The WONDER job turned DISASTER: When is finally time to quit?

[Nehalem58]

I have a job where I was told at my interview would be all wonderful, great people to work with, flexible, and fun. Yeah right. Our clients are negative and argue with me over stupid stuff, management is slow to respond to issues, and some of my co-workers think its okay to personally insult me or others. Management told me to "insult them back." The hours are crummy and the pay is crummy too. I have had ENOUGH. But I am scared about leaving since I need money and it looks really bad when I go to an interview and I have worked at one place for only two months. "So why did you work here for only two months" they ask at the interview. "Well I hated my co-workers because they were cruel and unprofessional and the management was not much help with this or anything else." Ummm, I can't say that, in their eyes that means I am not a team player and cannot deal with problem co-workers (I really can, but I just have never seen anything so bad before--there is only so much crap one can put up with, you know). So what should I do? Stay and suffer until I find a new job---or quit?

[ATLWill]

Stay and suffer until I find a new job---or quit?

I would stay.

90% of life seems to be how you react (or underreact) when people get in your face or are unprofessional.

[Nehalem58]

I have been around the block and a half, I spent 6 years in the national guard and have held a number of different jobs from all sorts of organizations. I have seen pretty much everything, but I have NEVER in my life dealt with such a crappy job situation.

[ATLWill]

I have seen pretty much everything, but I have NEVER in my life dealt with such a crappy job situation.

It's becoming more commonplace these days.

I would find a good friend that you can vent to. But stick it out.

[Nehalem58]

I am alarmed at how much you people seem to just accept shitty jobs and employees.

I have worked for organizations that had a positive culture and management that dealt with problems as soon as they arose. The do exist. I only live once and will not settle for this stupid job and shitty employees.

All jobs come with crap, but this job happens to have overflow on the bullshit meter. There is just a certain amount of crap that a person can put up with.

I want to know how damaging it is to quit this job when I do not have another one all lined up.

[kylepund]

Nehalem - it sounds like you have pretty much decided to quit this job. Good for you! Don't put up with a toxic environment. You are right, you only live once. There is no sense in sticking it out just because you're only 2 months in. You're better off realizing 2 months in that this isn't the place for you rather than staying there and 2 years later you find you are numb to the BS or are devaluing yourself as a worker as much as they devalue you. I personally say go for it. Start looking around for another full-time job in your field NOW. Send out as many resumes as you can over email and a hundred more through the mail. Get your name on people's desks. Make cold calls if you have to. Let them know you're flexible and can start immediately. Something is bound to pan out. If you must quit for sanity's sake before you have another job lined up, I guess be willing to wait tables to pay the bills. It's better than waking up every day dreading your coworkers.

When they ask why you only put in 2 months on this job, you can say it tactfully. "The environment at my former workplace was not conducive to me working at my full potential. I was discovering a lot of problems in the office dynamics as well as the efficiency of the work I was asked to do, but unfortunately, the management did not share my vision for improving these issues. I feel I will fit in better and maximize my potential in an environment where employee input is valued and a team atmosphere is encouraged."

[ATLWill]

Don't put up with a toxic environment

I agree.

However, how do you know that the next company will be any different?

Unless you already have friends at a company who will tell you the real scoop about the culture (good and bad), you will be going into a situation that could be better, but also could be worse.

[spokes]

every time you start a new job there is a leap of faith on both your part and on thier part. sometimes things just don't work out.

try and get out of the job asap, an office culture where staff openly insult each other the fact that it is tolerated by management makes me thinks that all the high school bullies pooled thier resources and started a company......

[dreams82]

I have actually been thinking about what you do when you leave a job and start a new one, but hate the new one and don't think it will be a good fit. What do you do? It's scary, and I guess it is a leap of faith. I am wondering this because I am looking to get out of my current job, but the thing that sucks is that I don't know what I am looking to get into. If you don't know where you're going, every road will take you there. I am all over the place.

[biodork]

I have actually been thinking about what you do when you leave a job and start a new one, but hate the new one and don't think it will be a good fit. What do you do? It's scary, and I guess it is a leap of faith. I am wondering this because I am looking to get out of my current job, but the thing that sucks is that I don't know what I am looking to get into. If you don't know where you're going, every road will take you there. I am all over the place.
I know that feeling. I'm starting a new job in a little over 2 weeks and I'm so scared because I absolutely LOVE my current job. But my current job doesn't pay me very well and it's really far away from my apartment. The new one is giving me a 70% pay increase and is 20 min away. I just have this feeling I'm going to get really bored with the work I'm going to be doing because it is nothing like what I'm doing now. But I can't take being broke and having the long commute anymore.

[dreams82]

Biodork-I am sure it will be fine. I am also looking for more money and a shorter commute. I am pretty bored now though, so I am worried about being overwhelmed. Good luck with your new position!

[biodork]

Biodork-I am sure it will be fine. I am also looking for more money and a shorter commute. I am pretty bored now though, so I am worried about being overwhelmed. Good luck with your new position!
Thanks :)

Its funny because I love my current work, but there is sooooooooooooo much downtime sometimes it isn't funny. With my new job, I'll be busy all day, which I like, but the actual work I'll be doing is repetitive, so that could get old. It's really a toss up. If the people are awesome though, then that will definitely make things easier. And they seemed really nice in the interview.

[Nehalem58]

It's not just that I have asshole co-workers, but the job REALLY sucks too!!!

[tina1979]

on really really bad days I go home, have an ice pick, and vent to my best friend/roommate/co-worker.

But I actually like my job 99% if the time :)