Service jobs in particular seem ripe for this type of frustration. The public is not easy to deal with-- whether the public is a customer in a restaurant, the angry parent whose "perfect" child is causing trouble for the teacher, or the narcissistic passenger who refuses to turn off their cell phone.  Such settings are ripe for a blowup.

One hallmark of a pressure cooker situation for workers is too much responsibility with too little power.The challenges flight attendants face can be overwhelming: the time pressure of getting people seated quickly, handling luggage problems, irate/anxious/unhappy customers, crying babies, serving beverages, and so on. Not to mention the primary element of their job: the safety of their passengers. There's little glamour in the airline industry these days. And even if a majority of the customers are pleasant, or at least innocuous, it only takes the one problem passenger to create a mess.

In this recent incident, arguably no one was hurt, and people can comfortably celebrate Mr. Slater's moment of triumph against the system, but laws were broken and the consequences remain to be seen. (Everything from jail time to a reality TV show has been suggested.)

The airline industry cannot afford to have any of their employees "going postal" on a flight. The ramifications are serious and this incident could have gone very badly. I hope it will serve as a cautionary tale to the airline industry that they need to monitor, support and take care of their staff who labor under very difficult conditions. But the continued financial pressures of the industry make that less likely. When bottom-line is all that matters, employees are the most likely to suffer.

So what are your options when you're stuck in an unfulfilling job? If you've determined that, for whatever reasons, you need to leave your job-- consider the following:

• Don't go postal even in a small way. Analyze your choices. Most of our behavior in any given day comes down to the choices we make. Although we may not always feel like it, we have a choice as to how to react to any situation. And that first emotional reaction (anger, fear, etc.) might be based on or triggered by past experiences or unconscious factors. The classic notion of "counting to 10" can be helpful here. Get distance from the situation-- whether that means walking away for a minute, practicing mindful breathing, or asking a co-worker to take over for you.
• Analyze your job situation. How much flexibility do you have to leave? Certain factors can foster your ability to leave an unpleasant job: money (savings), a spouse who's employed, low or no debt, skills that are valued elsewhere, a robust job market, etc. Take away those factors, though, and you might be making a mistake to leave abruptly.
• Make sure you've done what you can to adjust your current position-- or explore other options within the organization. Can you identify the points where you encounter the most trouble and find new ways to deal with them? Can various tasks be delegated or shared with other employees? Can you find a new way to deal with the task? If you don't ask, you're less likely to know, so discuss your options with your supervisor-- not from a threatening perspective of "I'm going to leave if..." (even if that's how you feel) but rather from the perspective of "I've been doing this job for awhile and while I think I've been successful at it, I'm ready for some change. Could we talk about other projects I could work on or..." (Note: this obviously won't work for jobs which are tightly defined and not open to change-- although sometimes small changes can be negotiated which will help.)
• Cultivate good relationships with your coworkers. Good coworkers can greatly improve the work environment. A Gallup study described in the book First Break All the Rules highlighted the importance of friendship on a job-- if you have friends you are more likely to remain longer on your job and be happier. Friends provide a cushion from the stress.
• Start preparing to leave your job long before you do. Build up your savings and work down your debt. Check your credit rating and correct any problems you discover-- prospective employers may check your credit rating and you don't want any surprises. Make sure your online presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) projects a professional image. Clean up any "digital dirt." (Don't have an online presence? Time to establish that LinkedIn account.)
• Continue working professionally and providing good service even though you know it's temporary. In fact, knowing that you will be leaving soon can help ease the stress of any conflicts you might encounter. Protecting references is key. If you've done a good job so far, an unpleasant exit can undo all the good work you did and make it harder to find the next job.
• Do your research. Check your human resources office for any benefits you should take advantage of before you leave. For instance, perhaps you have a dental plan paid by your employer. Get any necessary dental work done before you leave the job-- your new employer might not offer the same benefit package. Check on the vacation leave policy-- some employers have a "use it or lose it" policy which means you should start taking some days off. Others pay you for unused days, so you decide what works best.
• Build up your networks and connections. Have you always wanted to work in Idaho? Now's the time to start researching employers in Idaho and people who can help you get there. Join professional organizations-- including the regional branch in the place where you'd like to relocate. Bookmark the link to the newspaper for your chosen new location and read it every day to learn of new business openings, economic trends, etc.
• Start checking job search engines (such as Indeed.com) regularly for positions of interest.
• Give reasonable notice at your workplace. In general, two weeks is the minimum. In some professions, a month is more appropriate, particularly if you're in a field where it will take time to replace you. Keep your resignation letter simple. Thank the employer for the experience you have acquired and wish them continued success in the future. This is not the time to air grievances or "get back" at anyone. Once you've said you're leaving, leave quietly and politely. Keep in touch with your former coworkers.

It's an axiom in the career field that it's easier to find a job when you already have one. While a dramatic exit may lead to your own reality TV show, the odds are generally not in your favor.

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Photo credit: SF Gate (San Francisco Chronicle)

Copyright 2010 Katharine Brooks