So, that happened.

[A_B]

I resigned from my job on Saturday. I posted a cryptic-ish message in another thread about a meeting I was having with a boss that afternoon. I say "a" boss because I still had never been assigned an official manager. Which meant for the 2nd year in a row NO ONE told me about bonuses or communicated anything about pay raises. If we get raises without a position change this is the time, and I hadn't had one in three years so I was hoping for a little something.

Alas. So when I asked for some clarity about what I was going to be doing they were unable to give it. I don't particularly blame the individual I was speaking to; it's likely they hadn't thought this far ahead and couldn't commit. So I told them I'd think about it, went home and talked with the lady. Saturday morning, got up, emptied my office and sent my resignation e-mail. Just not a fit for me anymore.

Honestly, guys, it was very difficult for me because I've ben there 28+ years. But my pay just hasn't kept up with similar jobs, and my effective raise over the past 15 years is about 11%. Since 2017 it's just over 3% effectively, which as you can imagine is really a pay cut due to inflation and normal cost of living things. The insurance was great, but my kids are 25 and 21 and have their own policies. A lot of the people there are fantastic and I will miss them, some not so much, but the culture has just eroded over the years.

What wasn't great was the mental and physical toll the job was taking on me. And then it started to creep in to my wife dreading me going into work because she knew it would be a slog for me. I've had a lot of good days there mind you, but in the past two years those have been fewer and further between. Once she said it was bothering her FOR me then I knew I had to make a change. I held on because I was the breadwinner but the time had come. I'm telling you guys, if your model of spousal unit is anything as good as mine, we are living the high life. She's an angel and has all the strength I don't have in certain areas. I couldn't love a person more.

And now I begin looking for a job in earnest for the first time since 1996. Took the leap, gotta stick the landing.

[rass]

Good luck man. It definitely sounds like a healthy, if not easy, choice.


We'll grieve the loss of another stock Swamp joke on some other day.

[govmentchedda]

Good luck, bud. Sounds like the right move, but change sure can be scary (at least it is for me).

[mister d]

Congrats(?) ... one of my favorite people at my company just did the same "I don't have anything lined up but I'm just out" thing. I envy you all.

[L-Jam3]

I'm proud of you. It takes a lot to say "fuck this" instead of sticking out something that only saps you. No one ever says on their final bed "I wish I worked more".

[Steve of phpBB]

Brave move, AB. I’m impressed.

I may be on the way out of my 26-year gig. Seeing you take that step gives me hope I can do it if necessary.

[A_B]

Congrats(?) ... one of my favorite people at my company just did the same "I don't have anything lined up but I'm just out" thing. I envy you all.

So you're hiring?!?!?!

[Giff]

Good luck, AB. I can't imagine how tough a decision that was. I do agree, your wife is awesome and having someone like that having your back is magical.

[mister d]

Congrats(?) ... one of my favorite people at my company just did the same "I don't have anything lined up but I'm just out" thing. I envy you all.

So you're hiring?!?!?!

Director of Coal.

[The Sybian]

Good luck, AB. Crazy, it sounds like they were taking you for granted. I'm hoping to have a similar situation resolved tomorrow. I started my job in May. A week before I started, my manager called me and told me she gave her two-weeks notice. She had some meeting set up for my first week, but never spoke to me or gave me any onboarding. People had a ton of working waiting for me, as my predecessor left 4 months prior to me starting. They had me reporting to another woman (her and my hiring manager were joint acting-Chief HR Officer) while they were in the process of hiring an CHRO. I had one "welcome to the team" call with her, then she went on a 2-week vacation and when she came back was kind of ghosting me. In an offhand remark from someone else who reported to her, I learned she was leaving the company. Then I officially reported to our Chief Legal Officer. Had one call to meet her, and while she was great, I wasn't going to bother her with my day-to-day. About 3 months in, we hired our CHRO. Had a Zoom call 1 on 1 to meet him before he started, but he specified "no work talk, this is to get to know each other as people." Six months later, we've communicated on issues, but never had a 1 on 1 to discuss my role, expectations, or anything. I still have no concept of what my role really is, but people come to me constantly for advice and approval on ER decisions, so I feel like I'm contributing and doing a good job. And I work constantly with the VP of Legal who handles employment law matters.

Anyways, the CHRO sent me an email about 6 weeks ago apologizing for neglecting me and asking if I wanted to schedule a call. I said yes, but he was on a 2 week tour of our Asia offices, and couldn't make it work. Then his assistant sent an invite for tomorrow (sent it like 5 weeks ago). Curious to see how this goes...

[sancarlos]

Good luck, AB! I admire your bravery and truly hope you’ll stick the landing!

[A_B]

Good luck, AB! I admire your bravery and truly hope you’ll stick the landing!

Always trust your cape, right?

[tennbengal]

Good luck AB -and, fwiw, I think you 100% made the right decision.

[The Sybian]

Good luck, AB! I admire your bravery and truly hope you’ll stick the landing!

Always trust your cape, right?

What kind of work are you looking for? I’ve found LinkedIn is by far the best resource to find jobs and network.

[DaveInSeattle]

Good on ya, AB. Good luck with getting the next gig...

[Shirley]

Wow, that's very impressive, AB! You did exactly what nearly every says is the right thing to do but very few have to courage to do. I've been trying to convince my wife to quit her draining job for many years now, but she just can't take the leap. Good on you.

[GoodKarma]

Good for you AB...definitely the right thing to do.

[HaulCitgo]

So what u gonna do. Not next but now. Kinda huge life opportunity. Hopefully its short so do something meaningful soon. That box is out there

[A_B]

Yeah I’m not ruling anything out at this point. Kinda seeing what looks interesting and going from there. Today was mostly getting profiles set up on websites.

[Giff]

Just curious if you have heard from them today since the e-mail was sent on a weekend.

[A_B]

Just curious if you have heard from them today since the e-mail was sent on a weekend.

Just a “sorry to hear that I wish you well” from the guy I talked with on Friday. Not saying I needed or deserved more than that mind you. It was a good time to move on.

[The Sybian]

Just curious if you have heard from them today since the e-mail was sent on a weekend.

Just a “sorry to hear that I wish you well” from the guy I talked with on Friday. Not saying I needed or deserved more than that mind you. It was a good time to move on.

After 28 years? Fuck them.

[bfj]

Congrats to you AB. Good luck. Your wife sounds like a good one!

[Rush2112]

Congrats AB! I feel so much better then the cesspool at CU. I am so much happier now and have a shorter commute!

Hope you find your bliss my friend.

[P.D.X.]

Only downside is once you find your new thing you'll wish you had jumped years ago.

[A_B]

Working at one place for so long makes me qualified for a whole lot of jobs, but not the ideal candidate for any because my institutional knowledge was such a big part of how I worked. So it's a big fishing event, gonna drop a whole bunch of lines and see if I get nibbles. Looking at my current types of jobs as well as jobs in other industries that my skills might have enough overlap to be able to get up to speed on the less qualified aspects quickly.

I've literally never done this. I got that last job by calling them two weeks before the semester needed to see if they had hired anyone for an intern position which they interviewed for earlier in the semester. They had not I went in, did a 30 minute interview and left with a job. I don't think this is gonna be that easy.

[Nonlinear FC]

I'd like to move on from here, but I'm 2.5 years from getting an actual pension so... Staying put until then.

Leaving without having something else is not something I could do. Too much anxiety. I've flipped jobs many times, but have only had to feel that type of pressure one time in my career.

[The Sybian]

I'd like to move on from here, but I'm 2.5 years from getting an actual pension so... Staying put until then.

Leaving without having something else is not something I could do. Too much anxiety. I've flipped jobs many times, but have only had to feel that type of pressure one time in my career.

I agree, I wish I told AB about quiet quitting... collect a paycheck while you are job searching. My last job search, I submitted resumes to about 130 jobs and interviewed at 12 different places. It's a grind.

[sancarlos]

AB, if I can suggest anything, it would be to lean on your contacts. You probably are already doing so, but be aggressive. I’m sure you know a ton of people in your area, and in your field. Reach out to them every one of them. See if they can give you any help, have any ideas, or contacts you can leverage.

[garyclark]

Good luck, brother!

That takes guts.

But my motto in life is: Do good. Be happy. And you clearly were pretty far from happy.

[A_B]

AB, if I can suggest anything, it would be to lean on your contacts. You probably are already doing so, but be aggressive. I’m sure you know a ton of people in your area, and in your field. Reach out to them every one of them. See if they can give you any help, have any ideas, or contacts you can leverage.

Yes I've contacted the ones who knew me best that I thought would be able to offer the most insight. But my industry is insular, so everyone knows everyone. I'm looking at different roles, and just submitted my first application, to UK, which is the largest employer in the state and so I figure has openings regularly. So I wanted to get in on that asap. My references are all people I've asked and who said they'd be thrilled to help. I still haven't had anyone say I've made a bad decisions. A few questions, but all seem genuinely interested in helping me find my next opportunity. Thanks for the response, it is definitely important to use what you got!

[A_B]

AB, if I can suggest anything, it would be to lean on your contacts. You probably are already doing so, but be aggressive. I’m sure you know a ton of people in your area, and in your field. Reach out to them every one of them. See if they can give you any help, have any ideas, or contacts you can leverage.

Look at SCK! I got a notification from LinkendIN that literally my oldest friend started a new job. It was at a place I had saved for application, and come to find out he knows the hiring manager really well. So I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. Had a couple of other applications declined, but those were kind of long shots anyway.

I apparently have to do some sort of an Excel test before I meet with the HR and CFO. I've never done that, so I don't know what to expect. Also, it's my first job interview in a long long long time. Might be nothing, but just wanted to note sancarlos is the wisest among us.

[Giff]

Good luck, man!

[sancarlos]

Good luck, AB!

[govmentchedda]

Good luck, bud!

[rass]

Good luck man!

[mister d]

Good luck AB!

[Nonlinear FC]

Buenos Suerte, Amigo.

[mister d]

You broke the pattern!!!

[Nonlinear FC]

Gulf of Mexico!