Shouldn’t Quit Your Job
You only get one shot at a first impression. And when you’re interviewing for a job, that impression can make or break your chances of being hired. When you walk into the interview, do you shake hands firmly and confidently? Do you speak clearly and concisely? Do you give thoughtful answers instead of resorting to one-word responses? If any interviewer — or future boss — gets the sense that quitting your job is an easy option for you, they will be turned off. But if they see how excited and passionate you are about every word that comes out of your mouth, they’ll be more open to hearing why it’s so important to leave your current gig now. We all want an ideal job where we love going to work every day and feel fulfilled. If it’s not that perfect job yet, don’t quit! There are plenty of reasons why quitting your job might not be the best idea. Here are 10 signs that should help you decide whether to hold ‘em or fold ‘em:
1. Your current job is making you miserable.
If your job is a source of misery, you’re probably already unhappy and unfulfilled. This is especially true if you hate your job but hate the idea of quitting even more. You may desperately want to leave, but you might have a bad case of the uncertain. If quitting would make you happy, you’ll probably find a way to do it no matter what anyone else thinks. But if you’re just feeling desperate, it’s probably not the right decision. You may feel like you have to quit because you’re stuck in a rut — but the only way out is through. It may take some time, but you can find more meaning in your work and build the skills you need to advance.
2. You don’t get along with your boss or co-workers.
Every job will have its shares of frustrations and annoyances, but if something about your daily routine is causing you such severe stress that you can’t take it anymore, it’s probably time to move on. If you hate your boss — or the rest of your team — you’re almost definitely better off quitting and finding a new group of people to work with. But if you just have a few co-workers who rub you the wrong way and you’re feeling frustrated with everything else about the job, you may have a bad case of the uncertain. You may just need a few months to find a better fit with a new group of people and a new team. If you’re hoping to find a new job but don’t know what you want to do next, you’re probably not ready to quit.
3. There are unethical practices at your workplace.
If you are part of an organization that has been accused of, or has been found guilty of, any wrongdoing, it might be worth quitting your job. If your company has been accused of discrimination, or other extreme ethical breaches, you may want to take a stand against them. But if all you’ve noticed are a few small slipups and you want to be on the right side of the law, it’s probably good to quit. An organization that is regularly breaking the rules is unlikely to turn around anytime soon. And if you’re outraged about the decisions made by your company, quitting could give you a new opportunity to make a difference. If you’re just struggling with a few ethical dilemmas that don’t worry you enough to quit, you may have a bad case of the uncertain.
4. There’s no clear way to advance in your current role or company.
If you are stuck in a role that has little chance of advancing, you may want to quit and move on to something better. Even if you love your current gig, it could be worth moving on if you’re not getting the recognition you deserve or you feel like you have no way to advance. If you’ve applied for plenty of positions, have been interviewing for a long time, and have no bites, it may be time to take a leap of faith and quit. If you think you’ll be able to find something just as fulfilling in a new role, it’s probably not a bad idea to quit. But if you’re just desperate to get out of your current situation and don’t have a new plan, it’s probably a bad idea.
5. Change is inevitable, and it’s happening more quickly than ever before.
Every industry is changing — some quickly and drastically, others more slowly and subtly. If you’ve been on the job market for a while and the role you’re working toward is becoming increasingly rare, you may want to quit. If the skills you need to succeed are increasingly rare and valuable, it’s worth staying put until you can make a move that will affect your career in a significant way. You may be able to find ways to advance in your current organization, or you could try to find a new job that makes the most of your rare and valuable skills. If your current job is in a niche that’s getting rarer, don’t quit — wait it out.
6. Quitting will leave a hole in your résumé that could be hard to explain later on.
If you quit your job without having another one lined up, your employer will have a hard time finding you a reference for the future — and potential employers will have a hard time understanding why you left. It may make sense to leave your job in a few months, but you don’t want to have to explain to employers why you left a job a year ago without having another job lined up. If you’re thinking about quitting, try to make as much progress as you can in your current role. This will help you feel more fulfilled while you’re still employed with your current company. It will also help you build a stronger case for why you left if you eventually decide to go.
Conclusion
Quitting your job because you’re impatient or desperate will set you back — and may leave you with fewer skills and a thinner resume. If you’re ready to quit, you have to have a plan for what happens after you walk out the door. Before you quit, make sure you have an idea of what you want to do next and how you plan to get there. If quitting is the right decision for you, you’ll have a strategy in place to get where you want to go. If you aren’t sure whether you’re ready to quit, ask yourself these 10 questions. You’ll be able to see exactly where you stand, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision based on your current situation.