Why It’s OK to Quit Your Job

Sometimes, quitting your job can be the right decision.

Quitting your job can be quite scary! There comes a time in everyone's life when the question, “Should I quit my job?” pops up. Perhaps there are things going on at work that you simply can't get past – like being passed over for a promotion or no room for growth. Maybe your personal life is demanding you take some time off work. In these instances, it's ok to quit your job.

If you're thinking about leaving your job, this guide will help you decide whether it's the right move for you. You'll also find nuggets of wisdom that will hopefully make you truly consider whether the things making you question if it's time to quit will come to an end.

Signs you should quit your job

No one takes a job with the expectation that it will turn into a disappointment.

When you realize that your job has become a source of anxiety, things may look grim indeed. If your relationship status with your job is “complicated,” that's just another way of saying, “It's not working.” So, how do you know when to end it?

Many professionals have a strong resistance to leaving a job that's not working out. Quitting is hard because it implies that you gave up, did not try hard enough, or were not good enough to make it work. The reality is, as Seth Godin so aptly puts it, “Quitters never win, and winners never quit” is just plain wrong. Winners quit all the time – they just quit the right stuff at the right time.

How do you know if you should quit your job? Here are questions to ask yourself that can help you think through your complicated relationship with your job and make the best decision. questions to ask yourself when quitting your job

Isn't it better to find a new job while still employed?
Are you unhappy with how your employer treated you during the pandemic?
Is it the people you work with? The culture?
Are you sitting at a desk for too many hours of the day?
Would a different group, manager, or position be better for you at the same company?
Is your current work environment just not for you anymore?
Do you dread going in (or logging in) on Monday mornings? If so, it might be a sign that it's time to find a new job.
Is the discomfort you feel short-lived and brief, or constant and permanent?
What is your "point of no return?" What is your deal-breaker?
Does the mission of your company not align with your values?
What would need to change in order for you to be happy at work?
Are you happy with your company's diversity and inclusion initiatives?
Does your company have remote work options?
Do you have another job lined up?
Is the problem something that you can overcome?

Where is the problem really coming from?

As you start to ponder if you should quit your job, your first step should be to step back and take an honest look at the current situation. Sometimes, the issue has little to do with the job and everything to do with your personal life.

Health, sleep deprivation, and relationship woes can certainly spill into your work life – regardless of how often you're told to leave your personal life at home. Decide if your issues are actually at work before walking away from your job.

Is your discomfort temporary?

Professional growth does not come pain-free. If the discomfort you are experiencing is a temporary side effect of learning new things or stretching into new challenges, quitting your job will rob you of an opportunity to grow and advance professionally.

Consider having a conversation with your team lead about being overwhelmed to determine if a change is possible. Be careful, though, because temporary dissatisfaction can quickly lead to feeling burned out.

What is your personal “point of no return?”

Everyone has a personal set of factors that are firm nonstarters. What are yours? An abusive boss or manager, a job that has offered no opportunities for growth and career development, a commute to the new office that consumes two hours in one direction – you decide what would spell an absolute “no” for you. These are definitely signs it's time to quit. Here are a few others:

You've lost the passion for what you do
A misalignment between company values and personal goals – this often happens when management changes
Poor work/life balance
It's time to become a stay-at-home parent

Reasons to quit your job

While there are plenty of reasons to quit your job, let's take a look at the most popular ones. If you're at a place where some of these reasons mirror what you've been thinking or how you've been feeling lately, it might be the right time to quit.

You're receiving too much criticism from your boss

No one likes to be criticized, but positive and negative feedback can help you become a better employee. The fact is, when someone is paying you to perform a job, they have the right to decide if you're meeting their expectations or not. Even if you don't agree, try to find a grain of truth in the criticism. If you get offended and quit every time your behavior or your work is criticized, you'll be changing jobs quite frequently.

On the other hand, if your boss is throwing negative remark after negative remark at you, you may be in a toxic work environment.

You were passed over for promotions

Let's be honest: No one who's been passed over for promotion ever thinks the person eventually selected was a better choice. Of course, you believe that you are the best choice. Just remember that there are a lot of factors that go into deciding who gets a promotion, including:

Promotions based on seniority
Promotions based on who is perceived to be better at motivating employees and holding them accountable for performance metrics

Try to find out why the person who got the promotion was chosen. You probably need to beef up some skills. When you do, you can get the next promotion.

If you find that you're still being passed over for a promotion, no matter what you do or how good you get at a particular thing, then it's time to move on. There's really no sense in staying in one place and spinning your wheels if nothing will ever come from your efforts. After all, working in a place that offers room for growth is usually pretty high on most people's want list.

You want more money

Wanting more money isn't a clear-cut sign that it's time to quit your job. Obviously, everyone wants to earn more money. But, sometimes, those dollar signs can cloud your vision. If you currently have a job that you love – or at least really like – you need to weigh the pros and cons of quitting.

For example, your current job may be quite flexible, allowing you to come in late, leave early, or even work from home when the kids have school events or medical appointments. How would your lifestyle change if the new company had a more rigid schedule and required employees to request time off months in advance?

On the other hand, if your company is paying you below market value and refuses to raise the pay rate, or you find yourself working at a company that caps your earning potential, it's time to move on.

It's time to change careers

It's rare to find someone who's been at the same job for 20 years. Most people change careers at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes, the change is within the same industry (a marketing coordinator to an event planner, for example). Other folks make a more drastic change, like in the case of a woman who went from being an Office Manager at an insurance company to working as an Animal Tech at the local pet shelter.

Career changes often occur when people are unhappy with their jobs. It doesn't have to always be about money. Remember, mental health is important, too.

You want to start your own business

Another major career change is entrepreneurship. This one requires some major consideration, planning, and, depending on the type of business you open, a lot of capital. According to Entrepreneur, while 75 percent of small business owners are supremely confident that their company will be profitable, 50 percent fail in the fifth year, and at the 10-year mark, 70 percent of small businesses have gone belly-up. The vast majority of these failures are a result of cash flow problems.

If you've done your research, followed all the legalities of opening the business, and have a solid game plan in place then it may be time to quit your job to follow your dreams.

It's time for a change of scenery

A great reason to quit your job is if you're moving out of the area. Yes, it could be possible that your company will allow you to work remotely. However, in the event that option isn't available, moving definitely equals a good reason to quit.

What do the signs tell you?

If your desire to quit your job still exists, that's OK! That little voice in your head is telling you something's off and that you should be doing something else with your life — give yourself permission and the space to listen to it.

Explore your options, daydream, see what ideas come to you, and make a game plan to make the right changes in your life.

How to quit your job

If you are set on quitting your job, here are some key points to remember.

Know it's OK to disappoint others

You're in the driver's seat of your life. No one else knows what's best for you but you – not your parents, your grandparents, your spouse, your best friend, or your mentor. If you make a career choice to please others before you please yourself, you may grow to resent those people in the long run.

Also, you're the one who has to get through each day, and no one else can or will do it for you. If you know that quitting your job is the best choice for you and your family, trust that others will see it, too.

Along those same lines, one obstacle to pulling the plug on your current position often has to do with the feeling of loyalty to your co-workers and managers. Though this might seem like a noble action, if your work is impacting your quality of life then you're not doing anyone any favors by staying. Your manager and co-workers might be disappointed or sad to see you leave, but ultimately they should understand that you need to do what's best for you.

Have a game plan

After you do some soul-searching and make the decision to quit, you need to create a game plan, so you're not stressing about money and paying your bills in the foreseeable future. Whether it's …

looking for a part-time job that offers more flexibility,
saving up to start your own company,
or landing a consulting gig so you can be your own boss and make your own hours

… having a game plan in place will support the transition from your current job to whatever your next step is.

Also, before you quit your job, it's important to note that it's typically easier to find a new job or make the transition to a new career path while still employed at your current position – especially when it comes to your finances.

However, if balancing your home life and your job is causing you stress to the point of sickness or is causing you more harm than good, it's OK to quit before you've determined your next step.

Give notice

Two weeks' notice is the business norm and common courtesy to your employer. Even though you may not be technically required to give more notice than that (check your contract), in some situations, you may consider doing so anyway. If your position is specialized, complex, or mission-critical to the company, you may think about staying longer to give your employer time to find your successor. If your industry has a busy season, you may time your departure in a way that does not leave your team in a lurch.

If your employer asks you to stay longer than two weeks, you are under no obligation to do so. Instead, continue on with your plan so that you start your new job at the scheduled time. You can offer to help your previous employer after hours to help with the transition, if necessary.

Update your resume

Once you have your game plan, it's time to focus on your resume. Make sure you've gathered all the information you'll need to update your resume properly and sell yourself in an interview before you quit. This is in case your company decides they don't want you to give two weeks and has you leave immediately – which is something they are allowed to do.

Are you too overwhelmed to update your resume? Hiring a professional resume writer will not only relieve the pressure, but a professionally written resume can also help you land the job faster and even earn more. The transition between quitting your job and landing your new position shouldn't be overly stressful.

Communicate clearly

This may be difficult for some of you, particularly if you do not enjoy a smooth relationship with your boss or co-workers. If you would rather resign by text and never see the office again, resist the temptation to do so. Instead, make sure you write a resignation letter and (if possible), tell your supervisor in person. If you are currently working from home, you can email or video chat with your supervisor, but make sure to have an official resignation letter on top of that.

Within your letter, make sure to include a brief explanation of why you're leaving, thank them for the opportunity, and let them know when your last day will be. Stay positive, emphasizing how the company has helped you and why it's time you need to move on.

Leave with grace

If and when you decide to leave your job and send a goodbye email, do so as gracefully as possible; don't burn bridges if you can help it. It can be a small world, and people remember those who handle things respectfully and appreciatively.

If you quit your job without notice, in a rude manner, or in a way that can harm your professional reputation, that could follow you around to your new job, your job search, or even a new industry. Trust us, you never want to ruin your professional relationships this way. You never know when you might need to call on these connections later in your career.

Thank people for the experience, opportunities, and learnings you are taking with you. Have a private conversation with your mentor or sponsor and other supportive and helpful people. And, if you choose to, stay connected. Whether you use Facebook, LinkedIn, email, or meet up for coffee, stay in touch with the people who matter to you.

Frequently asked questions about quitting your job

At this point, it may seem like the logistics behind quitting your job are a no-brainer, but there are a few more questions that need to be addressed.

1. Is it unprofessional to just quit?

Yes! You should never simply quit your job. While it is true that in most states in the US, employers can terminate your employment without giving you any notice, you should take the high ground. At some point, you may want to re-enter the workforce or get another job. Whatever bad taste you leave in the mouth of your current employer can creep back up on you in the future.

Also, if you're quitting your job because you're starting a business, you might need to lean on people in your professional network at some point to ensure the success of your business. The bottom line is that it won't hurt you to give notice, but it could certainly hurt you if you decide against giving it.

2. What are some bad reasons to quit a job?

It's obvious there are a lot of good reasons to quit, but every coin has two sides. That means there are also bad reasons to quit. For example, if you're bored, you don't have friends, or you get mad at someone.

All of these problems are fixable. You can always ask for stretch assignments to broaden the scope of your skills if you're bored. Emotions like anger fade over time, especially if you exercise those great communication skills you have and talk to the person you're mad at to resolve the issue.

3. Should you quit your job if you have nothing lined up?

The answer to this question is almost always, “No!” In fact, it's almost always an emphatic “No!” You have bills to pay and food to buy. The only way to do that is with money, and it's probable that the only money you get is from your job. Most people painstakingly plan when they quit their jobs to coincide with the timing of when they'll receive the first check at their new job. It's critical to leave emotion out of your decision to quit and let logic reign supreme.

4. Will new employers know I quit?

One of the questions you see on all applications for new employment is, “Why did you leave your last job?” You could also be asked this question during an interview. So, even if the reason you left a prior job doesn't come back on a reference check or a background check, you should be prepared to talk about what happened.

It really is ok for you to quit your job

We know it can be interesting to go against the grain. It can also be tough to admit that you simply can't do it all. It might take you some time, but eventually, you know you need to listen to that little voice that's telling you to make some changes in your life – and it might need to start with your job.

If that means quitting your job or requesting a temporary leave of absence, it's OK for you to do so. It's OK for you to put your family first. And the fact is, you're the only one who can choose to do it for yourself.

Are you not sure if your resume is ready for re-entry into the job search? Our professional resume writers can help you get up to speed.

This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine. It's been updated multiple times by Ronda Suder, Natalia Autenrieth, Terri Williams, and Marsha Hebert.

It's OK to Quit (Your Job)