I Quit My Job. I Think I’m Going to Puke.
Resigning from my career is gut-wrenching
I could barely get through the phone call as I spoke to my boss in between sobs.
Ugh, embarrassing.
A phone call wasn’t in the plan. I had an email ready to go that I planned on sending Tuesday morning, but I jumped the gun. I called her Monday morning.
I had been planning my resignation for months. As the deadline approached, I became anxious — very anxious. I knew it was the right move for me, no doubt. I didn’t expect the flood of emotions.
I was on the sales floor, fighting back tears at the thought of leaving my team when a customer was rude to us. I told him not to be rude to us; there were only three of us on the floor.
He threw a fit. “Do you know who I am?” he yelled at me across the store as I was helping another customer on the phone. That was it.
I walked to the office, called my boss, and resigned. I cried my eyes out. It was not the elegant exit I had imagined.
I loved retail.
I’ve worked in retail for twenty-four years, and for the past nine years, I have led teams in this one building.
I’ve loved it.
The building was thoroughly remodeled six years ago, which meant working fourteen-hour overnight shifts. Our business exploded after that, and our teams got huge.
We hire fifty seasonal sales associates twice a year. That’s about 450 people we’ve interviewed, hired, and trained since I’ve been there.
College kids come back every summer and holiday to work, and it’s the most fun thing ever.
Working with teenagers and college kids is a match made in heaven for me. I adore it.
So, why leave it?
Pandemic retail sucks hard.
Retail is a blast! Pandemic retail sucks hard.
Eighteen months ago, I started writing online. Twelve months ago, I found a writing community. The more I wrote, the more I wanted to learn and help others.
The projects that I am a part of through writing are crazy exciting!
I spent every free moment at my computer, often running late to work because I was writing. I’ve even fallen asleep at my laptop after closing my store late at night. I knew this had to be my next career, but I didn’t want to leave all the people on my team. I adore seeing them every day. They make me laugh so hard.
We support each other fiercely.
With an end date in mind, I let my support leaders know. As the date approached, I think they were more okay with me leaving than I was. Every time I thought about it, I wanted to puke, but I knew I had to quit.
As a store manager, I am also bored. Nine years is a long time to run one building. I could do this job in my sleep which is a good indicator that I should leave.
Here I go.
Although I’m crying my eyes out, I know it’s the right move.
There are a million emotions wrapped up in this for me.
- Pride — I made retail a career for twenty-four years and smashed it.
- Love — I love the business of retail, the operations, and the human connection.
- Familiarity — it’s predictable, which is comforting. I know what’s going to happen each month.
- Merchandising — I cannot tell you how much I love eyeing the new product every morning, rolling racks jam-packed with new stuff. Re-working the store to make product move is so my jam. Hey, this jacket isn’t selling. We move it to the front — gone! I love it.
So — back to love.
A retail career has been my pride and joy, my identity. I’ve missed all holiday gatherings as an adult by choice. I was so proud of how hard I was working. But now I’m in a different place.
Most of us are.
Although I’m crying my eyes out, I know it’s the right move.
I may puke — in the most positive way possible.
My retail friends will stay friends; we’ll just now interact on our phones rather than in person.
I still plan to advocate for the retail field every day and write about leadership weekly.
My life is about to change enormously, and I couldn’t be more excited but I must also say goodbye. Saying goodbye to a leadership position is gut-wrenching.
As a leader, my job is to make sure my team is okay. It’s really tough to now step away from that now and focus on my own growth.
I may puke — in the most positive way possible.
About Kit
Kit Campoy is a former retail professional turned freelance writer. She writes about Leadership, Retail, and Web3. Contact Kit for your content needs.