Four Signs it's Time to Quit Your Job
Quitting your job, especially with the unemployment rate sitting at 9%, may not seem like the smartest thing to do in this labor market, but experts say there are times when leaving your employer is the right decision.
“There are always times when it makes sense to quit a job. The important thing is to make sure you thought it through,” said Charles Purdy, a senior editor at Monster.com. “Never quit a job in the heat of the moment.”
Thinking of quitting? Here’s a look at some of the scenarios when quitting your job will actually improve your quality of life.
Ready to Take the Leap: If you have your own side businesses that is ready to go full time and is able to provide an income, it might be time to become your own boss.
Before you abandon the corporate world for the life of an entrepreneur, Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation recommends making sure your business provides a viable product or service that has been tested in the marketplace.
Having a financial cushion in the bank also helps. “It’s a good time to quit when you’ve demonstrated your business idea has viability,” she says.
You Loath Your Job: Everyone has complaints about their boss and coworkers, but if office problems are negatively impacting your health, it might be time leave.
According to Slim, you need to rate your work problems from one to 10 with one being OK, and 10 meaning real physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches and sleep problems because of office troubles. If you land high on the “loathing scale” then quitting may actually improve your health. “Doctors recommend people quit a job if the environment is so unhealthy that it’s not possible to maintain their health,” she says.
You’ve Hit a Wall: There’s nothing worse than sitting around with nothing to do or knowing that there is no room for advancement in a company.
“Being bored at work is a real career killer and life killer,” says Purdy at Monster. Still, he says that before you up and quit, do a self evaluation of your priorities and what you want from a job. “Make sure you are not letting minor frustrations get out of hand.”
Don’t Agree with the Company: Not agreeing with the mission or strategy of a company could be reason to look for employment elsewhere. Maybe you signed up to work with an alternative energy company that changed its strategy to drill for oil--whatever the situation--don’t let your employment decay your ethics.
“If you think the company is evil or bad or is dishonest to customers, those are all good reasons to think about quitting,” says Purdy. He also notes that before you leave the company, make sure you have a back-up plan, whether it’s a new job, living off your savings or launching your own venture.