<What was your experience?
Mine was a little unusual. My manager at the time started to work really hard to push me out. It was obvious and not subtle at all. I started looking around, but the market was what it was so I was forced to endure the abuse for much longer than a reasonable person should. And it was a genuine, consistent, daily dose of abuse. I still remember coming back home angry and having to use the punching bag downstairs and not being able to sleep well for the longest time.
And here is where my story gets a little weird. I was certain any day will be my last day, but in her zeal to make my environment unbearable, the manager also made the environment of other employees more difficult and at one point she pushed something a little too far and one person quit that very day. Fireworks ensued. HR was alerted, because apparently it was not first such incident, but ultimately, as expected from HR, nothing happened. The place was a metaphorical sweatshop and had, as I later learned, a certain reputation that I failed to discover during my interviews so not many people wanted to be a replacement for the person, who quit. This meant I had time until they found someone new.
As luck would have it, I found something few weeks after. I quit in the nicest way possible.
<Is there anything you wish you would have done differently?
I wish I did not worry as much. Looking back, it feels silly that I cared so much about this tiny blip in my story.
<Any suggestions?
To be honest, a lot of it was already mentioned by others ( savings is likely a priority in case things don't work out right away, don't quit as it prevents you from even a chance for unemployment benefits, document everything -- I wrote fucking daily diary to cover my ass so if it comes to challenging their 'for cause', I have ammo ready ), but I will add one more that I wish I knew before this ordeal:
Right attitude helps a lot. Knowing things are going to be, eventually, ok helps. And I assure you, things eventually do work out. The annoying part is that the first time you go through this, it is hard not to worry. After all, there are so many different ways things can go wrong. But worrying does not help making rational and shrewd decisions; quite the opposite really. My experience and general indifference it created in me, helped me when bosses decided to force RTO on us in my new place. I could have been worried, angry and/or disappointed, but I just started actively looking. I found something with a nice bump and a lot faster than I expected to and just responded no to RTO in an email. It was oddly satisfying even if not that professional.
You still need something to offer, but if you are worried, you will not be able to sell anyone on your skills.
Yes. I am advocating for zero-fucks-given attitude.
<Is there any remedy for the dread that keeps you up at night?
I had a punching bag downstairs and it was useful as physical activity does tire you out eventually, but everyone is a little bit different. During weekends, I tried hard to occupy myself with working in the yard. After a day in there, I didn't have a chance to worry as I fell asleep almost right away exhausted.
<Did you have family to support and come out the other end okay?
Emotional support mostly, but it did not help, because I do not really know how to accept it from others.
<How do you not laugh (in agony, of course) at the sudden change when management starts talking like they work Customer Service and have to pretend to be nice?
Gallows humor is what it is all about. The moment you start taking it more lightheartedly, I think you are almost automatically in a better spot emotionally.
<Do I keep this role (less than 1 year) on my resume for future applications?
Yes, because HR loves asking questions about gaps ( and some managers do as well ). It is not like you have to give a cell number to your future former boss. Explanations can get tricky. It is usually easier to explain why you moved on.