Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jun 2, 2013 0:10:41 GMT -5
I started a new job and after only three weeks I could tell it wasn't working for me. Luckily, another company made me a much better offer. I put in my two weeks notice on Thursday and officially accepted the new offer on Friday. I start in mid-June.
I'm excited about the new opportunity, but really bummed that the first job didn't work out. It seemed so perfect. Luckily, I'm not burning any bridges - my boss (who is terrific and a huge part of the reason I chose this job in the first place) was very gracious about my abrupt departure and complimented my professionalism. We did end up talking about my new offer and she said she knew full well they couldn't compete with it and I was making the right decision.
Truth be told though, if this offer hadn't come along I'd still be looking. It just wasn't working for me there - it's hard to describe but it wasn't a good culture fit and there were a lot of organizational issues that were really getting to me.
So - have you ever left a job after only a few weeks time because it wasn't working for you? Why? Did you have something else lined up or was it so bad that you didn't care what happened next?
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mamasita99
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Post by mamasita99 on Jun 2, 2013 5:33:32 GMT -5
Yes, though they were part time jobs that I picked up for extra cash and experience. Once I started working them, though, I realized I valued my time more than what the job would bring me. I did give my notice, though. It happens.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 7:13:01 GMT -5
I must confess after all these years...way back in the way back I accepted a job with a city government. It was so awful, so incredibly awful, that on the very first day I went to lunch and never went back. Looking back, I can't believe I did something so...so...whatever the word is! Lucky for me, I'd applied for a couple of other jobs at the same time and that afternoon, they both called and made offers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 7:45:43 GMT -5
I haven't done it but I've seen it happen. My feeling is that you can tell early on whether or not the job is what you expected, and sometimes it's smart to cut your losses.
The only time I saw this create really ill will was when a company hired a guy at VP level and immediately brought him into discussions on analyses of the results of some of the company's business, and the results were not good news. He panicked and talked his former employer into classifying the days at the new job as vacation, and taking him back. He wasn't exactly leaving a sinking ship- the company is still in existence- and he left a lot of bad feelings behind. He didn't last very long at the job he went back to, either.
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Jun 2, 2013 9:13:43 GMT -5
I am in your shoes FB, but YM jeers are that I am making a rash decision and need to give it more time.
The job I started about 6 weeks ago is not a fit for me and I am looking.
Congrats on the new job!
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adela76
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Post by adela76 on Jun 2, 2013 9:47:45 GMT -5
I started a job that I knew was a mistake on the first day. My first 2 weeks were training in another city from where I would be working, so I stuck it out because I thought it might by better at the office in my home city (it was worse). I stayed at that job a year, but if I'm ever in that situation again, I hope I have the strength to walk away.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 2, 2013 9:55:27 GMT -5
Only job I left after a few weeks was when I worked for a dining hall in college. I hated that job. I would stand there and someone would say "I want mashed potatoes" or "I want peas." Then I'd scoop it into a dish and hand it to them. A retarted monkey could do that job. When my shift was over, I'd have to go back into the kitchen and scrub the pans. The "chef" (at least he dressed like a chef) was a total dick and jumped down my throat every chance he got. On the weekends, I'd put on a coat and go into the refrigerator behind the drink refrigerator and place sodas as they got low.
Once I got sick and called in, and they told me in no uncertain terms that if I called in to cancel a shift one more time I was fired. I guess not spreading germs or having me drip snot into the food was not a high priority.
Anyway, I only worked there maybe 4 weeks or so. Fall break was coming up and I was going to visit my parents. As I pointed out, they were total dicks in taking time off so I just left for fall break and never came back. Didn't put in a notice or even tell anyone, just stopped showing up. That job didn't deserve such a professional courtesy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 10:01:03 GMT -5
Anyway, I only worked there maybe 4 weeks or so. Fall break was coming up and I was going to visit my parents. As I pointed out, they were total dicks in taking time off so I just left for fall break and never came back. Didn't put in a notice or even tell anyone, just stopped showing up. That job didn't deserve that professional courtesy. It always ticks me off when they're nasty about giving time off for illness in food-service jobs. Your story about not showing up reminds me of another quick departure: early in my career, another department hired a guy who, from his resume, had a long track record of short tenures. They hired him anyway, and relocated him from the Midwest to the E. coast, closer to where he'd grown up. A couple of months later he left a resignation letter on his desk, went out to lunch and never returned. His boss said, "well, I guess we were his ticket back to the East coast". Most well-managed companies now require you to sign something agreeing to pay back a portion of your relocation expenses if you leave after a short time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 10:44:57 GMT -5
One year there was a floater who came in to my classroom one period. She was a first year teacher, and floating into five different classrooms is difficult. She made it two days, and then she called for a substitute because she was "sick." She never came back. At first, the principal was going to ask her to come in and talk with him before making such a rash decision, but then he changed his mind. He was a good guy, though, and hated to see her throw her teaching career away after two days.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 11:10:36 GMT -5
Anyway, I only worked there maybe 4 weeks or so. Fall break was coming up and I was going to visit my parents. As I pointed out, they were total dicks in taking time off so I just left for fall break and never came back. Didn't put in a notice or even tell anyone, just stopped showing up. That job didn't deserve that professional courtesy. It always ticks me off when they're nasty about giving time off for illness in food-service jobs. Your story about not showing up reminds me of another quick departure: early in my career, another department hired a guy who, from his resume, had a long track record of short tenures. They hired him anyway, and relocated him from the Midwest to the E. coast, closer to where he'd grown up. A couple of months later he left a resignation letter on his desk, went out to lunch and never returned. His boss said, "well, I guess we were his ticket back to the East coast". Most well-managed companies now require you to sign something agreeing to pay back a portion of your relocation expenses if you leave after a short time. That is my company. Each time I relocated I signed a contract stating if I were to quit within 1 year I were to repay every single penny it costs them to relocate me. After 1 year you were in the clear... *** sent you a PM
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 11:16:32 GMT -5
I think it's better to leave quickly when a job isn't working out. People are pretty understanding if something isn't a good fit. There seems to be a sweet spot for it though - like you have to leave quickly or wait at least 6 months to a year before leaving. Good luck with your new job!
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jinksd1
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Post by jinksd1 on Jun 2, 2013 12:03:25 GMT -5
Many years ago while I was in college, I lasted three weeks at a hotel reception desk. Trained for one day with the owner's daughter, who was not that great a trainer, and it wasn't long enough to really learn the ins and outs of their computer system and company policies. After the first day, I was by myself entirely. The owner of the hotel would usually be on-site, but he would be in one of the rooms sleeping because he covered the overnight shift. I could call him if I had a question, but he wasn't very nice when I did, and I could barely understand what he said anyway because he didn't speak English very well. There were no manuals or "cheat sheets" available to help me figure anything out, so I had to call him all the time. I kept asking for more/better training and didn't get it, so I quit with no notice at the end of a shift.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Jun 2, 2013 12:58:31 GMT -5
I quit a CPA firm when I was a licensed CPA because the boss didn't give me what was promised. He said I would be third to answer phones but the receptionist was part time and I was second, my desk was in the front office, bookkeeper in private office. He owned the building and expected us to do typing and faxing for all one one man suites too. I am not a typist and the work wasn't professional level most of my day. My dad died and I took off 3 days, nobody at work even said sorry about your dad and I wasn't paid for the time off. Then after 3 months I asked for promised medical insurance and was told you find your own and they reimburse the lowest cost group plan. I was working part time for my old company at home and had a little side business writing formats for financial statements. So I was always in the old company talking to people and asked if they had any openings. I was told they might in 4 months but would hire from among the temps but had some temp openings.
I told my boss we need to talk, I explained I didn't think I was doing a good job for him and unless he felt I was I thought I should quit. He agreed so I became a temp at the old company but they didn't get any openings so I went to another software company. I don't remember if I gave notice but I think he didn't want notice, I wasn't the right fit for the job and never hit it off with the small staff.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Jun 2, 2013 13:56:56 GMT -5
Never quit a job after a few weeks, but I quit a Master's Degree program the second day of classes very recently. It wasn't the right program for me, and this really isn't the right time to start a Master's program until I get a few personal problems sorted out. But I had enrolled and been accepted six months ago. I figured I'll go anyway. The first day I came home knowing it wasn't the right thing for me. I went to bed to sleep it off, woke up the next morning still feeling the same way. So I went to the school and talked to the program director. She was very understanding and said she'll take care of dropping off my classes. Later in the afternoon she e-mailed me and said I was off the program and I didn't owe the school any money. I would have paid if I had to, but not having that burden was a huge relief. The next day I went back to work instead of classes, and since then my manager and coworkers act like I failed at something really important, and like I don't have a future because I couldn't do the Master's Degree program. All my coworkers are taking part-time classes. My manager even had a meeting with me explaining the dire consequences of not pursuing a postgraduate education. But I'm fine with my decision, I do not feel like a failure, and I don't care.
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Queen of Interesting Nuts
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"In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
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Post by Queen of Interesting Nuts on Jun 2, 2013 17:10:49 GMT -5
My DH did this last year. After about 9 months of them wanting him to join the company ( we don't do anything without a lot of thought) and "courting" him. They finally offered him a job and met his salary requirments. What you have to remember is that the 90 day probationary period is not only for the empoyer to decide to keep you but also for the employee to decide they want to stay.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 2, 2013 19:15:19 GMT -5
Never quit a job after a few weeks, but I quit a Master's Degree program the second day of classes very recently. It wasn't the right program for me, and this really isn't the right time to start a Master's program until I get a few personal problems sorted out. But I had enrolled and been accepted six months ago. I figured I'll go anyway. The first day I came home knowing it wasn't the right thing for me. I went to bed to sleep it off, woke up the next morning still feeling the same way. So I went to the school and talked to the program director. She was very understanding and said she'll take care of dropping off my classes. Later in the afternoon she e-mailed me and said I was off the program and I didn't owe the school any money. I would have paid if I had to, but not having that burden was a huge relief. The next day I went back to work instead of classes, and since then my manager and coworkers act like I failed at something really important, and like I don't have a future because I couldn't do the Master's Degree program. All my coworkers are taking part-time classes. My manager even had a meeting with me explaining the dire consequences of not pursuing a postgraduate education. But I'm fine with my decision, I do not feel like a failure, and I don't care. I remember a little of what you had described of that program. I remember thinking how I had never heard of such a fast paced program, and I wondered how it was even possible to complete while working a regular job on top of it.
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swasat
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Post by swasat on Jun 2, 2013 19:20:03 GMT -5
I did. About 5 years ago.
i joined this company and within the first week realized that the place is not for me. The pay was excellent but the company was extremely disorganized. Fortunately during my second week there I got an interview call from a job I had applied for a coup,e of months ago. Interviewed and got that job within a week. My third week there I put in my 1 week notice. The next week i joined m new company.
All in all I was at that place for about 3.5 weeks.
I have seen people leave within a few weeks of joining at other places I have worked. Its not uncommon.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jun 2, 2013 22:39:20 GMT -5
Glad I'm not the only one!
I just hope the next job goes better. The good part is the pay - it's even more than I was making in my previous job, and in the field I want.
Sometimes it doesn't take long to know something isn't right for you. I've never forgotten Paul's "fail fast" advice... one of the most worthwhile things I've ever heard him say...
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Jun 2, 2013 22:43:08 GMT -5
Firebird please excuse the highjack of your thread, but don't you know Shanendoah in RL? How is she doing? She hasn't posted in a while.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jun 2, 2013 22:47:15 GMT -5
As far as I know, shanendoah is doing fantastic! I won't say too much because it's not for me to share her life updates and I don't know how much she's written here, but I just spoke to her a few days ago and she sounded really good
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Jun 2, 2013 22:49:02 GMT -5
As far as I know, shanendoah is doing fantastic! I won't say too much because it's not for me to share her life updates and I don't know how much she's written here, but I just spoke to her a few days ago and she sounded really good I'm glad to hear that she is doing well. She got laid off and then kind of just disappeared off the boards. People were asking about here on the Anonymous thread.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Jun 3, 2013 11:38:58 GMT -5
I quit 2 jobs on the first day, though both when I was a bit younger.
#1, I was 17, got a job detailing cars and delivering them to a dealership. Cheap in terms of not putting gas in the cars. First car I took I told them I didn't think I had enough gas to make it, they said I'd be fine. Made it a mile and ran out. Walked back. Got a ride, some gas, took the car and brought another back. WOrking next to a guy who was chewing tobacco, just spit it on the concrete floor, 3 times hit me in the leg with it. Asked him to be more careful each time. The 3rd time I hocked a big snot loogie and spit it right in his face. They didn't seem to appreciate that.
#2, I was 24, gotta job as a financial advisor. Took the tests on my own, passed. First day they lost some guy's money and were freaking out, came in and gave me a list of all the things they do that I shouldn't tell anyone that we do along with a list of what I was to say if anyone asked about those things. Attempted to change my hours and pay during training. Took me to a convention in town to drum up business, apparently forgot I was there, left without me, then told me I shouldn't have let everyone leave without finding a ride. There was another guy with me the entire time, another new guy, I felt really bad because he clearly hated it as well but had a wife and kids to support. I just went back to my other job the next day. Bright side: In order to keep my non-compete clause in effect, and partially I'm sure because they were disappointed in their office, the home office cut me my check for a month's pay and gave me the bonus I earned by taking the tests on my own. Also offered me a job at another location, but it was several hours away and I didn't want to move. So I made like $10K for one day's work.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 3, 2013 12:20:05 GMT -5
Once I got sick and called in, and they told me in no uncertain terms that if I called in to cancel a shift one more time I was fired. I guess not spreading germs or having me drip snot into the food was not a high priority. I remember my BIL going to work his fast food job while he had the stomach flu. He said it was terrible, and he went into the bathroom and threw up 3 times during his shift and then went back to serving food. When I ate fast food (and low-end restaurants) a lot, I could count on getting a stomach flu at least once per year. Now that I don't eat that stuff anymore, I've gotten sick once in 10 years. Coincidence? I think not!
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jun 4, 2013 23:46:46 GMT -5
No sick leave at restaurants has never made any sense to me. Why would you want sick people serving food?!
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jun 5, 2013 9:28:53 GMT -5
Like some others, I left a job after a few weeks when I was in college. I worked the front desk at a spa making appointments, etc. The manager was a total bitch. The 2nd week I was there the esthetician was extremely sick. It was a Sat and she was booked solid. She showed up and did her first 2 appointments because she was afraid no one would reach them in time to cancel but she asked me to call everyone else and reschedule. I was in the middle of making my first call when the manager asked me what I was doing. I told her such and such is extremely sick and needs to reschedule the rest of her appointments. She told me to stop what I was doing and to not call anyone else. She told this lady that if she didn't stay and complete the rest of her appointments that she would be fired (I actually think I may have told this story on one thread already). At any rate, I am sure that people really want a sick person doing their facial . The next week we got almost a foot of snow (I was living on the east coast during this time) and I couldn't even get my car out of the parking lot in my apartment. I assumed we would close since pretty much every other business shut down for the day AND who the hell is going to get out in a foot of snow to go to a massage or facial appt. Anyway, I called her and told her I couldn't get out of my parking lot and she told me that I needed to sit and think about how important this job is to me and figure out a way to get there if I wanted to keep the job. I told her I didn't need to think about it and she could mail me my check. I made $5.50 hr and had another day within 2 days. She was a crazy ass lady...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 9:48:23 GMT -5
In a previous job, I co-ordinated hiring for my department. I screened resumes, did phone interviews and set up interview schedules for people who came in. When we all got together to discuss a candidate after the interview, one of my more perceptive colleagues would ask a really good question when we were on the fence about someone: "If it doesn't work out, will he/she quit?" His point was that we could afford to take a chance on someone who was likely to leave peacefully if it turned out to be a bad fit, but not if we felt that they'd hang on till they got fired. We had a few short-termers and occasionally joked about them afterwards, but other than the guy I mentioned before who was at a relatively high level and was in on some frank discussions of company financials, there weren't really any hard feelings.
So, sometimes being a short-termer is a good thing if the company realizes that it wasn't going to work out and it ended peacefully.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Jun 5, 2013 9:56:37 GMT -5
Well, one time I got fired after being there for 3 weeks - does that count?
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 5, 2013 12:55:21 GMT -5
I'm about to quit a job I haven't started yet.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jun 5, 2013 18:36:24 GMT -5
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 7, 2013 22:54:57 GMT -5
I started job hunting, and twice now I've accepted an offer verbally, and then called back to say I got a better offer. (Different jobs). I felt bad about both, but neither would have worked out since I would always wonder what if. I'm actually staying with my current company but moving into sales. I'm super excited, and just a touch nervous. I never could have gotten this gig if I hadn't put in my notice though due to office politics.
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