When to Quit Your Job
Whether you're happy or not at your current place of employment there always comes a time when you have to make a decision about your future. That future most often entails moving on to a new job. But when should you do it? Many people struggle with this question day-in and day-out, until they're finally pushed to the point where their stress levels are too high and they do something rash.
This isn't the way to quit your job. This solves nothing and often causes you more grief than anything else when you finally let off that steam.
First, a few pointers just in case that stress level does crack and you blow off some steam right at your boss.
Always keep your resume up to date. Most people only update their resume when they're looking for a new job. This is a mistake. Sometimes jobs come to find you, and you have to make sure that your experience is documented and refined; not rushed to get the email out of the inbox. Always make sure your resume is up-to-date, and check it about once every month or every other month. It doesn't matter if you have no intentions of leaving your job. A well maintained resumed is a valued asset to any career path.
Keep networking. Most of the time, you'll end up never talking to former co-workers again, especially those you only interacted with on a professional level. Try to avoid this. If you left on good terms with your last company, touch base with people once in a while. Maintain your network. It might seem like a difficult job, but much of corporate America - and even medium-sized businesses - works off of "who you know" and not necessarily "what you know." Maintaining a certain reach in your industry will often let you bypass any red tape should you need to find employment elsewhere. LinkedIn is a good tool for networking. Keep your profile updated and fleshed out. Search for old co-workers and connect. Leave recommendations. Basically, just use LinkedIn to it's fullest to maximize your online/offline networking.
Doing these things will lessen the stress and shock should something unavoidable happen.
So when should you quit your job?
There are usually two main reasons to move on. If you're unhappy or if there is no visible career advancement. There are other reasons to quit your job, like ethical breaches that make you uncomfortable; but those are specific decisions, and I'm looking at things more generically.
It's a no-brainer to quit your job if you're unhappy, but you'd be surprised how many people stay at a job and just remain miserable. That isn't the way to go. If you've managed your money properly and haven't gone into unnecessary debt, you should have some semblance of financial freedom.
Many don't have this though, so quitting your job becomes a trap and you feel like you can't quit. At this point, you need to look at expenses, find things to cut, get rid of them and search for a job that makes you happy. Even if you end up working at a bookstore temporarily while you search out a new career path, it's better to be happy and struggle slightly than to make ends meet, while spending your days in misery.
If you dread waking up in the morning; if you contemplate calling out at least once a week because you can't seem to make yourself go in; if you hate the sound of your bosses voice and cringe when you hear, it's probably time to move on.
The second reason to quit your job is a little more difficult to do and detect. Are you advancing in your career? You may be perfectly happy with what you're doing, but if there is no advancement in your future; if there is no opportunity to learn new things and make a move up the ladder, then you're really just doing yourself a disservice by staying there.
Never become content with your job. Treat every job as a learning experience. What can you learn from it? What more can you take on? Your job should be enriching. If you aren't learning anything, it's time to move on. If there's no hope in moving up the chain of command, it's time to move on. It is very important to always invest in yourself with whatever it is that you do. Learn what you can. Advance while you can. And when you can't advance any more, look into alternatives.
When you do quit your job, it's important to remember that you have some leverage. Some bosses will hoot and holler and throw you out of the building. Others will try to bargain with you to get you to stay. If you're unhappy, express your concerns. If you feel you can't advance in the company, present that to your boss. But remember that these are now your terms. If your boss tries to negotiate with you, don't settle for something that's going to make you happy 12-18 months down the road. Get what you feel you need.
If you do decide to part company, remember that you are entitled to any unused vacation time. Don't let them stiff you. You're also entitled to any 401K plan that you have, though you may be penalized for the employer contributions if it's not a Safe Harbor match. Lastly, don't sign anything until you absolutely understand what you're signing. The only thing you have to sign is your resignation letter. Look at all other paperwork with a cautious eye. You don't want to end up signing something that restricts your options moving forward.
Quitting your job can be a stressful endeavor, whether you're happy with your current employment or not; but at the end of the day, you need to look out for yourself more than anything. You need to make sure you're happy and enriching your own career first, before you can worry about anybody else's feelings. Keep a good head on your shoulders, learn as much as you can, and keep moving forward.
