How to know when to quit your job

Weighing the pros with the cons

By Aaron Guillen, Staff Reporter

Having a workplace with perfect coworkers, an intelligent boss, and a constant uplifting atmosphere is a rarity to come across. Perhaps you’ve worked a part-time job while going to school. For most, you will have to deal with the hell that is customer service.

The work-school life balance that you must hold on your shoulders is insurmountably difficult to maintain. While professors pile on hefty amounts of reading, you have to deal with idiotic customers who complain about everything. This is a brief look into the average life of a college student.

Up until three weeks ago, I was convinced that I wanted to stay at my current employer until the end of the school year. Now, I’ve already resigned and opened my time up to focus on studies and passions. How did I come to this decision? It took four simple steps.

Step #1: Take a moment and think to yourself why you got the job in the first place. Was it for an income? Was it to please someone else? Was it to prove your independence? No matter what your reason was, now is the time to reevaluate whether these reasons still apply to you today. For me, I got my job as a deli clerk at an organic grocery store back in May 2015 because I felt the urge to contribute to my college tuition—and a newspaper delivery job I had held for 2 years wasn’t going to cut it. Today, I’ve saved a decent amount of money and I’m more willing to let go of my job than before.

Step #2: Think about what you love about your job. During my training period, everything was new and exciting. I had so much to learn in so little time, but that made my day challenging and worthwhile. In the beginning, my manager gave me praise and made me feel welcome in a new environment. I had been given flexible hours to choose when I was available, and I enjoyed that freedom of choice. Lastly, my coworkers made every day worthwhile. They made me laugh and were always willing to lend a helping hand. But, as everyone knows: Good things must come to an end.

Step #3: Think about what you hate about your job. While I had been excited about the new work environment I had entered, I dismissed little details. First of all, the location was the worst. It took me over an hour to reach work, which meant I was losing six hours every week that I could have been spending more productively. In addition, I hadn’t considered the massive change that college would bring. I wasn’t able to get much sleep with early opening hours at 7 a.m., and closing shifts running until 11 p.m. (plus the commute). Lastly, my manager, who I once saw as a sweet person, showed her true colours and revealed her suspicious, micro-managing, condescending side. In a recent interaction, she told me that if I couldn’t give her the hours she wanted of me (during school), I might as well leave the job. I stood in silence as the words echoed from her voice. “But we love you here!” she half-heartedly offered. That’s when I knew I had to make a decision.

Step #4: Decide what is important to you. Whether it be money, a degree, or following your passion, do it. This life is short, and it’s a waste to spend all your time doing something that doesn’t fulfill you.