twenty years ago, and I've never regretted it. I have several friends my age who also made similar decisions, and none of them regrets it, either. Taking a leap just seems to have a way of working out for the best somehow.

In fact, the only part of my work history I do regret is the time I stayed in a job I didn't like for too long. There's always a better opportunity out there. And 22 is exactly the right age to go look for it.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

I agree with Lenore - and I can add that when I was 22 I was stuck in a job I hated that was horrible and I didn't quit and take some time and restart and I've regretted it ever since. If you've got money saved up - go for it!

[darcydodo]

Personally I think you shouldn't quit, but I also agree with the people who say find a new job ASAP. But remember you're going to want the references from this job, so don't make life impossible for yourself.

Also, medical/dental without insurance? NOT something that you (or your parents) could possibly afford.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

At a minimum, you'd probably want to look into COBRA - continue your insurance from your job once you leave, but paying for it.

[airinshaw.livejournal.com]

Dude - get the fuck out.

I was going to be all middle-of-the-roady, then I re-read your pros and you know what? Fuck 'em. You're miserable and unhappy in your job and you're 22. How long will it take you to finally find something else if you decide to stick it out?

You can afford to change your job so I vote for quitting and looking elsewhere. If you're worried about the 6 months thing, use it to your advantage:

"Yes Mr Employer - I knew that last role was wrong for me. But with that same level of knowledge I know this one is right..." :D

[singingscience.livejournal.com]

Take a chance. Life is too short to stay at a job that you don't have a passion for. You've got some money saved, so I say go for it.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

:)

LJ

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

You don't know me and have no reason to trust me, but my advice? Quit the damn job. You're young, you're talented, and you should go to Peg2.

I just quit a job of nearly 25 years. It was hard, but my motto became Leap and the net will appear. And you know what? It did. I adore my new job more than I ever thought possible, plus it's lots more money and lots more fun.

Also? Go to Peg2 and tell us all about it.

[corinna-5.livejournal.com]

Do the dental work, then quit.

Being unencumbered by responsibility is an excellent reason to not stick it out at a bad job - six months is a fair shake for a job you're a bad fit for. But dental work left undone can cause compounded bills later on.

Also, Peg2 should really not be allowed to be a deciding factor either way. On the other hand, if you really want to go because you really want to be overseas again, go look into a work visa. The Irish consulate in NY sponsors job fairs, for god's sake.

[zoerayne]

Caveat: My life philosophy is that I'd rather regret taking an action than failing to take an action. *g*

I say quit. You're young, you don't have a family that you're responsible for supporting, you have a cushion of savings, and the job is killing you. If you aren't going to stress unduly about the lack of a job in the short term, then that's a far better position to be in than working at a job that's sucking out your soul.

Follow your bliss. *g*

[tikiaceae.livejournal.com]

I say quit. If the job is *that* stressful then it isn't worth it. You're young, you have no faimly to support, you're only responsible for yourself and your own happiness and if there's a right time for anyone to be adventurous, it'd be now. I'll tell you about a man who quit his job in his 50s if you need more push! *g*

Also? This way you can come to Peg2!

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

I've been in that situation before. In every case, when the job starts sucking the life out of me, I make a change. But if I leave the company, I always have had a new job lined up first. I'm risk-adverse in that way. But I never recommend anyone actually stay in a job that's killing you unless there genuinely are NO other options.

[siria]

Honey, I say if the dentist does not tell you that it will be a vast amount of work, hand in your notice on Monday morning. And you know I do not say that lightly.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I know. And I appreciate all the advice you've given me through all this bitching and hand-waving and everything else. It means a lot to me.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I vote YES. Quit your job. You hate it.

I have made some radical life decisions in my time (hi! I quit a very good job so I could sail around the Caribbean!) and the only decisions I regret making are the ones involving not taking an opportunity.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Quit the bloody job. Life is too short for jobs that suck.

[fairestcat]

I say quit. I've made the mistake of staying in a soul-sucking job because I didn't have anything else to go to. I'm still regretting it and still paying for it.

If the dental work is going to be costly, stick around for that, otherwise, get the hell out of there.

[smittywing.livejournal.com]

Not that you haven't gotten tons of good advice for both options and really I think choosing one is more a matter of who you are what you can do. (ie: I am a giant worrier so I would stay with the job until I found a new one but if you have savings and confidence, then you are in a completely different situation than I ever was.)

But! The one tiny piece of advice I do have is this: Have a plan for the time you're out of work, especially if you expect it to be a few months. Saying, (breezily) that you took three months to yourself to write the bulk of your novel or build up your free-lance resume before you committed to a full-time employer again or even "do some traveling" (PegB can totally be written off as, "I went to Europe,") sounds a lot better than, "I really just needed a month off to watch all of SG-1," which is totally what I would be doing right now if I wasn't in school. It doesn't even matter if you didn't quite finish the novel or get all that much free-lance done, as long as you look at the time as productive and can describe that.

The great irritation of my life is that the more free time I have, the less I do with it, so be sure to enjoy yourself. :)

[wychwood]

PRO: I WOULD LOVE YOU FOREVER (although hey, that's probably true anyway? You and Siria are just that cool)

From reading your comments here, it sounds like you pretty much know what you want. But what I do when I'm not sure about something like this is (ahaha, the John solution:) toss a coin. Decide which is heads, toss the coin, and see whether you are happy with the answer. It's awesome for finding out what you actually want to do.

Also, if you want to look for jobs over here (and hey, you can always try SFX!), we have lots of room if you want somewhere to stay! :)

In all seriousness, I think you need to quit. Whether you quit right now, or when you've found another job, is another matter - but if you're this drained, it might be easier to quit and start applying fresh.

[chele74.livejournal.com]

First, get your dental work done and see every doctor you need to. Take advantage of the insurance while you have it because freelancers don't get insurance, and if you got a new steady gig, they may make you wait 6 months for insurance like this place did.

Second, Michelle (and Lauren) will be at dinner on Thursday--two editors, both of whom have worked at terrible places before.

Third, finding a new job will not be a problem. I can't imagine you finding a worse job (although your underpaid coworker technically has the worst editorial job in LA). At the very least you could temp until you found something more permanent.

[amalthia]

I thought I was reading your LJ regularly I hadn't realized you were this unhappy with your job.

so here are my two cents...having been unemployed for over a year before I got my current job...I say take complete advantage of having insurance before you leave your job.

I think in the long term you're going to regret staying a place you hate. I mostly noticed that you're not writing as much as you used to, but I figured you were busy with working. However i know when I reach a certain level of unhappiness it's hard to motivate myself to do anything creative.

Um anyway, I'd say get your teeth fixed, birth control filled up or whatever, and send out resumes like crazy and quit your job before the convention in england. Hopefully by the time you get back you'll have some interviews lined up. and worst case senario while you're searching for a better paying job you can always work for temp agencies or security or something, which will help keep your savings from dwindling away too quickly.