“Should I quit my job?” This article will help you answer that question by presenting both sides of the coin – reasons, why you should stay at your current job, and reasons why quitting is an option worth considering.
You might be unhappy with your job and asking this right now- and the situation is a heavyweight on your shoulders.
But should you really quit?
Quitting your job can be exciting and scary at the same time and it’s one of the toughest decisions that you will have to make in your career.
There are a lot of things to consider before taking that leap, and we want to give you the reasons why you should leave and why it might be better to stay.
Should I Quit My Job? Well, How Do You Feel About Your Job Now?
Choosing to quit your current job is a personal debate, and it is important that you weigh your options before making a choice.
Having money readily available is important, but so are you!
In order to make a decision about quitting, you first have to think about how you feel about your job now.
Here are some questions that will help you find the answers to your feelings about your job:
- Where is the problem(s) coming from?
- Are your feelings/discomfort temporary or permanent?
- What are your dealbreakers/final straw?
- What would need to change to make you stay?
Think about these questions and try to be as honest with yourself as possible so you can get an idea of how you feel about working at your current company.
Some things can be talked through and changed for the better, whereas others may be fixtures you won’t deal with anymore. Know where you stand, how you feel about it, and weigh your options wisely.
7 Reasons To Quit Your Job
There are 100% legitimate reasons to quit your job that you should feel confident in.
For some people, a job change is necessary because of the following reasons:
1. You Hate Your Current Job
If you really hate your job and the company, quitting may be one of the first options to consider.
Some of the reasons you hate your job is you don’t feel challenged or that the work is too monotonous. Or the work environment may be stressful or you’re not making enough money.
If you dread your alarm going off every morning and feel bitter resentment growing, it may be time to jump ship for your own sanity.
It may be wise to pinpoint why you hate your job, it could put everything into perspective and help you make the decision whether you should quit your job.
2. Your Own Business is Profiting
If you recently started your own business and it is profitable, quitting your job may be a good idea.
Do not let your present job stand in the way of your dream and own professional success.
We both quit our jobs to run this blog full-time, and it’s been a whirlwind to say the least, but completely worth leaving our old jobs.
At some point, whether it takes a year or more, consider turning your business into a full-time career. That way all your hard work results in your profit alone!
When you quit your current job, you will have more time to focus on your business and keep a consistent schedule. Plus, if you stop working a 9-5 job, you’re more able to take time off away from the office and spend time with your family.
3. You Found A New Job Or Full-Time Job
Perhaps you have a position lined up elsewhere and the job has more benefits than your current one, which is too much to pass up.
Or you recently took on a second full-time job and you don’t really want to work two jobs and sacrifice your mental or physical health. Let alone, all your free time!
Either way, when you find a new job that benefits your more in some way, it’s the perfect time to quit. You should focus all of your energy on the opportunity that’s better for you.
4. Personal/Family Illness
It may be necessary to quit your job if someone in your family is ill or if you are ill yourself. Long-term illness can be exhausting and draining, so it might be best for your mental health if you took a break from work.
Not everyone can work through an illness, whether our own or a loved one’s, so if you can’t it’s totally understandable.
If a personal illness (especially the long-term sort) will affect your ability to perform your job well, then it is logical to quit and take some time off.
5. Difficult Environment/Hours
Maybe you are unsatisfied working with coworkers or you have a boss that makes your life at work difficult.
You may feel like the situation is toxic, and even human resources getting involved won’t change how things are.
If your work environment is toxic or you work too many hours, quitting your job may be your best option.
Negative working conditions may affect your mental health and well-being. Stress can make you physically sick, which makes it harder to go into your job every day.
You may want a low-stress job that makes you excited to go into work, rather than dreading going into work.
6. Career Change
Quitting might be the best option for you if you feel like your work life is stale. Being stuck in a rut may close more doors in your career!
You might feel stuck in your present career or uninterested in the work that you’re doing.
You don’t have to quit your job the moment that you realize that it’s not for you. You can start by re-evaluating your job, giving yourself time to consider your options, and starting the job search.
A career change with a new company might be necessary if you are unhappy with what you do right now. It is possible to find work that you love at home and in better environments!
7. Higher Education
You may have decided to go back to school and recently been accepted to a program or school that requires full-time attendance. Even going to school part-time requires dedication and time to study and learn!
If you have the chance to go back to school/higher education, then quitting may be necessary so that you can commit as much time as possible towards studying.
Once school or training has ended and you have new skills, you can search for another job in your new career and have new opportunities available for you.
5 Reasons NOT To Quit Your Job
Do you really want to quit your job and look for another job?
Is changing your career the right decision for you and everyone else in your life?
If there’s a chance that you’ll regret quitting, then don’t do it! Think about how quitting will affect your life and the lives of others – financially and socially.
We have a few examples of reasons not to quit, and you may be surprised!
1. Receiving Criticism
Criticism isn’t necessarily a reason to quit, at least not by itself.
No matter where you go or what career path you take, you’ll be met with criticism at some point, and unless the criticism approaches harassment, plain old criticism isn’t a solid reason to quit.
Nobody likes getting criticism, but there are some benefits to it. Feedback is necessary for us to do our jobs properly or meet expectations in the workforce.
If you are receiving routine criticism from superiors, then there may be something that you’re doing wrong that needs to change, which could affect you at any job you go to.
2. Missed Out On A Promotion
If you’ve been passed up on a promotion that you thought was right for you, it might feel disheartening. However, don’t just quit because you feel like you didn’t get what you deserved.
If you really want to move forward in your career, one missed promotion may be a minor setback, but there are other chances. It is not a reason to quit a job that you otherwise enjoy and find fulfilling.
Talk with your manager about what happened and how you can improve in the future so that this does not happen again- it could be about what they did more right than what you did wrong.
And if there was something that you did wrong, this is a good opportunity to learn from your mistakes and work toward another promotion, and show them the dedication you have for your job.
3. Pressing Financial Situations
If you have pressing financial needs, quitting might not be a good idea and may make your situation harder in the long run.
You may be living paycheck to paycheck, and need that income flow under your boat to stay afloat!
The stress of being unemployed or searching for a new position with a new company can be overwhelming if you have bills and loans to pay or kids to feed.
Don’t quit a job without having a new one lined up- this gives you a guaranteed income to replace your current one.
The job market may be bad or there may be limited opportunities in your present employment field, and you’ll need to know before you quit.
4. You Want A Pay Raise
A pay raise is one of the most common reasons for wanting to quit a job- you have so many reliable and dependable skills, isn’t that worth a bump in your pay?
If you haven’t gotten a pay raise, you may be thinking of quitting- but don’t do it too soon! It’s okay to approach your boss and discuss a pay raise!
Sit down with your boos/superior and find out if you’re on the books to get a raise- and if not, why?
You can discuss how you can improve to receive a raise. Perhaps you need more experience or there are certain hurdles that block your path towards getting an increase in salary.
If it’s not possible to get a raise at your current job, then you’ll have to decide if you want to start your job search and change jobs, go back to school, or find any other new opportunities.
5. Starting A New Business
Starting a new business is an awesome thing and will require lots of dedication, planning, and time. Many people quit their jobs to start a business- but they do it too soon!
Many businesses take time to make a profit. You have options to start a low-cost business, but no matter what business you start, you don’t have a guarantee of when you’ll get paid!
Don’t quit your job until you know you’re making ends meet. Start a side hustle in your free time, and if you make plenty of money, then quit and do your business full-time!
How To Quit Your Job
Plan How You’ll Quit
You shouldn’t quit on a whim and do it right this moment – there are other things to consider before you decide it’s time to leave, so you should plan how you’re going to quit.
It’s worth taking the time to think about the best way to quit your job. This will ensure that quitting goes smoothly and there are no hard feelings with the employers and employees.
You’ll have to decide how to quit, whether it’s better to email your boss versus meeting with them in person. However, no matter how you do it, don’t be confrontational or rude when quitting your job, especially if having references is important.
Update Your Resume
Update your resume and get it in tip-top shape for new job prospects.
Make sure your contact information is correct. Doublecheck your address and phone number so you can get in touch with potential employers.
Get references from your boss, colleagues, and peers. An impartial reference from a former employer will increase the likelihood of getting hired.
Apply For New Jobs
Once you decide to quit and you’ve got your resume ready, get out there and apply for jobs!
Upload your resume at Fiverr and Flex Jobs so that you can get more opportunities. There are many online jobs, jobs where you work from home, or even just gig job opportunities to get you started.
Our favorite app for finding new job options is Steady. You can create your profile and find jobs to apply for within minutes, and the Steady features like Income Boosters are a great guarantee that you’ll be making money that matches your skill level.
You can also ask friends, family members, or other people in your network if they’re hiring and to help you apply at their places of work.
Earn more money on your terms when you need it most. Steady members can make an extra $5,500 in average yearly income!
Give Your 2 Week Notice
Career experts at Indeed say that it is common courtesy to give a 2-week notice to your manager to let them know you resign.
Be professional and formal while also saying what you want to say in your resignation letter. Be sure to date it and also include your job title, the date of departure, and why you’re leaving.
It can be quite challenging but there are many benefits to being professional and giving your notice:
- You are giving the company respect by giving notice.
- Giving a 2-week notice leaves a good impression on your employer/manager which can result in a good recommendation for your new job.
- By giving notice, you have time to get any paperwork regarding any retirement benefits such as a 401 k plan prior to leaving your position.
- It gives your employer time to search for and hire someone else and you can train them before you leave.
- A resignation letter giving a 2-week notice is written proof of your decision to leave the position.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read the article, should you quit your job?
It’s up to you to make the final decision, but we have to give you food for thought so you make an informed decision!
After all, if you make the decision to leave your job, we want to ensure that you do it for the right reasons.
If quitting is the right thing for you and your family, then do it! You may have better pay and benefits elsewhere in a new job, and your current job is holding you back.
But whatever the reason might be for wanting to quit your job, the decision to leave should not be made hastily.
We hope the tips we’ve provided have helped you on how best to plan ahead so that when you do decide to leave – it will be with confidence.
