When You’re Just Too Good At Your Job

I was working in a large department-type store and, being a helpful person who loves learning, I learned how to do a lot of things. I wound up being one of the only people in the store who could offer certain services to customers from various departments, and there were many evenings when I was being pulled in multiple directions.

One day, I broke down in front of the store manager. They told me that I would be placed in only one department from then on.

A month later, my schedule actually had me in two departments — one a day, but there would be no one booked in the other department when I was in, so I was still expected to cover both departments.

After another month of this, I went back to the manager.

Me: “I’m exhausted, I’m burnt out, and I can’t keep doing this.”

Manager: “Everyone needs to step up and help out right now.”

As if that wasn’t what I had been doing for the last three years.

I wound up quitting shortly after.