A question I get asked a lot is this: How do I know if it's time to quit my job?
There are a few instances where there's an easy answer but usually the answer is this: It depends.
What I will not tell you is:
“Leap and the net will appear.”
“Just follow your passion and things will fall into place.”
“Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.”
“Do what you love and the money will follow.”
“Always go with your heart.”
I can’t guarantee that any of that stuff works or is true. As far as career advice goes, if you are getting any of the 5 pieces of advice above from anybody, you might want to get a second opinion.
That being said, sometimes we play things too safe for too long. We stick it out at a job that isn't working for us--even after taking steps to try to make it better and are suffering physically or psychologically. Sometimes a job isn’t great but there’s really nothing compelling us to move towards something that might be better. We might be unhappy but also ambivalent because the path ahead doesn't seem clear.
People have shared some truly hard work situations with me. If this is what you're living with I get that it can make you want to walk out or not show up or show up but not engage. If you find yourself having to grit your teeth to get through the day and then immediately want to crawl into bed when you get home, something needs to change.
How do you know if quitting is the answer?
Start by answering these 4 questions:
1. Why do you want to quit?
These questions can help you with the decision of whether to leave or stay but also point you towards steps to take either way. Start by naming how you're feeling about work. Are you angry? Disappointed? Bored? Afraid? Then consider what you're attributing to your feeling this way. Do you dislike the work you're doing? Just some things? Do you dislike your boss or someone you work with? Do you not like the hours? The location? Try to pin down the root cause of your unhappiness. Sometimes just listing out what stinks about your situation can help you strategize solutions or an action plan to help make things better. Over the course of a week or two, take notes on what is rubbing you the wrong way. While you are doing that, you might as well jot down anything you come across that you like about your work too.
Next, ask yourself this:
2. How long have I been unhappy?
Are we talking months, years, days, minutes? No matter how much your job might fit, there will always be the odd bad day, or week, or maybe even season. We all feel tired of certain aspects sometimes or have parts of our work that are not our favourite thing. That’s normal. Don’t let strong short-term emotions dictate your next move. If you are unsure, it might be worthwhile to sit tight before making a decision. Remind yourself that while you're feeling discomfort now, you don't ever need to run from a feeling. Ideally you don't want to run away from something rather run toward something else. This is where you want to get some clarity before making a move. Also, if you are new to your role or have had recent big life changes (new baby, relocation, divorce etc.), perhaps give yourself some time to adjust and adapt before adding any more life upheavals into the mix.
Now ask:
3. Is your work unhappiness seeping into your life outside of work?
If it seems as if you're bringing work baggage home with you every night and your personal life is being impacted, you need to take a close look at this. Don’t sacrifice your well-being, family, and relationships for your job long-term. Of course, you might have busy periods or seasons where things get a bit off balance. That is different from letting work problems take over your life. If they are, do things to try to fix this before throwing in the towel. Most things can be fixed if you approach them with a realistic and solution-focused perspective. It’s one thing to be unhappy at work, but if your job is negatively impacting your marriage or other relationships, or your mental and physical health is suffering, get clear on the root cause of this. Are you setting effective personal and professional boundaries? Is your work utilizing your strengths? Does it satisfy your drivers? Is it violating a value? There are some things you can take responsibility for and others that might be out of your control. If you've solved for what you can and it's still not working, it might be time to start pounding the pavement.
Finally ask:
4. What do I want next?
Go back and review the information you gathered up about what you like and dislike about your current job. You should have some good intelligence on what you want and don’t want in your next position. Start researching and networking where you think you might like to go next. Don’t overlook opportunities within your current company.
You’ve asked yourself the right questions and thought things through. If your answers to these questions point you in the direction of finding something new, assess whether you'll need to line something else up before leaving or if you're in a position to give your notice now. If you're able to leave on good terms with everything that will make your life easier in the future.
I know something brought you here and maybe it was a search for what to do next about your career. There are a few ways I can help:
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Sarah took the Make Work Better quiz and said this:
“Christine! I wanted to say thanks. I completed the quiz and then it clicked: I don't feel my contributions are recognized or valued by my employer. Time to have a tough conversation and make some decisions. Thanks for the nudge.”
Kim, a one on one coaching client had this to say about working with me:
I followed Christine on social media for quite some time before I reached out so I felt confident that she was the right coach for me. I’d recommend her coaching for anyone who feels stuck in their career and doesn’t quite know where to begin – anyone looking for accountability and motivation to change. Working with Christine led to a huge shift in my thinking about the level of power I have over my personal contentment. What I liked best about working with Christine was that I felt safe – she is genuine, honest and supportive – so I was able to be vulnerable and easily share what I needed in order to move forward. Her constant reassurance that it’s okay to continue exploring, shifting and changing as I grow was invaluable for my piece of mind. Most importantly, Christine believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself. She helped me truly internalize that no matter what obstacles and challenges arise, I can persevere and continue moving forward.
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