More job stress: jump ship or stick it out? Would leaving look bad?

Okay, here comes another employment-related thread from yours truly.

I'm supposed to graduate with my bachelor's degree next spring. I am currently working full-time as a technician for a provider of commercial mailing equipment while I complete my studies (also full-time). I've been with this company for a little over a year now, and I'm not sure how much more I can take.

I started as an intern, part-time, and took the full-time position when it was offered because the second shift hours were compatible with my school schedule and the pay was pretty damn good. However, the company hasn't given raises since 2008 and our job responsibilities have increased exponentially in the past few months thanks to some scuffles with the unionized operators who run our equipment. One of the big perks of the job used to be that I could work on homework during downtime; now, thanks to our increased responsibilities, that's looking a lot more difficult. Morale here is super low, and virtually everyone on staff is looking for new work.

My goal is to move to the Pacific Northwest after graduation; my current employer does have a job site out in Portland I could transfer to if I manage to stick it out, and the pay makes it easy to save. But, the company isn't doing too well. Everyone is still a little worried about layoffs, though it's looking more likely that our responsibilities will just continue to grow without any sort of pay raise. Our regional account manager gave me a big pep talk about the potential I have with the company, how crucial I am and how well everything is doing...but he couldn't make eye contact with me for the duration of our talk.

The stress is really getting to me. The last year of working and going to school full time has basically killed my social life and made me a miserable wreck of a human being. I don't have the time to participate in any school clubs or extracurriculars that might help because of my insane work schedule, and my job has zero relevance whatsoever to my studies.

I would really like to find some kind of paid internship in my field (advertising/public relations) but I've had no luck so far. I'm also not in a position to take an unpaid slot, as I have to pay rent somehow...I have a good chunk in the bank from selling the E46 but not enough to live without working for 9 months.

It's a really tough call to make. I think the writing is definitely on the wall for our company, probably not for another 10 years, but it's coming. I don't mind the money (about $17.50/hr with benefits) but I'm really unhappy here and it's irrelevant to what I want to do. I have a friend who works for Apple corporate who could set me up with a part time gig as a "Specialist" at the Apple store for $12/hr or so. This would probably look better on my resume (it's at least tangentially related to my studies) and would also afford me the ability to pile on some extracurriculars before I graduate. I could also transfer my position to another city relatively easy with Apple if need be, and it isn't terribly difficult to work up to a "Genius" position which basically matches the pay I'm getting right now. I'm a longtime Mac user and know/enjoy the products so I don't think selling them would be too hard either.

The one thing I worry about is how this whole exchange might look on my resume. Taking a big pay cut because I'm unhappy/quitting a "real job" for corporate retail work may set off some red flags. I feel like it might give future managers the impression that I'm not willing to "stick it out" or that I'm overly fickle or something. On the flip side I feel like some people might respect that I've figured out I'm unhappy and am making changes accordingly. There's also the old "the evil you know" adage. My current job sucks, but I know the politics, I know my responsibilities in and out, and I could probably stay here indefinitely if I wanted to...but I don't.

Dear lord, GRM, what's a poor college student like me supposed to do!?

SlickDizzy wrote: The one thing I worry about is how this whole exchange might look on my resume. Taking a big pay cut because I'm unhappy/quitting a "real job" for corporate retail work may set off some red flags. I feel like it might give future managers the impression that I'm not willing to "stick it out" or that I'm overly fickle or something. On the flip side I feel like some people might respect that I've figured out I'm unhappy and am making changes accordingly. There's also the old "the evil you know" adage. My current job sucks, but I know the politics, I know my responsibilities in and out, and I could probably stay here indefinitely if I wanted to...but I don't.

I wouldn't worry about that. Very easy to explain away: I couldn't handle two full time jobs, and my education was my first priority.

What mtn said. When you're in school, it is easy to explain why you voluntarily left a job.

Another person agreeing with mtn

You are unhappy. The Apple gig sounds like a step in the right direction on many fronts.

Bumboclot wrote:

you win...

Agreed on the "how it looks on a resume". You don't expect a new college grad to have a a multi-year employment history, anything more than a couple of 3-month summer jobs is a plus.

Normally I'd say not to quit until you've found a new job, but it sounds like you've already found the new one. Don't burn any bridges though -- give appropriate notice, offer to help bring other employees up to speed on the stuff that only you know, etc.

Another note for the how it looks on a resume. You specifically mention how will it look that you took a pay cut, and we discussed this over on FB when you posted your resume. Stop posting your salary/hourly wage on your resume.

No need for an employer to know you took a pay cut and no need for them to know what you were paid in previous positions at all. There's an old saying about salary negotiations, "the first one to talk money looses" By posting numbers on your resume you become the first one.

There is something to be said for a fun and satisfying job with plenty of time for extra curricular activities and time with family and friends. But I think if you polled most people around here you'd find that hitting that sweet spot is rare. There is always a compromise between the efforts you make for your employer and the efforts you make for yourself. It's called work/life balance and if you ever work for a company that actually cares about it (RARE) do whatever you can to hang on to that job.

In your position I'd say if the current job is going to end up effecting your studies then make the move. But if you can make it work try to hang in there, you never know, the other site out in the northwest may have a whole different vibe and end up being the best thing ever. Even if it's not related to your current field you never know where it will lead. I started my career installing seats in aircraft, I ended up working in vehicle fleet management, training management and eventually IT management, all in the same company.

You're too young to have this problem.

I agree with a couple things already posted. I'd explain the change by making it about time for studies, period. No one will question that. And I never put salary info on my resume. Job applications may ask for that to be filled out, and there you may need to tell the truth, but again you can explain that away as a work/study thing. I think you can spin it to wanting to be focused as being a positive.

One thing I don't do is change jobs for the sake of changing jobs. I do always try to go to something better. This does not always mean an increase in pay! I worked at my last sucky job for two years while I searched for a position that better suited my work ethics. My previous employer paid very well, but did the thing where they kept on piling on more and more duties while hiring fewer and less competent people. Couple that with a quiet war on older employees (we were too expensive) and it wasn't a pleasant place to be. I didn't care how much they paid, I wanted out. But patience (and several wasted interviews) eventually paid off. A $10k pay cut, but I now have a job that I enjoy, don't have the urge to kick the dog and punch the wife when I come home, and can finally forsee staying at a place long enough to reach retirement.

Life is a one shot deal. I refuse to go through it being miserable at the place where I spend most of my waking hours. As long as the quality of life is not measured by your income, you can find a good balance, but it takes time.

JThw8 wrote: No need for an employer to know you took a pay cut and no need for them to know what you were paid in previous positions at all. There's an old saying about salary negotiations, "the first one to talk money looses" By posting numbers on your resume you become the first one.

Tangent time! How do you negotiate salary?

Hey buddy, welcome to hell! Best of luck getting out.

Another +1 for what mtn said. I don't think it will cause any trouble for your future job prospects. I'm not sure of the cause and effect here, but successful people are usually the first to jump ship at any sign of trouble. Not long after I started the job I'm at now, as soon as there was solid news of budget cuts, three highly educated hotshot managers bailed out like pilots from a fighter jet that just had its ass end blown off. It's been downhill ever since and the only people still working here are independently wealthy folks looking for some side money and screwed Gen. Y'ers such as myself.

Oh and +1 for not telling new employers any of your past salaries, ever. If they really push you and you don't want to tell them to berkeley off, lie about it with an impressive number.

Forget what you are trying to do with your resume. The idea of each job being an incremental step up to the next job is the biggest noose people saddle themselves with. Remove any salary history. List your positions, and what SKILLS you took away from each. Why did you work there? What did you learn? What people, management, computer or leadership skills did you acquire? Even a job far removed from your major could give insight into industrial manufacturing, labor relations, union issues, marketing, product promotion, new product development, etc. etc. etc.

Then forget about looking for a job that pays X per hour. That's McDonalds. You are looking for a career. When I hire a new employee, I have a range in mind. Ideally, I want to get someone who can do the job at the bottom of the range, but I am willing to pay more if the person is worth it. What they made at their last job is irrelevant to me if they can do this job well. Experience in the job helps, but so does a broad base of skills and experience that can be applied to the job. Even for an entry level position, I have some wiggle room. I just don't want to do it again in 2 months, so I am looking at skills, desire, personal situation (are you a flight risk?) and potential for growth.

Your goal is to convince employers that you can do their job better than anyone else, AND will grow as an employee and be a good fit to their corporate culture. Ask them what the position pays, and look a little disappointed in whatever they say. But negotiate a starting salary AND a jump after 6 months or a year once you have proven that you can do the work.

What you got paid before is not important, what you want to get paid now and if you are worth it is all that matters. And a guy that works full time and goes to school full time and graduates and knows computers and cars and is social-media savvy is a catch in my book!

When I was in college, I went through a lot of jobs on anywhere between 3 month and 1 year stints. They were in varying industries, but all somewhat tied back to what I was studying. When I went to look for full time work after I finished school, I just explained it as "I was acquiring experience in different areas of the industry". I made it a plus, and it made me look more well rounded to potential employers.

I think everyone has it covered.

I can't believe anyone would openly post salary info. For me that's known by me, my wife, my boss, the HR and payroll departments. No one else except when applying for a mortgage.

I'd say the Apple gig will be a definite improvement over the current situation and is easily portable to a new state anywhere.

Just be professional when handing in your notice, give reasons based around the opportunities of your new position rather than what's wrong with the existing one, and don't be tempted by 'we'll give you an $x pay raise' You've said here many times how unhappy you are and you've already pointed out a) The possibility of a pay raise at Apple for a Genius position and b) the more relevant work.

Good luck and be happy.

The Apple job seems like a step up. I made the mistake of letting my grades suffer while working more hours. It was a job I loved but I left school and then the job went away. I ended up doing ok but not everyone can be a bus driver. Enjoy the last year of school, you've got the rest of your life to take soul crushing jobs to pay the bills.

Move to FL and take the GRM job! Marketing related!

Look out for yourself first. Who gives a rats ass how it looks. If you are miserable, your job performance will suffer and it could put you on the chopping block. If the current jobs hours don't work with school, then there is your out.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: I can't believe anyone would openly post salary info. For me that's known by me, my wife, my boss, the HR and payroll departments. No one else except when applying for a mortgage.

You forgot the IRS. :)

In reply to codrus:

Or if you're a government employee, anyone curious enough to look it up.

I was lucky and learned right away that having more money for less happiness doesn't mean E36 M3. Sure, you can buy more things/impress more people, but it doesn't really matter. Enjoy life, period. My advice is to do what you think would be best for you, not what the rest of us think is best for you.

petegossett wrote: In reply to codrus: Or if you're a government employee, anyone curious enough to look it up.

codrus wrote: You forgot the IRS. :)

Geez, OK, the IRS, probably my bank manager if he/she/it wanted to add up what I deposited and make a guess to deductions. I'm sure skynet, sorry google has a fair idea, I'm pretty sure I told my mom once too and if your suspicious you could claim that dude who supposedly created E36 M3 would know if he/she/it could be bothered

Point is, it's not info to spread around for many reasons.

Thanks for the advice, guys, I think my decision has been made.

There is one thing that has not been covered- timing.

Do NOT give notice before you have an offer from the new position. Those friends and promises are completely empty until they make you an offer.

It is ALWAYS easier to find a job when you have one.