How to move on to another job?

[Jessika]

Could you possibly just leave it as, "a better opportunity has been presented to me" or something like that? I have never actually "quit" a job either, but then again, I've never had a real-world career YET. I don't think she really needs to know all the details personally.

That's pretty much how I think I would present it. I would not do it until I had a job offer, and my honest-to-goodness main reason is the commute and gas. Pay, too, but I don't want to present it to her with reasons that she thinks she can work on fixing when I've already brought them up before.

[Jessika]

Well, a quick update... I had an interview today. The clinic is 15 miles away versus 22, not considerably closer but still closer. They are a lot smaller than my current clinic (staff-wise, doctor-wise, and space-wise), but they see a broader range of pets (besides cats and dogs they see a lot of reptiles, birds, and pocket pets! The office manager also showed me a picture where they converted one of the exam rooms into a stall for an alpaca they'd treated!!). While I was there, she made it clear they were short-staffed that day and she was working receptionist. So I was there ~1 1/2 hours because there were so so so many interruptions. We touched basics but I didn't have an opportunity to ask any questions that I'd prepared.

A downside I see is I am currently working full time so my schedule is very limited as to when I can come in for a working interview, and say they decide to hire me, I have to give my two weeks (depending on whether I work those full two weeks is up to my boss). Whereas I know they work with vet tech schools in the area and I know she's had other interviews with techs that I'm sure are ready to start immediately.

I DO have a working interview for next Thursday but she kind of implied that time is of the essence for hiring... and the EARLIEST I would be available to work would be in 3 weeks...

So I left the interview not feeling very confident (even though she, the dr's, and the rest of the staff were all SO nice to me!) because she was working reception as she was interviewing me and we had a ton of interruptions, and I'm not available to start immediately...

[Karen]

Maybe if you are offered the job, you could work something out with your current employer, particularly if you have any sick or vacation day accrued ... Sounds like it could be a good opportunity!

[Jessika]

Maybe if you are offered the job, you could work something out with your current employer, particularly if you have any sick or vacation day accrued ... Sounds like it could be a good opportunity!

I'd thought about that (currently have 4 vacation days remaining) but I know for a fact that she won't do that... At all my previous jobs, any unused vacation days I had left upon giving my two weeks notice was tallied up and I was given a check for the vacation days remaining. She has already made it clear this does not happen at my current job. I also do not get any sick days (well unless I use a vacation day...). We also don't get overtime... if I work more than 80 hours on a paycheck, they cap the check for 80 hours and any time remaining gets "rolled over" onto my next paycheck...

Not to mention the health insurance option they offer us is terrible (HSA account) and there are really no other befits worthwhile besides my 401k they contribute to.

[Cataholic]

While two week notice is appropriate most times and places, I dont think I would let that, alone, stop me from jumping ship, especially since you know your current boss wont be fair to you. Yeah, I get that YOU still need to do the right thing and all.

And, if a prospective employer lets someones start date influence who gets the job, when we are talking about two weeks, that might not be a good sign.

[Jessika]

Working interview yesterday went ok, she was too busy again to talk to me afterwards, though. Hoping she'll find time to call me today. I understand they're busy, but if you're the office manager you really should MAKE time for these things. I feel kind of "pushed off" as far as feeling like a potential employee. I've been very understanding so far but I feel like she isn't really available. And I still have not talked to her about anything regarding benefits, policies, or any of the questions I've had.

I did however get to handle a rooster (it actually pooped in my scrub pocket all over my car keys... haha) and a bearded dragon yesterday... both firsts for me, and the types of pets they see on a regular basis! This seems like a job where my skills as a tech will fully be utilized (however, most said skills I have not actively used in the past 2 years since my current job doesn't "allow" me to use them even though I'm certified and went to school for it...), but the clinic is REALLY old and outdated, the doctor apparently has an "old school" way of doing things that I may not feel comfortable with (spays and neuters without IV catheters or pre-anesthetic labwork kind of makes me uneasy but that may be because I'm not used to it, because I know that happens at A LOTTTTTT of clinics), and the whole place looks kind of "grungy"... and it's small. And they also have one dedicated technician doing surgeries, so unless he is out sick or off that day I will not be doing surgeries, which I kind of wanted to do. BUT if they offer me a lot more than what I'm making now... I may be able to justify making the switch. Another downside though is the commute... I sat in stop-and-go traffic for 15 minutes of the commute... one of the reasons I'm looking for another job is to save on gas, and that certainly isn't saving me any gas...

Oh, also, one of the techs looks like Chuck Norris. No kidding

I did send my resume to another clinic three minutes from where I live but have not heard anything from them, yet. I just have to wait to hear from this clinic today... and I will not accept any job offer immediately (unless they're wanting to offer me $17/hour or something )

[Karen]

Still, sounds like something good will happen soon! Persist at the clinic near you, call just to make sure they got your resumée, or even stop by and introduce yourself to do so ... It cannot hurt!