Is quitting a job as difficult as finding it?
What if the new job that seemed so perfect when you accepted the offer suddenly changed into a nightmare in just a few days? Will it be hard to find the perfect timing to say “I quit?”
Here, I will tell you how I found a job as a deputy editor and lost it in just 10 days:
1st Day – The day I sent out my job application
Finding the perfect job isn’t easy. Even how carefully you crafted your resume, you still have to wait for an interview invitation (that sometimes never comes) and impress everyone before you eventually get hired. Most jobs require varying skills and level of experience. Getting noticed is quite difficult.
I’ve been working from home for more than a year now, so I guess it’s normal to miss the office setup. After giving it some thought, the day came when I finally decided to update my resume and search for job opportunities online.
2nd Day – Waiting time
When you sent out your resume to employers, you don’t expect all of them to invite you for an interview, so you tend to completely forget about them until you get a response. There are companies that don’t even acknowledge your application, so you move on and continue to look for other opportunities.
3rd Day – Receiving the invite for job interview
An invitation for a job interview seems like a real blessing when it comes at a time when you least expect it. One moment you’re thinking how boring your life is and the next there’s a message inviting you for an interview.
I got three replies from the four job applications I sent out. I did a pretty good job on updating my resume, I guess, or there weren’t that much applicants at the time.
4th Day – The day of the interview
It has been a long time since I’ve been interviewed–the last time was more than three years ago. Good thing I’ve recently been on dates, so I think that helped a little. Well, they say that attending a job interview is like going on a first date. You also stress over what to wear, what to bring, and what to say. You get nervous, too, but if everything clicks, then it’s a match.
It all happened prettly quickly. I didn’t even have time to think of the other two opportunities waiting for me. The next think I knew, the position I applied for was mine.
5th Day – First day of work
Starting a new job and adapting to a new routine can be daunting and overwhelming. Add these to building relationships with colleagues. Coming from a homebased job, I didn’t know what to expect. I have two previous office jobs for comparison, but I didn’t want to compare.
So, what happened on my first day? I had to spend two extra hours working without pay.
I was hired as a deputy editor for a certain Manila-based publication. I was supposed to be the second-in-command and should be the one taking over when the editor was absent. Since each writers had to write 10 articles (yes, 10, sometimes more!) per day, and there were two under me, it meant I had to edit and fact-check 20 articles (yes, 20, sometimes more!) per day.
There are only 480 hours in one working day, which meant I only had exactly 24 minutes to edit each article. And editing wasn’t my only task.
6th Day – Second day of wok
They say that the first 90 days is crucial for a new employee. Yes, I believe that’s true, but to stay in the office three hours past the end of my shift on my second day, I would bravely say, was a real bummer. Overtime is okay, but not when there’s an ongoing pressure and the employer expects employees to do it regularly.
7th and 8th Day – Rest days
It would be cruel to say that after working for two days at my new job, I already felt burned out. That was what I felt, though. I absolutely needed two (or more) rest days.
9th Day – Back to work
My third day wasn’t any better. I must have accepted the job offer knowing my position at work has a huge responsibility, but when there’s very little focus on the employee’s well-being and the employer’s not valuing life outside work, then there’s not much that I can do.
10th Day – Resignation day
I had to quit on my fourth day. Yes, I only worked for them for four days. This might sound like I’m a person who gives up too easily, but I can’t say I didn’t try. I decided to talk to my chief editor. It was quite a long talk, but we were a wrong match and we both knew that (I guess).
I’ve learned a lot from this experience. Quitting a job isn’t easy, either it’s a job you’ve had your whole life or a job you just got, but if you have a toxic boss or you know you’re a bad fit, then you must do something about it. Once the terrifying truth shockingly unveils itself, you need to face it or risk having a mental breakdown.
When you feel like your employer doesn’t care about your needs and you’re not happy anymore, then I guess it’s time to move on and look for other opportunities. This might not work for everybody, but if you’re ever faced with the same dilemma, just remember that sometimes you have to quit to win.
What do you think of this? Let me know in the comments!
