advice on how to quit a job I just started?

[Koharski]

Alright well here is a bit of backstory. I have a degree in computer science, and I decided to make a bit of a career change and go into the trades. I'm an instrument technician, a career which deals with all of the pneumatic and electronic automation equipment that can be found in large industrial buildings.

A few weeks before I graduated from a short 3 months program I took in college to get my foot in the door to this program, I received a job offer from a company in northern alberta. I was told that I should be "prepared to work up to 10 hours a day, on a 10 on 4 off shift rotation". and also that "our first year apprentices make $23.50 an hour plus overtime".

So I moved quite far away from home for this job, got an apartment, settled in an got to work. However once I got there and started doing all of my paperwork some things weren't as I had expected. For starters, the shop is not busy and I can't expect to get the hours I was told to be prepared for until probably july. So i'm working only 30 hours a week, but this is divided up into 4-6 hour shifts 7 days per week. On top of that, i'll be starting at $6 an hour less than I was expecting. The first 120 hours of work do not have to be paid, as they are for a college practicum so i'll be at the job for a full month before I even am on the payroll, and as soon as the practicum is done everyone takes 3 weeks off for christmas. I just simply cannot afford to go 9 weeks without a paycheque.

On the positive side, the job is pretty good experience. I'm learning a lot of new things and my co-workers and boss are fantastic. My boss took a chance hiring me, as I don't really have a lot of experience in this field, and he's going out of his way to help me learn the trade instead of just having me do errands and clean all day like a lot of first year apprentices.

I have received another job offer from a competitor. I got everything in writing this time, and the wage is $22 per hour plus i'll be working in a camp which means I get all my meals and everything paid for during the 15 days i'm in camp, then I have a week off. Considering that I will be working a lot of hours, this is quite a lucrative job.

On monday I need to talk to my boss and tell him i'll be leaving in a week for this new opportunity, I just want to do it in a manner which is respectful so that I do not burn any bridges and i'm not really sure how to approach this.

 

[notposting]

Well, like you said...be respectful. I assume the boss didn't do the misleading job posting? Assuming he didn't, point out how it just didn't work out the way you thought it would, the job posting had you thinking one thing but you can't go 9 weeks without pay. Say thank you, and see how it goes.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Just slip out the back Jack
Make a new plan Stan
Get yourself free

It's a internship and doesn't matter except to the company who's offering it. It doesn't affect future job opportunitys, school grades or, ethics. They didn't hold up their end of the bargain so, you leave.

 

[Markbnj]

Just explain that the conditions of the job were not as you expected based on what you were told, and that the actual conditions just don't work for you. As a result you've had to accept another position that provides the income you need. As long as you're professional about it I don't see what they have to complain about.

 

[sandorski]

You could tell him all you have stated here. Maybe he'll make you a counter offer that changes your mind, since you are finding certain parts of your current job favourable. Seems dicey to just quit a job you only recently started, but it also seems dicey given the Pay and Hours you were lead to believe would be available to you.

 

[Imp]

There isn't anything bitchy/disparaging that I can tell in OP, so have a discussion with your boss. You can't afford to work for so little and there's another offer. I'm sure they'll find someone else -- best thing may be to give a proper two weeks notice.

In contrast, when I quit my job, it will be "I am offering my resignation and giving my two weeks notice as per the Employment Standards Act. Please notify me if additional time is required to facilitate the transition." If I tell them how I really feel, I'm never working again.

 

[olds]

Just explain that the conditions of the job were not as you expected based on what you were told, and that the actual conditions just don't work for you. As a result you've had to accept another position that provides the income you need. As long as you're professional about it I don't see what they have to complain about.

/thread

 

[EagleKeeper]

Just explain that the conditions of the job were not as you expected based on what you were told, and that the actual conditions just don't work for you. As a result you've had to accept another position that provides the income you need. As long as you're professional about it I don't see what they have to complain about.

This - except you do not need to mention the other position and the income.

You are leaving because the job does not match up with the description you were told before you accept the present position.

If pressed; mention the hours and pay. Realize you stated the hours are "up to". So they may have been preparing you for the worst. But the pay issue you described does not have an "up to" unless they are implying that after a year this is the rate.

 

[Imp]

Forgot to mention an interesting experience: I almost quit my full-time job last year for a side/casual job that was supposed to be full-time.

After lots of stalling, the casual job boss said he couldn't afford me full-time. This was after the date that I said I'd quit by -- didn't because I realized how in the shitter his business was. Even after that disclosure, he wanted to sit down with me to discuss the position. Example of how employers aren't looking out for you, so "do the needful".

 

[brianmanahan]

Example of how employers aren't looking out for you, so "do the needful".

please kindly do the needful

 

[mkrohn]

Sounds like your career path is going backwards?

 

[silverpig]

I would say to him exactly what you have put in your OP.

Explain that things aren't what you expected, that going 9 weeks without a paycheque is going to cause you some serious hardship, and that you aren't making what you thought you would be.

Fully acknowledge that he has gone out of his way for you, thank him, and say you want to help him out as best you can.

But... you have a competing offer that will solve your problems. Talk it over with him, ask him if there's anything he can do to help you stay. You don't want to leave because you are learning a lot, but at the end of the day, you have to make your rent and eat, and right now you aren't able to do it.

He might be able to get you on payroll sooner, bump up your wage, or give you more hours. Maybe he won't match what you have, but if he can come most of the way, you might be in a good place.

 

[twinrider1]

Be respectful, be firm. Do not apologize. They didn't live up to their end of the bargain.

Or do this...
NSFW (language) Half Baked

 

[ultimatebob]

You guys are nicer than how I was in the OP's situation. I was once offered a contracting job as a Linux administrator using some fancy new cloud infrastructure technologies, only to find out that the job really consisted of babysitting some flakey Microsoft IIS servers most of the time.

I lasted all of three days on that job before I left and went back to my old job. I was so pissed off at them that I didn't even bother to give them notice... Bastards.