I know this is a very personal question, but I’d like guidance from others. Sorry it’s long.
I’ve been working in the dining for the last two months and I hate it. I hate dealing with my manager who “forgets” to tell me that I’m actually working a different station right after I finish refilling all the milks and juices and teas. I hate working dinner shifts where I work for five hours after classes from 9-4 and then have little strength after work to study a lot. I hate the loneliness: I can’t talk to anyone during work even though my managers will just sit together and start talking. I feel inadequate all the time: I’m too slow in the dish room and I’m too slow at closing my stations. I haven’t been taught how to make the coffee or tea because my manager doesn’t know how to (there’s no training so I constantly have to figure out things).
I can’t request fewer hours as I’m doing the bare minimum (8.5-13 hours a week). I can’t do breakfast or lunch shifts because they overlap with my classes slightly, and I can’t work on the weekends because they’re all taken (freshman choose shifts last). P
I know I’m whining and that life isn’t going to hand me an easy job that I love, which is why I’m considering not quitting. I don’t want to feel that I just quit whatever I don’t like. I know many parts of life I’ll hate and I can’t run away and quit. I don’t need this job at all, I just thought it would be nice to have my own income instead of relying on my parents all the time. I know I’m incredibly lucky that I can just up and quit a job without any repercussions unlike many of my peers who exceed 18 credits and are still working full time to afford food and shelter.
So, in your opinion, should I quit or push through?
Why don’t you see if you can find a different part-time job? People do this all the time. They don’t like a job, they first find one that they like better, then quit the one they don’t like. That way you meet your goal of earning some of your own income, but are also taking care of yourself and how you feel by making a change in a positive direction.
What @NorthernMom61 said. You’re right in that life isn’t always going to hand you a job that you love, and there will probably be times in your life when you can’t quit your job. Fortunately for you, it doesn’t sound like this is one of them.
Don’t think of it as running away. You’d be moving on. People move on to better jobs or jobs they prefer every day. A job you hate is exhausting. A job you like and feel like you are good at will give you more confidence, a better attitude, and that will permeate other areas of your life in a positive way.
Find something you like, or at least don’t hate. Life is short.
I think this is a good opportunity to examine some excellent life skills.
You have learned that some managers are not good at managing
You have learned that the new person gets the scut work and lowest seniority. (but that is normal and to be expected)
You have learned that you like a job with some personal interaction
You have learned that some jobs are not for you
You have learned you like a job where you get more formal training
You have learned that an optional job should not take priority over your school work
You have learned you do not have to stay in a job you hate.
You will learn how to quit a job professionally.
I would quit. There is a difference between “wah, I will only take the perfect job” and “This job is not a good fit for me and I do not need the money so why make myself miserable when I should be working on school.”
If you have a 3.0 GPA and worked 13 hours a week in the dining hall, or you could have a 3.5 and not work, every employer will take the 3.5 everytime.
Work over the summer/xmas break and save all that money for your spending money.
First see if there is any thing you signed/were given about how much notice you need to give if any.
Tell your boss “I want to thank you for the opportunity, but it seems that the hours I can work are interfering too much with my school work so I am going to resign from this job. If you need this to be two weeks notice I can continue working for the next two weeks, otherwise I would like to resign as soon as possible. Also, do I need to give you anything in writing or will this suffice?”
Maybe see if you can find a weekend job or something.