Step away from the flamethrower...
Put down the gasoline...
Refrain from burning bridges...
I know flight attendant Steven Slater is the hero of the day. He stuck it to "the man," quit his dead end job and made his grand exit. But if you leave your job willingly or unwillingly, we all aren't going to have a couple beers, a giant slide and movie and book offers waiting for us. If you gotta go, try not to burn the bridge behind you (and try hard).
Reasons to keep your cool:
We're all connected in this business. I've said this often. If you don't believe me, search some random names on Linkedin. You may find yourself just one connection away from that person. So if you quit or are laid off from your job, don't curse out everyone as you walk out of the door. I'm not much of a jumper, but people in advertising move around a lot. So that person you told to "kiss your ass" at your last job, may be the ass you have to kiss to get your next job.
You may be able to come back. Years ago, I left an agency on good terms and came back to take another job. I've been laid off from another agency, only to return has a freelancer. That was a bitter pill to swallow, but I also liked eating three meals a day.
Resources and references. Don't beat up on HR. They are just the messengers. You want them on your side, because they may be your only access to things you may need in the future (401K information, job leads, references). Plus, the co-workers you didn't curse out may also be able to help you find your way to a new position.
Fortunately, I've never been the disgruntled employee, even when I was laid off back in the day. Sure, I went through all of the phases — sadness to frustration to anger. Still, I've always left on a positive note. There's nothing to gain by making enemies. Even if the job treats you like crap right up until you exit, try to take the high road. Lowering yourself to their standards will only hurt you in the end. Every job has its good and bad points. By keeping your mind focused on the good, you may end up taking your finger off of the flamethrower trigger and maintaining good contacts and references for the future.
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