Do you know how to pull a "Slater"? This past week Steve Slater left his job, in fact, he flew the coop. He has become the modern example of "take this job and shove it" He was the former JetBlue flight attendant who told his employer & his passengers where to go, (and I don't mean which gate!) This raises a question, how do you quit and, when is the right time to quit? This week's podcast is from our Canadian Career Development Webinar with Karen Burns author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use! Karen has had 59 jobs and quit 58 times (she was only fired once) she is an expert in knowing how and when to quit.
There are different ways to leave a job, want to know how to pull a Slater?
1. Make it fun; Grab two beers from (ideally from the work fridge).
2. Be honest; Tell as many people as you can, how you really feel.
3. Make it memorable; Leave the office as quickly and dramatically, as possible.
Ok, in all seriousness, you probably don't want to pull a "Slater". I do think people relate to his frustration and his courage. He has had his 15 minutes of fame & will probably have an appearance on Good Morning America, a book deal, and even his own iPhone application. That said, I would rather pull a "Sully". Remember Capt. Chesley Sullenberger II!, the pilot that landed his plane on the Hudson river, and then shortly after, left his job with U.S. Airways.
Karen shared in my interview with her "knowing when to quit and how to quit, are fundamental skills in managing your career." I agree, you can ether pull as "Slater" or a "Sully". Both men will move on to newer pastures, but lets face it, Steven will have to open more doors (pun intended) & Captain Sully will have a lot of doors open for him.
This week's 60 Second Workout-Get prepared for new opportunity by refreshing your resume.
Continue the conversation on my blog. Share a story about how you quit your job.
This week's CareerPoll : Why was the way Steven Slater quit his job such a big news story?
FREE Webinar: Get the Right Career Right Now! Invest 1 hour of your time to help manage risk in your career? Join me Wed, Aug 18 12-1 P.M. ET. This complimentary 1-hour workshop is based on my book, Get the Right Job Right Now! It's easy to learn simple ways to take control of your career, all from the comfort & convenience of your own desk. Limited to 20 participants. Click to register.
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This is your Captain speaking, along the road with you!
Alan
PS. Join me Wed Aug 25 in Vancouver 6-8 PM I am speaking on Personal Branding - What's Yours? Click here for more details.
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Love the deep fryer story!!!
Good for you!!! I wish I had the guts to do something like that!!!!
Take this Job and Deepfry It
Your invitation to tell a story about how you quit a job was too juicy to resist.
This happened years ago, when I worked for a seafood restaurant in the Byward Market in Ottawa. On my first day I was asked to take a t-shirt from the box, and this, with black pants would be my uniform for my job as a server.
My first day, I showed up in my nice new logoed tshirt to work my shift. During my shift, I was in the server station by the kitchen, and the manager came up to me - way inside the bubble. With his eyes planted firmly on "the ladies", if you get my drift, he suggested that my tips might be better if I chose a smaller size of tshirt. I politely declined and went past him to continue serving my tables.
But he wouldn't let it go. Oh, no. Every time I worked a shift he would make some new comment about how much nicer I would look, or how much better business it would be, and of course the tips, if I would just tighten up the hold on his favourite staring object.
About 3 weeks into it, I snapped. Something inside me just blew a valve or something. I walked into the kitchen, and stripped off the tshirt. The kitchen staff went wild. I dropped the shirt into a basket, and dropped it into the deep fryer. Gave it a minute or so, and then lifted the basket, gave it a shake, walked to his office where he had retreated, and dumped it onto his desk. "There," I said. "Is it small enough for you NOW!?!?"
With that, I walked through the restaurant, in my bra. The patrons, having heard the kitchen going wild, went wild. I stomped down the stairs to my locker, and left. Never went back.
Beat that.