I want to leave my job..please advise

[rose45]

Basically i have been really considering leaving my job in the fall. I feel like i am stuck and after almost 5 years if i stay another year, my job as an assistant will basically be my career. I am also very tired of the labor aspect..being on my feet during a busy season copying and scanning hundreds of reports..i just really had enough. I have some money saved and staying with family so i figure now is the chance to take a gamble and hope it doesn't take me forever to find another job. I am willing to take something part time in the meanwhile to keep my savings..even something in the field i am looking to give a chance (HR). I would be happy doing that just to gain some experience if i can find it. I hope it's not a mistake since i know there are so many people just happy to have a job..i was feeling like that for awhile and now it's just not enough to just have a job.

 

The problem is: my main and direct coworker will be on leave around december or so. I was planning to leave about a month before this to atleast give them some time to hire a temp or something. I do feel bad b/c i know it will be stressful on both her and my boss because only my coworker knows how to do this certain project that is labor intensive..so she will have to train. Alot of people told me though that i can't think like this and they always need to be prepared for people to leave and i need to do what is best for me at this point. And once she is once leave it seems like i am stuck there til she gets back..it will be hard to go on interviews or look for other opportunities or even take an offer..and she already told me she is going to take extra time off unpaid. So it will really be sticking me at this place even longer with this work.

 

I get almost anxious thinking another year is going to go by and then i am another year older in my twenties which is going by fast. I just keep thinking i may need to take a step back to move forward..hope that i get something even part time for new experience, or ask to volunteer to fill any gap in my resume while looking for a job.

 

Given the situation, i don't want to tell my boss i am quitting to quit. I just feel like it will look really bad..like i don't want to handle this work when she is gone..which is pretty much true. I had enough and during our busy time i feel physically tired..everything is just so tedious..and to take it on by myself isn't worth it to me anymore. I would rather tell her i was offered something by an old employer where i used to work part time. I kept in touch over the years etc. I think this is fine to say to her and everyone who will be asking..my problem is..what happens when i apply to other places and they want to call my boss now for a reference..won't she be confused? and will it all be figured out?

 

A friend of mine said once i leave, i leave..if i apply for another position i can give her a heads up through email and say i wasnt able to stay at that other position long, i decided to visit family and figure out what i wanted to do. She said whats wrong with that and its her choice if she doesnt believe you..and probably after so many years and me not even being there anymore she won't care enough to really question me and has her own life.

 

So i guess my questions are what do i do about all of this? And do you think this is the worst possible mistake or now is the time i can take a chance like this since i am not married, no kids and i have the blessing that i have family right now and money saved. I obviosuly don't want to be out of work for 2 years or anything..just a huge part of me doesn't want to do this type of work anymore..i feel like its enough after almost 5 years, i definitely did my part. The people i work with aren't bad and i will probably miss a few of them..it could be alot worse..but just the work itself..

 

i almost feel like maybe me staying here is going to set me back alot more than leaving..b/c if i leave and remain productive with my time-- a part time job, volunteering it may help me in the future..i also not making really big money now(its decent for the work i do) so i am not even expecting to find a high paying job.

 

i feel like i should be doing something else at this point and if i stay while she is on leave i am stuck here til next spring..it doesnt seem possible or right to quit while she is gone leaving everything up in the air for them to figure out.

[arwen]

In this time I'd be happy with a job and not quit before you have another job. Savings are good of course, but ideally you save up for emergencies (getting fired and being forced to live on your savings), or expensive necessities (a car, a house, later on even wedding, etc). That is, I wouldn't purposely quit, spend all savings and then look for a job.

 

As for the co-worker, I think your career should be completely independent of hers. If you want to quit, that's your decision. The first step is to look for another job, and if you find one, you probably have a period of time you still have to work (1 or 2 months?) at your old job. That time is usually used for the employer to put up ads to hire someone for your job

 

Good luck! Hope you find something better!

[rose45]

yea but i guess what i am saying is..i have savings, staying with family right now..no kids, no mortgage..so wouldn't now be the time to take a chance like this? i feel like another year in this assistant position--it's going to be all i am qualified for..agencies just basically look to fill me for the same role b/c that is the experience i have. And i know i don't want to stay at this place forever..i guess i was thinking if i fill my time while looking--volunteering, certificate classes..something else i can put on my resume..it might help in the long run? I was happy to have a job for years..i guess i am reaching my breaking point knowing this labor intensive, tedious project is on me. I just feel done i guess..

[rose45]

bump.......

[NowandZen]

Probably going to have to be a very personal decision. How about this though: Once the decision to leave is made, then you can be happier in your current job, being a short timer.

 

That will make the time looking for a job much easier. Another way: They've gotten some of your best, now they can have some of your mediocre.

[quirky]

It is a risk. Actually both scenarios are a risk, pros and cons on both sides. You can make your current job more enjoyable by applying yourself more to the position ironically!

 

I personally really support changes, I think you are in the right age to take a leap into the unknown and posiibly find something that fulfills you more. Better now than 10 years later. The only thing I believe you have to consider is WHAT will you be looking for. And also ask yourself this question: If you leave your current job and not find anything better will you be happy you took the risk? If the answer is yes then I say go for it. The market is more than tough but I still believe we create our own reality.

[rose45]

applying myself to this job won't make it more enjoyable..it's just tedious paper pushing work. If my coworker wasn't going on leave i probably would stay til i found something else..knowing this project is on me and i never took it on before myself-- so i am nervous about little mistakes and also the labor aspect of it..i'll be on my feet doing this mindless copying and scanning for hours and weeks as well as stuffing boxes, printing..it's almost to the point where i am embarrassed thinking--i paid all this money for school and this is what i am doing 4 yrs later? This project just doesnt seem worth it to me..

 

i just don't know what to do..apart of me thinks i probably would enjoy some of the time off, get my life organized..even if i can get a part time job and volunteer to keep my resume going and savings stable would be nice in the meantime. It just seems like everyone is still just happy to have a job and i dont know how much longer i can go on saying that..i feel like my life is passing me by with this non career job and no relationship as well..it's like i dont have anything.

 

The real KICKER is..my boss hired a more personal type assistant a year ago..she is younger than me..so she basically gets to do the computer work i did with some other stuff(but not much labor) and 4 years later i am still stuck doing labor intensive work. I just kind of found that insulting she didn't even talk it over with me and my coworker..i would changed my area and everything if it meant getting away from this labor work. Apart of me is resentful of that and is also pushing me to quit.

 

I also have leg problems and suffer from varicose veins..ill be wearing my compression stockings through all of this..

[Weeb]

If you are looking to leave around November, you still have time to look for a job before you quit. At least start doing that and see what's out there and if your resume catches anyone's interest. Even if you decide you need to take a break it will give you and idea about if this could work. You could also take a job but say you can't start until, say, 2 weeks after you have left your current job. That will give you a break between the jobs, but not so long to make people wonder why you are out of work. A part-time job would still give you plenty of free time to work on your personal life. Don't base it on the coworker, you are not responsible for her leave or the workload you leave.

 

Don't do it just because you have very few bills though. Your relatives may quickly resent you if you are living under their roof and not working anymore.