Work supports your lifestyle, so it's easy to see your current job as a necessity, not a choice. No matter how much you want to quit your job, money woes make it hard to leave without another offer lined up. Unemployment is scary, but it's no worse than the daily misery of an awful job. If an unhealthy work situation is spoiling your job search, here's why quitting immediately might be your best option.
1. Is Your Environment Hostile?
Getting out should be your top priority when your environment becomes physically or emotionally unsafe. You may be reluctant to quit your job and forfeit unemployment benefits, but constructive discharge laws may help you get compensation if you can prove an employer created hostile conditions. More importantly, breaking free from a damaging environment can restore your personal well-being and professional passion.
2. Is Your Judgement Impaired?
Sticking it out when you're ready to quit your job is a mental battle. Job hunting takes time and energy, both of which are in short supply when you're burned out by a toxic day job. Ask yourself whether you feel:
- Desperate to find any job, even if it's not a position you really want.
- Negative about your prospects of attracting and impressing better employers.
- Unenthusiastic about the future because frustration from work carries over to your job search.
A poor mentality makes you prone to hasty decisions and likely to end up in another bad situation. Resigning is the right choice if that's the only way you can fully commit to job hunting.
3. Do You Have an Ethical Dilemma?
An ongoing clash of values can ruin any goodwill toward your job and colleagues, especially if the problems are deeply ingrained in the company culture. Unethical behavior may come back to hurt you, even if you were just following orders. If you're uncomfortable with something a manager asks you to do, you might have to quit your job to avoid compromising your integrity.
4. Do You Have Alternate Income Sources?
Financial obligations are the main reason people hold onto jobs they hate. Yet, temporarily scaling down your lifestyle may give you the flexibility to quit your job and plan your next move. Look for ways to tighten your budget and bring in alternate income, whether it's from Uber driving, pet sitting, selling old belongings or renting a room in your home.
5. Is Short-Term Work Readily Available?
Instead of toughing it out in a nightmare job, take short-term, low-stress work to pay the bills and stay busy. Doing a job that's easy and suited to your strengths can help you stay upbeat and energized during your job search. Ask friends or relatives who are business owners if they need extra help, or line up some consulting work you can add to your resume. Marketing yourself to land freelance or consulting gigs can also attract recruiters, boosting your chances of landing a new job.
Think about the consequences before you quit your job, but don't get trapped by the idea that you don't have other options. Quitting doesn't make you a failure, and letting go of these fears can pave the way to new opportunities. Only you know your limits, so trust your gut when it's telling you to move on.
Photo courtesy of radnatt at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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