Quitting Job

[Jammer]

I have a job (I'm a project manager) that pays really well, but over the last few months it's been torture going into work. I finally decided to turn in my resignation this afternoon. I have no job to fall back on, but I do have a few months of savings to get me through.

Has anybody else done this? I'm not kidding anyone when I say I'm scared as hell as I haven't even looked for another job. I know I won't get paid like I am now but I'm 53 years old and I can't see myself doing this job any longer.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I have a job (I'm a project manager) that pays really well, but over the last few months it's been torture going into work. I finally decided to turn in my resignation this afternoon. I have no job to fall back on, but I do have a few months of savings to get me through.

Has anybody else done this? I'm not kidding anyone when I say I'm scared as hell as I haven't even looked for another job. I know I won't get paid like I am now but I'm 53 years old and I can't see myself doing this job any longer.

Get another job first.
Savings drain fast.

 

[JBS]

While I personally haven't done it myself...I know of many who have and I'm sure you'll find many in this board who also have done it...some people will definitely advise against what you did but if you felt that strongly about quitting immediately, I'd say you did yourself a favor. If you don't mind me asking, what was so torturous about your job?

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

Many parallels in the brief explanation of your situation and mine and I must agree with REDVOLUTION, find another job first. Possibly knowing your stay is short lived may help your psyche going into the office till then.

 

[Jammer]

While I personally haven't done it myself...I know of many who have and I'm sure you'll find many in this board who also have done it...some people will definitely advise against what you did but if you felt that strongly about quitting immediately, I'd say you did yourself a favor. If you don't mind me asking, what was so torturous about your job?

My company is not the same as it once was. I've been with them 10 years and the last couple of years it seems like they keep tying my hands behind my back preventing me from doing my job. I used to be able to buy equipment and materials with my credit card or have a crew chief buy it. Now, I have to submit paperwork to our corporate office, get it approved, and then it gets ordered which takes days. I don't have days. I'm not talking about big ticket items either. I'm talking miscellaneous hardware like screws and bolts. I also can't use the technicians I want. I have to use what's available and for some reason some of our techs suck. I'm responsible for creating proposals and budgets but if I'm getting garbage in I can't make a turd smell like a rose continually. I've have 80+ projects worth around $25 million and I never went over budget or schedule, until now. Other divisions have lost money and mine hasn't but as usual "it's what have you done for me lately." There is lots more, but this is just the tip.

 

[Jammer]

Many parallels in the brief explanation of your situation and mine and I must agree with REDVOLUTION, find another job first. Possibly knowing your stay is short lived may help your psyche going into the office till then.

I've thought about that, but I'm already letting things slide so it's probably a matter of time before I'm fired anyway.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

I've thought about that, but I'm already letting things slide so it's probably a matter of time before I'm fired anyway.

when then you'll at least get unemployment - hang in there and actively/aggressively look. Do the best you can while in the office and when it's time to go home, rid the crap out of you mind and enjoy your life. Find a way to compartmentalize it.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I've had friends do it and they were able to land on their feet. And I've been in your position before and tried to stick it out only to be miserable and end up getting fired anyway. In the end, I figured that I should have quit because the firing is always worse. And I think the hardest part about quitting is the flak you will get from your family. Even if they don't say anything to your face, they are at least thinking it and it's rather palpable.

I'd probably try to stick it out and find another job while you're still there, but even that is not easy. Tough these days because companies are all about dollars and cents and tracking the money perfectly and in the end they usually end up losing more money and making less.





YR

 

[CyberB0b]

My sister just did it. She found a way better job for more money.

 

[Jammer]

I went ahead and submitted my resignation. My boss was surprised and said I could stay as long as I needed to get another job unless he finds someone to take my place. I really am leaving them in a bind because I do have a lot of ongoing projects under me right now. Part of my burnout was I kept getting the really important ones that couldn't fail. Other project managers would get small projects and I was getting the large ones.

It's funny, but one of the things I learned in the Air Force was not pilling on work to the guys who would get it done. I was one of those who would pile it on to my guys who I knew would get the job done and the slackers got off easy. Now I'm in the boat where I get my cart full of work where I work 12-14 hour days and the other guys barely put in 40 hours a week.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I went ahead and submitted my resignation. My boss was surprised and said I could stay as long as I needed to get another job unless he finds someone to take my place. I really am leaving them in a bind because I do have a lot of ongoing projects under me right now. Part of my burnout was I kept getting the really important ones that couldn't fail. Other project managers would get small projects and I was getting the large ones.

It's funny, but one of the things I learned in the Air Force was not pilling on work to the guys who would get it done. I was one of those who would pile it on to my guys who I knew would get the job done and the slackers got off easy. Now I'm in the boat where I get my cart full of work where I work 12-14 hour days and the other guys barely put in 40 hours a week.

It's frustrating. I get it.

 

[trickblue]

I have a job (I'm a project manager) that pays really well, but over the last few months it's been torture going into work. I finally decided to turn in my resignation this afternoon. I have no job to fall back on, but I do have a few months of savings to get me through.

Has anybody else done this? I'm not kidding anyone when I say I'm scared as hell as I haven't even looked for another job. I know I won't get paid like I am now but I'm 53 years old and I can't see myself doing this job any longer.

If you have your PMP Certification and real world experience, you should have no trouble in finding another job...

 

[CyberB0b]

There's a lot of jobs out there now. If this were 2008, I would say you are a fool. You'll be fine.

 

[Longboysfan]

My company is not the same as it once was. I've been with them 10 years and the last couple of years it seems like they keep tying my hands behind my back preventing me from doing my job. I used to be able to buy equipment and materials with my credit card or have a crew chief buy it. Now, I have to submit paperwork to our corporate office, get it approved, and then it gets ordered which takes days. I don't have days. I'm not talking about big ticket items either. I'm talking miscellaneous hardware like screws and bolts. I also can't use the technicians I want. I have to use what's available and for some reason some of our techs suck. I'm responsible for creating proposals and budgets but if I'm getting garbage in I can't make a turd smell like a rose continually. I've have 80+ projects worth around $25 million and I never went over budget or schedule, until now. Other divisions have lost money and mine hasn't but as usual "it's what have you done for me lately." There is lots more, but this is just the tip.

Don't quit. Take a week off but before you do.
First try to address the small cost buys. You already laid out the reasons here.
There should be some latitude given for purchases under a certain dollar level.

Point out the efficiency for the buying for project sake.

Second as for the Technicans you use. Unfortunatly your training them to make the overall pool better.
If you find some are a drawback - get to the supervisor of the group and talk to them.
Or
Have you manager do the talking. Write it all up for them. Point by point.

 

[Longboysfan]

I went ahead and submitted my resignation. My boss was surprised and said I could stay as long as I needed to get another job unless he finds someone to take my place. I really am leaving them in a bind because I do have a lot of ongoing projects under me right now. Part of my burnout was I kept getting the really important ones that couldn't fail. Other project managers would get small projects and I was getting the large ones.

It's funny, but one of the things I learned in the Air Force was not pilling on work to the guys who would get it done. I was one of those who would pile it on to my guys who I knew would get the job done and the slackers got off easy. Now I'm in the boat where I get my cart full of work where I work 12-14 hour days and the other guys barely put in 40 hours a week.

Go back and talk to them.
When they gave you open ended leave date - that signals they need you.
Maybe take a week off. Make your suggestions.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have a job (I'm a project manager) that pays really well, but over the last few months it's been torture going into work. I finally decided to turn in my resignation this afternoon. I have no job to fall back on, but I do have a few months of savings to get me through.

Has anybody else done this? I'm not kidding anyone when I say I'm scared as hell as I haven't even looked for another job. I know I won't get paid like I am now but I'm 53 years old and I can't see myself doing this job any longer.

Why don't you find a new job before resigning? That would be the smart play. Hell, do that and you get both a new job and get to keep your savings.

 

[Rockport]

I have a job (I'm a project manager) that pays really well, but over the last few months it's been torture going into work. I finally decided to turn in my resignation this afternoon. I have no job to fall back on, but I do have a few months of savings to get me through.

Has anybody else done this? I'm not kidding anyone when I say I'm scared as hell as I haven't even looked for another job. I know I won't get paid like I am now but I'm 53 years old and I can't see myself doing this job any longer.

I just recently did the same thing. It was about 2 months before I found another job and it was a very scary time. I lost about 15 lbs and lots of sleep. It all worked out great in the end as my new job is so much better than the last as I was also miserable. Good luck and hang in there.

 

[Jammer]

If you have your PMP Certification and real world experience, you should have no trouble in finding another job...

That I know. I'm not sure if I still want to be a project manager. Almost all my projects are government and if you deal with the government for any length of time you eventually wan to

Don't quit. Take a week off but before you do.
First try to address the small cost buys. You already laid out the reasons here.
There should be some latitude given for purchases under a certain dollar level.

Point out the efficiency for the buying for project sake.

Second as for the Technicans you use. Unfortunatly your training them to make the overall pool better.
If you find some are a drawback - get to the supervisor of the group and talk to them.
Or
Have you manager do the talking. Write it all up for them. Point by point.

Hip, believe me, I've done all this many times over. I'll get blue in the face trying to explain it to them. They just don't get the small purchase buys. I've told the corporate heads many times the technicians don't know what they need until they see it in a store. I could go on and on about that.
The technicians we have in our pool have been around for a long time. There's not much training they're going to get. SC is a right to work state, but to get rid of someone still takes an act of Congress. The only quick way to fire someone is if they fail a drug test. I do have some good technicians who want to come back but my Company's policy is not to hire someone if we have a technicians who are laid off. I have a project now in San Diego and a couple of technicians I have I wouldn't put there if I had my say.

 

[Jammer]

Why don't you find a new job before resigning? That would be the smart play. Hell, do that and you get both a new job and get to keep your savings.

I know I'm not playing it smart. This past weekend was finally the last straw.

 

[Jammer]

I just recently did the same thing. It was about 2 months before I found another job and it was a very scary time. I lost about 15 lbs and lots of sleep. It all worked out great in the end as my new job is so much better than the last as I was also miserable. Good luck and hang in there.

Thanks. This is what I want to hear.