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.

[rokeon.livejournal.com]

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

[trobadora]

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

Seriously. Look first, quit later.

[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 have been looking—for about two months, actually. And there are some things that seem interesting, but I just don't have the time and energy to pursue them right now. But I don't doubt I could get work, even if it's just freelance. I think.

*starts doubting again. Such a cycle!*

[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.

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.

[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.

[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?

[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!

[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.

[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?

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Two months isn't very long. Get in touch with a headhunter if you haven't already done so. It is easier to find a new job while you're already employed. Works the same way as finding a new boyfriend.

Erm...can't believe I said that, but it is true.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Trin, if that's really true, then I think you know the answer already.

No matter what people on LJ tell you, you need to do what's right for YOU. The decision needs to fit you. Just go into it aware of the repercussions.

[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.

[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.

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.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Well, it's definitely true in that I know what I WANT. That doesn't mean I know what I should do. You can't always do what you want, as I am very aware.

ARGH! So hard...!

But yes, I see your point: it's very telling...

[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.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I'll be able to afford it. It'll mean I'll have a little less time to find something new, but not drastically less.

Do you think anyone in the UK would hire me? I mean, I would kill to work for SFX, but I don't imagine they'd be keen on hiring Americans.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

That'd be very, very difficult, unless you have European citizenship. Do check out the Home Office's pages for obtaining work visas.