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Reputation: 576

how stupid, on a scale of 1 to 10, would it be to quit one's job in this economy, with no new job waiting?

My job itself is actually pretty cool. However, my boss is all kinds of inappropriate. Today was possibly the day that broke the camel's back.
For a while now, I've been applying off and on to "dream jobs" not really expecting to get them for one reason or another, but hoping all the same. I've decided to start looking for a new job period. Problems being A. I find it incredibly difficult to force myself to do the job hunt when I've already got a full time job. B. Most other jobs I am qualified for would be a "step down" from where I'm at now C. The economy and job market fucking suck.

I am aching for an office space moment. How dumb is it to just say take this job and shove it? Or how do I square myself with staying?

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  • Skull_pumpkin_small
    Reputation: 1610

    Dunno. How long can you be out of work and still keep yourself fed, clothed, and housed?

    If your boss is criminally appropriate to the point where you could write a really good "I, Anonymous" or sue, maybe you could make a case for it. (Then sue, on a contingency basis.) But if s/he is just annoying--even punch-the-wall annoying--and you can't afford to be out of work for some months, quitting is verging on a 10. Transfer to a new boss, if the company is big enough. The higher your salary now, the longer it will take you to find an equivalent salary. I've heard you should estimate a month for every $10K you make.

    Unless you can afford it, or the boss is sacrificing puppies on your desk while forcing you to fellate him, I'd suggest you force yourself to do the job hunt and wait it out until you have another offer.

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8 Other Answers

  • Doorbells_002_small
    Reputation: 894

    Leave cleanly.
    All those fantasies about blowing him/them out of the water with a surprise announcement NEVER work out. Life will go on without you. And time wounds all heels.

    The fact that you leave as soon as you have a good job lined up will speak volumes. Don't burn bridges.

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  • Cedar_photo_small
    Reputation: 1505

    Don't do it. It's so much easier to find a new job when you have a job already. Just buckle down and start job searching an hour a night and utilize whatever networks you have at your disposal.

    I think that the act of looking for another job should provide enough covert resistance that it should shore you up to get through the next three to six months. If you haven't found a job by then and you're still miserable, reevaluate (but it might be even more evident that now is a rotten time to jump ship).

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  • Guild_1024x768_small
    Reputation: 277

    is there someone above your boss that you can report his/her behavior to? Are there policies in place at the company that prevent retaliation for reports of misconduct? I'm not suggesting that you stay if it's an untenable work environment, but if there's only one thing preventing you from wanting to stay, why not find out what steps are possible to remove that thing from the equation?

    I'd suggest checking out your company policies and talk to someone in HR about the situation. Failing that, you might want to possibly contact an attorney to see how much of a case you'd have if you wanted to move forward (it doesn't cost anything to make an inquiry).

    Once you've exhausted those options, and if it seems like a no-win situation, then you might want to consider the onward-upward move, or even taking a slight step back to be in a more comfortable environment.

    Good luck.

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  • Bike-scope_small
    Reputation: 1858

    It depends on many other factors.

    Do you have enough savings and/or support to exist awhile without a job and/or during the worst case scenario?

    If you really need to get a job (any job) do you think you could do so fairly easily? Are you planning on buying a house soon or do other things where an uninterrupted work history would look better? Is there any chance that a week after you quit your entire department will be laid off and then everyone will be getting UI except poor you? If you told them you're leaving and they offered you more money to stay would you stay or go? Can you convince them to let you do some type of part-time contracting with them for a few months after you leave?

    Not being able to totally focus on the job hunt while doing your full time job makes sense.

    You may want to have an explanation to give to places you interview with though. They will want to know why you quit and saying "more free time to look for a cool job!" won't probably fly well. Is there some side-business you wanted to dabble in (i.e. writing, setting up a small business, etc.) so that you can tell them you wanted to try to do x with 100% of your energies and see how it panned out?

    In summary, it's not in completely dumb to do what you'd like to do. It may be the best move in your life.

    Or it may be the dumbest thing ever.

    (p.s. If there are lots of inappropriate things at work, then document it, possibly report it, etc. If you quit then you may still be eligible for UI if you can show that you basically had to quit because of the inappropriateness. Although that process may take awhile. Alternately, can you get a position in another part of the company?)

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  • Homer-simpson-3_small
    Reputation: 2

    It's easy to quit, hard to find a job.

    Find a new job, and then quit. Don't act impulsively - you'll regret it.

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  • Seabert_small
    Reputation: 30

    I pulled an "Office Space" about two and a half years ago, and it was a huge regret. It took forever to find a stable job, and I felt stupid whenever my friends would ask about it, because I put myself in that situation. Not to mention, I was broke and unable to pay bills on time, so I wound up pawning things when I got desperate... yeah, don't do it.

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  • Cats_small
    Reputation: 790

    I agree with the other comments of trying to report to your boss's superior. Or what about the HR department? (is there one?) Is your boss' douchery affecting productivity? The company's bottom line would like someone who meshed better.

    In any case, update resume and start applying like a mother fucker. Would those other jobs really be a step down? Is there any that are 15-20 minutes closer to your home? Are you unable to be your own person at your current sucky job, would these other jobs allow for you to be yourself? These things aren't about your career track per se but they are about your life. Work to live, don't live to work.

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  • Images_small
    Reputation: 137

    3.14

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