Choices, Careers and Hope

Chances are at some point in your life you will be working in a position that pays less than you want/deserve, that may not be on the up and up, that may be full of practices that clash with your ethics and that may not be financially solvent. It doesn't matter how or why you got there though. You can find a way out.

The first step is to not quit without having another job. For some reason employers will view you as a less desireable candidate if you are not working. What I suggest doing is starting a countdown. Each day you work is one day closer to your last day there. Keep this in mind and you can make it till you find a new job.

Next, update your resume and contact your references to let them know they will be getting calls about you.

Now you need to start the job hunt. Be realistic. Finding a good position takes a lot longer than finding any position. Take into consideration that job hunting is almost a full-time job in itself. Anything you can do to save time will be a benefit. Own a fax machine? Have a resume ready to fax at all times. If you do cover letters (you guys know I personally hate them and think they are a waste but play nice with the HR departments), have some typed up and saved on your computer, ready to print at a moment's notice.

Eventually you are going to be called for interviews so start saving up comp time, sick days, vacation days and personal days. You are going to need them.

Once you are offered a position you need to give notice. Be gracious in your notice but be prepared for snarky comments about it. For some reason employers in less than desireable businesses have an attitude of "you owe us no matter how wrong we've done you" and "you've blown everything out of proportion." So quitting is a major insult to these people. If you are able to give full notice (two weeks) just be prepared to gather your things as soon as the notice is turned in.

If you work in a "Right to Work" state then you are not required to give notice and the employer cannot give a bad reference if you quit with no notice. The law wasn't written for this purpose. It was written for the employer's benefit but the wording states that ANYONE can terminate at anytime without notice--that includes you.

If conditions are so bad you can't take going in any longer then take a look at some lower paying jobs as a TEMPORARY solution...fast food, retail, etc.

The most important thing is to not lose hope. Your job search may seem hopeless at times, especially if it drags on for months. Your situation is only temporary. You will find another job.