You can't fire me... because I quit

[PR_GMR]

This morning I got up.. and didn't realize it would be day everything would change: I just resigned from my 'good government' Social Security job after 12 years.

I had been having issues with my supervisor for the better part of a year. They're privatizing the call center I work at, and they've been steadily ratcheting up their performance standards. The supervisors had been getting sneakier and sneakier at making everyone's life hell to get more job performance. Today, I was hit with a three-day suspension for browsing the internet while at work; a habit I've tried to quit a hundred times in my days there. Unfortunately, althought I tried hard, I couldn't keep up. I held on for as long as I could. This was truly a long time coming, but I had been fantasizing about this day for many years--the day I would no longer suck off The Man's nipple.

I don't have another job lined up. Recently, I had started increasing my efforts to get out and get other jobs, but applying to other government jobs is an odyssey of its own. Today, I finally relinquish my white-knuckle hold on a job that was killing me.. slowly, surely... killing me. Now, the canvas is clean and I can make true changes to my life. Do I move to NYC or LA or Austin to pursue true opportunities in film/tv production? Do I stay around in Baltimore and get production work here? The past couple weeks I had been entertaining the option of starting my production company in earnest here in Baltimore. That idea had me so high. That's what I truly want to do with my life. I've no family. No kids. I don't understand why I held on to such a miserable position for so long.

Oh well. Everything changes today. I take a leap of faith into the abyss.

[Purge]

Good for you, man.

Sometimes, you need to shake things up.

[CeeKay]

I take a leap of faith into the abyss.

don't worry, I'll catch y-  ooo, shiney!

[Blackjack]

Oh well. Everything changes today. I take a leap of faith into the abyss.

Come clean, man! You just want to play Diablo III about 18 hours a day, right? 

Sorry about your situation. I'm not sure I'd have the courage to quit without a job lined up in today's environment, but I totally understand "straw that broke the camel's back" work situations. I've been there a few times, I'm sure many others have. Good luck! 

[Purge]

I take a leap of faith into the abyss.

don't worry, I'll catch y-  ooo, shiney!

Is it a pokemon?

[CeeKay]

wheat penny.

[Arnir]

Good luck with it all.

[hepcat]

For some reason I always thought you lived in NYC.  Ah well, good luck with whatever you decide!  personally, I think Austin would be a blast.

[USMC Kato]

Good luck man. It's never too late to change and take a chance.
Good for you 

[Gratch]

Good luck...sounds like you made the right choice.

[th'FOOL]

I vote Austin. Out of those three, the cost of living is cheapest and frankly, this place rocks

[PR_GMR]

Thanks for all the well-wishes. Im actually feeling clear-headed. This decision has been a very long time coming. This job has held my development as a filmmaker back in so many ways. It helped financially, but it was surely killing me in other ways.

[Harkonis]

Best of luck, it's rough out there

[Bullwinkle]

Listen, this is great news, because now you can set up a permanent studio and hire me to be in all of your films.

Seriously, best of luck.

[Jag]

We have a call center at my company and they are really strict with the employees, not out of spite, but to maintain high customer service levels. I would probably get fired in the first week given how much I surf the net at work. Our CEO, who's also a friend of mine, fired a call center worker he caught looking at his cellphone. I didn't agree, but those are the rules I guess. Probably why I'm not the boss.

Good luck. Let me know if you need another call center job

[Koz]

I make call center software for a living and you would have to pay me a very sizable amount of money to actually work in a call center.

I also once quit a job without having anything lined up. It took a (long) while before I was working again, but it did eventually happen. Good luck out there.

[corruptrelic]

Congratulations on getting a fresh start! Hopefully after 12 years you got some sort of government pension. Even if not a full one it at least it's something to collect on and help fund your erotic video series in Austin.
In Florida we used to be vested at 6 years but good old Rick Scott bumped us to 8.

The best part of it though is no more of this guy..

[brettmcd]

Ive been very lucky and all the call center jobs I have worked at allowed employees to surf the net between calls as long as you NEVER do it during a call.

[Soulchilde]

If you start a production company might I suggest looking for space in Station North.  That area of North Avenue is attracting the Artist community and I am starting to see Galleries opening up on Howard Street as well

[PR_GMR]

And today the severance action is finally finished. I actually had cold feet and had decided to go back (Supervisor gave me the option to come back on Tuesday if I changed my mind). When I woke up this morning, my resolve to quit had return. Went in there, packed my stuff in two boxes (had *two guards* assigned to me while I packed my stuff. hahaha), had an exit interview, then walked out. 13 years was good enough. I should have been out by 10. A 'good government' job was simply that--Good. Not great, nor amazing. I didn't grow up as a kid wanting to work a call center job for the rest of my life. I grew wanting to make films, period. I'm sitting here at my place listening to Frank Sinatra singing 'The Best Is Yet To Come' and I'm actually fully of peace and confidence. Come what may.. this chapter of my life is totally done. A new chapter now begins. Thanks again for all well-wishes.

[Harpua3]

Good luck! Im also thinking you want to play more diablo 3!

[PR_GMR]

Good luck! Im also thinking you want to play more diablo 3!

I wasn't able to touch it all holiday weekend... so guess what I'll be doing today for a bit. 

And this is a parting shot from my job:

[Clanwolfer]

Are those PC Gamers from back in the 90's?

Awesome.

[PR_GMR]

Are those PC Gamers from back in the 90's?

Awesome.

Yes, from the late 90s and early 00s. I used to read them at work.

[Calavera]

That looks a lot like the flag for Ohio in the left box....

Good luck with your new career!

[PR_GMR]

That looks a lot like the flag for Ohio in the left box....

Good luck with your new career!

It's the PuertoRican flag. Thanks, I look forward to having a great career as a hobo. 

[Calavera]

That looks a lot like the flag for Ohio in the left box....

Good luck with your new career!

It's the PuertoRican flag. Thanks, I look forward to having a great career as a hobo. 

Ah ha! From the angle it looked like it was triangular. Actually, I think we need a face palm smiley, should have gotten that right away.

[PeteRock]

This morning I got up.. and didn't realize it would be day everything would change: I just resigned from my 'good government' Social Security job after 12 years.

...

I don't have another job lined up. Recently, I had started increasing my efforts to get out and get other jobs, but applying to other government jobs is an odyssey of its own.

I can't say that abandoning a paying job prior to finding a replacement is an ideal solution to your professional displeasure, but only you can know for sure whether resigning was the only acceptable option.  Hopefully you have enough of a financial cushion to support you until another opportunity presents itself.

Having personally been forced into unwilling retirement a few years ago, despite my situation being outside of my control, it eventually became a positive turn of events as I will begin my pharmD curriculum in about two months.  

Here's to hoping that your decision ultimately benefits you as well, especially since you took the initiative to make a change.

Best of luck to you.  The job market isn't exactly welcoming despite occasional news reports citing alleged growth.  That isn't meant to be discouraging, merely to warn of potential adversity that can only be overcome by motivated diligence.  Complete professional reinvention through continued education is also always an option.  It worked for me and is also working quite well for a close friend working to earn a position as a strength and conditioning specialist for a university sports program.   

[CeeKay]

That looks a lot like the flag for Ohio in the left box....

Good luck with your new career!

It's the PuertoRican flag. Thanks, I look forward to having a great career as a hobo. 

Ah ha! From the angle it looked like it was triangular. Actually, I think we need a face palm smiley, should have gotten that right away.

plus Ohio has a big O on it surrounded by stars, not one big star.  PR's flag is more like Texas-  I guess they all want to be Texans 

[Isgrimnur]

We don't need all those freaking stripes.  One of each is sufficient for our Lone Star.  And all our angles are (far) Right.

[Scuzz]

Good luck. I do hope there was more to your job hate than a 3 day suspension for browsing the internet. Having spent 8 years with the government I can understand a dislike for it, but when I left I had a job already in hand.

[PR_GMR]

This is the post from the new audio visual tech specialist at Mr. Video in Silver Spring, MD. Someone start the Weekend Playlist thread for me, will ya? 

[Harkonis]

grats!

[Blackjack]

This is the post from the new audio visual tech specialist at Mr. Video in Silver Spring, MD. Someone start the Weekend Playlist thread for me, will ya?  

CONGRATULATIONS PR_GMR!   

Hey I used to work in Silver Spring on the, I think, 8000 block of Fenton Street, 1992-1993.  

Seriously speaking, would you have any idea how to digitize audio from like a 3.5" (not common I'm afraid) reel-to-reel audio tape? It's from circa 1960s I think. Apparently this is the only audio we have of my late father (who died in 1973, only age 51). I think he was just giving some sort of presentation at a government meeting. He too worked for the federal government many years.

It's a project I've had in mind for years and I just haven't found anyone who can handle that type of reel-to-reel audio. I digress -- it's just, if you really are an audio-visual whiz, I thought I'd ask. 

[hepcat]

Excellent news!  Congrats, old boy!  

By the way, I have some...ummm...home movies I need help with.  I need someone to edit out the midget and the monkey as I was unable to get them to sign a release.

[hispanicgamer]

Thanks for effing up Obama's jobs report for June! 
Seriously, getting out of something you hate and working in something you love is the goal in life. Hispanicgamer approves! 

[Bullwinkle]

If only you could find a use for all that equipment they have...

Congrats!

[Gratch]

Grats man!

[Roguetad]

Wow that was fast!  Going from jumping off the diving board to landing a new job that quickly is incredible in this economy.  Congrats!

[PR_GMR]

Thanks for all the congratz, guys! It's much appreciated. It's a strange mixed feeling of relief, stress, and happiness to have found this new job. I'm finally doing full time what I went to damn school for. I consider myself lucky.

To Blackjack: The place I'm working at does digitize audio reels. It's just a matter of taking the audio reel, putting it on the machine which in turn is connected to a computer and just running the recording the audio. I don't think it's costly. I can let you know the cost if you like.