When Should You Quit Your Job?
Feeling Burned Out and Lack of Corporate Advancement are Key Factors
Dec 15, 2008
You will know when it's time to leave. Maybe it has been a long time coming and you tried to ignore the dreadful sensation that forms in the pit of your stomach that comes around like clockwork every Sunday night. Don't ignore it. In fact, this is a sure sign that it's time to move on and find something more fulfilling. Here are some other reasons why you or somebody you know will want to call it quits at work.
Physical Symptoms Which Affect Your Performance at Work
Feeling burned out is a classic sign of physical and mental exhaustion. Even if you've been sleeping for the whole night, fatigue will follow you every morning when you go to work. When the stress levels are so high that you're experiencing headaches, backaches or even panic attacks it's time to consider if the job is worth keeping.
The workplace can be far from nurturing and supportive, and it's no surprise that employees who must tackle their own workload as well as the jobs of one person or even two people if there has been downsizing can add considerable strain. Not all employees are rewarded for the extra hours they put in and this can be a disaster waiting to happen (a sudden and lethal heart attack for example).
Excessive irritability and sudden emotional outbursts can be added to the supermarket like variety of ailments plaguing overworked employees. If you add chest pains that won't go away to this list, seek medical help immediately.
Boredom and the Feeling that There's Nowhere Else to Go at Work
Even the best jobs turn sour after a period of some months or years. Doodling on a blank piece of paper while staring at an equally blank computer screen is a wake up call you shouldn't ignore. Your consciousness is telling you that you've outgrown that job, and it's time to move on.
This feeling is unlikely to disappear and will get worse if no other challenging assignments can be found. If you have discussed this with the boss, and it looks like there will be no new prospects for advancement on the horizon consider resigning.
It's Time to Quit when Your Boss is Giving You the Silent Treatment
Little by little you are being stripped of responsibilities, and you can't remember the last time you were called to a meeting. Maybe another person you've never seen before is sitting at your desk and doing your job when the workday begins.
Maybe your colleagues are treating you like you're invisible. What's going on? What's happening is that the boss is quietly asking you to leave. There may be several explanations for this. Perhaps your performance was less than adequate, or the company is on a downward financial spiral and is about to bite the dust. Once you know for sure why you're being pushed out of the company's loop it's best to take the hint and leave.
It's Time to Quit when Your Circumstances Have Changed
If you're a new parent, and the salary just isn't enough to support your family it would be a wise move to try your luck elsewhere to find more rewarding opportunities.
Working at home is a good choice. You will never be forced into early retirement or unexpectedly downsized. Furthermore, juggling a career and responsibilities at home is a mammoth task that almost nobody can do effortlessly. Why not do both from the comfort of your living room?
It's Time to Quit when You Don't Get Along with Other Employees
The reasons don't matter in this case. Everybody in the workplace is different and sometimes you'll be stuck with people you don't like, or vice versa. Even if you are likeable, others will not tolerate your presence and will seek to grind your nerves in the worst ways. These people will never change so do yourself a favour and walk away.
Removing yourself from the corporate world is a gradual process, and might take weeks or months. Trust your instincts and pay attention to any of the warning signs, especially the physical ones.
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