Have been working at my current company (first employer) for about 15 months now.
Since joining the company I've only been on one project. In that project felt like I did not learning enough skills which would let me steer myself in the direction of the career I'd like to have, expecting that being useful would let me have more leverage later. The project have now finished and I'm about to be pulled into another one, which I suspect I will feel similarly about. I should add that the company is treating me really well, trying to be accommodating, and it might be a simple misalignment of my current goals with theirs. I've talked to my manager about not being satisfied. Keeping good relations with them is important to me.
Now, I am ready to quit. I have a contingency fund which should last me +7 months, plenty enough time to train myself in the technologies I am actually interested in and then apply to relevant jobs.
The thing is - I do want to have an open mind and try the project I am being pulled into, just in case it actually is interesting, but I'm not sure if it would be ethical to commit to something knowing that the chance you will stick to it is not super large.
On one hand I know that the company should be prepared for anyone to leave at any time. On the other hand, I don't know if I should feel comfortable risking creating such a disruption (The project would have me work as a sole developer of a part of a system, with about 1.5 months predicted to get me up to speed, so finding a replacement in would seriously mess with their deadlines.)
The alternatives to taking the project I see at the moment are:
- Quit immediately, without trying any other project
- Refuse the project, making an impression of a fussy child and search for one I like
- Let my manager know exactly how I feel, and ask him if it's OK if I start with the project with such high likelihood of leaving.
Neither of those makes me feel particularly comfortable so I'd appreciate any insight from those more experienced in the ethics of resignation.