I think I'm going to quit my job

[AntiSoCalSkier]

I really don't like my job. I sit in my office all day long and really don't do much. I often go all day without talking to anyone. Yet despite the fact that I rarely do any real work, I get good reviews and raises. This is completely unsatisfying, and many mornings, I can barely drag myself out of bed. Anyway, since I've already rented a place up at Big Bear for the season, I'm going to be a full-time ski instructor for the rest of the season, and then see if I can figure something out for the summer. As soon as I can get in touch with the Ski School Director to make sure that they would have work for me as a full-time instructor, I'll be talking to my boss here.

[DJSapp]

pfft. Don't quit, just stop going. See how long it takes before they cut the paychecks off. Who knows, you just might still have your job when the snow melts

[TomK]

Seems like someone's got a bad case of the Mondays.

[iceman]

See if they'll let you telecommute, then outsource your job to India.

[AntiSoCalSkier]

See if they'll let you telecommute, then outsource your job to India.

That's the scary thing, I have probably one of the least outsourceable (is that a word?) jobs in Engineering. I work for a defense contractor, so they can't outsource my job to anywhere. I could probably continue doing nothing for 20 years, and make a ton of money doing it. Unfortunately I don't think I can stand another 20 years of misery (I can barely stand another 20 minutes).

[divegirl]

Good plan, Anti. However, ask to take a leave of absense for a season, and then make your final decision.

My job is giving me no signs of promising what they said in my review back in October. I want to switch to the construction admin side of architecture, and told them this, but they're still having me do design. I've been designing for over 4 years and I'm getting sick of it.

Anyway, more importantly, provided I can get a job in architecture, I'm definitely moving to Tahoe by late summer of this year. You can come visit us after you quit your job.

[L8APX]

That's the scary thing, I have probably one of the least outsourceable (is that a word?) jobs in Engineering. I work for a defense contractor, so they can't outsource my job to anywhere. I could probably continue doing nothing for 20 years, and make a ton of money doing it. Unfortunately I don't think I can stand another 20 years of misery (I can barely stand another 20 minutes).

I'm with you on the 20 minutes thing. I nearly went home today after finding out that the $10 - 20 k gain share bonus check I should be getting is a myth. I'm moving soon, so quiting is only a matter of time. Get out of there and live life while you can. Hell if I could instruct and didn't have a boat load of bills to pay, I would be doing that.

The last thing you want to do is wake up 20 years from now surrounded by things that are not you.

Best of luck!

[Big E]

That's the scary thing, I have probably one of the least outsourceable (is that a word?) jobs in Engineering. I work for a defense contractor, so they can't outsource my job to anywhere. I could probably continue doing nothing for 20 years, and make a ton of money doing it. Unfortunately I don't think I can stand another 20 years of misery (I can barely stand another 20 minutes).

We work at the same place???!!!?!

[Nate Dogg]

I would also definitely recommend requesting a leave of absence for a season. That way, following your stint as a ski school instructor this season, you can make your decision as to what direction to point your career. The worst thing they can do is say no, in which case you'll be in the same position as quitting...no big deal. On the other hand, if they agree to this, you'll leave yourself with one more option, regardless of whether or not you ever intend on returning. Just my $.02. Good luck!

[tuffy109]

quitting your job is a surefire way to keep it from snowing for the rest of the season.

[Anxious Mo-Fo]

Sobchak beat me to it.

[Tippster]

That^^^^^^^

was a good dose of reality.

[cj001f]

Dear Whining Yuppie,

If being bored while making good money is your definition of "misery," you should try life on the streets scrounging for change for your next bottle of Night Train -- since it's the only thing that stops the demons in your head from screaming -- and washing the shit stains out of your pants in public restrooms.

It's all relative.

Sincerely,

Unwhining Yuppie

eh, STFU.

If you've never experienced the tyranny of the mediocre, you wouldn't understand. Every day you walk into work you are expected not to do anything. Pass the paperwork along and your fine. I remember a security briefing where the guy advised us to be suspicious of people working late - they had the opportunity to spy

[powstash]

I found these gems on a friend's website today. I suppose they have relevance:

I realized the other day that if I could retire tomorrow I'd probably do the exact same thing I'm doing today. So it goes without saying, I guess, that I like what I do.

and this one:

...but also took up a lousy job-job as a lot-boy at a car dealership that I learned only one thing from: try to avoid job-jobs.

I think I have a job-job right now cause I wouldn't keep doing it if I retired tomorrow...

[Superstar Punani]

Coming soon.....

[Snow Dog]

I like jobs that have low expectations and pay well. I beats high expectations and low pay. You can start your own company, do consulting, surf the Internet, take some courses...

If you don't like that then ask for part-time work. Work 3 days, take 4 off. That would be the ticket. Learn to work the system.

[AntiSoCalSkier]

Dear Whining Yuppie,

If being bored while making good money is your definition of "misery," you should try life on the streets scrounging for change for your next bottle of Night Train -- since it's the only thing that stops the demons in your head from screaming -- and washing the shit stains out of your pants in public restrooms.

It's all relative.

Sincerely,

Unwhining Yuppie

I'm not really sure I qualify as a whining yuppie, since I'm actually going to do something about the fact that I can't stand my job. (Well, I'll still be a yuppie for a while, depending on how long my savings last, but I won't be whining.)

cj0001f understands where I'm coming from. I've always thought it would be funny to put up a "Big Brother is watching you" poster. It would fit in so well with all the other security warnings, that I'm not sure anyone would get the joke.

[powstash]

I like jobs that have low expectations and pay well. I beats high expectations and low pay. You can start your own company, do consulting, surf the Internet, take some courses...

Learn to work the system.

Case in point - my buddy makes somewhere in the 80-100K range at a job that he basically does with his eyes closed. So he's started a little side biz that he manages while his other job is on cruize control which did nearly 125K last month in rev and 35K so far this month. It's 4 months old. He's off to China in a couple of weeks for a "vacation" to scout new products he wants to make and import. He's got the system dialed.

[The Reverend Floater]

Calm down, Walter!

[DJSapp]

Dear Whining Yuppie,

If being bored while making good money is your definition of "misery," you should try life on the streets scrounging for change for your next bottle of Night Train -- since it's the only thing that stops the demons in your head from screaming -- and washing the shit stains out of your pants in public restrooms.

It's all relative.

Sincerely,

Unwhining Yuppie

Dear Walter,

I believe the type of misery Anti is describing is closer to a middle management/government drone misery. Where being stuck in a job that drains one's soul, takes all of their time for no satisfaction, and causes enough mental 'misery' to the point where one pulls out a fully automatic Uzi 9mm and pump round after round into unsuspecting coworkers or family members before turning it upon oneself to create some kind of fufillment and release for the drained soul.

Another equally relative perspective. Antisocal sounds like he's doing the right thing.

Sincerely,

Dirtbag engineer

[AntiSoCalSkier]

DJ - Actually, since I spend so much time on the board, I think I might accidentally misplace my anger and start going after board members. For some reason, the voices in my head keep repeating the name "Walter".

[G]

You can't afford a ski instructor job.

[bad_roo]

I once had a job where I did absolutely nothing for a year and a half solid. No, wait - I produced one document of a page and a half of A4. That was it. The rest of the time was spent trying to look busy, surfing the net, walking from my desk to the bog to the water cooler to the shop to my desk and trying not to go mad. Terrible old business.

[AntiSoCalSkier]

Well, I just did it. I went in to talk to my boss, and I should be a full-time ski instructor by the end of the week.