I started a new job 3 months ago, but I recently stumbled upon my dream job and have been given a pretty irresistable offer.

CURRENT JOB -- Marketing Manager. Manages accounts for various low-budget travel properties. Regional travel required ... no travel reimbursement offered. 50-60 hours per week. Pay: 36k + partial health/dental insurance. No overtime pay.

I don't see myself doing this in the future. My job is not reflective of the job description I was given when initially hired. In addition to marketing work, the position entails heavy administrative and delivery duties. Opportunity for growth and advancement ... but I don't want my boss' job.

NEW JOB OFFER -- Creative Writer/Web Editor. Writes web copy/content and press releases for various upscale resort properties (this is my dream job). Contract-to-hire. Company wants this position to be permanent as soon as possible. $26 per hour. 45-60 hours per week. Overtime pay rate of $39 per hour. Obviously, health insurance will be out-of-pocket, which is a drawback.

Room for growth ... and it's the career path I want to spend the rest of my life in. With a great company. Team work environment. Creative team with a polished portfolio and reputation.

The advice needed ... first of all, is there anything I'm overlooking with comparing these two jobs? Commute would stay the same.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure I will accept the second job. Is there a way to tactfully quit a job after 3 months?

7/16/2007 2:36:11 PM

tactfully quit after 3 months? just tell them

Quote :

"My job is not reflective of the job description I was given when initially hired."

7/16/2007 2:38:34 PM

It baffles me that companies now have the balls to demand a 60 hour work week from one person...

7/16/2007 2:41:16 PM

i don't know what fantasy world you live in but plenty of professionals work 60 hrs a week

7/16/2007 2:44:24 PM

I am satisfied working 60 hours a week when I enjoy my job and feel I am being compensated accordingly. 60 hours a week is an investment of time within a company and in a career. If I enjoy a job and want to grow within it, 60 hours isn't a bad deal.

7/16/2007 2:49:45 PM

Quote :

"I am being compensated accordingly"

that's the bottom line

7/16/2007 2:51:13 PM

The fact that you travel and are not reimbursed is ridiculous. For that reason alone you have good reason to leave. Working on the road is expensive. [note I just saw it was regional... not as bad, but you should still get some extra $$]

I would leave if you feel the new job isnt going to be a temp to fire/layoff. Make sure its not some project job that will go away in a few months. if it isnt, then jump at the opportunity to add 15-20k a year to your salary. Contract work is the way many get started (was the case for me).

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 3:00 PM. Reason : .]

7/16/2007 2:55:36 PM

It's perfectly acceptable to quit a job within 3 months of starting.

You can use slut's reason, or you can just say that you don't feel the job is a good fit, or that you aren't happy with the position.

The "unofficial" business ethics are basically that 60-90 days is a trial period for a job, where someone should have the option to leave if it doesnt suit them. After that, generally you should be willing to commit at least two years.

7/16/2007 3:15:53 PM

Oh I know plenty of people who work that many hours, and it still blows my mind. No offense or anything, but I'd rather be poor than work that much. The only way I'd work that many hours is if it was my own business that I started. Growing up my dad worked at times 80 hours / week and I saw the toll it took on him and vowed I would never do that as an adult.

Also, you've been there 3 months, just leave. You aren't going to be using them as a reference, just tell them that the job isn't for you and you found something better.

7/16/2007 3:22:37 PM

I dont think any loyalty is necessary AT ALL. One thing you will find out sooner or later is that employers normally dont put much more into the equation than the bottom line. If they need to cut you to save money/make stock holders happy, they will do it in a heart beat. The people I have seen do the best have normally taken the opportunities to advance when they came along and didnt burn bridges along the way. That means you do your best to give them proper notice, and to fully explain your problems with the position in a professional manner.

Sitting around and hoping you get rewarded for loyalty is rarely paid dividends...

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 3:25 PM. Reason : .]

7/16/2007 3:24:41 PM

Since you will be making over $50,000 a year not even counting any overtime at the new job just tell them you are leaving for a substantially better paying position. No one can argue with that.

If anything they will respect you better for being driven and goal oriented. At the end of the day you work to earn a living and the company willing to take the best care of you deserves you.

7/16/2007 3:58:29 PM

^^leaving a company as an employee with less than two years under your belt is, a lot of times, burning a bridge.

For many industries, it takes about that long for an employee to recoupe the hiring costs into real profitability for the company. Paperwork, equipment, training and integration into the working group are all things that are static hiring costs and fast turnover can hurt considerably. Not to mention the likely costs to a recruiter, and for the actual hiring process itself.

Now if you are a CONTRACTOR, you can ignore everything I just said. But as an employee you DO owe your employer a certain amount of respect and time.

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 4:15 PM. Reason : .]

7/16/2007 4:14:34 PM

It's very difficult to fathom the increase in pay. In March, I was making $26,500 a year. Now, to get paid $26 an hour (+ OT) to do something I love ... blows my mind. Money isn't everything, but it makes life a little less stressful.

I thought the 60-90 day trial period was more of a rule for the employer ... but coincidentally, my 3-month review is tomorrow. Should be interesting.

7/16/2007 4:27:27 PM

60 hours a week is something i would never do, especially with starting a family down the road. if it works for you though, more power to you

7/16/2007 4:32:27 PM

The 3 month review tomorrow is a good time to tell them it's not working out.

"It's not you; It's me."

7/16/2007 4:40:23 PM

If the company found someone they liked better, they'd can you. You just lucked out and found something you like better first, so you're canning them.

I can't imagine working 60 hours a week. I work about 37.5 hours and thats plenty for me.

7/16/2007 6:48:40 PM

lucyinthesky

(1) accept job #1

(2) get offer of employment from job #1 in writing <-- IMPORTANT

(3) quit job #1 two weeks before agreed start date of job #2

(4) offer job #1 two-weeks notice.

reason: "this job isn't working out for me. thanks for the opportunity."

that's it. nothing more.

enjoy your new job.

congratulations.




(this is not always the case. you dont want to hop from job to job... but -- in this case -- you are leaving an "ordinary job" for a "career opportunity" ... you will regret it if you dont take it.

3 months at some drudgery job... fuck it. you dont owe them anything

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 7:55 PM. Reason : ]

7/16/2007 7:51:55 PM

^dont you mean get the offer of job #2 in writing?

Quote :

"The 3 month review tomorrow is a good time to tell them it's not working out. "It's not you; It's me.""

My thoughts exactly.

7/16/2007 8:00:15 PM

I don't see how there's room for growth in writing cutesy shit about resort properties.

What am I missing?

7/16/2007 8:00:39 PM

Great! Thank you for the feedback. Tomorrow's review will be fun. My boss is going to murder me. I've received my contracts from Company B, so I'm safe on that end.

There's definite room for growth in writing cutesy shit about resort properties. It's an integral role within a marketing team. A liaison, so-to-speak, between company management and the creative design team. A writer with people skills and good marketing judgment can easily go on to manage a team of writers or lead a design department.

Besides, travel writing/editing is an enjoyable job. If I can get paid to do something I love, even better.

7/16/2007 8:23:46 PM

congrats lucy!

7/16/2007 8:36:06 PM

Quote :

"^dont you mean get the offer of job #2 in writing?"

yeah, i did mean #2 and apparently she did get the contract

dont worry about leaving them hanging, lucy. they'll be alright. just dont make a habit of it

...

also, be prepared for your current employer to make a counter offer. maybe not, youve only been there 3 mos.




[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 8:52 PM. Reason : ]

7/16/2007 8:50:25 PM

take the new job offer, mainly because that's my dream job also and I want to live vicariously through you.

7/16/2007 8:57:56 PM

request to be a contract employee at job #2 for 9-12 months minimum. If they refuse, ask them what their salary and benefits will be for the full time position they are looking to hire.

7/16/2007 10:09:38 PM

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

And just out of curiosity, did company #2 tell you they wanted to move the position to FT soon or was that a staffing agency/recruiter?

7/17/2007 12:14:31 AM

a. no travel reimbursement

b. no overtime pay

c. if you never plan on working for that company again then really why should you care of the terms of your quitting. Even if you quit tomorrow (without notice) and you are all ready lined up for another job....then who cares. it may be immoral, unethical to just up and quit a job but if they are suckering you into paying for your own travel and not giving you overtime then fuck em. You may believe in karma, but the terms under which are now working are really screwing you over.

lucy i thought that you were doing something in the media production circuit........

[Edited on July 17, 2007 at 2:49 AM. Reason : i talked to you at harris teeter......;]

7/17/2007 2:47:35 AM

Quote :

"60 hours a week is something i would never do"

I feel the same way about 40

7/17/2007 6:30:23 AM

do what is best for you. you'll be great. there are pleny of jobs out there and sugardaddies.

7/17/2007 7:53:16 AM

^^^exactly

7/17/2007 7:54:56 AM

Rho: Both the staffing agency and company told me they want to make this position permanent soon. It's already FT ... + guaranteed OT.

Keith: I was a tv producer for about 2 1/2 years. It's a fun career when you're young, but it's a quick burnout field. Not that I'm old. I just turned 24. But my priorities have shifted. It's nice to get paid to do what you like ... tv producers are often paid in, well, television.

Thanks for all the advice! Lunch meeting will be interessante.

7/17/2007 10:07:46 AM

I am late to the party... but this is an absolute NO-BRAINER!!!

GO FOR IT, if it is your dream job!!!

Just tell them the job didn't fit, whatever.

Good luck!

7/17/2007 10:12:59 AM

i had to do the same thing a few years ago, although i was quitting and not taking another job (i was about to have major major surgery). i took the job knowing i would have to quit 3 months into it, but the experience and contacts would be worth it. oh, this was a part time kind of thing. anyway, i was really upset about having to quit and worried about what my boss would think of me. i was bailing out a few weeks earlier than planned b/c i really hated the job anyway. i told my boss it just wasn't the right fit for me, and he understood completely. he actually gave me a couple of really nice recommendations when applying for other jobs later.

7/17/2007 10:31:58 AM

Quote :

"But as an employee you DO owe your employer a certain amount of respect and time."

Actually, no. That's the logic of neoliberal capitalism talking if/when used as a rationale for not leaving a shitty job for fear of reprisal

NC is a so-called "right to work" state and the number of protections afforded to workers are, sadly, minimal. That said, I doubt that you're really going to lose much/jeopardize your future by leaving your current employer.

If you have given this a good-faith effort and there has been no reciprocity (i.e. your job description even marginally summarizing what you actually do), then you should have no guilty feelings about leaving. There is bit of good advice in this thread: if you get the new job, give 2 weeks notice if you are able to do so and be honest ... but don't burn bridges. 3 months at 50-60 hours/week in a job you hate is a prescription for being miserable. Pick up and move on...

7/17/2007 12:54:13 PM

Good job taking my quote out of context.

I already stated what you've said.

Quote :

"Actually, no. That's the logic of neoliberal capitalism talking if/when used as a rationale for not leaving a shitty job for fear of reprisal "

And no, it's used as a rationale for leaving any decent job to pursue a better one. You guys are all a bunch of wanks crying about a 50-60 hour week. Go talk to any design or creative profession in the world, it's pretty much the standard.

Maybe you guys like to burn bridges and don't give a a damn about the companies you leave, but even if I HATE the job I have, and there have been a few, I never burn a bridge, and it has helped me tremendously over the years with contacts and having past employers and co-workers help me out.

7/17/2007 5:34:47 PM

Tough meeting. My boss cried. I feel guilty, but I know it was the right decision. I said, "This job is not the right fit for me." Not enough of an answer for my boss ... she grilled me about what could be done to keep me there. She said she would hire an administrative assistant to take the admin work off my plate. She also said she would see about getting a company vehicle for travel purposes. She made some bargains, but even so, they didn't compare to the new offer. So, at that point I explained that I received a better job offer.

She inquired about the opportunity ... I probably shouldn't have disclosed additional information, but I told her the new career opportunity. When I explained the difference in pay, she said the opportunity with the other company was too good to miss.

The downside ... I may be asked to leave before 2 weeks due to the fact I'll work for a competitor. DUMB move on my part. I gave way too many details about the new company. I knew it was a mistake the moment the words escaped me.

7/17/2007 5:46:56 PM

Quote :

"this is my dream job"

is really all that matters.
congrats on getting it.

7/17/2007 5:59:27 PM

^^yea, that sucks about the 2 weeks. Definitely would have been better off keepin the lid shut. But live and learn! And who cares, you're about to be making BANK

7/17/2007 7:48:45 PM

You didn't sign a noncompete when you took your current job, did you?

7/17/2007 8:59:53 PM

It's the job of the employer to hire a person who is the right fit as much as it is your job to make sure the company is the right fit.

You have learned a lesson from being in a crap job for a while, and the employer learns to recruit better (doubtful, though, since it sounds like such a shitty job). Both lessons were expensive for both parties.

7/17/2007 9:40:14 PM

Quote :

"take the new job offer, mainly because that's my dream job also and I want to live vicariously through you."

Quote :

"She said she would hire an administrative assistant to take the admin work off my plate. She also said she would see about getting a company vehicle for travel purposes. She made some bargains, but even so, they didn't compare to the new offer."

That's the hallmark of bad management. Offering standard fare after the employee has had enough.

Happens all the time.

7/17/2007 10:20:43 PM

My boss has requested that I stay through August 17. She wanted to take vacation the week beginning August 12. I am the only person with the company who can fill in for her. I don't want to screw her over ... or burn bridges, for that matter. But I have reservations about putting in one month's notice. I understand it takes time and money to rehire and retrain.

I'm pretty sure I'll offer to extend my notice to 2 1/2 weeks.

7/18/2007 9:50:24 AM

if the new job is cool with that then there isnt a problem

it isnt uncommon for someone to give a month's notice

in my position..if i gave a 2 week notice....these people would be screwed

7/18/2007 9:51:56 AM

When I worked at a certain shipping company in college I gave a 3 week notice when it was time to move on. I was a pretty hard worker there so naturally they wanted me to stay, but I had more than doubled my "1 year commitment" so they got their money's worth out of training. I was extra careful to leave gracefully though, and because I did (along with the hard work) the shift manager (I don't know his real position) told me that if I ever needed a job, a recommendation, whatever, to give him a call. Now if I could only remember his last name!

Like Noen said, never burn bridges. That job was demanding on the body and surprisingly mentally frustrating and I don't want to go through that again, but now I have a great reference from someone relatively high up on the corporate food chain.

7/18/2007 10:25:41 AM

Quote :

"NC is a so-called "right to work" state and the number of protections afforded to workers are, sadly, minimal. That said, I doubt that you're really going to lose much/jeopardize your future by leaving your current employer. "

this isn't about a NC job, and leaving an employer after 3 months looks horrible on a resume if you make a habit of it. You can explain it happening once in a job interiew, but the 2nd and 3rd times become black flags on a resume. You become a lot less likely to even receive the initial phone call when applying for a job.

with that being said, don't work until August 17th if you can start earlier at the other company. Your current boss had plenty of time to staff an administrative person to take care of her work when she is out of the office. You shouldn't feel any want or desire to bail out former employers for their own incompetence and mismanagement. If she can't remedy the situation with one month's advance notice, she has no business in management at any level.

[Edited on July 18, 2007 at 4:48 PM. Reason : ^^I'm asked to give 4 weeks notice if I ever leave.]

7/18/2007 4:47:46 PM

Thanks to all for the great advice! I did not sign a non-compete contract. If I did, I probably wouldn't have communicated with the other company in the first place. My boss and I ultimately agreed to three weeks notice.

Very eager to start the new job ... getting paid to visit and review luxury travel accomodations around the world. Once permanent (as long as the company fulfills the promise of perm employment), the added perks are phenomenal. Guilt aside, I am ecstatic about the decision.

7/19/2007 4:22:52 PM

^ w00t

7/19/2007 5:32:27 PM

non-competing agreements don't hold up in court.

7/19/2007 6:37:29 PM

on a different but related note,

i plan on quitting my job in about a month & my leaving is gonna throw a major wrench in the works--should i give them advanced notice to train someone to take my place, which would mean that i would be stuck doing pain-in-the-ass bullshit...or keep my mouth shut and get to do my job until the day i leave?

...i'm torn

[Edited on July 19, 2007 at 6:47 PM. Reason : .]

7/19/2007 6:47:04 PM

that "paid to visit luxury locales" bit is enough to make me envious

WTG!

7/19/2007 6:50:09 PM

I guess your new job you has no retirement either and no benefits....they want to turn it into a fulltime position soon, heard that before....Hopefully you are not 60 and have no retirement.

7/20/2007 11:35:59 AM