This month alone, I have left two jobs. Good jobs. Stable jobs. Jobs that just...weren't right for me. For the first time in 14 years, I am voluntarily unemployed.
I won't lie...it's a little scary.
The closest I've ever been to this situation was in late December of '09 when I was told I would be laid-off from my job at Earl May for several months. I tried to find another job during that time; something temporary since I knew Earl May would rehire me in March (which they did). So, I spent most of January and February indulging in some me-time. That, however, was different. I knew I had a job waiting for me; I knew I would only be unemployed for a specific amount of time, and I didn't have half as many financial responsibilities to budget for at that time.
Now here I am; 27 years old with bills and loans and payments to make...and a world of opportunities at my feet. For the first time ever, I am in a position to find the job I want, to think about my options before jumping into another career. As I said before, it is scary, but it's also rather invigorating. I feel surprisingly at ease and filled with a new-found sense of excitement at my current situation.
Yes, I could have stayed on at my newest job longer and given it a better shot, but I know me. I know that, when I get something in my head, it is almost impossible to change my own mind (I imagine there are several people who can back me up on that point). I know that, if I have already decided it isn't the right fit for me, I'm not going to give it my all, and that wouldn't be fair to the clients or coworkers. The news of my abrupt departure wasn't as well-received as I had hoped, but I suppose I can't really blame them for that; it's never easy or fun to hear that someone you just put through two weeks of training has suddenly changed their mind and is leaving you out of the blue.
I am not going to go into details about precisely why I decided to leave, but before the speculation can escalate, let me just say that no; it was not because I felt overwhelmed or that I had gotten in over my head (as I feared may be the case). The job simply didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be, and I knew I wouldn't be happy doing it for very long. So, I decided it would be best to leave sooner rather than later, before I had established rapport with clients and taken on a full caseload. Maybe I was wrong, but the decision felt--and still feels--right.
So, once again, here I am. Employers of the Kearney-area, be aware; this fox is officially on the hunt.
