This is my first salary job. My contract says 7 hours + 1 hour lunch. In reality, I work 9-10 hour days. I want to know - is this messed up? Should I move on?

I started working at my company 17 months ago as a Temp. I loved it there so much, that when it came time to finish school, I took a job in a department I wasn't trained in, and that I thought I would enjoy, to be able to stick around.

I have a Master's degree in, essentially, technical design. I'm not a great visual designer, but I was a great student. I had a 3.83 GPA at a first-class university, I led a student organization, and I was a pretty good project manager in my courses. I wilted under the stress, and I took my current job hoping to be less stressed.

The last person who had my role walked out, and I thought "well, I can handle a lot" - I worked part-time while leading the organization and taking the most demanding discipline in my program. I told myself I could handle stress better than the person who quit. Our CEO switched over in the summer. I was warned this was going to happen in my interview, and that the role might change very drastically when I took my job. Again, I said I could handle it.

I've come to discover - I don't think I can handle it. I feel like a lobster in a pot, and the pressure is dialling up and up and up. I have taken only 3 days vacation in 7 months, because I still have to work a 40 hour work week to keep up with all my work, so it doesn't really feel worthwhile to take it. As I mentioned in the title - I took my 3rd vacation day this week, and I worked 10 hours every other day this week to keep up. I have to do this to keep up with all my work and keep all my files organized.

Last night the CEO asked me what I was still doing there at 7pm. The Sales team are trying to close a deal, and he was there with them, working on it. I just said "I have deadlines too!". I almost cried. And then I left, and I did cry. And kicked a pole. My closest friend at work told me months ago he'd never seen me more stressed, and I should be less stressed now that I don't have the school stress on my plate. He tells me to stand up to the deadlines.

But... I don't know how to do that. Every time I try to tell my boss "I can't do this", I feel like she answers "well, it has to happen, find a way". And then when it doesn't get done in spite of my long hours, she i suddenly okay with it?

I finally reached a breaking point this week. After almost 7 months, a friend of mine got her first job. She was in the organization I managed, and asked me to be a reference. I asked to see the ad to help me do that, and noticed it didn't list salary. So I asked. She makes $10,000 more than me. And I can't stop thinking about it. Yes, I am grateful that I was able to start 7 months earlier paying off my loans, but all I can focus on is the salary gap between me and all of my friends.

People told me to think of all the extras that came with my job. Sure, I have 3 weeks vacation - but like I said at the start, I don't take it anyways. Sure, I get "100% dental" - but it's not actually that big of a savings. Sure, they match my RRSP up to 8% - but I can only take 5% because I live in an expensive city, and I need money because I don't have that extra $10,000 she does. And, even if I was doing the full 8%, it would add up to less than half of $10,000.

To sum this up- my boss made a comment yesterday that I couldn't mention an employee who left to pursue other opportunities because we don't want to talk about the turnover rate, because it isn't good right now. Hmmm, I wonder why.

I apologize if this seems like a very long rant, but I really wanted to give the full perspective to my situation. I think I can do better, but I am also insecure about my skills and work experience, and I know the job market is tough out there. So I just want to know - is this messed up? Can I do better, or should I put up with it awhile longer until the one-year mark, then get the hell out of dodge?

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