This is how it went down,

Not long after graduating from college, feeling the impending threat of student loans, I took a job with the Department of Defense in a management intern program.It would be a pretty sweet deal if I had an IQ of less than 60, but sadly, I do not.Yes, the salary has been excellent, with significant raises every year, and the benefits beat all but the most employee-friendly companies in the world, but I cannot handle five days’ worth of work without wanting to pluck out my eyes with a rusty fork.

Putting up with this for nearly two years, this past fall I decided to begin the process of applying to graduate school.Long and arduous, as I am sure many realize.I found out this month that I have been accepted to the school of my choice, both relatively prestigious and inexpensive.Now, my work with the government is rather boring, not a major necessity, nor would my particular branch feel a great loss at my departure (not that I am necessarily worthless, only that it would take an extinction-level event to garner those cubicle dwellers’ attention), but the fact is, I am leaving.

Here’s the heart of the problem: in my particular line of work, the projects extend out for spans of three to five years.Not only am I actively engaged in several projects already, but they are planning to include me in several upcoming ones developing over the next six months or so.How do I extricate myself from their clutches a) without entirely alienating myself for the remainder of my internship, b) while avoiding being included in projects I darn well know I am not going to take part in, effectively leaving them high and dry when the time comes, and c) also providing my supervisor, at least, with this information as soon as possible?

Additional factors: two weeks won’t work in this situation, but I am fairly certain, by law, that I cannot be fired no matter when I say I am leaving.

Yours,
Muddled Matriculator

Dear Matriculator,

I don’t think I see the problem here.Meet with your supervisor and let him/her know your plans.Stress that you’ll complete as much work as you can before leaving, but that you want him/her in the loop so that he/she can hire a replacement and arrange for you to train that replacement in plenty of time.

It’s a government situation.They’ll just throw money at it until it fixes itself.Give your notice and offer your help in making a seamless transition.That’s all you need to do.

[10/26/00]

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