The Privilege of Quitting
Is it time to quit your job? There’s no room for having jobs that negatively affect our mental and emotional health. We spend SO much time at work. We shouldn’t justify staying at jobs that we are unhappy at. Being unhappy leads to stress, anxiety and other negative feelings. And those negative feelings lower our quality of life both at work and outside of work.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the privilege of up-and-leaving a job. It often seems out of reach to switch jobs, jump industries or to “find a job you’re passionate about.” Most people are simply trying to get by. According to a 2022 LendingClub survey, 64% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck.
On top of all that, there is often another layer for women and people of color: the pressure to succeed. Whether the pressure comes from family, culture or society, it can impact the decisions you make in your career.
So is quitting your job even possible?
One Step At A Time
The answer is yes. It’s possible to quit your job. You don’t have to feel like a prisoner stuck at a job you hate. Or in an industry that bores you. You deserve a better quality of life. That’s for damn sure.
The question becomes how? How do you know when it’s time to leave your job? And if it is, how do you go about it?
For some people, the decision will be obvious and the path will be clear. For others, it will take some reflection and strategic planning. A few indicators that will help guide the process include:
- clarity on your goals
- financial security, and
- mental preparedness
When you have clarity on your goals, you’ll have a clearer picture on the next steps for your career. Maybe you can think up new skills to learn, or companies you can apply to work at.
When you have financial security, you have more cushion to take bigger risks. This could mean starting a new business, going back to school or simply leaving your job before having something else immediately lined up.
When you are mentally prepared, you won’t second guess your decisions. As humans it’s natural to get attached to things that feel comfortable — this includes our jobs.
Not sure if it’s time for a change? Here is a short list of 3 things to look out for to gauge whether or not it’s time to leave your job or your company and find something new.
3 Signs It’s Time To Quit Your Job
1. If you are no longer growing or learning.
One thing to consider before you quit your job is whether or not you’re gaining value from it aside from your pay. Some people aim to master their jobs and then coast. Others find comfort in knowing what to expect each day at work. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this approach. However if you’re bored or unhappy, it could mean that you are unfulfilled. We often forget that growing and learning are lifelong processes that serve purpose.
Beyond the practical reason of growing and learning to get paid more in your current job, there are a lot of benefits to learning new skills and information. Learning new things can provide a sense of accomplishment. It can also inspire new interests and career paths that we would have never thought of. Additionally, any growth and learning that occurs within your job becomes something you can put on your resume and utilize beyond the walls of your current job.
Ultimately it is a win-win to dedicate some time to grow and learn. How do you go about doing this? There are a couple of things you can try:
- Ask your manager for new projects that are bigger and more challenging than your current workload
- See if your company will cover any courses or workshops, either partially or in full
- Ask your manager and/or HR for full transparency about your current role and how much growth it allows
If you get pushback on any of these items, or if nobody at your company seems to care about your growth — it might be time to leave.
2. If your values don’t align with the company’s values.
Let’s face it, there are still backwards-ass companies and backwards-ass people working at them. You want to make sure you’re working in a safe environment where you can feel protected from any BS.
Most companies have (or should have) a mission statement and values they operate under. These values are all positive characteristics such as integrity, teamwork, authenticity and my favorite: diversity. Now just because a company says they care about these things, doesn’t mean they all uphold their values. Once you’ve been working at a company for awhile you’ll start to gauge whether or not they stand by their values. Furthermore, you’ll see if those values align with your own values, needs and wants.
For example, many companies say they care about diversity and inclusion. They might even have programs and initiatives to show for it. But are they actually diverse? Is this a value they stand by? Do they take a stance on social issues? Do they try to minimize or eliminate microaggressions in the workplace? If diversity and inclusion are important to YOU, then it’s important that your company is also aligned with this.
3. If you’re not getting what you’re asking for.
You may want to quit your job if it’s not a mutually beneficial relationship. This is not about entitlement, asking for unreasonable things or throwing temper tantrums if you don’t get your way. However it is a fact that we spend a lot of time at our jobs. It’s important that you feel like:
- you’re getting heard
- your work is valued
- you are supported
- you are getting compensated for your value
If any of these things are lacking, make sure you voice your concerns with your manager, HR, or whoever is responsible for listening to you.
REMEMBER: You are working for a company and helping the company make way more money than they are paying you. In return, they are responsible for adding value to your life in the form of compensation, respect, recognition, and more.
If after reading this you feel like you’d be happier somewhere else — start looking around! The advantage is that you aren’t being pushed out of your job. You aren’t being forced out. So you have all the time in the world to plan out your next move. You can start by researching other companies, updating your resume, applying for jobs, and so on.
Remember that your health and happiness should always come first.
