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bosch77 · New User Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

I have been working in East Africa for the last year, and am growing increasingly dissatisfied with my position, pay, benefits, and just generally being here.

I work for an NGO, and have not yet finished my undergraduate education. We are essentially a volunteer program, and the bulk of our staff--including me--are former volunteers. The position I accepted included a contract that has me here until December 2009, and the exit requirements are four weeks notice.

My dilemma however, is that offering only four weeks notice will put the organization in an extremely difficult position. We run four volunteer programs per year. I am finishing the first at current, and the second begins towards the end of May, but is very setup intensive in terms of the work that goes in prior to volunteers' arrivals. Not only do I not want to burn bridges with other staff and management, but I don't want to risk the feasibility of running the first program. It will take at least four weeks to even find somebody to take my position, and probably longer to get them to relocate to East Africa. Upon arrival, it would be ideal if I am present to assist in getting them up to speed on running programs. There aren't many options for other people to get them up to speed...

So what I'm considering doing is telling my boss my intention of leaving my position after the first program, roughly the end of July. This allows me to return to the US in time to resume my education, my primary motivation for leaving, and would allow them enough time to find somebody and get them trained.

I, of course, would be happy to leave even earlier, but can't imagine four weeks being enough time for my departure to not deal a serious blow to the work here.

Is giving that much notice, (July 20th), while helping my organization, putting me in a bad situation? I'm just sort of lost as to how to handle this best.

Any input is much appreciated.

Best,

bosch

Pauloz · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:46 am Post subject:

bosch

The ethical issues are clearly a major factor in your thinking, and really, that's the right instinct, both in terms of career, and relationships.

You do need to get your general dissatisfaction aired somehow, because in that line of work, it really matters, both to you and them. You obviously have issues that should get a hearing, at least.

That said, your ethics will come straight back at you if you don't do the right thing by the organization.

Suggest:

1. Make your feelings, reasons and intentions known.(They need to know that stuff anyway. Volunteer work is tough enough without having to be guessing what the problems are with staff.)
2. Make it clear that you have no wish to create problems for them.
3. There's no such thing as a reformed volunteer. This has meaning for you, and that won't change, and you'd be burning more than bridges.

Basic point: More notice is better, particularly if they know they don't have to perform instant administrative gymnastics to get the work done.

Good luck

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