Quitting is a major decision and it's something all of us have considered at least once. Before you make any rash decisions, you need to ask yourself a few very important questions.
1. What specifically about my current situation is frustrating me?
Pinpointing the issue is the first step towards solving it. Kimberly Bishop, recruiter and chief of her eponymous career management firm based in New York, advises employees to identify how their job is failing them. After you've defined the frustration, consider the scope. If you decide you're creatively stifled, for example, you may not need to quit to fill the void. Seek an outlet outside of work or raise your hand for another department or project. If you decide you're in the wrong industry or the work pace is making your head spin, however, and then it's probably time to consider leaving.
1. Have you served in that job for two years?
Usually, it takes a few months of on-the-job training to fully understand the position and what's expected of you. It's important to give yourself some time to hone your new skills and really provide value to the company before your can market those new skills toward another job. Don't sell yourself short by leaving your job before you've had a chance to be good at it.
2. Do I have enough saved to cover nine to 12 months of expenses?
Susan Hirshman, financial planner and author of Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?, says a few years ago she told people to save enough for six months of expenses. Now she tells people they need nine to 12 months. "If you're quitting, you won't get unemployment," she cautions.
2. Do you have the right experience?
Before you quit your job, you need to make sure you've built up enough experience so you can effectively market yourself for another role. "A big mistake: When people decide to quit they think they'll just update their resume and start networking," says Bishop, who advises being more thoughtful about what you really want and how you'll get there. Define your priorities.
3. Are you overworked?
If you realize your situation is not abusive and could be manageable, consider the steps you might take to improve it. Try taking a positive attitude, altering your time management or work habits, and communicating more clearly with your manager. Perhaps a schedule change or clearing an item off your workload will make a big difference.
5. Is there something else going on?
It's not uncommon for people to blame their stress on work when it's actually the result of something happening OUTSIDE of work. If you're having a relationship, health, family, or financial issues, that stress can actually carry over into your work. So, even if you did quit your job, that stress might carry over to the next job. Before you quit, take a good look at your personal life.
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