The Last Straw

I feel so miserable right now... it's 1:16am and I'm up bingeing on tortilla chips... work was utterly horrid. It usually is bad on Sundays but tonight was extremely heinous. If it wasn't one thing needing to be fixed, it was another. At the end of the shift, I messed up and we can't figure out how to fix my mistake. I feel terrible but I was being pulled in twelve ****ing directions at that time. My boss tells me not to stress, that we can only do so much and not to get overwhelmed, but when it's just me and one other person scheduled at the busiest stations, when the work just keeps coming through and we clearly won't be able to get it all done, when everything is breaking down at once, when we all feel like the other shift has it in for us, when I am tired and my wrists and feet are throbbing with pain from the repetitive motions I do as part of my job, how well do you think that advice holds up? I want to quit very badly, but my benefits are through this job and it pays well. They recently increased our shift differential, and I think it's because they realize how burnt out and frustrated everyone on my shift is. I like a lot of the people I work with, and I think people there like me, but I am so ****ing shanked from this job. But what the hell do I tell interviewers when they ask me why I want to leave? "Because Management is inept and can't get their **** together"? "Because it's making me utterly miserable"? "Because I am exhausted and burnt out and in pain and I want a job that doesn't do this to me"? Interviewers don't respond well to answers like that. I feel so alone. I feel unloved. I feel unheard and unseen. I'm angry and hurt and frustrated and exhausted and yet I can't get to sleep. My kitty is crouched at my feet... at least someone still wants me, I guess. I don't want to go into work tomorrow. The very thought fills me with terror and dread. I just don't know what to do anymore.

I can completely relate to your job stress. I loved my last job for the first 15 years. Then I got a new boss and had the 3 worst years of my career before I left. I hated going to work those last few years.

You're right that interviewers don't want the emotional truth of why you want a new job. Maybe a way to phrase it to an interviewer who asks why you are leaving your old job is to say its time for you to take the next step and have a different work experience where you can have the opportunity to learn something new. Then ask the interviewer a question about job development or employee engagement.
I hope things get better for you.

So Sorry that things are being so hard! Please do not give up! i partly agree with the wise and wonderful RollercoasterLover about Hoping things get better for you. i don't think you need to tell every detail in a job interview so perhaps keep it a bit generic if they ask questions about it. i don't think there's any shame in saying that you didn't like the job/company and you want to try something else but i may be wrong about that. Perhaps check out some tips online about things to do/not to do in job interviews in general. i think changing jobs may be beneficial to you and your own Health so Please do seriously consider it if you haven't already. Sorry if this post isn't really Helpful. i do really Hope that things will Improve for everyone. Hugs. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @indigo1015, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

Those are some really great ideas for how to phrase my reasons for leaving, thank you!

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Thanks MickeyCheeky, I appreciate the support!

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I left my previous job to the one I have now over 6 years ago, I was stressed and unhappy and knew I needed to get out. I worried too that interviewers would want to know why I was leaving. I even posted on here (under my old username) to ask for advice.

Actually the interview for the job I have now went like a dream, no questions about why I was leaving. Maybe I was lucky I don't know (I've had another job interview since and they also didn't ask why I wanted to leave my job). But just in case it's a good idea to have a positive response. In my case I was going to say I wanted a less office based job (which was in essence true) and a more hands on role. It's good to keep it positive and keep on focusing on the job you want next.

I'm sorry you're going through this btw, and wish you lots of luck going forward. In my experience leaving somewhere you are miserable can be the right thing for your own wellbeing.