How to quit your job

Water Cooler
#1

So…in a prior thread “How to ask for a raise”, I detailed all the reasons why I was disappointed in my current job. I took a 15% pay cut, albeit with the hopes of a great future benefits of a job doing investment work at a CPA firm. Unfortunately, that became a disaster because I was overworked, over-stressed, underpaid, underutilized, underappreciated, insulted, and belittled.

This past Tuesday (or yesterday–however you look at it, and my 37th birthday, to boot) I needed to go to the local payroll office so I could pick up some client documents. Lo and behold, I ran into a CPA that I had dealt with in the past. We talked for a little bit, and he asked me to come in for a formal interview on Monday. Although they don’t currently have an investment practice, they do a lot of estate work and I wouldn’t have to do any of the financial accounting (bookkeeping, debits and credits, journal entries, bank reconciliations, etc.).

Within 30 minutes of leaving their office, I was contacted by another guy with whom I had left my resume four years ago. He was cleaning out his desk, and he happened to stumble upon it. He has a financial planning firm where they also do tax work. (In most traditional CPA firms, the focus is on the tax return. At his firm, the focus is on the actual person, and taxes are just a part of the overall service. This is the kind of firm that I envision.) He is 72 years old and wants to retire. He had planned to turn the business over to his son, but his son died last year, and this leaves him without a succession plan.

Today, he sends me an e-mail. He wants to hire me. My main job will be to transition their practice over to the advisory role (100% of their money is currently in A-shares) in accordance with the new DOL rules. I will still have a lot of tax work to do, but it’s part of the overall financial plan–not just cranking out tax returns as fast as you can. The goal would be for me to take over the practice as an owner (a transition that would take a few years) and eventually own the firm.

So there you have it. I don’t know exactly which job I’m going to take (although I’m leaning toward the latter), but I’m cleaning out my office tomorrow night, and on Friday I’m giving two weeks notice. I don’t know if I should just give him notice without telling him why, or if I should give him a piece of my mind. Part of me thinks that he needs to hear me out, because he’s going to have a hard time keeping people if he misleads them and treats them poorly and pays them slave wages. Another part of me thinks that I should just let it go, because he’s not going to listen. Plus, we’re still both using the same B-D (HD Vest), and we will be seeing each other on a pretty regular basis at chapter meetings and conferences, etc.

Just thought you’d like to know. Any suggestions on how to actually carry this out would be appreciated.

#2

Congratulations, hope things work out in a better light than before.

#3

Congrats greenman, just talk to man to man, tell him the truth and try your best to part on friendly terms.

#4

congrats greenamn. good things happen to good people in the end. whichever way you chose to go dont burn your bridge with this guy. you said before that he is old and i doubt he will change. be polite and know you won in the end.

congrats again.

p.s. what the dress code at the new firms?

#5

Congratulations!

I’d tell him, as politely as possible. His choice to listen or ignore, but you’ll have done the honorable thing.

In 2004 I left a large aerospace company where I’d been working as a risk analyst. My final delivery to my boss was my write-up on why risk analysis would never work at that company (mainly because, in general, they treated risk analysis as a box to be ticked off on a form, not as a serious engineering effort that added value to projects). I suspect that it ended up in a file cabinet (or the waste basket), never to be read.

Interestingly, it became the presentation that I made in my interview with my next employer.

#6

khakis and short sleeve polo

#7

It’s possible that I’m jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I realize that. But it’s clearly not going to work at the current job, so there’s no reason to stick around.

#8

Congrats on both opportunities.

I am currently looking to change my current job so I am much looking forward to the moment when I’ll quit. Enjoy it.

On your question: some people are genuinely not interested in other peoples’ opinion, so maybe he doesn’t even want to hear what you would like to tell him. If he asks, however, empty your bag (in a polite way of course, but polite does not mean sugar-coating in my book). If he doesn’t ask, just walk out of there as if you just did the most trivial banality like bringing him back his post-it block or whatever.

Oh and don’t be afraid about the career change. Successful people don’t let themselves rot in a place that is toxic to them. Don’t fear and don’t listen to the people around you that will tell you the usual bullshit like “give it another two years”, or “maybe you should also do your part to improve as well” or “try to make the most of it”, etc.

#9

I would be cautious about handing in my notice until contracts are signed with a new firm. I know you effectively have two offers here so it’s 99% certain that one of them works out. But that still leaves you with a small chance of being unemployed if you quit too soon.

#10

^^^^^^

I would think this is pretty much a given ?

#11

Congrats greenie :slight_smile:

Quit in style.

#12

You have nothing to gain from giving this joker the cold hard truth. Even if it would help him, he won’t take it to heart from a guy who’s been working there for six months. Just tell him you appreciated the ipportunity to work there but the next job lines up better with your career goals. Don’t talk about comp unless he asks. If he thinks you’re not worthless he’ll probably offer more money to stay. Kindly decline.

I know firsthand it can be REALLY tempting to go out guns blazing but you must resist. Nothing good can come of it.

#13

Yes he does : satisfaction.

And again, the cold hard truth can be conveyed politely, if said manager does ask for the truth.

To each his own, but IMO there is more to human relationships than cold calculations about making as few waves as possible and being “the better man”. We are not robots.

#14

Is it a given? I read from his message that he is quitting tomorrow and as of today he doesn’t even know which of the other two positions he is inclined to accept. So he’d have to be moving very quickly to make that decision and have contracts signed in 24 hours.

#15

being a dick for your own gratification is a dangerous and shortsighted game. Giving polite but unsolicited advise will also likely either offend or be completely disregarded given the source - a six month employee. I guaranty the reaction would be “what the fuck does this idiot know about running a business. I got along just fine for 30 yards without him”.

Now if he asks specific questions about his work experience at the company, that indicates he is genuinely interested in knowing. In that case you tell him honestly and politely.

#16

Well we agree actually.

#17

NO! This is AF. Let’s argue over semantics, minutae, something!

#18

Agree with most of what’s been said. The regret from acting out, even when you perceive it to be justified, is exponentially worse than the regret you’d feel from not saying anything.

Congrats on the new opportunities!

#19

First off, as no one else has said it, happy birthday greenie. Second order of business, congrats on the opportunities.

Like many others said, I’d avoid venting about whats wrong with the business unless he asks specifically. Thank him for the opportunity and just treat it as business, there’s nothing to gain from acting out, especially in a small town.

I do have to say it’s very odd that the 72 year old would just hire you out of the blue, off a 4 year old resume (in which you must have grown since then), and a phone call (?). As a more risk averse person i would be wary of this opportunity as it seems he’s moving with some urgency and I don’t want you to end up with a basket of rotten fruit. Lastly, I’m glad you won’t have to change your wardrobe for the new job!

#20

Congratulations Greenman on your suddenly mushrooming job opportunities. Obviously, submit notice in a professional and courteous manner. Explain to the boss that these new opportunities will allow you to pursue work that is better aligned with your interests and that they offer a clear path to partnership. Do not complain about the work culture at your old company and do not say anything else that is belligerent. There is nothing to be gained from this and the boss might later badmouth you in his circles. He might be shit to his employees, but he surely has some important friends whose opinions you might care about in the future.

More importantly, please examine these new opportunities very closely and openly address all the concerns that you had at your current job. When people are trying to hire you, they are in “sales” mode, and it is up to you to determine what is sugar coated and what is a true benefit to your career. I recall how positive you were when starting your old job and hope that this time, you will not be taken advantage of. Also, I hope you will be able to negotiate a higher salary this time. I’m removed from Midland, TX, but what you had seemed pretty low given your experience level.

Good luck.