Leaving a job.

[Duck Guy 86]

*standard wall of text warning*

So, I just got back home from giving my 2 weeks notice from my job (retail) after working their for 5 years, I will be taking a month or two break from working just to get somethings together (I have another source of income) and I cant help but fill completely sad. Not that I am going to miss the job which consists of ringing up customers and being yelled at by them. But the coworkers is who I will miss. I will miss talking smack on the customers that just cussed us out. I will miss some people more than others. I will miss the social interaction. The only reason why I stayed for as long as I did was because I couldn't bare the thought of leaving certain people. (One girl in particular not in a I Love Her sense or crush just that I really enjoyed talking to her and she really pushed me to do better where others wrote me off as an "idiot"). And I feel like I want to stay there forever just for the people but at the same time I know that eventually they will all leave to go after their own careers and their is no way I can handle working weekends and the whole customer aspect for the rest of my life. So I just decided to "pull off the band-aid" and get it over with. I want to make an effort to visit them once a month or so at work cuz i only live about 12 mins from their. But still can not shake the feeling of sadness.... just wondering how long does this take to get better in your experience?

I don't feel like i will get depressed or anything serious like that just normal feelings i guess...

[55fan 5,133]

I've been there, done that, and am about to do it again.

I've been at my full-time job for almost 15 years, but my arthritis is getting too bad and I can't physically do the job any more.

I've left a lot of jobs- either because I hated them, the place closed, I moved, I found something better, etc.- and what I've learned is that the people who are important follow through life outside of work.

Some people are just great co-workers, but not anyone you stay in touch with. There's nothing wrong with that. You miss them at first, but then they become people that you run into at Walmart and chat for a half an hour, but that's it.

Others you never see again, and that's ok too.

The good ones become friends. My best friend started as my co-worker over 20 years ago. We've lived in different towns, miles apart, but she's still the one I can tell anything, and her son is my Godson and the light of my life.

Stay in touch with people, and the relationships will follow their natural path. Some will blossom; some will die. It's like graduating- you have probably kept in touch with some people and not others.

Nowadays you young folks have your tweeting and facebooking and texting and e-mailing that we didn't have back in the day, so staying in touch is easier. Use these, and let life take its course. New people will come in, and others will go, but the true friends will be there forever. Sometimes it surprises you who these people will be.

Good luck.

[Duck Guy 86]

Yeah I know of at least 2 that i will for sure keep in contact with. I will make sure to go down there on days iam bored and just see whats up. Thanks for the insight!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

The people who you got along with or who you think can help you out professionally, and vice versa, keep in touch with.

It's normal feelings.

I got let go in early January without warning from a job I had for nearly 8 years and grew to really enjoy. I didn't make a whole lot of money, but just about every day I enjoyed what I was doing, enjoyed the people, and so forth. Needless to say, I was shocked, devastated, angry, and so on. The split was not passed on well from upper management to me and it is something I will never forget. I understand the risk of being let go in any job, but I'll just re-state how I was let go was completely unprofessional, I'll leave it at that. However, during my long time there I met good people, still keep tabs with what they are doing, both at that company and some that have left elsewhere also.

Thankfully I was able to find new employment fairly quickly about 1 1/2 months later and am enjoying my new position most days. Good people.

So, try not to get over-emotional on things, but it's natural obviously to feel upset or sad for leaving a place after so long. Maintain contact with the people that you established good working relationships with as well as friendships. They'll help you down the road.

Edited May 8, 2013 by SouthernWingsFan

[Duck Guy 86]

Thanks alot for the insight to the both of you... It has been up and down for me this past week. But in the end I know I can always contact them via facebook and also go in. I get somewhat attached to people easily (I have aspergers and it is common for us to get attached to people and things). But if I can move on with my life after the loss of my dad I think in the end this is just a small thing and I can go on with my life.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I will be leaving my job at the end of the month to start medschool, and the people that I work with are all really awesome and we have developed into something of a family over the last year or so. We goof around at work, tease each other, help each other out, support each other in tough times, grab dinner and drinks, movies, etc etc. These friendships are worth hanging onto, so I will make it a point to keep in touch and meet with them whenever time permits. I can't help but think about how I'm going to miss seeing everyone on a daily basis, but at the same time, this job (while fun and stimulating) will not provide me with the opportunities that going to school will, so its in my best interest to leave. Besides, going to school (or in your case a new job) will be a new setting with a whole new group of people that you can befriend.

I didn't know you had aspergers, Duck Guy!

[Duck Guy 86]

Ahh I see you are pretty much in the same boat as me Echolalia! I think as time goes by we will be ok. I am lucky enough to live super close to work so Visiting them for their lunch or whateva will not be a chor. I cant wait and see what new people I meet at whatever my next job may be. And yeah the whole aspergers thing can sometimes be a pain but meh there are people with much worse conditions than that so I will just deal with it LOL... As day by day goes by and it gets close to my last day at work I know that day might be a little tough for me... But in the end I know I can not stay in retail for the rest of my life. I would eventually snap at a customer and prolly lose my job anyway LOL Might as well go on my own terms.

I wish you good luck in your schooling and I hope you meet new and wonderful people on your journey!!!

Edited May 10, 2013 by Duck Guy

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Probably be leaving my job soon (I think), reason I say that is because I work detail at an RV dealership. My dad works here and got me in otherwise I wouldn't even be here. I'm 19 and working full time, it's my first full time job. I've been at this place for about a year now and I really did enjoy it until probably 2 months ago when things started to take a turn for the worse. Everyone in a week span quit but me and my boss brought in some new guys of course. Lately the work quality has gone down and he is getting tons of complains. Now I know me being the most experience I should be making sure everything is perfect but it's frustrating when the new people can't seem to figure it out and I am doing all the work (is that bad for me to say it). When this happens he pulls me aside and tells me that I need to do a better job and thinks that maybe it's time to move on, while everyone else doesn't get yelled at and keeps doing what there doing. After hearing the things he says to me I get very pissed off and almost to the point I want to tell him goodbye and leave. Day by day goes by and it seems harder and harder to even go to work knowing I will get yelled at all day. Most days I find myself by 9am looking at the clock wanting to go home I feel so crappy and unmotivated. My dad kind of got an idea as to how I feel about it but doesn't really know the full story to it. Problem I have right now is that if I up and quit, I have no job for the time being until I get a new one.

[Lollipop 8]

I agree with the others...you can still remain friends with the co-workers who were important for you! If they were a big part of your life for 5 years, you don't have to cut them out now that you're moving on. Just look at this transition as a 100% positive one! It's been a loooong time since I worked retail, but even typing the word brings me back...Be happy you got out! ;p Once you get into a new routine, I think you'll feel a lot better about everything.

Enjoy your time away from working (which sounds amazing, by the way!)

[Echolalia 2,961]

Probably be leaving my job soon (I think), reason I say that is because I work detail at an RV dealership. My dad works here and got me in otherwise I wouldn't even be here. I'm 19 and working full time, it's my first full time job. I've been at this place for about a year now and I really did enjoy it until probably 2 months ago when things started to take a turn for the worse. Everyone in a week span quit but me and my boss brought in some new guys of course. Lately the work quality has gone down and he is getting tons of complains. Now I know me being the most experience I should be making sure everything is perfect but it's frustrating when the new people can't seem to figure it out and I am doing all the work (is that bad for me to say it). When this happens he pulls me aside and tells me that I need to do a better job and thinks that maybe it's time to move on, while everyone else doesn't get yelled at and keeps doing what there doing. After hearing the things he says to me I get very pissed off and almost to the point I want to tell him goodbye and leave. Day by day goes by and it seems harder and harder to even go to work knowing I will get yelled at all day. Most days I find myself by 9am looking at the clock wanting to go home I feel so crappy and unmotivated. My dad kind of got an idea as to how I feel about it but doesn't really know the full story to it. Problem I have right now is that if I up and quit, I have no job for the time being until I get a new one.

I obviously don't know the full extent of what you are going though, but the first thought that popped into my mind was how great an opportunity this is to grow both as a valued member of an organization (ie developing and demonstrating skills that are highly valued in leadership roles) and as an individual. If you decide not to move on, I recommend looking at this situation as a challenge to be a team leader to the new folks and bring everyone together under the same set of ideas/rules/tricks/etc. It could end up being a way to make some cool new friends too.

Again, I don't know the whole story. Maybe you've given that a shot and the situation is a lost cause, but I thought I'd pass on my thoughts just in case.

Anyway, good luck!

[HeavyMetalCareBear 3]

When the economy went to s*** in 2009, I was laid off from the job I had for 8 years. I had a job title, great pay, and my own desk.

I missed all of that, but, I also really missed all my friends. So many great people I hung out with for those 8 years, many of whom I still chat with on facebook and visited after I left.

I absolutely hate my job right now (I have had it for almost 3 years now), and I have made some great friends there, but, it is nothing like my old job. I had a stand up crew there, no one could ever replace them.

If I had another source of income, I would leave my current job without hesitation. I can't wait for the day I hand in my two weeks notice. I am tired of how stupid certain people are and how they abuse the people who are actually working while they dogf*** all day.

Anyway, there is no reason to not keep in touch with those people so get numbers and plan some Friday nights out with them.

Edited June 2, 2013 by HeavyMetalCareBear

[T.Low 1,011]

This is the exact thing hockey players complain about when they retire: They miss the camaraderie.