DEAR HARRIETTE: I invited my co-workers to my graduation party, and none of them showed up. Now I want to resign.
My co-workers have never made me feel welcome in the 10 months that I’ve been with our company. When I first started, I admired how close all of my co-workers were with one another. I’ve made efforts to connect with everyone in my department, but they genuinely don’t seem interested in connecting with me at all. No one has shown any real interest in getting to know me. It hurts my feelings, of course, but I kept hope alive that we might grow closer over time. Inviting them to celebrate my graduation from design school -- a major milestone in my life -- was my last attempt at trying to connect with them. Out of the 10 co-workers I invited, only three of them bothered to respond, and none of them showed up. I cannot work at a company where I’m disliked and disregarded regularly. I am thinking of resigning. I feel unwanted, ignored and, honestly, a little bullied. Would I be overreacting if I quit? -- Ignored
DEAR IGNORED: You are understandably upset and hurt, but don’t do anything rash. While it would be nice for you to be friendly with your co-workers, that is not a requirement of the job. Go to work knowing that these people have not chosen to be your friend. Figure out how to work with them. Be excellent at what you do, and forge professional bonds with them to the best of your ability. Get out of the job what you need for your career.
Yes, you can look for another job, and when the time is right, go there. But do not allow these people to run you away. You are strong enough to rise above their disregard.