How do you feel when you wake up for work every morning? Good or simply miserable beyond expression?
If the latter is the case, it’s probably about time to draft that letter of resignation and quit your job.
Still, making such weighty decisions isn’t always easy. There’s a whole list of things to consider, including most people’s innate resistance to change.
In addition to that, you might worry about money, have self-esteem issues, or simply not know what you really want.
For this reason, a bit of introspection is in order. If you’re unsure whether your frustrations are only momentary or whether you should quit your job, keep reading.
We’ve put together some hard-earned truths to help you move on.
1. You’re no longer learning new things
Once you stop learning new things at a job, it’s time to move on. Never consider any job to be the last one you’ll ever have. Why?
First, in this time and age people are changing jobs frequently. Second, you don’t want to fall behind.
As soon as you stop learning, you might as well give up on your career entirely. If you stay too long in a job that doesn’t allow you to learn, you waste your time and sabotage your future.
"As soon as you stop learning, you might as well give up on your career entirely."
Besides, once you stop learning, it means your job has become boring. Watch out for the feelings of inescapable routine and lack of challenge.
2. You can’t stop venting about your job
At this point, your family’s sick and tired of your complaints about your job. It’s time to stop.
Do you know why you vent all the time? Because you already know you’d rather bite your leg off than spend there another minute.
Still, you feel like you lack the means or courage to make that final decision.
So don’t hesitate to leave as soon as you can. There’s only so much negativity you and your close ones can endure.
Besides, it’s also a bit unfair to your employer. Take control and make things better for everyone.
3. You’ve lost all interest in your work
It has become clear to you that your job has nothing to do with your ultimate goals or personal interests.
The outcomes of your work began to seem meaningless, or even worse, negative to you.
In the end, finding meaning at work is more important than feeling happy.
Having a sense of purpose in one’s work is beyond important.
Did you know that happy employees are 12% more productive than unhappy ones? They also take 10x fewer sick days.
In the end, you can’t succeed if you don’t believe in the positive good of what you’re doing. Failure to do so results in lessened productivity and possibly even in long-term health problems.
Don’t risk it. Quit your job now and put your talents to work somewhere else.
4. You have no time for yourself anymore
If you want to be happy at work, have a life outside of it. It’s what you do outside of work that truly defines you.
In the end, you need this time to recharge, foster important relationships, and have time to truly learn. In other words, do all the things that improve your quality of life.
Many people underestimate the importance of downtime. But remember — you’re neither Elon Musk nor Steve Jobs.
It’s borderline insane these people are put up as standards for all of us to measure against. Their crazy, 100+ working hours per week are not something a normal person can do.
"...you need this time to recharge, foster important relationships, and have time to truly learn."
If you don’t take enough time to enjoy the fruits of your work, you risk your mental and physical well-being.
Not only that. You also sabotage your success in the future, as you really need that time to grow and develop yourself as a well-rounded human being.
5. Deep down you believe you’re meant for better, bigger things
Your gut feelings are not something to ignore. People tend to settle for whatever position they find available at the moment, only to keep regretting it later.
After all, following your ambition often requires an active approach, not simply waiting until something better comes your way.
Don’t ignore your ambition. If you believe you’re meant for better things, you probably are.
Simply reach out for them. It will bring you more joy, success, and satisfaction. Don’t waste time feeling you should be elsewhere doing something else.
Bonus point: If you’re reading this article, it's time to quit your job
Employment is sometimes like being in a relationship. Once you start looking for a way out, it’s time to end it.
Why did you click on this link? What brought you here?
Quit your job as soon as you can and move on. Better things are waiting for you just behind the corner.
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Find out how to keep your morale up while job searching. Also, you'll need to know how to write your resume and cover letter. It will help you find the job of your dreams faster.
- Editor in Chief
Martin Poduska is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. He leads Kickresume’s team of writers and is the main person responsible for upholding the standards of expertise and quality on the blog. In addition to having written nearly 100 in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles, as chief editor he has also edited and revised every single article on this blog. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. Martin holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam.
