Whether the thought has lasted a day, multiple days, or even years, has quitting your job ever entered your mind? It could be an initial reaction to something that happens or a snowball thought that builds up over time. Either way, if you’ve ever thought of quitting your job, how do you know when you should actually take the plunge?
First, if you aren’t already, you need to start doing two important things as soon as the thought of quitting enters your mind.
Evaluate your job satisfaction annually
You will be taking multiple parts of the “job” into account in this step. Start with looking at the company as a whole. Do the core values and culture align with who you are and what you’re looking for? Also, is the company a stable place to work and grow?
Now, moving forward to the role you have and the career path you desire. Do you enjoy the responsibilities that the job entails? Are you in a situation where you can grow and develop the career you want?
Consider these questions and only stay if your answers are promising.
Proactively keep your eyes open
There’s nothing wrong with having a backup plan, in fact, it’s smart to. Be aware of other opportunities within your industry and the need for certain positions in the marketplace. Grow your network and have an idea of what roles or positions are best suited for your skillset.
Keeping your eyes open also gives you the ability to make a well-thought-out move when needed. If things go South at a quicker pace than you were expecting, you don’t have to hastily jump into just some job on the way out.
Once you are doing these two things, it’s now time to assess if quitting your job is the next step by keeping these five thoughts in mind.
Are you procrastinating more at work than actually working?
Even when there’s work to do, are you quick to procrastinate before addressing it? It’s okay to procrastinate from time-to-time, but it shouldn’t be your go-to activity when stepping into work. Work is work, but it should still be engaging and interesting to you too.
Is work causing you health challenges?
If your job isn’t allowing you to take care of yourself when it comes to your mental and physical health, along with the amount of sleep you are getting, get out. No job is worth sacrificing your health or creating bad habits like unhealthy eating or a few too many beers after a long day.
Is there room for advancement where you are, or are you overqualified at what you’re doing?
Suppose your company isn’t going to help nurture your professional development and advancement, or you feel overqualified for the position you have with no ladder in sight to climb. In that case, you may need to reconsider your job.
Has your work environment been toxic?
You might think a negative work environment is something that you can tolerate and only affects you when you’re at work, but that’s not true. A toxic work environment can bleed into your home life if it’s sucking the happiness out of your day. No job is worth negatively affecting your home and family life.
Do you dread going to work or hate being at work?
This answer to this is easy. If it’s yes, run.
Have you ever quit a job? How did you know it was time to make a move? Join the conversation on LinkedIn and check out Finding the Right Mentor…Remotely.
