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Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

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61–70 of 102 posts

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#61
With only a couple months of expenses saved up, you're taking a big risk. It sounds like you could live a couple months off savings and a few months off contracting. I have no idea what the economy will be like in 6 months, but you will probably not have enough revenue from your web startup to fund yourself. You may from contracting - good developers always seem to be in demand, even in bad economic times - but the contracting market is hurting from the economy too.

OTOH, there're risks to staying in a dead-end job too, particularly to your sanity. It sounds pretty bad. And sanity is not something you should sacrifice for money.

Honestly, if I were in your position, I'd do it. But acknowledge the risk you're taking and take steps to mitigate it. Cut your expenses to a bare minimum and line up contracting jobs well before you need them. It really sucks looking for work when you're running out of money - you're in a much better bargaining position if you've got income and plenty of savings.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, I definitely am not quitting before having something in writing! They're suppose to get it to me by lunch today.

Another alternative is to ask for a unpaid leave of absence. That will give them time to reconsider and you time to think and do .

Or, take your vacation.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#64
I say quit and try it out. You're young (from what I can tell)

I told my boss I was quitting about a month ago during our year-end reviews. I'm leaving in July and trying something entirely new, in a new city to boot.

On the down side, I haven't found a job yet but I haven't really sped up my search quite yet so I'm not worried. :)

I say, go for it! The worst thing you can do is keep thinking about it.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#65
do it. once you've reached that stage with a job, there's no coming back. I recently went through the same situation where i decided to quit my corporate job to pursue my start-up (www.probuddy.com) full time. the decision will certainly put some pressure on you (financially and socially), but this will be productive pressure.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#66
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the guilt I feel for quitting my job when so many of my friends cannot even get a job in the first place. So your quitting opens up a job for another guy to take. :)

Our company has a hiring freeze in place. If someone quits, then the office loses that job permanently. If the person is fired, then when the hiring freeze gets lifted, then we may replace them. Things might be different at your company. Ours is a Fortune 500 company.

I agree. Add in that his old job was not that enjoyable anyway.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#68
You can quit, or you can tell your bosses that you are overqualified for the job and ask for a raise and promotion. Then you can quit. The latter can be seen as an experiment and a life lesson. If you are quitting anyway, you have nothing to lose there.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#69
post #5

Life is too short to be unhappy, especially with what you do during most of your waking day. Bail out, find some thing better, and at worst enjoy some time off. I'm also assuming you've already spoken with your hiring manager to ensure that they can't fix the situtation?

I have been reprimanded for such atrocities as my lunch hour not matching exactly with the bell, and for talking casually to a co-worker. They have been running their company this way for a long time and have had many many people quit for that exact reason. They have not changed anything yet, I have no reason to believe they would if I talk to them, nor do I have much desire to stay if they do.

I've worked 16hr days during the summer in Alaskan canneries and there aren't very many jobs that are as time pressured to get things done as that. Every minute of down time is potentially lost money. That said, I never saw anyone being reprimanded for not getting back right on the whistle (we did have one - I was the person blowing it for a while) or for talking casually with a co-worker. We had to screw around every once in a while just to stay sane. I would quit for these reasons alone.

Re: Tell HN: I think I'm quitting my job today

#70
I was faced with the exact same scenario as you about a month and a half ago. At that time the economy was bad but the massive layoffs hadn't really started in earnest.

I had been toying with the idea of just leaving cold turkey but the logical/risk adverse side of me kept saying it wasn't a good idea since I had a great paying job at a solid company with excellent benefits.

But as the days wore on with me feeling like I was literally withering my life away I decided that it was time for me to crap or get off the toilet. So I turned in my notice on the same day Obama was inaugurated (figured it was a nice metaphor for my life change).

I had a very similar situation as you, with a friend who had a lot of contract work he could farm to me. This work pretty much paid all the expenses (I know PG doesn't encourage even doing this, but this was about as risk adverse as I could get comfortably). The first day of not going into a cube was magnificent. The second day, some shock set in, but now a month and a half later and I will say it's been a very good decision. Work and opportunities are just piling in and I have a number of other business projects in the pipe.

Now I work really hard but I take time out to do what I want, when I want. I go for a run after checking some email, I meet friends for long lunches, then I crank on code til 1am, and while I am doing more 'work' I feel like my life is much much more fulfilling.

I would say you're actually playing it more safe than many who have quit their job and you're in a great position to be successful and lead the life you want.

Hope this rambling helped in some way, and whatever you decide to do I hope you find success and fulfillment.

Cheers

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