I Just Quit My Jerb - Happy New Year!

[IndyColtsFan]

I just went back to consulting in November. Now I'm suddenly thinking "What on earth were you thinking, ICF?!?!?!?!"

50 is pretty close though, so if I can stand doing this for a few years, I can do something more enjoyable when I'm in my mid 50s.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

idk, maybe because you never know who you're going to run into again. i was at a company that was working me 70-80 hours a week on 40 hour salary pay for months, but still gave them 2 week notice.

then again, i certainly wouldn't apply there again, and turnover's so bad nobody would remember me anyway.

that job was also consulting. it sucks, a lot. i never went back to consulting again.

It's pretty normal to give very little notice in the consulting world. Reasons for that would include
1) Turnover is high in general
2) Depending on what you do, I typically don't have a direct manager that I work with 24/7. Each project I'm on has a new manager
3) Recruiters from this company will be at my doorstep right after I quit anyhow
4) Since turnover is high - in 5 years down the line there will likely be new managers

Also I made tons of manager friends over the years that would love to have me back - and they are also nice and helping me with telling me who they know are hiring in our line of work. You work well with some - and others are assholes that suck at their job.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You sir, are my hero.

I was so close to quitting my job a couple weeks ago...

 

[Herr Kutz]

I was close too. I got a better ($) offer just before Christmas but not enough to make me move so far away and start over. It was such a difficult decision and if one thing had gone differently the day I had to decide I would be packing right now. I’m still questioning myself. Interestingly enough I got an email reminder today that I need to sign before 4pm tomorrow to accept. Ha, I thought I only had until Dec 26th!

 

[dr150]

OP,
Congrats man for being OPEN EYED and getting out!

I've been thru several F500 companies trying to find some harmony.

You have no idea the CLOWN SHOW that exists in most companies. TOXIC CULTURES ABOUND!!!

My advice is find survey lists of companies of "Happiest Employees". I used such lists and ultimately ended at one that was "Top 10". You have NO IDEA the difference it was! NIGHT & DAY to other Fortune 500 Clown Shows! The culture/difference was so staggering as to think WTF kind of "realm magic" is this...am I dead? HUGE difference! CULTURE makes a company! It may sound like BS propaganda to an ultra-cynic like me, but systems are in place that keeps manipulating Machiavellian riff raff from taking power and ultimately getting expunged out of the cukture like a cold virus, no matter their job title. Give it a shot is my advice to you for your next step.

Good luck to you! A hearty fist bump from one "take no toxic shit" bro to another! The 50-80 yr. screenplay of life is too fucking short for anything else!....**Tick*Tock!**

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's a blissful feeling leaving a crappy job. When I got my current job it was awesome knowing I was leaving that other place. I was not quitting the job because of the job, but because of the asshole IT manager. Imagine Trump, but as an IT manager. I think that's probably the best way to describe that situation. He was so pissed when I left, because it was one of the few times where something was completely out of his power.

There's really no point in working in a toxic environment. Some people will say it's "being a man" or whatever excuse they'll use to justify it, but nobody deserves that kind of abuse.

 

[RichUK]

Life is too short to accept and tolerate a toxic work environment!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

OP,
Congrats man for being OPEN EYED and getting out!

I've been thru several F500 companies trying to find some harmony.

You have no idea the CLOWN SHOW that exists in most companies. TOXIC CULTURES ABOUND!!!

My advice is find survey lists of companies of "Happiest Employees". I used such lists and ultimately ended at one that was "Top 10". You have NO IDEA the difference it was! NIGHT & DAY to other Fortune 500 Clown Shows! The culture/difference was so staggering as to think WTF kind of "realm magic" is this...am I dead? HUGE difference! CULTURE makes a company! It may sound like BS propaganda to an ultra-cynic like me, but systems are in place that keeps manipulating Machiavellian riff raff from taking power and ultimately getting expunged out of the cukture like a cold virus, no matter their job title. Give it a shot is my advice to you for your next step.

Good luck to you! A hearty fist bump from one "take no toxic shit" bro to another! The 50-80 yr. screenplay of life is too fucking short for anything else!....**Tick*Tock!**

Great post.

I just want a job where I can actually do my job without being micromanaged, without having to play politics, with a manager who communicates and checks in, and without having to engage in frequent "forced fun" events. If I work significant OT, I want compensated. I'm not a 60+ hour per week worked and will never be one again unless I can get paid for it.

I've had one job like you describe in your post and it was great. On the surface, people would think my last job was great but it was micromanagement hell with politics all over the place. Still, I wonder if maybe at my age (48) if I should've just stuck it out and learned to not give a fuck. My manager there was an old timer in the company and was really a great guy, but the folks above him were relatively new and were trying to make names for themselves and micromanaged everything. It really could've been an awesome place to work but sadly, it was not. The final straw was during a department meeting, when the VP slipped and said "I haven't decided to outsource ICF's job yet" and then quickly backtracked when he saw the look on people's faces. When I left, he actually did try to outsource it but found out how freaking expensive it was to replace a developer/architect and was forced to hire again.

 

[jpiniero]

BTW, I am not a fan of quitting while you haven't lined up a job yet. What if those recruiters that are "hot for you" don't actually end up materializing into a job?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

BTW, I am not a fan of quitting while you haven't lined up a job yet. What if those recruiters that are "hot for you" don't actually end up materializing into a job?

Normally, I agree. I usually do have something confirmed and lined up. This was just one of those cases where it was so painful that I would rather just quit now.

Also not worried in the slightest. If things don't work out and I don't have a job for the next 6 months I still wouldn't be worried.

We have plenty stored away in a rainy day fund, our house is paid off, so overall not much for bills.

Also my wife works. So until I'm employed I can just be a stay at home dad that leeches off the hard working mom

In reality though, the thing that pissed me off the most about my job was really the lack of time I got to spend with my 2 year old daughter. I won't have that problem now.

 

[kn51]

Well, when the 6 months turns into years...

As long as you have an 'in' you should be okay.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Well, when the 6 months turns into years...

As long as you have an 'in' you should be okay.

In today's job market, it's pretty hard to not be able to get employed (presuming you have a generally clean record).

 

[kn51]

In today's job market, it's pretty hard to not be able to get employed (presuming you have a generally clean record).

Sure if you aren't in your 40's+ and overqualified.

 

[zinfamous]

I never got my invite.

No way, man. You were supposed to take the crack whore party outside where it belongs, not bring it to the house.

 

[highland145]

No way, man. You were supposed to take the crack whore party outside where it belongs, not bring it to the house.

Ha, wrong, meth. Slipped that one by you....

 

[Exterous]

Ultimately I really hope the culture in America changes so that it forces them to comply with realistic expectations. But as long as we still have people that are willing to work ridiculous hours and put up with shit it will continue.

Only thing that kept me going is (unlike other employers) I saw my raise at the end of the year and said... "Alright fuck it I can put up with it for 1 more year".

To be honest the quickest and easiest fix to this problem would be to get rid of salary pay - or at minimal - require overtime pay.

This is one of the reasons I'm still at my current employer. I could make more somewhere else but they actually back up the 'work/life' balance talk. And my managers have been very supportive of my time off requests. I'm taking 3.5 weeks off in June/early July and the response to my requests were "That sounds amazing - be sure to share the awesome pictures you'll be taking!"

Hope the job search goes well!

 

[brianmanahan]

And my managers have been very supportive of my time off requests. I'm taking 3.5 weeks off in June/early July and the response to my requests were "That sounds amazing - be sure to share the awesome pictures you'll be taking!"

oh man, that would be awesome. my company "allows" it and some people take vacations that long, like if they are from another country or just want to do a huge trip. but then the managers complain about people doing that. so i've never taken a vacation over 2 weeks long.

maybe when i get near retirement i won't care what they think of me and take some huge trip.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This is one of the reasons I'm still at my current employer. I could make more somewhere else but they actually back up the 'work/life' balance talk. And my managers have been very supportive of my time off requests. I'm taking 3.5 weeks off in June/early July and the response to my requests were "That sounds amazing - be sure to share the awesome pictures you'll be taking!"

Hope the job search goes well!

That was probably a mistake I made by leaving my last employer. They had generous vacation and allowed me multiple 2 week vacations. As a consultant, the money is much better but I doubt I'll have that flexibility. Why, ICF, why?!?!

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Today was the last day. Turned in my laptop + phone and strolled out... Quit during a good time, office was basically still empty from people taking off for the holidays. I avoided the awkwardness of a million people talking to me - but at the same time if the partners were around they would probably try to incentivized me to stay.

And I took some donuts on the way out

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Today was the last day. Turned in my laptop + phone and strolled out... Quit during a good time, office was basically still empty from people taking off for the holidays. I avoided the awkwardness of a million people talking to me - but at the same time if the partners were around they would probably try to incentivized me to stay.

And I took some donuts on the way out

So, when I resigned my last position, I gave 2 weeks. I liked my manager and coworkers; I just didn't like management above my manager and the corporate culture. ANYWAY, I had like 3 days left and the VP of the department caught me on my way to lunch. Keep in mind that this asshat slipped in a meeting and said he "wasn't outsourcing ICF's job - YET" and then caught himself. So the conversation went like this:

VP: "So, ICF, is there anything I can do to keep you from leaving?"
ICF: "No, I think this is the best decision for all of us."
VP: "Can I ask why you're leaving?"
ICF: "I need more challenges."

So, that was the end of the conversation. His outsourcing plan failed when he found out how expensive it would be to pay a full-time architect from our infrastructure partner. He eventually hired a lady I actually know a little - she had tried to contact me about the job, but I was on vacation in Germany in the first week of December and didn't see the message. She went ahead and accepted when I didn't get back with her and then, when I DID contact her, asked: "Did I just make a mistake?"

 

[kn51]

My previous employer granted me 5 weeks of vacation a year. I was lucky to take a whole week.

I always enjoyed the meeting where I was told "You make a lot of money"...you know as a veiled threat.

Cripes, I was stupid, should have jumped ship at the time. But hey, karma works out for certain folks. Still waiting on mine though.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Is $100/hr for consulting good $ ?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Is $100/hr for consulting good $ ?

Depends. Are YOU getting $100/hr or is the consulting firm that hired you getting $100/hr and then paying you with a salary (fixed amount/rate).

Yea I would say it's decent money if it's all going to you.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Bump.

First big interview next week - I've had plenty of interviews and passed them all for the most part - but this will be the first "final" interview. 20% bump in pay. Nice bonus. Overall looks like a win-win. Just have to hit the in-person interview out of the ball-park like I did with the last 4 phone interviews.

Rather sad how many damn interviews you have to go through these days.

I've been rather picky with interviews - both based on the position and the amount of travel.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Congrats on the interviews and the extended time off -

I spent 5yrs in Big-4. Without them I would not be in my position today but I also know I gave them 5yrs of my life before hopping to the next firm. Sacrifice I was happy to make and one most people only lasted 2-3yrs at.

I now hire them as my consultants and give them unreasonable deadlines