Should I Quit My Job?

[Matthew Williams]

Hey all. Need to *****.

I work at a grocery store, amusingly named Acme. We don't sell anvils, I only just feel like I've been hit in the head with one.

I've recently become a checker at the store; previously I was a bagger, which involved bagging orders, doing menial tasks around the store, and wrangling up carts. Checker is supposed to allow you to stock... but you are mostly plopped in a register and told to swipe things through for 4 hours at a time. I get paid $6.75 for this.

Now, I'm not the fastest guy in the world... far from it. I'm pretty slow when it comes to checking and I frequently get yelled at to go faster. It's hard, I'd rather be ACCURATE and RIGHT rather than just swipe things through with abandon.

Now... here's the rub. I'm not overly fond of this. I actually like moving around, being able to talk and converse with customers and fellow workers, and stocking, everything. The time goes much faster and I feel like I'm doing something. But they don't seem willing to give me this... I'm always stuck up there, swiping myself to death.

Then there are the hours. The ethos here is that "if you're young enough, you're working late." For the past month or two, all of my shifts involve me working until midnight. It's not too bad... because for that last hour you're not encountering customers. But... if it's EVERY FREAKING WEEKEND... it kinda kills the social life (I've missed School of Rock and other movies I've wanted to see due to this. I can't even see the midnight movies). Even if I moved to stocking, they'd want me working late... actually, later, the shift on Saturdays is 6:30 to 2.

I can't ask to move up to daytimes only, due to something called seniority... I actually have two checkers under me. One is the son of the head pricing girl... and apparently there have been orders to not let him close. The other has been relegated to tag duty, which is pretty much the same hours I have. I can't leave checking because if I do, pay cut and moved back down to bagger.

But I like the people... it's close... it's not too many hours... but I'm not happy. That's what it boils down to... should I look for a job that miight have less hours and less pay, but something I'm actually good at and eager to go to? (even though my friend says that you should always follow the money?) Or should I stick with it thru the rest of college? And if I leave... where should I be looking, and should I leave now, and wait until the Xmas season is over?

I want out, I'm not happy... but I don't know if I should leave.

[DianaGohan]

My philosophy is never do something that you don't want to do that you don't have to do if you are not hurting anyone by not doing that. Which basically means that if you are unhappy and want to get out of your job, you really shouldn't continue working there. Despite what your friend says, life isn't all about money (although it does seem like that sometimes). If you do get out, you should try and find a job that you would want to work in and is less demanding on your schedule (if possilble). Of course, this is all just my opinion, as is this:

"I Love Blue Falcon".

[EinBebop]

Jobs are like women. You're much more attractive to new ones when you've already got one, so never leave until you've got another lined up.

That was a joke, btw.

[Calhoun07]

I've been in the grocery store gig (worked in a couple over the course of about 7 years) so I know exactly what you are talking about and exactly how you feel. And let me tell you, quitting isn't going to solve your problems. If you go elsewhere, you will still be at the bottom of the totem pole (senority plays a lot into jobs) and they will make demands of you as well that you may not like. If you can get another one lined up, fine. If you don't depend on the job for finacial security and can take a break, then that's fine too. For me, it was work or I would not have money to pay rent and the necessities of life, so it was a situation where I just had to learn to make the best of what I had. And I really never think the grass is greener on the other side either. Everyplace has politics (like the son of the employee not having to close-that's politics, and that's anywhere you go.) You might beable to get away from the things that bother you at Acme if you go elsewhere, but there will be a whole different can of worms opened up for you to deal with wherever you go. I say tough it up and stick it out if you have to, and keep looking for another job. You may have to deal with these things wherever you go, but if you don't like grocery work, then you should quit. If you don't like these things involving whom you work with, then quitting will solve nothing, but you'll just be out of a job.

[The Falcon]

i wouldn't quit your job if i was you. i've also had troubles with my employers telling me to go faster. you. must. listen. to. them!!! if you don't, then you won't have the problem of worrying about if you should quit or not, because they'll just go ahead and fire you. i say just stick it out and try to move faster. if the store loses money because instead of being accurate you try to be faster, than that is their problem because you have no say in the store's financial position anyway

Falcon

[Rune]

I've had a few jobsd like this in the past and the long and short of it is that if its making you genuinely unhappy then you need to do something about it.

However since no doubt you've got used to having that bit of cash coming in it wouldn't be a good idea to simply drop the job and go, why not make some casual enquiries around the neighbourhood to see if anyone knows anyone who might be hiring, if not now then maybe in a month or so, that way you can line up what to do next without landing yourself in a pickle.

Alternatively, if you think you can stick it out there then hang on as long as you can and aggitate (subtly at first) for change, you don't really say how receptive the higher ups in the store chain of command are, but if they'rereasonable people then maybe its possible to negotiate your position so you don't spend so much time plonked behind the cash register. If they kick up a stink about this and are unpleasant in general then that's a clue to maybe look around elsewhere.

In the end only you can make the choice.

[Steven C]

After reading your post, the way you type seems like a smart guy and you said you're in college.....so I'm assuming you're smart.

Then you say that you're too slow to scan items?? How can it be hard? You scan the bar code over the scanner. I mean no disrespect, but c'mon....ringing people up isnt rocket science.

$6.75/hr? Go do something else. My freshman yr in college I was working at Circuit City selling computers. All commission. I averaged $15-17/hr part time for the 3 yrs I was there.

[Russkafin]

I would say, don't quit unless you have something else lined up... but it wouldn't hurt to start looking around for something else and putting out a few applications, if you have some ideas of some other places you might like to work.

[Damien]

I hear ya, Williams. I won't get into it, but I've had thoughts about leaving. Sure, the people aren't so bad, and I usually get the days I request off, but it still just down right sucks being a dishwasher who works only weekends because of college during the week.
It pretty much just boils down to what EinBebop said.

[Roger Smith]

i dont work i have to begg my parents to buy something =(

[Jethro_McB]

The Internet: Making Decisions For You Since 1996.

Honestly, just remember what Andrew WK says in "Party Hard" - You gotta do what you like, and like what you do. You might wanna scout other jobs before you just up and quit this one, though.

[EinBebop]

There is a third option.

http://www.nothing-sacred.net/articles/045/s11-06.gif

GO POSTAL!

[Outlander00]

Dude, if youre not happy with the job... Then quit!!

However, I wouldnt quit until you have another one lined up. Id look around to see whos hiring. However, I think you may be stuck because many stores who are short handed around the holidays keep on whatever seasonal help they hire. Still, you should still look for a new job and if you find one that appeals to you, then leave.

Personally, I think youd fit right in at Blockbuster, bro. :D

[wrenchien]

if you're lucky enough to have a job, never leave it , ever.

[Pilmedium]

[reply to first post]It depends on if you really need the money. If so, earning less by working less would have a negative side effect. If not, you should hope to get lucky by searching for something else.[/reply to first post]

Then you say that you're too slow to scan items?? How can it be hard? You scan the bar code over the scanner. I mean no disrespect, but c'mon....ringing people up isnt rocket science.

Intelligence and coordination are two different abilities. It is not unusual for someone to have one, but not the other.

[Zombies8MDingo]

You hate your job so you're not really going to be enthusiastic enough to scan quickly anyway, and you'd soon be told to slow down if someone ended up with a bill for 20 anvils that you don't even sell, and if it turns out you do sell anvils really and they just slipped past you because you were scanning so fast that you didn't notice, you'd probably get in alot of trouble.

If you think you can afford to quit and look for a job after then go for it, though you'll be faced with the "Why did you leave your last job?" question if you go for interviews. It really depends on how long you have left at college, what job opportunities there are apart from where you are now and if you think you can live without the cash flow for a while till you find something else.