I hate my job UGH

[gabyoh23]

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So, I'm working full time in a plasma donation facility, and I've had the opportunity to educate many underserved/uninsured people about their health and wellbeing, which is something that I address in basically all of my secondary essays.

HOWEVER, I hate this job so much. I am constantly disrespected by the plasma donors, and a day doesn't go by where I'm not sexually or racially harassed by them. The management and other employees don't do anything to address their behavior and allow them to act in this disrespectful and unprofessional way. I'm not asking for prim and proper donors; I'm just asking for some common decency! On top of that, the hours are horrendous and the pay is barely above minimum wage (which doesn't bode well for someone trying to save to pay off undergrad student loans).

I really don't see myself staying in this job, but I know that it's probably going to come up in interviews. I wouldn't necessarily bring up the fact that I quit after only 3 months, but what if the interviewers ask me if I'm still in the job? What would an appropriate response to that be? In other words, what reasons would be acceptable to state to med school interviewers as to why I left this job?

Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[shaboobly]

You need to be honest and explain truthfully why you want to leave the job. Maybe you can actually mention that your coworkers don't act professional towards you, other coworkers, and donors.. As for the donors themselves.. that's part of your job. You can't just quit because the donors are mean...

 

[jk1006]

i mean just say what you just said but in a politically correct manner

just say that although you liked the subject area, it wasnt a healthy working environment due to multiple factors involved, so you thought it best to look for employment elsewhere

 

[kami333]

the hours are horrendous and the pay is barely above minimum wage

^ This.

 

[theseeker4]

You need to be honest and explain truthfully why you want to leave the job. Maybe you can actually mention that your coworkers don't act professional towards you, other coworkers, and donors.. As for the donors themselves.. that's part of your job. You can't just quit because the donors are mean...

The last two sentences are key. If you think as a doctor, patients are suddenly going to start treating you better, you might want to look into non-service oriented jobs as alternatives to being a physician. This type of person is going to be your patient no matter which specialty you choose (barring rad and path of course), so if this bothers you so much now, why do you think you won't hate your job when you are a physician?

 

[gabyoh23]

Oops double post

 

[gabyoh23]

Thanks for the advice!

Yeah, I just can't stand it too much anymore, and I was just wondering how I would address it with med schools. I want to be honest, but I'm not sure if my honest answer would be looked down upon :/

 

[DokterMom]

So, I'm working full time in a plasma donation facility, and I've had the opportunity to educate many underserved/uninsured people about their health and wellbeing, which is something that I address in basically all of my secondary essays.

HOWEVER, I hate this job so much. I am constantly disrespected by the plasma donors, and a day doesn't go by where I'm not sexually or racially harassed by them. The management and other employees don't do anything to address their behavior and allow them to act in this disrespectful and unprofessional way. I'm not asking for prim and proper donors; I'm just asking for some common decency! On top of that, the hours are horrendous and the pay is barely above minimum wage (which doesn't bode well for someone trying to save to pay off undergrad student loans).

I really don't see myself staying in this job, but I know that it's probably going to come up in interviews. I wouldn't necessarily bring up the fact that I quit after only 3 months, but what if the interviewers ask me if I'm still in the job? What would an appropriate response to that be? In other words, what reasons would be acceptable to state to med school interviewers as to why I left this job?

Thanks so much for the advice!

Sorry OP - I know this isn't what you want to hear. But you need to solve this problem, not quit.

As some other posters have pointed out, you will be dealing with patient jerks as a physician also. While your white coat may help provide a bit of respect, it won't turn jerks into non-jerks. And respect from your colleagues? You'll have to earn it. You are, after all, low man on the totem pole.

Look carefully at your dress and demeanor. I don't want to 'blame the victim' here, but are there things you could change that might change the way you're treated? You mention sexual harassment. Are your clothes tight or revealing? Sexy? Bright? Could a change of wardrobe redirect patients' attention off your body? Not that the way you dress makes sexual harassment OK -- Just the plain reality that every attractive young woman knows -- The way you dress can invite sexual attention or not. Be sure you are sending the proper message. Maybe ask to wear a lab coat or scrubs?

For your colleagues - look at your behavior and how they treat each other for clues. Who is professional in general and who is not? Who can you ask for guidance? Who can you emulate? Who needs an icy stare or no-mistaking it 'knock it off!' comment? Who should you ask for advice regarding handling the jerk-patients?

Every medical school interview includes some version of the "Give me an example of a difficult situation and how you handled it?" question. This is clearly your example. Don't let the 'how you handled it' part be that you quit after three months...

 

[GoPelicans]

The last two sentences are key. If you think as a doctor, patients are suddenly going to start treating you better, you might want to look into non-service oriented jobs as alternatives to being a physician. This type of person is going to be your patient no matter which specialty you choose (barring rad and path of course), so if this bothers you so much now, why do you think you won't hate your job when you are a physician?

It's easier to deal with difficult people when you are being compensated six figures to do so. OP is getting barely above mininum wage. I don't blame her at all.

 

[theseeker4]

It's easier to deal with difficult people when you are being compensated six figures to do so. OP is getting barely above mininum wage. I don't blame her at all.

I have complete sympathy for wanting to quit a job where people, be they fellow employees or "customers," treat you like crap. I also think it would be a disservice to NOT point out that the same treatment is in store for any doctor who hopes to treat patients in person. Some things are made a lot better by money, others are deal breakers no matter what the compensation when you are talking about the rest of your professional lives. This depends entirely on the person and his or her personality. However, it is something the OP needs to examine now, before he or she is in six-figure debt from med school, and not simply trust that "more money will make it more tolerable."

 

[HopefulReapp]

The last two sentences are key. If you think as a doctor, patients are suddenly going to start treating you better, you might want to look into non-service oriented jobs as alternatives to being a physician. This type of person is going to be your patient no matter which specialty you choose (barring rad and path of course), so if this bothers you so much now, why do you think you won't hate your job when you are a physician?

I guess I have the opposite experience that you do. Patients are usually at their best behavior when the physician comes around to examine them in the hospital, and at their worst when they feel that a PCA/nurse is their personal slave.

 

[theseeker4]

I guess I have the opposite experience that you do. Patients are usually at their best behavior when the physician comes around to examine them in the hospital, and at their worst when they feel that a PCA/nurse is their personal slave.

Hey, I am not saying other professions in the healthcare field don't have it worse, but "best behavior" of some people is still miles below what should be expected in a civilized society, that is all I am saying. 😀

 

[Greedo]

Sorry OP - I know this isn't what you want to hear. But you need to solve this problem, not quit.

As some other posters have pointed out, you will be dealing with patient jerks as a physician also. While your white coat may help provide a bit of respect, it won't turn jerks into non-jerks. And respect from your colleagues? You'll have to earn it. You are, after all, low man on the totem pole.

Look carefully at your dress and demeanor. I don't want to 'blame the victim' here, but are there things you could change that might change the way you're treated? You mention sexual harassment. Are your clothes tight or revealing? Sexy? Bright? Could a change of wardrobe redirect patients' attention off your body? Not that the way you dress makes sexual harassment OK -- Just the plain reality that every attractive young woman knows -- The way you dress can invite sexual attention or not. Be sure you are sending the proper message. Maybe ask to wear a lab coat or scrubs?

For your colleagues - look at your behavior and how they treat each other for clues. Who is professional in general and who is not? Who can you ask for guidance? Who can you emulate? Who needs an icy stare or no-mistaking it 'knock it off!' comment? Who should you ask for advice regarding handling the jerk-patients?

Every medical school interview includes some version of the "Give me an example of a difficult situation and how you handled it?" question. This is clearly your example. Don't let the 'how you handled it' part be that you quit after three months...

I disagree with this. I've worked in hostile environments before, and it can start to feel like you're slowly dying. And it's not your fault you're being harassed. Patients will treat you better once you're an MD.

If you can quit your job, do it. That still doesn't address your concerns about how to explain it in an interview, but I agree with the people above who said to try to explain it professionally. That said, I'm going to avoid mentioning my horrible work experience in my interviews. If it comes up, I'll say something about how I wasn't learning anything new from it after X number of months.

 

[Nimalin]

Sorry to hear that. It sucks to spend everyday in a situation that makes you feel bad about yourself. You mentioned you have student loans. Would you be able to get by if you quit your job? If your parents are kind enough to have you back at home, you could find something else, part time or even unpaid, that is more fulfilling. You'll like it more, you'll contribute more, and your enthusiasm will show through the interview.

I don't think you have to be miserable and do something you hate everyday to prove you can be a doctor. The ability to realize you're in a bad situation and get out of is an equally important skill. That's one way you can frame it in interviews.