How to quit my job? What is an excuse you gave your employer?

Am I beyond hope...what can I tell prospective employers in an interview?

• I have a horrible track record. I'm 41 yrs. old and have quit a lot of jobs over the years. The longest time spent at one job was a little over 4 years. I had a couple of others for 3 or 3.5 years and some jobs were just temp-jobs that last several months or a few days or weeks. I just quit my job recently, the one where I stayed the longest of 4 yrs...I gave a 3.5 week notice back in March and then they asked me to stay longer and think it over, so I agreed to this but a few days after my original last day was up...I got mad and quit...typed up my resignation, turned in my keys and waited on my last paycheck...and then left...for good, because one of my bosses told me to do something behind her partner's back while he's away on vacation the following week but I refused to do this thing she asked and then I got all paranoid that they were setting me up or something...because if I had went along with what she asked me to do...I could have gotten fired. I was originally quitting in the first place because I don't like the office morale or atmosphere...mainly the behavior of the bosses and the way they speak sometimes of their own clients...in a hateful manner, by calling them "stupid" or whatever. I also didn't like how they openly voiced their political opinions, which were oftentimes very hateful and nasty...and some things said were downright violent in nature...all coming from so-called Christians that go to church all the time. I was the only one in that small office of about 6 people...that did not go to church. I felt a little out of place for that reason, too, but that really wasn't that big of a deal for me. It's just the overall poor atmosphere in that office and not trusting my own bosses...that drove me to leave. After being around them for four years, and it wasn't all bad, we had some nice times...but these hateful things would be revealed now and then and I just had developed this huge sense of mistrust for these people. I think the main thing was...I had some "dirt" on these people and I think they may have been worried that I'd go bad-mouth them after I left there...and worried about their reputation being tarnished by my description of their behavior towards me and other things they say around the office. It was so mind-boggling for me to deal with and at first, I was handling it right...giving a 3.5 week notice to begin with, and I would never run and bad-mouth them (except to my family and friends, LOL...I wouldn't speak negatively of them if I ran into their clients on the street, etc.)...but I feel they may have been TRYING to get me to up and quit or set me up to do something that could have gotten me fired by the other partner...so I would ruin MY credibility, with it looking bad because I just quit without working a notice this last time. I've harbored some resentment for them for a while...because even when I first started working there (as their secretary)...a couple of my bosses spoke so hatefully to me when I made a simple error, they humiliated me and embarrassed me in front of others a few times. BUT, I learned to ignore it and get on with it because I like my actual work/job and I made decent money there. BUT I think I'd gotten to a breaking point and so I left like I did and it's ruined my opportunities to find a new and better job for myself. It's so embarrassing to try and explain to people WHY I quit. You're not supposed to complain about your past employers or people you worked with...because if you do, it makes you look bad. I really did a great job there and they even admitted that, too...but our personal conflicts is holding me back...well, the way I handled it. But it bothered me and I mistrusted them and was afraid to stay any longer...I felt I was in the "flight" mode and I did just that. I was tired of fighting it. But...when younger, I did that before...just not such a crazy situation as this but I would be tired of the office drama and ran away, quit my job. And one place I worked for 3.5 years, the boss was disrespecting me...very inappropriate behavior from him...sitting up close to me when we were the only ones in the office and grazing my arm or hand skin with his, on purpose...and when I started pushing away and letting him know that I didn't accept his behavior...he gave me a bad review that next time, when the previous review was perfect. I refused to sign the bad review and argued with him and quit my job that day...I was afraid to report him because of retaliation. He gave me an evil look when I was arguing with him about my bad review. So...you see, I have a horrible track record as far as mishandling drama, but I really am a great worker and employee otherwise. What do I tell the temp agency that I am to meet with tomorrow ? The truth...or make up some lame excuse so as to avoid "bath mouthing" a past employer ? I am so distraught and need a job

• Answer:

  If the agency asks why you quit your job you can honestly tell them that you had personality conflicts and differences of opinion with the boss and some of the staff, and you were unhappy. Don't go into detail unless they ask, but they probably won't. I think you're over-thinking, over-anayzing the whole thing. You were unhappy so you quit, period. You don't have to justify your actions. The temp agency wants to know what you can do for them more than how you got there or what you ddid before. Be grateful to be moving on to better things. Let go of the past, it's over, and good riddance. Congratulations on your convictions and integrity. You're a good worker and you'll do fine.