Great post, it's fabulous that you're taking a risk and I'm sure it will pay off. When I left my first job out of college, I found a job in two weeks (that I loved!), so it's definitely doable :) Good luck!

You should be applauded for insisting that you only do work that you love.

But, you need to be more realistic about the fact that all of the interesting work is being hoarded by senior folks who are trying to justify their existence and inflated salaries. It’s just the reality that we are living in. Very little business is being done right now. Economies are about people meeting, making decisions, and entering into agreements. With everyone hoarding cash, this just isn’t happening.

So, in short: I think that your dismay may be slightly misplaced. You need to recognize that the issue of hating the work that is being meted out to you is much more a function of macro factors than you realize. And that’s not going to change no matter where you go (assuming you work at for-profit businesses).

I honestly can't comprehend all the applauding your choice to "follow your heart"...and deserve happiness... is receiving. Those things are all fine and dandy...but how many people did you decide to talk to that have been laid off, taken jobs with lower income, etc. before making your leap of faith? How many of those folks (of which you are joining ranks) share your same light-hearted glass-half-full optimism?

Trust me- I'm an optimistic person, I'm a go-getter...and I've also been working for 1/2 of what I used to make for the past 6 months while searching for ANY other job... Not a job in my field. Not a job that pays well. Not even a job with great benefits. We're talking a pays-at-least-some-of-my-bills kind of job.

I deserve happiness like the rest of them...but do I "DESERVE" a job that is fullfilling, makes me happy, pays well, etc. Not really- the whole "I deserve" quality of many of us Gen Y's is going to be the downfall of our group. It's like a disease.

I had the same sunny outlook you did... 6 months ago when I first got laid off from a job I didn't really enjoy all that much anyways.

You think working at a job you don't enjoy is bad- try the stress of possibly moving back in with your parents, having to take whatever offer you get, and still not being able to make your bills. It's a VERY EXTREMELY REAL possibility. I had $20,000 saved up for a rainy day- trust me...that goes away too.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade- but trying to let you know...even a job you hate- could honestly be a blessing... Please look at EVERYTHING before you make that move. You can just as easily energize your hopes of another job- looking outside of work hours and networking until you land it...and then put in your two weeks.

I've got to say, I had to stop when you wrote about the passing up drugs in college. That is the best time to do drugs! Personally, I have a hard time understanding and relating to people who won't take that leap into the loss of control for a few hours and who never had the burning curiousity to experiment.

I had 2 good friends in high school. One of them and I did our basic drug use, had fun, and now we both have corporate jobs (I like mine, he thinks his is okay) and families. We kind of stopped our drug use over the last few years. Our 3rd friend waited until his late 20's to do drugs. He has an afro, beard, and just got engaged to someone 10 years younger than him. He has a respectable job as a teacher so this is not a story about his lack of drug use in college led him into oblivion. It's just that when there is a good time to experiment, you should really experiment. Leaving your job now when you're early in your career sounds like a good time to experiment. However, as other posters noted, it's not the best time.

I just think that you should not pass up times to experiment with the ski hill, drugs, a new flavor of ice cream, or whatever when you can. Otherwise, you may wind up experimenting a little later than you should have.

2 cents poorer,
Deadhedge

Don't listen to the naysayers (most of those commenters up there). Their own fear is being projected on to you.

Trust what you did and let it be your catalyst for greatness.

People who never take risks and who are too fearful of what hasn't happened yet will always try to persuade you into stability. But, you make your own rules and I think that if you believe in what you did, then you did the right thing for you.

@Elisa: I’m so happy you left after that. There’s only so much you can take and a condescending boss is something that no one should put up with- eventually you start to believe what they say to you and it carries to other areas of your life.

@Rebecca: thanks for the hope! 2 weeks would should be nice but I’m prepared for longer.

@Amir: I too think that there is sort of a “honey-moon” period at work where everything seems wonderful but then reality sets in. I don’t think we can expect to be happy every single day, but if it goes that long with us not being happy at work, we should reevaluate what made us choose our profession in the first place and if that passion is still there. With your situation, I’m glad you are taking it slow for your family, and I hope you get a better position soon!

@Erin and @Victoria: I don’t think it’s fair to say that because others are getting laid off at their jobs that I have to stay unhappy at mine. I had to weigh my options, and the stress and anxiety at my job is nothing compared to the months of job searches I’ve had in the past. I very much agree with you to have a plan- it’s hard to apply for jobs working from 9-7:30, but it is good to have at least some interviews lined up, money saved or a backup place to move if you need to. Everyone’s situation is different and you have to do what is right for you.

Just as a side comment to all of this. I do agree with all of these comments in some way. I was laid off in March of 2006. It took me until August of 2008 to find a permanent higher level job here in NE Ohio. Then I resigned...for the same reasons you mention or maybe even worse.

I was there 5 days and I new my leaving was imminent. I resigned 8 weeks later, and during those 7 weeks, I devised a plan. In that case, I was prepared. I went into a job that was horrific and knew right away that something was amiss.

My thoughts were: that I'd rather be living on my nest egg and deplete that before I put up with this demeaning, nasty environment and that is exactly what I did and I have no regrets. Kuddos to those who are brave enough to do what the heart says, just be a little proactive in your planning before you give way to the heart...it's just sensible. I think our motivation and thoughts ,knowing we have a master plan and will make an eventual jump ship, helps! :) It's worth it 100%!~

Dead Hedge, you said:

"I've got to say, I had to stop when you wrote about the passing up drugs in college. That is the best time to do drugs! Personally, I have a hard time understanding and relating to people who won't take that leap into the loss of control for a few hours and who never had the burning curiousity to experiment."

All I've got to say on this is: Len Bias had such a stellar career with the Celtics. Looks like he's a lock for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Bias

"However, as I stated, I don't relate to people who never had the urge to experiment."

With drugs, or at all?

I see both sides of this. At times, it definitely is worth it to quit. If you feel your mental health is suffering as a result, it can benefit you to get out of the situation immediately. It wouldn't be me, I am more like Erin I think in that I would not risk the relative unhappiness at a job to the unhappiness of financial stress and joblessness. I'm not 100% pleased at my career path at the moment, but if I take a leap it will be a very well planned leap. Being out of work tends to make you less desirable to future employers and can make it even harder to get hired than if you already have a job. I don't know why that is, it just is.

I also have to agree with comments about how our generation's entitlement issues are really what's holding us back. Sometimes I think "I'm better than this, why don't I have X, X, and X like I want at my job now". But you know? Life isn't fair. Some people can work a year and get promoted immediately, others have to chug away for years of hard work. Getting bitter though and not working hard will certainly ruin any chance of success. I am also reminded of how lucky I am every time I hear of a family member who has been laid off, sometimes a paycheck and a mediocre job is better than nothing.

However, now that you've apparently already made the decision consider this a new chapter in your life and don't be afraid to try new things. I'd say volunteer with something you really love because it will be experience, keep you busy, and might lead to a career you really like down the line.

And what is it that led you to not like your job now? Is it what you do, or who you work with? Sometimes it can be your boss, or sometimes having to work with certain coworkers. Oftentimes even dull, unchallenging work can seem ok if you get along with everyone. And sometimes it is our own responsibility to make the best of our work assignments, we as millenials are still young and need to prove ourselves. There is no fast track, that can mean years of proving you can hit deadlines and get projects done. Is it tedious? Sure. But it's often the only way an employer really knows they can trust you with higher level work.

Ashley, I admire your courage for making the move, like you said, you have to do what is right for you. I think part of the argument here is that even though you are happier, it might be irresponsible if you end up not be able to pay bills and have to rely on family/friends for financial support, but each person’s balance between self happiness and responsibility is different (ex. Amir’s situation) so no one cay say “hey you are not supposed to be happy because you are irresponsible”, as long is you are not hurting others or breaking laws. And you can only plan so far, there is point when you just have to take actions and that’s what you did. If everything is depended on the plan then when things don’t work out exactly the way you planned, the sock might be great and causes you to loose some of the ability to adapt. I learned that the hard way, probably because I’m bad at planning.

Erin didn’t plan to take the leap but she was forced to jump anyways, she had to completely change all of her plans.

@Jrandom In my post, I said "basic" drug use to signify pot, shrooms and the like. I could have been more explicit. As far as your post, you tried pot, you experimented, and given your body's reaction, it's obvious why didn't try it again. If you care about my opinion, I would say that I relate to you because you tried it. I relate to anyone who tried it once as the choice to continue is generally based on personal preference and the reaction. It's someone who was never curious enough to even try it once, that I don't get.

@Katenonymous, With experimentation, it's not a monolithic belief and depends on numerous factors. If someone experimented with 4 different religions, tried seeing if they could live with wolves for a year, and backpacked across a state, heck I'd relate regardless of drug use. However, I see drug use as a pretty basic rite of passage in college that most of us in the US have an option to choose. When someone shuns it entirely, I don't get it.

Back to the original poster, heck if you experimented more at a younger age, maybe you would look at things differently? Nothing is wrong with experimenting now as the stakes are lower.

Personally, I did my drugs, lived on a commune, joined the Peace Corps, became a vegetarian, than learned how to butcher animals all before grad school which really helped me focus in grad school. Post grad school, I moved across the country and climbed mountains. Now that I'm moving toward mid-30's, I'm pretty content being a family guy with a corporate job.

For anyone who is still reading this, with regards to my fascination with drug use, I understand the downsides. I worked in psych crisis with heroin addicts, at a transitional housing program for homeless mentally ill, and an outpatient program for mentally ill addicts. I also understand the allure of drug use and had complete empathy for those who fell to its addictive force.

when I worked in IT for a very dysfunctional ad agency, I used to always ask "greener pastures or take this job and shove it?" when people told me they were leaving. It's a brave thing to leave a miserable job without another gig lined up.

But eventually, you turn into the people you work with. If you work for a screaming harpy too long you will slowly become one. If you work with zombies, it's impossible to maintain your passion after too many years.

I would suggest looking for temporary/contract gigs. Take the first one you find, even if it's not in your field. Then keep looking. Temps and contractors are expected to be looking so it's easy. Think of it this way - you've jumped a sinking ship and now you need a life raft.

Ashley:

Be fearless. You will land where you are supposed to. And I would bet the fact that you're walking away from a bad situation will change your energy. You may be surprised that things will probably fall right in your lap. That's what happened to me. I was working for a real dink and I finally decided in December '06 that I would quit. I'm married with kids so I needed a plan. I used to adjunct teach at a couple colleges, so my plan was to pick up some classes to teach for spring semester and quit my job in March. I figured three months would give me time to line up everything. And what do you know? I was offered an AWESOME job that I have now before I quit. And they came looking for me.

Ashley,

I can't decide whether it's cool or not that you quit. Because it's what I did too.

At the same time, 2 weeks is totally unrealistic in this economy. I used to get jobs in two weeks, when the economy was going well though. This time, it took me two months to get a job. And it was honestly not a good enough deal for me so I turned it down. And then I turned down a second one after that for the same reason!

I'm not trying to be a naysayer - I would probably do the same thing in your situation - but be prepared for what's out there. I'm probably going to go back to school full-time (I'm already in school) and wait until I graduate and have more credentials to start the job hunt, because I'm just as headstrong as you and refuse to accept something that's "just a job."

Good luck!

Ashley,

I admire your decision and its probably just what I needed to hear right now. I've never been without a job so the thought scares the hell out of me but I also am scared by the person I have become as a result of my work environment (moody, negative, cranky, etc.) When you start getting that pit in the bottom of your stomach on Sunday afternoon you know its time. While, I havent given notice yet, I am very very close to it. Never having been a huge risktaker, I am a strong believer that God cannot provide you with blessings if your hands are already full with clutter. So based on faith, I have to believe that things will work themselves out in the end. With no children or dependents to worry about, now is probably one of the only times in my life I will be able to take such a leap of faith. Lets see how this goes.
Thanks!