To quit my job because I am crap at it

[crapatwork]

Is it unreasonable to quit for these reasons?

Probably not. But I feel I am useless at work and I feel like a fraud taking money for a job I'm rubbish at

[steff13]

Why do you feel like you're bad at it? Instead of quitting, why not focus on what you can do to improve?

You're not a doctor, are you?

[maydancer]

Well what makes you think you ate crap? Do you just need more practice?

[maydancer]

Not ate crap!! I need a bigger keypad or smaller fingers

[steff13]

You would know if you ate crap, I'm pretty sure. :) That typo made me laugh.

[Schwabischeweihnachtskanne]

Depends really, bit of a how long is a piece of string question.

You might be better suited to something else. Or you might just need more training and or experience. Or you might not be any worse than your colleagues and just have low self esteem or a colleague who is making you feel unjustifiably rubbish by putting you down... Is your self-perceived rubbishness actually potentially harmful to anyone? If not at least find something else before quitting!

A lot of people feel a bit of a fraud about going about the various aspects of being a grown up, as if they are just blagging it and will get caught out... There is actually a name for that feeling, can't remember what it is... Feeling like that doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with a lack of average competence!

[crapatwork]

Ate crap made me laugh as well and I've had a little cry so thanks for that, best typo ever.

No, not a doctor!

[Schwabischeweihnachtskanne]

Imposter Syndrome

[crapatwork]

No, I am crap.

[Whatatotalmess]

You may or may not be crap at your job but that may perhaps be secondary to the importance of your feeling that you are crap, and the fear and anxiety that goes with that. We spend such a large proportion of our lives at work that any doubts over our professional adequacy can end up affecting how we see ourselves in all spheres.

Whilst we probably can't comment on whether you should resign for reasons of professional competency, YWDNBU for making an active choice to do something which made you feel good about yourself and which didn't leave you feeling unhappy and frightened.

Everyone is good at something but, as I believe the saying goes, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that it is stupid...

[Archaea]

You're not crap - you're just learning and you'll get there. We've all felt unsure at some point - what field are you in?

[steff13]

If you tell us how, maybe we can help. Do you not have the required education for your job? Do you need help with specific tasks that you're just not understanding?

I have a professional, responsible job, in the legal field. 99% of the time, I think I'm quite good at my job. But, every once in a while, I'll encounter a few days or a week where everything just goes wrong, and I feel like an imposter, like I have no idea what I'm doing. Are you just having some bad days, maybe?

[crapatwork]

Just learning for ten years?

[Ragusa]

I think it depends on what the job is. If it's something very highly technical, for example, and you have no eye for detail or poor mental maths etc., then yes, I would say investigate other options. If it's a technocratic office-based job there is so much scope to improve performance that I'd think twice. I used to be fairly middling but now I'd say I'm one of the better performers at work.

Also, lots of people men never stop to even contemplate that they might be crap at their jobs. They have brass neck that makes them seem as if they're better than you when they are really not.

[crapatwork]

It's really hard as I am good at some aspects but other parts I'm rubbish at, it makes me miserable and dread those parts.

[TattyCat]

I quit mine when I became crap at it. I became crap because I started to hate the environment and the culture, so I changed and started my own business. I could do that because the job I became crap at paid well enough that I could save a couple of year's salary and invest in myself.

But I did both the company and myself a favour by leaving.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Are you going through a disciplinary to do with you being crap at your work?

Do you like your job? (Sounds as if you don't).

Was the 10 years learning a joke or not?! If it wasn't then I would think either about the company where you work, could you leave, what else is happening are you being bullied etc?

Most people day to day do think (like I do) "yes I'm actually quite good at my job" - I'm a legal secretary/PA but with years of PA experience and though I have off days (like today where I couldn't settle but where also I had to juggle a lot of tasks) generally I know I'm good because I wouldn't be employed and be paid quite a good salary otherwise.

[EmbroideryQueen]

Either aim to improve skills in the areas you probably aren't are crap in, or behave more comfidently and be happy you have a job and they're presumably happy with your performance. Basically, no need to quit, just improve or man up and stop caring!

[SoHereItIs2016]

Oh tell us what it is???? !!!

[ShatnersBassoon]

Just how bad are you? Has it been recorded, officially, that you struggle to meet the standards required?

[ForeverLivingMyArse]

If your cheapness impacts other people then yes, quit.

I have a carp manager who is dangerous she's so useless and in such a small organisation there's no one above her to get rid. She's losing staff, people are off sick and funding is drying up. She's so crap she will run that place into the ground.

She should leave, she doesn't know how crap she is.

[steff13]

What have your performance evaluations been like?

[janethegirl2]

Most people hope no one realises their weaknesses. Some days I think I'm crap at work but I'm not.
Why do you think you're crap? Are your colleagues better, more educated, more confident or more full of bullshit? Once you've worked out the answer, I'm sure you are fine at your job.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Can you ask for training/feedback re the other parts? Are you no good at taking it in or for example is it something you're just not good (the other parts) at so you feel crap at it?

Eg i sometimes have to type and add up complex completion statements which involves calculating percentages for VAT, I don't necessarily like doing them but get accounts to double check them (I was never good at maths at school) but have had to get better at doing them as its a necessary evil. However as it can take a while to type them up along with other work I prefer notice for them and not last minute stuff and also as it needs to be correct (asking clients for many thousands of pounds and getting it wrong is never good!) I've also asked my boss can he either double check or get accounts again to do this.

[TattyCat]

What is it about the job that means you're crap, op? Do you just not like a specific part of the job and therefore abandon it, or is it something you really don't understand how to do? What makes you crap at it?

[SuperFlyHigh]

Forever I've had several managers that way inclined really dire to work for!