Can I quit my job? Need advice Forum

[imisscollege]

I am an AmeriCorps VISTA. For all of those not familiar, this is a one-year commitment where you are paid a living stipend by the government to do certain tasks at a nonprofit (usually administrative, behind the scenes stuff). I have done all my tasks and now I am just required to sit here from 9-5 every day until mid august with LS starting either a few days or a week later. I literally hate every single minute of my workweek. And what's worse, I both gun/over-prepare and drink a lot/sleep in/eff around naturally and this is not allowing me to do any of those things. The pay is so low that it's a non-issue. The one thing to note, though, is that if I finish, I get 4000 or so towards law school.

Questions:
How valuable is doing what you want during the 2 months before LS?

Assuming I have no other professional recommendations, how useful is my boss's recommendation for when I try to seek 1L employment?

How important is honoring my commitment in terms of time when, by all standards, I have already honored my commitment in terms of tasks completed (and then some).

Is there a chance that a potential employer will know that by not completing the year, I did not honor my commitment as an AmeriCorps VISTA (all positions are exactly one year).

I am considering t20/t30 scholarships ranging from 45,000-60,000. How important is this 4 grand?

Thank you in advance

[Campagnolo]

I'm in a similar situation, and I have decided to finish out my year. AmeriCorps is a pretty well-known program, and people understand it is a year-long thing. I have a hard time believing, however, that you have single-handidly eradicated poverty in your area. You are in a fantastic position right now. Think up a project and go do it. You have total freedom to come up with something and carry it out. It could potentially do some good for your community, as well as give you a great tool to market yourself with.

The $4,000 is not much money at all, but think of it this way: if you can't get a job right away after graduation, or for whatever reason you can't make student loan payments, you can pull from that $4,000 until you find a job that will pay you. Think of it as a safety net.

[djgoldbe]

The employment is not terribly important. 4K is 4k. Depends how much you value your time and happiness. For me personally I value a summer of my time/happiness higher than 4k, so I would quit.

Edit: going into LS burnt out and unhappy is not setting yourself up to do well.

[imisscollege]

The employment is not terribly important. 4K is 4k. Depends how much you value your time and happiness. For me personally I value a summer of my time/happiness higher than 4k, so I would quit.

How important is having one good professional recommendation when you seek 1L summer employment? I know for non-law stuff, it would of course be important. But I have no idea how the law thing works.

[d34d9823]

The employment is not terribly important. 4K is 4k. Depends how much you value your time and happiness. For me personally I value a summer of my time/happiness higher than 4k, so I would quit.

How important is having one good professional recommendation when you seek 1L summer employment? I know for non-law stuff, it would of course be important. But I have no idea how the law thing works.

I would think (0L here) that 1st semester grades / professor's recommendations >>>>>>> previous LOR.

[CanadianWolf]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

[imisscollege]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

I am to a point. I have already exhausted TLS, all sorts of current events/political things, texts from last night, failblog, fml....what would you do? I also started working on a novel and a TV show. I'm 70 pages into the novel, an episode into the TV show and getting some serious feedback from professionals in the industry. But I still hate my life.

[imisscollege]

The employment is not terribly important. 4K is 4k. Depends how much you value your time and happiness. For me personally I value a summer of my time/happiness higher than 4k, so I would quit.

How important is having one good professional recommendation when you seek 1L summer employment? I know for non-law stuff, it would of course be important. But I have no idea how the law thing works.

I would think (0L here) that 1st semester grades / professor's recommendations >>>>>>> previous LOR.

Can anybody speak from experience on this?

[D. H2Oman]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

I am to a point. I have already exhausted TLS, all sorts of current events/political things, texts from last night, failblog, fml....what would you do? I also started working on a novel and a TV show. I'm 70 pages into the novel, an episode into the TV show and getting some serious feedback from professionals in the industry. But I still hate my life.

You seem like you're a nutjob.

[imisscollege]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

I am to a point. I have already exhausted TLS, all sorts of current events/political things, texts from last night, failblog, fml....what would you do? I also started working on a novel and a TV show. I'm 70 pages into the novel, an episode into the TV show and getting some serious feedback from professionals in the industry. But I still hate my life.

You seem like you're a nutjob.

Care to elaborate? What would you do if you had to sit in front of a comp 9-5 everyday with nothing to do?

[webbylu87]

I'm a VISTA this year and I'll be finishing a week before LS as well. A couple months ago I was pretty unhappy in my position as well but someone shared some blunt, but necessary advice with me I hope will help you.

First off, don't be a quitter. You're not always going to love your job but bad times pass. Is sitting around for another 3.5 months not worth $4,700? Do you really think you'd be able to make that in some other part-time job which is equally as monotonous? Do you really think you can earn $4,700 for school + enough to live on in the next 3.5 months? Financially, I don't think quitting this close to the end is a smart decision.

Second, you signed up for this. You knew it was a 24/7 12-month commitment when you took the position. The commitment is not and never has been based on the number of tasks you complete. Get some perspective. Take the next 3.5 months and give something back to your community. You have your whole life to make bank and screw people over if you so choose. You really need to reflect on whether or not the job failed you or if you've failed the job. This is something I always think about when I feel like my position hasn't met my expectations. Why hasn't it? Are there projects you can take on which you find interesting? How can you improve your experience? Honestly, you're the only one who can make your year better.

Third, if you leave the position early and it is obvious to your supervisor that it's because you hated the job and just wanted to slack off, I would not count on their positive recommendation but would definitely count on having to explain the abnormality on your resume come interview time. If this is the only professional recommendation you may have at your disposal this applies even moreso.

Like I said, this is pretty much the same blunt advice which was given to me by another VISTA a couple months ago. It brought things into perspective for me. I hope it does for you as well.

[SBimmer]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

My vote is "honor" your commitment. You'll have to "stick through" many more (while boring as they wind down) commitments as an adult and lawyer. Honoring this one will give you practice for what's in store for your future.

[D. H2Oman]

Are you permitted to read non-work related material while sitting at your desk doing nothing?

I am to a point. I have already exhausted TLS, all sorts of current events/political things, texts from last night, failblog, fml....what would you do? I also started working on a novel and a TV show. I'm 70 pages into the novel, an episode into the TV show and getting some serious feedback from professionals in the industry. But I still hate my life.

You seem like you're a nutjob.

Care to elaborate? What would you do if you had to sit in front of a comp 9-5 everyday with nothing to do?

Suck it up and follow through with my commitment.

What's your novel about?

[imisscollege]

Sort of tucker max (only a fair amount more emotion attached) meets a modern day version of catcher in the rye. More about the coming of age than the tucker max esque ridiculousness though. And yeah I know he's a tool but one has to admit that his stories are moderately entertaining.

[D. H2Oman]

What about the TV show?

[imisscollege]

It's a sitcom about the world in which I work. I work in "volunteer coordination" as opposed to direct service like most americorps do. Picture the office only with primarily 20-somethings and antics that result from the setting as opposed to purely from the characters. It's difficult to elaborate but if you PM me I can send you the treatment (kind of an elongated pitch).

[imisscollege]

I'm a VISTA this year and I'll be finishing a week before LS as well. A couple months ago I was pretty unhappy in my position as well but someone shared some blunt, but necessary advice with me I hope will help you.

First off, don't be a quitter. You're not always going to love your job but bad times pass. Is sitting around for another 3.5 months not worth $4,700? Do you really think you'd be able to make that in some other part-time job which is equally as monotonous? Do you really think you can earn $4,700 for school + enough to live on in the next 3.5 months? Financially, I don't think quitting this close to the end is a smart decision.

Second, you signed up for this. You knew it was a 24/7 12-month commitment when you took the position. The commitment is not and never has been based on the number of tasks you complete. Get some perspective. Take the next 3.5 months and give something back to your community. You have your whole life to make bank and screw people over if you so choose. You really need to reflect on whether or not the job failed you or if you've failed the job. This is something I always think about when I feel like my position hasn't met my expectations. Why hasn't it? Are there projects you can take on which you find interesting? How can you improve your experience? Honestly, you're the only one who can make your year better.

Third, if you leave the position early and it is obvious to your supervisor that it's because you hated the job and just wanted to slack off, I would not count on their positive recommendation but would definitely count on having to explain the abnormality on your resume come interview time. If this is the only professional recommendation you may have at your disposal this applies even moreso.

Like I said, this is pretty much the same blunt advice which was given to me by another VISTA a couple months ago. It brought things into perspective for me. I hope it does for you as well.

I do plan on going into DA's office-type PI law (not screwing people over) but overall this is good advice. All things considered, I do think that my heart and mind are/were there but that the position just is lacking. Basically, there are too many VISTAs for the amount that needs to be done so we all find ourselves with a fair amount of free time.

[The Pen Is Mightier]

You seem like you're a nutjob.

Care to elaborate? What would you do if you had to sit in front of a comp 9-5 everyday with nothing to do?

I would celebrate. Try doing it from 9am-11pm (average) for 2 years.

The only way I know how to relate to people anymore is anecdotes about youtube videos and lame dad jokes.

Then talk to me about nutjob.

[yeff]

I realize you are bored and it is making you unhappy. But take a step back.

Here is the situation you have described: You are being paid (very little, but PAID) to read for pleasure. You get 40 paid hours a week to do pretty much whatever you want.

No responsibilities, no expectations, no pressure.

If this was an indefinite circumstance, that'd be one thing. But it is for a few months and then you're starting law school.

Now think about the rest of your life going forward, as a law student and then as a lawyer. When is the next time you will have this kind of freedom - to write a novel, surf the web, whatever?

Yes, its not quite a paid deferral where you can collect a stipend and go to Europe. But it is pretty damn great, objectively.

So
1) suck it up and
2a) do as Campagnolo and webbylu87 have suggested and take some initiative.
2b) realize that it is absurd to whine about being paid to do nothing and find ways to enjoy yourself. the internet is a pretty big place.

[D. H2Oman]

It's a sitcom about the world in which I work. I work in "volunteer coordination" as opposed to direct service like most americorps do. Picture the office only with primarily 20-somethings and antics that result from the setting as opposed to purely from the characters. It's difficult to elaborate but if you PM me I can send you the treatment (kind of an elongated pitch).

Any chance there is a part for me in this show? I was thinking about acting part time during law school.

[webbylu87]

I do plan on going into DA's office-type PI law (not screwing people over) but overall this is good advice. All things considered, I do think that my heart and mind are/were there but that the position just is lacking. Basically, there are too many VISTAs for the amount that needs to be done so we all find ourselves with a fair amount of free time.

The fact that you're PI-minded (as am I; I just didn't want to assume that was the case with you) is even more reason you need to stay in the position. Quitting what is essentially a short-term PS job because you want to slack off will not be beneficial in the future given your career goals.

If the position is lacking, do something to make it better. Create a project, plan a volunteer appreciation party, take on another task, etc... Just do SOMETHING. If there's anything I've learned about being a VISTA it's that a lot of times you really need to generate your own work. Supervisors are often spread too thin to really offer you substantive advice as to what you should be working on. If you're looking for a recommendation for future PI/PS work, really take the next 3.5 months to impress your supervisor. Shit, son. If you're going to finish this year, go all out and do it right.

[imisscollege]

I do plan on going into DA's office-type PI law (not screwing people over) but overall this is good advice. All things considered, I do think that my heart and mind are/were there but that the position just is lacking. Basically, there are too many VISTAs for the amount that needs to be done so we all find ourselves with a fair amount of free time.

The fact that you're PI-minded (as am I; I just didn't want to assume that was the case with you) is even more reason you need to stay in the position. Quitting what is essentially a short-term PS job because you want to slack off will not be beneficial in the future given your career goals.

If the position is lacking, do something to make it better. Create a project, plan a volunteer appreciation party, take on another task, etc... Just do SOMETHING. If there's anything I've learned about being a VISTA it's that a lot of times you really need to generate your own work. Supervisors are often spread too thin to really offer you substantive advice as to what you should be working on. If you're looking for a recommendation for future PI/PS work, really take the next 3.5 months to impress your supervisor. Shit, son. If you're going to finish this year, go all out and do it right.

All good advice but I already completely revamped one of my two programs. And then the other issue is that the office is in shambles. I have gone through 3 supervisors in 8 months, one of the vistas quit because she hated the current one so much, and it feels like full time staff are getting fired left and right. In the beginning, I was entertained by the drama, but now I am back to just feeling undervalued and horrifically bored.

[webbylu87]

All good advice but I already completely revamped one of my two programs. And then the other issue is that the office is in shambles. I have gone through 3 supervisors in 8 months, one of the vistas quit because she hated the current one so much, and it feels like full time staff are getting fired left and right. In the beginning, I was entertained by the drama, but now I am back to just feeling undervalued and horrifically bored.

Fair enough. Those are definite difficulties and coming from what is a fairly stable working environment, I can't imagine how frustrating that would be. With that said, although it's incredibly annoying, I don't see how quitting would be good for your future financially or professionally. I'd still stick it out. Do what you can to make yourself busy with work and stay removed from the craziness as much as possible. I find that when I'm not doing work things and am just perusing the internet, I feel like the day has been a waste. Create as much work as you can even if it's something that will only take a day or two.

Do you have vacation/sick time left? Take advantage of it and take some time to recuperate if you're feeling frustrated. My boss allows me to keep comp time as well which has been greatly beneficial.

[legalease9]

Stick with it. You won't be doing it that much longer, and you never know when work experience like this can help (or burn) you in the future.

[djgoldbe]

Obviously - if you can make some better use of your time (reading, writing, finding some project to start / get involved in) - you should do that. Salvaging this situation and finishing out the job would obviously be better than quitting. But assuming your misery and continued monotony of your job is assured - which is a pretty hard assumption to believe - then I would quit. It really all depends on that assumption being true or not. Just don't spend your summer being miserable / unhealthy and start LS like that because your setting yourself up for failure.