5 Signs You Should Leave Your Job

We’re all raised with the “never quit” mindset, right? As a kid your mom signs you up for soccer, but you’re more interested in dance. You want to quit before the soccer season is over, but your mom won’t let you. Why? Well winners don’t quit, of course! It’s a good lesson to learn when you’re growing up. I mean, you shouldn’t give up on something just because it’s difficult or you don’t feel like doing it. Sometimes you have to stick it out because it’s what’s best. However, when it comes to the real world, it’s not always so black and white.

You Feel Unhappy 

This isn’t rocket science, friends. A huge sign that you’re ready to move on is how you’re feeling when you’re at work. Do you dread going to the office everyday? Does the work you’re being given to do feel like a chore rather than a challenging task? Now don’t get me wrong, every job has its highs and lows, however, if your day to day is dragging you down, it may be time for a change. My biggest piece of advice is to recognize your feelings and don’t push them aside. Sure, you need money, so maybe you can’t quit your job cold turkey. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t update your resume and start looking for new opportunities. After all, your happiness and sanity are far more important than anything else.

You Believe Deep Down That You’re Meant For Bigger Things

We all want to be successful and make a lot of money. After all, that’s the “American Dream”, right? If you feel like the job you’re currently in is stifling your potential, that’s a tell tale sign that it’s time to leave. Sometimes you just know that you’re meant for something bigger. It has nothing to do with having a big ego, but you’ve worked hard and deserve to be in a position that challenges you and allows you to grow as a professional.

You Don’t Feel Respected

This one is tricky, but very important. It’s easy to be taken advantage of when you’re an entry level employee. I mean, you just graduated college and you’re looking for anything you can find in your field. Sometimes we settle for jobs that underpay and overwork us just because we want the money and we need to build up our resume. In a way, it’s understandable. However, you don’t ever want to sell yourself short. Just because you’re new in the work force doesn’t mean employers can treat you poorly. If you feel like you’re not being respected at work, I would recommend having an open and honest conversation with your boss. Maybe you feel like you deserve a raise, or maybe you’re not getting the acknowledgement you know you deserve. It’s important to be vocal about your concerns. Who knows, you may be happy with the outcome!

You Don’t Get Feedback On Your Work

You don’t want a boss who is constantly correcting your work and micromanaging you. However, you also don’t want a boss that doesn’t give you any feedback at all. Having a manager that’s involved in your work is a good thing. This shows that they care about your career and want to help you grow professionally. If someone is always telling you your work is “fine”, and not providing some constructive criticism, you will never learn anything. This is actually a very destructive behavior. Think about: If you leave your current job to go work somewhere else, you wont actually know what your strengths and weaknesses are. No one is perfect. It’s healthy and necessary to receive feedback from your boss.

The Environment Is Toxic

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but drama and gossip doesn’t end after high school. It follows you where ever you go, including the work place. It’s normal to have some politics in the work place (although it can be very annoying). However, it starts to become a problem if it’s affecting you personally. Negativity is contagious, and if you have coworkers or a boss that is constantly complaining or talking poorly of other employees, that’s a red flag. When you’re surrounded by that type of negativity, it brings you down as well.  That’s a very dangerous environment to be in. You want to be surrounded by people that lift others up and have a passion for what they’re doing. Staying at a job like this will only stunt your growth professionally.

If any of you reading this are in a tough spot, just know that everything will work out in the end. Work hard and stay positive!

Well thanks for stopping by, friends! I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, please share and subscribe!

xo, Jess