Everyone thinks about quitting their job sometimes right? Have you ever thought about it, but just couldn’t seem to make a decision? Maybe you’re just in a slump and things will pick up. Or maybe it’s something more serious and there’s a fundamental problem between you and your job? Here are some signs that might indicate it’s time for you to just quit:
1. Can’t Stand It
All of have days when we can barely find the will to drag ourselves out of bed to head into work—case of the Mondays anyone? But what we’re talking about here goes a bit beyond that. Outright and sustained dread at the thought of another day on the job is a definite sign that something is wrong. It might be the work itself, or your coworkers, or worse, your boss. If you recognize signs of extreme joylessness in relation to your work then it’s time to start taking stock. Ask yourself some tough questions about what it is you want from your job, or even what kind of work you really want to do. If your present position isn’t filling any of these requirements then start making some changes.
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2. Burnout
A close relative of the dread discussed above is job burnout. The Mayo Clinic has an excellent article on burnout which it defines as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to demanding work situations. Burnout is the cumulative result of stress.” The article also states that burn out can manifest itself in many ways, but some of the major ones are: cynicism regarding the work, dread, lack of satisfaction and/or enthusiasm, and loss of joy. This is a serious issue which can have wide ranging effects on you and your health.
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3. Health
If the job begins to affect your health in negative ways, either physically or mentally and emotionally, it’s not good. Jobs can come and go, but your health is something you kind of need to stay on top of. Headaches, tension, stomach problems such as ulcers, and sleep problems are all potential indicators here, but the effects might not limit themselves to the physical. Mental and emotional health can be heavily impacted by a problematic work situation. All of us experience some stress and worry over our jobs sometimes, but a protracted state of worry, stress, or depression is sign of an unhealthy situation.
4. Rumors of Layoffs
Rumors of downsizing can start flying around like wild fire in a tough economy as companies tighten their belts across the board, so be careful about buying into them unquestioningly. Do some homework to find out if the rumors are founded. This can, of course, be more difficult than you think. Those members of management in the know are probably not just going to let something like that slip until the last minute, which may seem evil, but to be fair companies have to protect themselves and the old adage about loose lips sinking ships is very apt here; if solid information about pending layoffs is leaked, people will start jumping ship, further damaging the company’s efforts and business. If you think you have solid information on upcoming layoffs then by all means start looking elsewhere, but it goes without saying (actually it doesn’t) that you shouldn’t do anything rash. And hey, look on the bright side, if you hate the job then here’s your motivation to get moving.
5. You’re Being Sidelined
It might be time to go if you see signs of being left out of the loop. You’re not included in meetings, or you don’t receive important emails because you weren’t copied, or worse, you’ve had some of your responsibilities taken away from you. These are generally not good signs, and could be indicators that you’re slowly being pushed out the door. Again, don’t be rash, but also don’t give them the satisfaction of quietly making you obsolete or unnecessary. You’re in charge of your own destiny and you can leave on your own terms.
If you’ve been in a situation where you were left wondering if you should stay or go, let us know. What were the signs? And what finally helped you make your decision?
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Tags: quitting, quitting job, when to quit
[...] If you’ve tried the other two most common approaches and still find you have an issue then it may be time to talk to your boss about the individual. If it comes to this it’s important not to come across as whining lest you be labeled a difficult person yourself. Gather your evidence, and calmly make your case against the coworker in a professional manner. If your boss is reasonable, and not the source of your worries in the first place, then they will probably be able to handle the situation and you can wash your hands of it altogether. When your own boss happens to be the problem, try Step 1 first and hope for the best. Step 2 will likely not be possible when it’s your own boss making your work life a living hell, so you may cautiously give some thought to talking to his/her superior about your issues, but proceed with caution. [...]