Should You Quit Your Job? It's Complicated

Many people want to quit their jobs, but is it the right thing to do? That’s the million-dollar question – sometimes quite literally. 

Before you leave your current position, you need to thrash out why it is that you want to resign. There are some good reasons to leave your current job and find another one, but they are few and far between. Too often, employees make emotional decisions, not ones that serve their interests long-term. 

Here are some reasons why you might want to quit your current job:

You Have Another Job Lined Up

Obviously, if you’ve found another job and it’s better than your first, then quitting makes a lot of sense. You’ve taken your existing employment opportunity as far as you can, and now there’s a chance to go one step further, gain more responsibility, pay and security. 

Of course, if the job offer isn’t as good as what you have now, that changes the dynamic completely. If you’re considering a lower-paid position, then there should be a good reason. 

You’re Changing Your Career

At some point in your adult life, you may wonder whether what you are doing now is really the right choice. Do you really want to continue doing the same work until you retire? Or would it be better to try something new? 

For many people, the answer is that change is best. The prospect of doing the same thing every day for thirty years is not particularly appealing, especially if you don’t enjoy it. 

However, you’ll want to fully consider your personal situation. Can you afford to switch careers if you are supporting a family? 

Your Gut Tells You It’s The Right Thing To Do

Intuitive intelligence is a powerful phenomenon. It often tells you more about your current situation than your conscious mind. If it’s telling you that you should make a move, then maybe you should listen. 

You Are Relocating

Unless you have a remote job, relocation necessarily implies starting a new role. You may be able to ask your current employer for a remote working option, but they could refuse or simply not have facilities in place. It might also be impossible for you to work remotely if your work involves using your hands or physical body in any way. 

You Are Going Back To School

Many people quit their jobs because they are going back to school, either part-time or full-time. Most career experts consider this a justifiable reason for quitting because you are training for a job change and likely have a position you can fill at the end of it. 

For instance, many people leave low-skilled jobs to get training to be a physiotherapist or plumber. These tend to pay two or three times as much as unskilled labor, meaning that even if you stop working for a while, they often pay for themselves. 

You can also go back to school to build on your existing degree. For instance, many people return to university in their thirties and forties to complete master’s courses that will allow them to apply for jobs in more senior roles. 

Your Work Is Not Safe

Earning money is great, but not when it comes at the expense of your physical health and security. If your job is dangerous, you should consider moving on as quickly as possible. 

Most companies are getting better at implementing effective health and safety measures. But not all firms prioritize it, taking a laid-back attitude in some cases.

As a worker, that’s actually working against your interest. While it might be nice to work for a happy-go-lucky company, the risks of an accident at some point go up considerably. 

In this useful guide to work accident claims, you can see the types of injuries that people get on the jobsite. Many affect workers for life. They never recover, either physically or emotionally from what happened to them. 

Your Hours Are Too Long

Work provides people with resources they need to live, but sometimes it goes too far and almost becomes a cult. Bosses can sometimes demand that workers are in the office for eighty hours or more per week which eliminates the possibility of a life outside of the office. 

If your working hours are too long and there’s no way of bringing them down without losing your job, quit. Don’t allow your life to waste away like that, unless your work is something that you absolutely love. Instead, do the kind thing and give your body a break. There will always be other work opportunities available if you want them. 

You Work In A Difficult Environment

If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t mind what other people say and do, then working in a dysfunctional environment probably won’t affect you much. However, if you are like most people and care about how people talk to each other, it’s a problem. 

Communication and culture issues can show up in businesses in many ways. You might have problems with your boss, co-workers or event clients. When relationships become unhealthy, it can affect you personally, and going to the office every day can be a real drag on your wellbeing. 

In some cases, the problem is purely cultural. There’s nothing particularly bad about where you work right now, it’s just that you’re not the right fit. If you have a free and easy personality, then working in a stuffy, authoritarian firm where you have to punch in every morning probably isn’t good for you. Similarly, if you like structure, then working in an office with air hockey tables and a ball pit probably won’t suit you very well. 

You’ve Got A Permanent Position

If you’re working as a temp or contract-free but you land a job with a permanent position, you should seriously consider taking it. While temp and gig work can be fun, it’s not secure, so opting for a permanent position might be better in some cases.

Also, remember that most permanent positions come with the possibility of promotion. There are often ways to rise through the ranks and get to the top of the pile, either in your existing company, or by transferring to another. 

You’re Ill

Obviously, if you are ill, you can’t do your job as well as you like. And if you’re seriously ill, you don’t want to spend your time doing something that you don’t enjoy, particularly if you have savings. Instead, you want to go out and experience the world while you still can. 

If you are quitting due to a chronic condition, double check that your employer will continue providing you with health cover. Some may withdraw insurance immediately, while others will continue paying your premiums for a while before tying up your policy. 

Your Passive Income Will Support You

When you have a sizable passive income, the option of continuing to work becomes less appealing. In many cases, you just want to retire and wind down, or do something you’ve always wanted to do. 

If your after-tax passive income is the same size as your income now, then you’re in a position where you could quite comfortably retire – there’s no need to continue. You can continue to build up your capital even more, but that might be more trouble than it’s worth. 

You Hate Your Job

Lastly, if you hate your job, you might want to quit it. However, before you do, you need a game plan in place. Just rage-quitting is not ideal. Leave on your terms and avoid burning bridges. Have something else lined up first before handing in your notice.