Twentysomething: Why it’s smart to quit a job after just two weeks of work
This is a guest post from Jamie Varon. She’s 23 years old. Her blog is called intersected.
Not too long ago, I started a new job, in which I moved my self from point A (college town) to point B (Bay Area). This was supposed to be my career launch. It took me about two weeks to admit to myself that I was unhappy. So I quit.
I had the security of knowing I could go back to my parents’ house to live. (Which, by the way, is such a good idea that 65% of new grads do it.) Here are five reasons why I am sure it was a smart decision to quit my job after just two weeks:
1. Your job performance will be terrible if you hate your job.
If you hate your job from the beginning, then you will never fully dedicate yourself. In fact, you’ll resent both the company and yourself for staying at a job that you knew you didn’t like early on.
I get it: You have this desire to prove to yourself that you are capable of sticking it out. Or you’re worried that this makes you a complete failure and you have given up. So what? You learn from your failure. You learn from that mistake. You’ll end up quitting at some point soon, so why draw it out?
2. You’ll have more respect for yourself if you respond to your needs.
Once I admitted to myself that I hated my job, I worried that if I didn’t quit this job immediately, even if I had no backup plan, that I would be setting myself up to allow negative situations into my life. If you know that going to your job will make you stressed, unhappy, and angry, every single day, then continuing to go is being disrespectful to your well-being. The more you continue to disregard your own feelings, the further away you get from happiness.
When we’re in our twenties we need to learn about who we are and what we like, so that we can find a work life we are passionate about. Staying in a job you hate doesn’t help.
3. You’ll prove your commitment to passion and engagement at work.
Quitting that job after two weeks is actually one of my proudest moments. I think it shows that I have integrity and passion. I understand the fact that productivity comes more easily in the face of happiness. Quitting quickly is showing impatience for a meaningful work life. Everyone should be impatient for that.
Also, people who switching jobs regularly makes people more engaged in their work. This makes sense. If you stay in a job for a long stretch of time, your learning curve goes down and things do not feel as new and stimulating.
4. You’ll do the company a favor.
If you stay unhappy at a job and then quit after, say, six months, the company will probably never know that you had hated your stint there. When you quit a job after two weeks, the company will notice and question what they had done to push you away so quickly. (A smart company, at least.)
Employees at, Apple, for example, produce the best products in the world because they are passionate about the company’s mission. You are not helping the company by staying at a position you hate when someone else may be better suited for it who will, no doubt, excel, while you are just getting by. Do the company a favor and quit so they can reevaluate their training, that position, and their hiring strategy, so the next person doesn’t want to jump ship after a week.
5. You’ll set yourself up for success.
High performing employees in companies like GE, Proctor & Gamble and UBS all get to rotate through a wide range of jobs at the beginning of their career. This is because job-hopping is a great way to build skills early in one’s career. We should all have that chance. There are no rules that say you need to stay at a job that is not teaching you enough.
And there are no rules that say how long it takes a person to know a job is not right. But there is a rule for who succeeds and who doesn’t: People who have self-confidence, respect, good teamwork instincts, and a sense of when it’s time to cut their losses; these are the people who succeed. That’s why high-performers leave bad jobs after just two weeks at work.
This is a guest post from Jamie Varon. She’s 23 years old. Her blog is called intersected.
This is a great post. You did the right thing. A job is such a huge part of one’s happiness – why compromise on that? I applaud your decision and wish you the best of luck (which you really don’t need as you seem to know what’s important to you… so you’ll just go and get it). I’m so inspired by your story. Thanks for sharing!!
You are SOOOO young and naive!!! If you seriously think that subsequent prospective future employers are going to have a warm positive feeling about sommeone who quits without really even giving the situationa chance, youare ONE CRAZY CHICK. What this says to me more than anything else is that you are unreliable and someone I definitely wouldn’t want to hire. Grow up – if work was 100% fun 100% of the time, you wouldn’t be getting paid for doing it. If you want to recover from this mistake, make sure you actually give the next job a chance.
New grads vastly over estimate the amount of exposure they will get to different positions at a job. The bottom line is, companies need you to be a widget that handles a certain kind of work. Companies aren’t evil, that’s just the nature of business. A certain kind of work needs done, and it needs to be done consistently by someone who knows what they are doing. Shifting your tasks around and bouncing you from department to department is extremely expensive and inefficient for companies because of the constant retraining.
Was quitting a job after 2 weeks the right decision? Maybe, maybe not. None of us were there, so none of us can really say. Will it make finding the next job more difficult? Undoubtedly. Will future employers respect the decision and increase their likelihood to hire because of it? Hell no. They will be afraid you’ll do the same thing to them. That’s the reality. In the end it’s really a balancing act. To a certain extent you do need to stick things out, but you also have to be honest with yourself when things are damaged beyond repair.
Maybe it’s my own personal mindset, but I think the reality is that high performers will never be happy in any traditional job building someone else’s dream. They want to be their own boss, building their own dream. This is internal conflict that all high performers new to the workforce face. Most of them are not ready to go out into the world seek VC financing or a small business loan, and begin building a viable business around their dream. Experience in the work force goes a long ways towards an education in how real business works. Part of the price of that education is doing someone else’s bidding on their schedule with a certain degree of monotony.
Wow, I’m so glad I came across this. I, too, am a 23-year-old, who just last month, quit a job after only 6 weeks. I was lucky to get another job right away after I got laid off in December, and a job that paid better, no less. Unfortunately, after only a few weeks I could clearly see the disparities between what I was told the job was going to be, and what it actually ended up being. So, in the middle of a recession, when I had no back-up plan, I up and quit my job. Irrational? Maybe, but I would rather make a decision that others disapprove of or judge rather than stay in a job where I am miserable, disrespected by superiors, and in which, everyday, someone else quits as well. No, I’m not lazy, and no, I’m not inept; I just find my dignity much more imoportant than my paycheck.
And luckily, I have a father who understands. While he is by no means a rich man, he understands what it is like to work your whole life at a job you hate, and what kind of toll that takes on your mind and body, and I think that’s the last thing he would ever wish for any of his children to experience.
Sounds like you weighed the pros & cons & then made a wise decision. THAT is making a decision based on rational thinking rather thank emotional thinking–which I think can get us in to a lot of trouble when trying to make these kind of decisions.–
I am so glad I stuck it out at the ‘jobs I hated’. I had a much larger view of where I wanted to go than whatever ‘current job’ I was in.
You removed an option you had available to yourself, which was to give that job a few months to really see where it would lead to.
Now that option is no longer open to you.
Most people who have made successes of themselves will not look too keenly on the “I can always move back in with my parents”; it comes across as amazingly immature and unready, on your part, to fully engage with the grown-up world.
I am Gen Y, and I hated my first job after college. Why? Because it wasn’t FUN! After a few weeks, I learned how to appreciate my time at work. Of course, I would rather not be at work, than be at work… but work is work. I enjoy what I do, am good at what I do… but would I rather sip margaritas on the beach? Of course.
Sometimes work sucks. This, too, shall pass.
The parents may well support a child well into her 20s and 30s. But the parents too will grow old some day. Given the state of the markets, it is unlikely their 401(K) accounts would recover enough. So the author of the post may find herself supporting them when they are old and feeble. What I am really curious to know is how _that_ scenario pans out.
So far all we hear is how parents have a responsibility to support, and some sort of chronological marker is not like a switch at which support must stop. But we will all age. So let’s test each scenario on ‘how would I like it if this happened to me’ basis and see how it honestly sounds like.
It is not important to have a ‘job’; it is however important to know how to earn money. And that is something I did not see in this report (unless mom-and-pop’s diner-cum-motel counts as ‘earning’ in some weird accountant-ish sort of way).
I have been in one of the rotational programs mentioned above. While it is true that each assignment lasts a few months, it took me just 2 days to know whether or not I was going to like the coming months. So, Jamie’s 2 weeks isn’t the ridiculously short period they might seem to people who haven’t changed jobs (or at least often enough to see the pattern of confirmed first impressions).
Personally, I don’t have a problem with quiting your job after two weeks, if you know something’s not for you, it’s not for you. During my senior year of college, I knew I was really interested in the stock market and finance, so I found and internship interning for a financial advisor. After learning what she did and what her business was and the way she invested her clients’ money I didn’t agree with any of it or enjoy the internship at all, so after two months I quit – She wasn’t happy about it because I was supposed to be interning there for six months, but there was no way I could have stayed there that long.
Also, while applying for jobs and trying to find a job after I graduated, most interviews I went on, I just couldn’t see myself working there or be a part of a lot of the companies — so, I actually wound up skipping a lot of follow up interviews, because I wasn’t interested.
Then I finally did come across the job of my dreams, I went all out or it. I even quit looking for jobs at that point, my mother told me “not to put all my eggs in one basket” and to keep looking other places too, but I knew I would get hired – and I did. And, it’s great, couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
Umm how about making money so what if you hate your job your not just going to quit and magically get the job you want…who cares if you hate your job your still getting the money you need to provide for your family..not everyone is lucky as you :)
I am currently job hunting and have been reading lots of job search advice. A few of the tips I’ve read may apply to this situation.
Jamie’s mom posted a comment that gave a little background, saying that the company offered Jaime the job on the spot, and it turned out that many of the employees were unhappy, and the turnover rate was very high.
I’ve read that a prospective employee should be wary of a company that will offer the job to a candidate on the spot in the first interview (in some industries, such as restaurants, this is standard practice, but generally not so in office environments). I’ve also read that it is perfectly acceptable to inquire about the company’s turnover rate, and also that a prospective candidate should try to get a sense of the company culture, and could even ask to communicate with one of the current employees.
Of course, if the company isn’t being honest it could be difficult to gather this information before beginning work. But I think it’s important to remember that a job interview serves two purposes: the company finds out more about you, and you should find out everything you can about them. Thanks for this reminder of just how important it is to evaluate a company for which you’d like to work.
While I admire that you can go with your gut, I guess i would have to ask – how do you know you truly hate it after two weeks. I would also have to ask, if you just graduated from College, what types of full time jobs have you had to compare this two week experience to? I can definitely understand if you had been at a company or two previous for a long period of time and then had something to compare but how do you really know.
1. Your job performance will be terrible if you hate your job.
I agree but at the same time how do you know if it it will if you don’t know what your performance could be? I have known many people that have not been happy at their jobs but are very good performers, actually some of the top so this assumption is not always correct but an assumption.
2. You’ll have more respect for yourself if you respond to your needs.
I definitely agree. at the same time it has only been two weeks. so what would that say to future employers if you were to build a history of short term employment? maybe that you would never be satisfied, so what incentive would they have to employ you?
Don’t get me wrong I applaud staying true to yourself but be sure you can justify the difference between discontent and just plain finicky.
3. You’ll prove your commitment to passion and engagement at work.
…people who switching jobs regularly makes people more engaged in their work. This makes sense. If you stay in a job for a long stretch of time, your learning curve goes down and things do not feel as new and stimulating.
I have to disagree with this… if you switch often what can you really learn besides that you have a short attention span for working. some people hate the job, some people hate the people but that does not mean your commitment to learning will stop or that with some companies you don’t have opportunities to develop your skills and competencies.
4. You’ll do the company a favor.
I definitely agree. at least save yourself and the company the time and money.
Employees at, Apple, for example, produce the best products in the world because they are passionate about the company’s mission.
I have to say how would you know this, you never worked their and jokingly if you hated it you probably would have left after two weeks. these employees actually work long hours and have less personal lives then the next person but they get paid a LOT.
5. You’ll set yourself up for success.
I disagree.
High performing employees in companies like GE, Proctor & Gamble and UBS all get to rotate through a wide range of jobs at the beginning of their career. This is because job-hopping is a great way to build skills early in one's career. We should all have that chance. There are no rules that say you need to stay at a job that is not teaching you enough.
Umm there is a big difference between a job rotation and job hopping. they are not the same.
And there are no rules that say how long it takes a person to know a job is not right. But there is a rule for who succeeds and who doesn't: People who have self-confidence, respect, good teamwork instincts, and a sense of when it's time to cut their losses; these are the people who succeed. That's why high-performers leave bad jobs after just two weeks at work.
I am sorry I have to be a little sarcastic but I take it you know this from your in depth and long proven 2-week experience? I know many people who are very talented and have all the attributes that you mentioned but have not been able to get very far…
it all depends. while some people who hate or love there jobs also have the same skills but have the same chance to make it.
i wish you luck but please take into consideration that some of your thoughts, though valid to you, may disappoint you in the future… but i wish you the best
Anyone being mean to a 23 year old because they quit their job loses a lot of credibility with me. You’ve got some serious issues if you’re screaming “brat”. Good god. Are you that old that you don’t remember being 23 or are you just jealous and bitter? And no, I’m not exactly Gen Y. I’m 29 and lean towards being an Xer and I get along wonderfully with people over the age of 75–my grandparents were awesome and taught me a lot. This isn’t a generational thing. It’s a get a grip thing.
Jamie, I think it’s good you left your job after 2 weeks. It would have been irresponsible if you had a mortgage and kids but you don’t. So it would have been irresponsible and cowardly to stay. Good for you.
That being said, I’ve never liked a job in the first 2 weeks so I think it’s important to stand by your decision but pay attention in the future if the urge to flee so quickly comes again. In that case you might be dealing with a more internal pattern, which is okay too, but just remain self-aware so you can fix what you need to fix. but Sometimes, however, you just know. It’s like dating. You know when someone’s psycho even though you decide tp test the waters to see if you’re right and end up getting burned. And you know when you’ve met someone perfect for you too. Intuition is some powerful stuff.
I read (and continue to follow with interest) the comments on Jamie’s controversial post. Joselle’s advice resonates with me and echos my own thoughts. If believe that if we don’t pay attention and be mindful of our own patterns of behaviour they will keep coming up until we sort them out. Good luck Jamie- I wish you every success!
I seem to stick at jobs for about 4-5 years before I get the itch. Even if I hate it, I tend to stay for a few more years before I jump.
Not sure why that happens, but I think it has to do with fear. I am dealing with fear much better these days.
I am more of an entrepeneur these days and see the beauty of creating and building something yourself.
Most people who have made successes of themselves realize that they are the creator.
38 years old. Have had a number of jobs–a few real dogs, a couple of real peaches.
Even the worst jobs were huge learning experiences. Nothing in life is ever wasted.
Parlayed everything I’ve learned into my dream job at a Fortune 100 company at age 37. Nothing in life comes fast or easy…
I’m an early Gen-X’er. I’ve hated some aspect of every job I’ve ever had. But I have also learned an enormous amount from each of those jobs so that it was never a complete loss. And ironically what I learned in the jobs I hated the MOST helped me develop my own thriving side business that I’ll carry into my early retirement.
I feel for this young woman…I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit and move back home with my parents back when that was possible. But I didn’t out of pride and my own sense of independence. This doesn’t mean I haven’t experimented wildly and jumped around alot. I have. But I’ve never spent less than six-months in any one position. And I always, always had the next gig lined up before I jumped.
If you are young and have a safety net and working someplace is “killing you” (the definition of which changes after two decades in the work force) , by all means make plans to leave. But be a bit more strategic- determine what went wrong, what you’ll do better next time, where you want to go for greater job satisfaction, etc. Calling it quits after two weeks shows your age, and that is never a good thing.
I am a Gen X, and I am typical in that my attitude when I got a job was to just put my head down, work hard, and hope for it to get better. In some of the places I worked, amazing things happened. In others, my work ethic was a brutal anchor. I think quitting a job in the first two weeks is fine. It is better to eat a bit of crow now, rather than regret it for years down the road.
From my experience managing Gen Ys, I have noticed that they don’t hold that “heads down” work ethic as much and often don’t see the point in working from the bottom.
So – I think probably in cases like these, there is no clear-cut answer. The person should ask themselves why they want to leave. Is it because the place does not align with their values? Is it because the environment doesn’t make them see their future go forward? Those are very valid reasons. Or is it driven by something less meaningful – and could sticking to it lead to achieving your bigger goals?
Quiting your job is not that easy! Money is the key!
Quiting your job will not take you to your dream job
I have multiple conflicting responses:
1. Don’t delude yourself about the good you did for the company. At every job I’ve held, when someone left, very little changed. It didn’t matter if it was a new hire, a low-level-but-experienced veteran who was widely respected, or a vice president. You might feel sad (or glad) for a day or two and then you have work to do. As a “college hire,” your departure after two weeks means nothing to the company other than they wasted however much money in interviewing you and bringing you on, and very little to your coworkers since no one has any idea who you are. Basically, you made it harder for anyone who followed you, because all the interviewers will say “Hmm. Will this be another Jamie?”
2. On the other hand, it is possible to recognize that something simply isn’t a good fit and never will be.
3. What most others have said: Two weeks is an awfully short time to make that conclusion.
I am rather conflicted myself. As far as Jamie the person is concerned, I am reluctant to be overly judgmental. We don’t know the whole situation; there are many sides to every story. And of course, what works for one may not work for another. At the same time, this blog item is one of the most self-congratulatory pieces of garbage I have seen in a long time. It seems she is trying to justify her actions, not only to herself but to the rest of the world as well. Methinks the lady protests too much?
In this missive she seems to have embraced the mantra of “always follow your passion, no matter who or what gets in the way.” I could write a 10 page rebuttal, but I won’t. I will offer this nugget of wisdom at the ripe old age of 34 (yes, I am a slightly cynical X-er). Passion can be a wonderful thing *if it is channeled appropriately.* Many great human beings have followed their passions: Benjamin Franklin, Madam Curie, Thomas Edison, Gandhi…the list goes on and on. On the other thing, *these* historical figures also followed their passions with gusto: Nero, the Marquis de Sade, Napoleon, Adolf Hitler…again, there’s more where that came from too. I will let it hang there. You can draw your own conclusions.
To all the naysayers: just wanted to share a link to an interview I did with Jamie after this post came out, and after the Twitter Should Hire Me site gained publicity. It explains a lot of what is going on in Jamie’s mind: Good read.
http://personalbrandingblog.com/an-audacious-way-to-build-an-online-brand/
And her uncle offered her a job! Wow! Way to go! Yippee! What family member is next?
I appreciate the honesty, but much of what you write sounds like rationalization. I’ve been working for 25 years and have had many jobs. Some I thought I liked during the first two weeks that turned out to be disasters and others that I thought I would hate, that in the end were great. I don’t think you could make such a decision after only two weeks and I don’t consider it responsible to leave and move in with your parents.
The responsible thing to do would be to discuss your expectations with your hiring manager and see where things didn’t line up. At the same time, you could begin to pursue other opportunities leave the job once you found another. You are an adult now and relying on someone else to bail you out is not an adult thing to do. To insult generations of American’s by insinuating that your are smarter than they were for quitting a job and relying someone else to support you is condescending and insulting not to mentioned self-centered.
I think there are legitimate reasons for quitting after two weeks — for example, you discover something awful about the company, your coworkers treat you like shit, you unexpectedly receive a much better opportunity, or you’re absolutely convinced that the job or the field isn’t right for you. But often things look better after you stick out the first couple of weeks, and quitting too early too often may reflect badly on you if other employers find out.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with moving back in with your parents as long as they’re willing and able to support you without difficulty and as long as you get along with them. I would be unwilling to move back in with my parents, but not because I want to support myself or be independent or responsible. I would love to pay less rent and be supported by someone else, and I think they can afford it. I don’t want to move back because I dislike some of their house rules. They would probably also try to restrict my hobbies and insist I only do things related to my field, as well as look for a job. As it is right now, we live on opposite sides of the country. I earn enough to support myself, and sometimes they give me money.
I’m guilty of resigning from my most recent job after 6 weeks on the job. Quitting like that was definitely out of character for me, but I was miserable and I just couldn’t deal with the questionable business practices of this company. I could not and would not compromise my ethics just to have a job. Unfortunately for me, a few weeks later the economy crashed and I haven’t worked since.
I’m confident I made the right choice…now if I could just get a job!
Well, there’s just lots o’blame to go around here, yes?
History repeats itself. Remember the 60s? Never trust anyone over 30? Remember the (continuing) backlash against spanking? Remember how teachers used to use red ink, but don’t anymore because it makes the kids feel bad? Remember how we used to have “winners” and “losers” in competitions? (We don’t any more, because we want little Johnnie to feel good about himself, even if all he does is take up space and metabolize oxygen).
Here’s the deal: When I was 23 (a whopping 20 years ago, so evidently I’m a senior citizen), I had already outgrown the notion that adults were morons. However, I was still quite convinced that I knew absolutely everything.
Looking back, I realize that I knew very little at 23. Of course, I fully expect my son (now 11) to think I’m a moron until he reaches my advanced years. It’s the way of the world.
But y’all, this is what happens when you give your children everything they want and teach them that they should feel good about themselves all the time no matter what they do or don’t do – they expect the world to give them that same level of validation we’ve always done. We’re doing them a disservice.
And as for the poster who said, “I apologize for rambling – but I just want to say this. I will do whatever my children need as far as support. At least, if they are in a similar situation I’m in, or Jamie is in. Being lazy is one thing – but moving home to save some money while you pursue your passion – give me a break, there is NOTHING wrong with that. You can tell me I don’t know how being a parent is, and you’re right, I don’t – but Scott, your comment is so bitter on taking care of your children, who are the most important people in your life. Your wonderful personal fulfillment should include supporting your children, bottom line. It’s selfish to say that no matter what – I’m kicking my kids to the curb after college.”
To you, I have two things to say: First, parenthood is a TEMPORARY job. I’ll love my son forever, and I don’t begrudge him any of the things I’ve sacrificed in order to raise him. And while he will be free to visit me any old time he likes, the NATURE of this TEMPORARY job is to raise him to be independent and get the hell out of my house. My personal fulfillment is just that, and I won’t be held hostage into my 70s by offspring who think that it’s okay to live off your parents in perpetuity.
Second, talk to me in 20 years, and I suspect your opinion will be different. It’s called growing up, and most of us manage to do it, no matter how hard we try not to.
Jamie! Good for you!! You had the guts to do something that most people wouldn’t want to do! I’ve hired many employees, and I can tell you you are spot on! 2 weeks is long enough to decide if it’s a good fit for you and it it’s not, best to say, “not for me” and hit the road.
Us 40 something or older have lost our guts. We’re rooted in such a deep fear that we stay on in miserable positions; frustrating ourselves, our families, our employers and even our clients. After 7 years in one particular industry, I’ve finally realized that it’s okay. I’ve given it my best shot, I’ve tried my best. In the meantime, I’ve sacrificed my health, my family, and my well being. It’s just not worth it.
The crappy part is that at 40 something, I don’t have a safety net like parents to live with. I have three teenage sons, a mortgage, and a husband who has been laid off since November. If there were any time that didn’t make sense to leave, it’s now! But you have to understand, I’m in an industry that’s commissioned sales. Because of a shift in my business model, I went from being in the top 25% of the sales force, to the bottom 5% in just 8 months. My last check was $100 bucks!!!!! The truth is, I’ve lost my passion! I remember when I was 23 and had the whole world in front of me. There was nothing I couldn’t do.
So Jamie-I salute you!!! You rock! Don’t let the world chew you up and beat you down. It’s tough out here. Stick to your convictions, go with your gut, believe in yourself always and you’ll go far!
I think quitting a job just because it’s not right at the moment is a mistake. The people who graduate from college and find themselves in the perfect job that’s full of meaningful work and personal satisfaction are in the minority.
It is much easier to find a new job while you are still employed. At least that’s been my experience. It shows a certain stability and reliability that most companies need. For most jobs, the biggest hurdle is showing up. If you behave predictably by showing up on time, letting your manager know what you’re doing, etc. Then the manager is likely to cut you some slack when you need to take time to interview for a better job.
Sometimes, you have to make the most of a situation. If your job isn’t everything you want it to be, then focus on developing skills outside of work – either by going to school, joining groups, or getting a new certification that will be applicable to your preferred job.
Last fall, I left a very comfortable, but not challenging or satisfying job in manufacturing for a job at a university. Six weeks into the job, I was certain I had made a terrible mistake. It was a difficult struggle to overcome the negativity I was feeling, but I stuck it out. Now, 4 months later, I am feeling good about the job. I’ve gotten used to the new culture and I’m being recognized for some positive contributions. Had I bailed, I would have missed out on the good things that are happening now.
I think people who think like the author of this post are looking at their perfect career as a destination rather than a journey. The fact of the matter is even people who love what they do hate to go to work sometimes. There’s a lot to be said about a person who toughs it out and does their best to turn lemons into lemonade.
I’m 34 and I’ve quit my last two positions after being miserable for about 6 months. I was hired under false pretenses by both employers(I was lied to about the roles and responsibilities). I would never blame it on the company, but the hiring managers definitely need to learn a thing or two about being honest. I’ll take some responsibility for the first position because I saw some read flags and took the job because I was about to get laid-off due to an office closure at my current position at the time. So, it’s crucial to ask the right questions and stay clear of “danger zones.”
It’s funny because I was one of three people to quit on my previous boss in less than a nine month span. Mind you, these where middle-mgt level positions, both paying well into the six-figure range. Oh crap, I get it now. Some corporations like to treat people like crap because they pay us. Go figure…
So, I would never judge this girl for quitting after two weeks. You made the right personal decision and it’s great that you have a supportive family. I was dirt poor growing up, but have done quite well for myself and I’ll be the first to admit that “we are not all equal.” If you don’t like it, too bad….
I agree with this Joe G. 100%
I started my first job out of college one year ago. (I was a year removed from college then.) My first two weeks, I had trouble adjusting. Eventually, things got better; the work came easier and I was developing a rapport with my co-workers. But after a few months, it went downhill. Many factors were responsible (including my own flaws), and after nearly 6 months of “toughing it out,” I left my first entry-level job behind.
Unfortunately, I left my job without anything else lined-up (which doesn’t seem like a wise move, especially given the state of the job market and my desired industry). But the toll it was taking on my performance and my health was not worth the aggravation. Fortunately, I was able to freelance and within a month of my “vacation,” I landed my current position. I’ve been with my current employer for almost 6 months and unlike my first entry-level job, I feel like I’m in my element.
That first job was definitely not for me. As difficult and nervewracking as it was, I learned plenty about myself, as well as the job force as a whole. (One of many lessons: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!)
Two weeks notice within two weeks seems a bit hasty. I can understand if there was a severe breach of ethics taking place, or if another job offer came along. There was a point after that two week window when I liked my first job, but that only lasted a short while. Politics, personality clashes, and other factors contributed to my decision to leave after several months. Ideally, I had wanted to stay about a year, but it became obvious that where I was did not help myself, or my employer for that matter.
One solid piece of advice I received was to follow your passion, as a side project. Most first jobs stink (and I’m with many others in that boat). Writing is something I love to do, so I blogged on the side. (I did minimal writing at my previous job.) As it turns out, my blogging led me to my current job, which is writing-intensive.
Things like this don’t happen overnight, and it was a mantra I had to reluctantly adopt. (I admit, I am impatient.) I don’t know Jamie personally, nor her experience at her former employer. If she felt that strongly about making such a move in so little time, that’s one thing. But while I understand her position, I side with a majority of the comments and believe a first job, like all jobs, needs to be given an ample chance.
-From a “lazy” Generation Yer
This was such an enlightening article. I only wish I had read it about 4 years ago. I would have saved myself so much heartache, in my case being that I stayed in a job that I despised for about a year. When I say despised, I mean each day I went to work I secretly hoped the building had burned to the ground, I considered calling in a bomb scare…it was an ugly time. I stayed each day at this soul crushing job that was so obviously wrong for me because I didn’t want to look like a “job hopper”, because I kept thinking that I would get used to it, that it would grow on me. It never did. Finally, one day, I couldn’t take it anymore and I just up and quit one day without even giving 2 weeks notice. So I not only lost a year of my life, but a positive reference from my employer as well. Anyway, this was a hard lesson to learn, and hopefully your article can enlighten others about trusting your instincts about when a job doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit!
Everyone can thank the baby boomer generation for the way things are in this country. Because of them, we now have to suffer. Instead of them receiving their pensions and social security payments. They are the ones that should continue to work to support themselves. When and if I ever reach retirement age I don’t think there will be any funds left for myself and others from my generation to retire comfortably. The baby boomers are a bunch of pussies. They never stood up to their employers. They would rather work long hours and take it up the arse.
Thank you baby boomers!!!!!
I love to write also. I never had a chance before in my life to become a full-time blogger. Why put up with corporate communism when I can be “free” to do what I want. I don’t blame Jamie for being wise enough to realize that the job she held wasn’t for her and she immediately decided to quit, which was the best decision she could of made. Don’t let these brainwashed people trick you more than they already have.
Sure if you are 23 or whatever and can move home with mommy and daddy then blow off all the jobs you want. I hope you aren’t in any kind of small specialized industry where you will get a rep for being petulant and unreliable but maybe that isn’t an issue for you.
Unfortunately, most responsible adults can’t move home to their childhood bedroom (or have too much pride to do so) and so have to pay the bills and take a longer term, more strategic approach to life.
Look, I’m all for experimentation and following your own gut impulses and all that. I did a lot of it and didn’t settle down for a good long time. However, this all smacks a bit too much of self indulgence for my tastes. Working in jobs you don’t particularly love can still provide some damned valuable experience. We learn through adversity as well as fun.
This blog post reminds me of an article that was published in a magazine two years ago (I think it was Inc.) about spoiled 20-somethings. They want to be coddled. They put happiness before work. The whole world revolves around them. They’re all looking for perks and bonuses before they even lift a finger.
I’m 27 years old and working as a writer, but I’ve done manual labor before. I worked in a warehouse lugging boxes around and driving a forklift. I’ve worked with concrete and did some brick laying. My dad made me do some back-breaking work in my late teens and early 20’s. With those jobs, I worked through college all by myself (even though I took a little longer and did it later than all my friends). I had the luxury of going home, too, but why would I do that?
I’ll tell you why it’s NOT smart to quit after two weeks of work. First, do your research before you apply for a job. If you have an inkling that you’ll hate it, don’t go for an interview. If the job sucks, why not tough it out while you look for a new one instead of moving back home? Build some damn character and responsibility. Two weeks of work isn’t even a taste, let alone a good indicator of whether a job is worth keeping. Job hopping means staying with a company for at least a year before venturing onto something new as opposed to staying with a company for several years. What the hell do you think prospective employers will say when you have three companies listed on your resume just one year out of college? “The reason I left was because I became unhappy after two weeks.”
This blog did nothing but remind me that there are still spoiled brats making excuses for themselves.
Well Marc, I agree that staying with a job that’s not great can help build character, but as a a young 20 something year old, I have to disagree with you about happiness equaling spoiled. Life is short. Mental health is important. Yeah, more important than money and material. Sure eventually we all need to be able to support ourselves, but Jamie demonstrated a high understanding of self. Just because she didn’t tough this job out doesn’t mean she won’t tough another one out. This one wasn’t right for her, so she what if she follows her passion and fails. that will give her character too. At least she will know she tried. At least she will die with some sort of satisfaction. Unhappy people make everyone else unhappy, obviously sometimes people have to do things that they don’t like, but at 23, she has support. Support and following a unique passion driven path is what’s missing in corporate, mind numbing, pill popping America.
Jamie,
I don’t know you personally, so I can’t comment on your situation. What I can say though is that If i were in such a position (and I recently) was, I would do the exact same thing.
I’ve been out of college for a few months and was recently offered my first job. Enthusiastic and eager to make my own money, I took the job knowing that it was HR related tasks and had nothing to do with my Politics major or my writing skills. The same day I started I got a call from two other organizations (directly in my field of interest) for interviews. I realized early on that I would rather spend another month unemployed and applying for every job I can in a field that interests me rather than “sticking” it out in a job that will make me miserable. I’m fortunate enough to have saved some money during college and have very supportive parents. I know I can rely on them if i need to, but I would sooner bust tables and work night shifts at a super market than burden them until I get a better job. Still, it is nice to have the comfort of a supportive family.
I think it is unfair for people to comment on your parent’s willingness to take you back in while you look for a better opportunity. Other posters cannot claim to know what thoughts are running through your parents head. I can’t either – but I hope like every loving parent they have full confidence that you will find your way eventually.
I agree though with some posters above that not everyone has the luxury to make such choices. And I can understand some of their anger and resentment – but at the end, it is your life and your choice. If you are in a place to be able to go after your dreams, then do it. If anything, you’ll be able to look back on this time later and hopefully be happy that you followed your heart.
In my personal case, I will admit that it was a lack of maturity and personal responsibility that allowed me to accept my position and quit the next day. I was aware of the general nature of the work and was not misled in any way. Fortunately, the people at my work seemed to understand my reason for leaving and even offered me their contact information for any advice they could give me. They seemed to agree that I was in a position that would not challenge me in any manner. It was an awakening experience for me – mainly because of the guilt and shame I felt letting down such great people. I regret my judgement in accepting the job but never for leaving it. I made a mistake and I will learn from it. I know I still have a lot of growing up to do. I’m 21, have a college degree from a great school, and this is not going to stop my life or dramatically alter my future.
Sadly, not everyone can make such choices and I can understand their posts above. I’m grateful that I can and count my blessings. The only way I believe I can honor that is to be true to myself. I hope you can be too.
Best,
Evelyn
I don’y like to quite my job unless and until my employer really kicks me out..
I have to pay my bills..mortgage..who will do it?
Sorry but thats my 2 cents..
I worked a good number of jobs in my 20’s and they paved the way for a good solid career in my 30’s where I make a nice salary and if I want to make a career change, I now have that option as I can figure out how to transition without it being financially ruinous. The truth is that work is hard and it can suck and most people have to prove themselves out by making an effort to establish themselves before their careers really start to move.
It is dissapointing to see attitudes like this in 20 somethings. Noone owes you anything. Work is hard even if it is something you absolutely love and if you can’t figure that out then you are going to have a difficult time making a living.
I suppose if I were in your position (able to just go back to my parents house) it might feel okay to quit after two weeks and go about my life. Then again I quit a job after two weeks when I was sixteen and ever since then I’ve been trying to prove to myself that I’m no quitter. I absolutely despise my current job and most days I have a panic attack just thinking about having to go to work. What a miserable way to live. But I don’t have parents to run to. I do have bills to pay. I do have to live in the real world. So I have to pop my antidepressant every day, suck it up, be an adult, and go to my job that makes me want to throw myself off the building everyday.
Okay, obviously I’m bitter.
Congrats to you for being able to run home to Mommy and Daddy.
Very good article, that is the smart thing to do.
And to you alwaysaquitter, get a life and grow up! are you saying that you would actually prefer to work a job you hate then quit and try something new?
I am 24 and have had lots of jobs, and I have even quit a sales job after 2 weeks! Simply because it was not for me! I thought I would give it a shot to keep going because I was unemployed for 2 months prior, but with some jobs you can just tell.
And yes I had car loan payments, rent and bills, but I still managed to pay all of them, and yes I do live with family now, so what?
What pisses me off is people who can’t accept that we are able to make our own choices, and not stick in a job that we hate just so we can say we have! Screw that! What good is killing yourself!?
Here is one simple rule I want everyone to use.
Everyone has a choice.
If you hate your job, then QUIT!!! Simple as that.
And screw anyone else who says anything otherwise. If you don’t do that than you are a complete idiot.
Funny… not all of us can quit our jobs just because we’re miserable… most of us adults have bills to pay and there’s not an abundance of jobs everywhere you know. Also… my comment above had nothing to do with not trying something new… it had to do with running home to mom and dad rather than sticking it out, being an adult, and making it on your own. If the article had been about quitting a job to take a new job right away, my comment would have been very different. My issue is when people expect their parents to save them. If you want to quit your job that you’ve had for a day because you found something that would suit you better, please, go right ahead… but if you quit your job after one day to run to mom and dad and expect them to take care of you… that’s the person who has a lot of growing up to do!
I agree that you should not expect your parents to bail you out, and if you do expect them to save you, then you have a problem.
However, It is not impossible to leave a job and have another one already lined up, I have done this before as well. But I also have quit without having another job because I valued my mental health more than the little money I was making. Of course I made sure that I had enough cash to survive without working for about two months, that’s what adults do.
@alwaysaquitter
the job of a parent is to prepare a son or daughter for life. Occasionally, it means helping them out of a negative situation so that they can find their way.
You seem so taken with your situation, that you are unwilling to recognise that it is a positive to help “occasionally.”
This is the same mentality that perpetuates hazing in many organizations. I believe that knowledge of one’s kid is the best indicator of when or how to help, not some arbituary rule of thumb that absolves one from thinking.
Tossing people into the water to tough it out, regardless of the idiosyncracies of the situation, is for mother nature. I think we’ve risen above that.
My2centsworth
How can you possibly know enough about a job after 2 weeks to quit? It is not something you can even put on a resume.
With the job I quit, I knew it wasn’t going to work out. I was in door to door sales for 2 weeks, only made 2 sales, and couldn’t be stuffed having to put up with the abuse from customers and staff, as well as having no time for me to do anything else.
That’s how I knew enough about the job to quit, and I’m sure lots of other people have felt the same way about some other jobs they start.
The difference is, these people start a crappy job, thinking it will get better, but it doesn’t, then they realise they are 2 years down the line in the same crappy job.
I would much prefer to have a job I kinda enjoy for that period. I’m not saying that every job is the best, in fact I haven’t had a best job yet, but the ones I have stayed in are all quite bareably, other than a few really nasty ones which I quit a few weeks after I started.
That’s how you can know enough about a job after 2 weeks to quit.
Jamie,
Congratulations. You had the courage and maturity to do something that most people twice your age are terrified to do, and that is the cause of tons of unnecessary suffering.
For what it’s worth, my experience with not tolerating work I don’t love has been extremely positive for me. It is actually what allowed me to build a career as a freelance communications consultant and later as an coffee entrepreneur that allowed me to live in a dozen different countries, meet incredible people, and earn good money in the process — the stuff that so many corporate non-quitters dream about but are just too afraid to go after.
And you know what? After several years of growth and learning, I sold my stakes in the businesses I owned to start all over again. Yes, I quit again!
What was the use of sticking to a business that already had given me all it could? I’m now in the process of ratcheting it all up to a whole new level of self-realization by pursuing a career in writing.
So, in my humble opinion, you’re on the right track ;)
Good luck with your journey!
I am so glad to have come across this article. I just graduated from college a month ago and started a new job shortly after. I thought I could handle it, but I realize the job probably isn’t for me. I don’t plan on quitting in two weeks, but I do want to continue through the probationary period to make sure I make the right decision. This isn’t my first job, I’ve held internships and all, so I think I can trust my instincts.
Deciding if and when to quit a job is a very personal decision, and I don’t think anyone should be quick to judge Jamie for leaving when she did. What’s most important is that the transition is a smooth one, for both employer and employee.
I want to fast forward 15 years to when this fool has a mortgage, summer camp tuition and credit card bills at her doorstep. To say that quitting a job after two weeks shows “integrity and passion” is so laughable.
@ abinstock,
decisions need to be grounded in reality. The reality of it is that she does not have a mortgage, tuition, etc so why make a decision based on what is not real?
For you it would be a flawed decision, but we shouldn’t let our situations make us ignore variables at play in the lives of others.
There’s nothing wrong with quitting your job if you know something isn’t working for you. More the fool who continues knowing something is wrong….what a waste of time!
Doing a job which doesn’t feed you mind, body and soul is a waste in my opinion. Every second of human life should be put towards enrichening ones life. If the job is no good, then quit it and do something else
If this post is about taking swift action when you know something is not right for you, then absolutely right. I spent the first 3 years of my career in challenging roles but still did not enjoy them and then moved. Today, once you have a couple of years experience in a function, you are regarded as only having skills in that function, so quick action is needed before you get caught. There are many, many people out there who are in roles that they dislike.