How can I force myself to stay at this job ...?

... at least until I find something else, but I'd really like to stay longer. I've only been here nine months, and the job before that, less than two years. I'm afraid of looking like a job-hopper on my resume. :(

I'm the only employee of a real estate investment entrepreneur. He has the biggest dreams for world domination ever! At first I was very inspired by this, and it's partly why I took the job.

However, with such grand plans, there is so much work to do and I'm overwhelmed by it all. I'm the accountant, the leasing agent, the contract liasion, the "handyman," the gopher, the secretary, database administrator, and on and on ... I'm even sometimes the cleaning lady!

I am working up to 60 hours a week, and now that I've seen the company's bank accounts (I just started doing accounts receivable/payable about 2 months ago), it's plain that my boss cannot afford to hire someone to help me.

I get yelled at, cussed at, belittled, demeaned and bullied ... (to be continued)

... and this boss is shredding my self-esteem and making me feel incompetent and unreliable. But I'm working my BUTT off for him. What's worse is that sometimes I get nastily reprimanded for things that aren't my fault, or he claims he told me to do something one way but he didn't -- he told me to do it another way, but then I get in trouble because I listened to what he said rather than read his mind.

I'm exhausted and stressed out.

After this latest curse-out I got, via e-mail, I vowed to myself that I wasn't going to work so hard for that kind of "reward," and I limited myself to 40 hours this week.

However, tomorrow is Friday and there is so much he told me to that is undone, and now I'm like all anxious about how much trouble I'm going to be in.

Is there ANY way I can deal with this other than quitting? HELP.

No job... ever.. is worth your self esteem. I do not care how good it pays or whatever the reason, it is NOT worth it.

However, I understand what you're saying about job hopping. I have to ask you two things: Are you really old enough to be expected to have lengthy positions? Are your jobs closely related as in, did you stay generally in the same field?

If the answer to number one is NO: Consider trying to find a new job in a larger business where there is more growth opportunity. That way, when you get bored or hate your job you may be able to transfer/get promoted, thus keeping your resume shiny and you happy.

If the answer to number two is YES: You'll be okay with the resume. Still, pay attention to my above answer about the larger CO. You can explain to future employers that you enjoy the field, you simply moved on to a more challenging position/ better opportunity.

In the case where a potential employer asks you why you are leaving after 9 months simply reply that the position is not what had originally signed on for and although you're grateful for the opportunity that you've had to learn many new skills you've decided to move on to a more (insert adjective here) company such as (insert company name here) and leave it at that.

My parting words of advice... hang in there until you find another job because unexplainable gaps and unprovoked quits are worse than a shorter time span.... never badmouth your company or job to a potential employer... and NEVER ever compromise who you are and your sanity for a job.

If you can afford to do yourself a favour and get out now to save your sanity!! No relationship whether it be personal or professional is worth your sanity and you don't deserve the abuse you are copping - and yes you are being mentally and emotionally abused and bullied from the sounds of it.. If you can hold out till you find another job do so but if you're working 60hours you're going to find it tough to apply and be interviewed for another position.. Sometimes it's just better to leave first and find something rather than the other way around - especially in this sort of situation!! Next!!!!!

You can get a backbone. Seriously. If he can't afford to hire anyone else to help out and there is so much to do, lady, you have the upper hand. Tell him what you will and will not do. He'll probably blow up, but in the end I bet he'll give you a bit more of the respect you deserve if you stand up for yourself.

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you so I can understand. Just start giving as good as you get. I have started to reply to the boss in the same way he responds to me. I am job hunting big time and can't leave till I have a new one-but I basically just put my foot down and said enough. It sucks when you think you are getting a good job and it turns out so bad. I will say it is helping me spot red flags on interviews now so maybe we don't have to repeat mistakes. Just don't jump to a worse situation just to get out.