Many years ago when I was living and working in New York City, I was offered a job with a prestigious fashion and beauty public relations agency.
I was thrilled about the job and thought it would be totally fun and glamorous.
It turned out to be the job from hell.
First, about the same time I took the job, I moved from Manhattan across the river to a less expensive apartment in Jersey City. To get to work every day, I had to walk about 6 blocks to the subway station to get to Manhattan, then catch another subway to the Upper East Side, and then walk several blocks to my office. The commute took over an hour.
But the worst part of the job was my boss. Her unhappiness and bad attitude infected the entire office. She was critical, controlling, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Even though I enjoyed my clients, her presence made life around the office nearly unbearable.
To add insult to injury, the agency took on a new client whose main business was producing cigarettes. Even though I didn’t personally represent the client, my firm did – and it made me feel I was compromising one of my core values.
Every day I woke up with anxiety and dread about my job. I had a long and dreary commute, only to face unpleasantness, tension, and a career I was finding increasingly unsavory. In addition, I was in a romantic relationship that had stalled, and my move to Jersey City turned out to be a total mistake. I felt isolated and disengaged from my friends in Manhattan.
My unhappiness eventually overwhelmed my belief that I had to stay with the job at least a year. Even though I had no other job lined up, and few other plans arranged, I quit my job and moved back to Atlanta. I lived with a friend for a few months, pounded the pavement, and eventually found a great job as the marketing director for a network of career colleges.
Of course I was afraid when I quit my job that I wouldn’t find work right away, and I didn’t know if what I was headed toward would be any better than what I was leaving. But the pain of staying eventually overwhelmed my fears and doubts. I simply couldn’t stay.
So how do you know when it’s time to leave a job? It varies from person to person – everyone’s tolerance for discomfort and unhappiness differs. But here are some general guidelines to help you decide if it’s time to move on.
1. You’re so bored and uninspired you want to chew your foot off.
You took the job because you thought it was the right decision. Maybe the pay was good, or you felt you were doing the “right thing” taking a job that you knew in your heart of hearts wasn’t really what you wanted to be doing. And you were right. Every day you simply feel deflated, bored, and uninspired. There’s nothing about the work that feels engaging or remotely interesting. Do you really want to spend 8-10 hours a day doing something you hate for years and years? It’s time to move on.
2. You’re a square peg in a round hole.
The job may be great. The pay is really good. And the people are pleasant enough. But the fit just isn’t right. Maybe you’re a free-spirited artist working in a buttoned-up agency or a numbers-cruncher working with constant distractions. The culture of the office just isn’t you, and you feel like a square peg in a round hole. You can’t change who you are, and you’ll always feel misplaced if you don’t find the best fit for you.
3. You aren’t invested in the product of service.
You may have a great job, but if you don’t believe in the product or service your company is promoting, then you can’t be truly successful on the job. How can you support something that goes against your values, your integrity, or your standards? Find a job where you feel proud and happy to support the business of the business.
4. You’ve hit a dead end.
The job you have now is great. But will the same job be great in 5 or 10 years? If there’s no way to move forward, no room for promotion and growth, then you’ll be at a dead end with your career. Leave now before you feel resentment and frustration.
5. Your employer is being naughty.
You’ve discovered your company or boss is doing something unethical, immoral, or even illegal. Maybe they’re cooking the books, practicing discrimination, or stealing office supplies. If bad things are going on, get out as fast as you can and don’t look back. You don’t want to get caught in this mess.
6. You are feeling stress and anxiety.
You are regularly working long hours or even on the weekends. Your boss pressures you or the expectations for performance are higher than the reality of what’s possible. The office environment is intense and always fast-paced. If you are regularly feeling stressed, anxious, and depleted, your mental and physical health will suffer. Is this job really worth your health?
7. You aren’t stretching yourself.
When you first began this job, it was fun and challenging. But now it’s so easy you can do it with one arm tied behind your back. Yes, it makes the work far less stressful and demanding, but are you growing as a professional? It’s time to take the next step toward your career passion.
8. You’re a victim of bait and switch.
You were hired for what seemed to be your dream job. But now you are being asked to do something entirely different. Or more and more unrelated responsibilities are heaped on your plate, and you can’t enjoy the job you really want to do. If you’ve discussed this with your boss, and there’s no relief on the horizon, then it’s time to find something else.
9. Your boss is worse than Cruella De Vil.
You like the company. Your job is great. And you love your co-workers. But your boss — not so much. He or she is emotionally immature, controlling, disrespectful, or incompetent. Unless you know your boss is leaving in the next few months, maybe it’s time for you to head for the door. A bad boss will make you miserable.
10. It isn’t your passion.
Your job is OK. You can live with it. It isn’t bad every day. But what if you could wake up excited about your job every day? What if it felt more like play than work? What if it was deeply fulfilling and interesting – perfectly matched with your interests, skills, and values? There’s no better time than right now to uncover your passion and find work that supports it. As you find your passion, you’ll discover your current job is no longer acceptable.
If you’re unhappy with your job, or even simply feeling bored and restless, now may be the perfect time to move on. Examine your feelings about your current job and your physical and emotional reactions to your work. Are you beginning to feel that the pain of staying is outweighing the discomfort of leaving? If so, make the leap having faith in yourself and knowing that something better awaits you on the other side.
Are you unhappy with your current job but not sure whether or not to leave? Have you recently left a job that you hated and moved on to something better? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
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photo credit: Ed Yourdon via photopin cc