The decision to quit your job is never an easy one to make. There might be a hundred reasons that are holding you back. Perhaps the pay is good, or you’ll miss your colleagues dearly. Maybe you don’t like big changes, and the uncertainty about the future is making you anxious. It could be as simple as your office being within walking distance from your home.
However, if you’re reading this, then chances are you have just as many reasons to leave your job too. It could be that you hate your boss or the toxic work environment. You might have a better job lined up. Perhaps your family is moving town, or you are desperate for a career change.
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Here’s the thing, though: just because you have your reasons for quitting a job, that doesn’t mean they are good ones — no matter how strongly you might feel about them. Some reasons are better than others, and some might even get you in trouble.
So, to make sure that you hit the ground running when you hand in your resignation and walk out the door, let’s go over some legitimate reasons to resign from a job — immediately. Read this guide for more information.
1. You Have Secured a New Job
Now, that’s a no-brainer. If you’ve been unhappy with your job lately and have found a better position elsewhere — by all means, go for it.
Note that “better” does not necessarily mean “better paid,” although that could definitely tip the scales. But if money isn’t an issue (and even if it is), you should consider other things such as the opportunities for career and personal growth, the work environment, or even the location of your new office. These and many other factors can make a massive difference when it comes to figuring out whether your new position would be better than the current one.
One more thing: before you quit your job for good, you need to be 100% certain that your new job offer is confirmed. You don’t want any last-minute surprises.
2. You Have Been Offered a Permanent Position
You might be currently working as a temp or part-time employee but would like to upgrade to something more long-term. In that case, securing an offer for a permanent or full-time position is definitely a valid reason to leave your job. Just make sure your new job is 100% guaranteed and the conditions are better than what you’ve got at present.
3. You Are Ready for a Career Change
Have you been doing the same thing or have been stuck in the same industry for what seems like ages? It’s perfectly normal to feel that a career change is in order and that you should quit your job.
In fact, switching lanes might do you a lot of good. You could learn a great deal, gain whole new sets of skills, and meet many interesting people from vastly different backgrounds. Better yet, a brand-new career path could rejuvenate you and get you feeling more excited about life.
And it’s not just you, either. More and more Western talents are looking for new challenges off the beaten career paths in exciting emerging markets. So why don’t you get adventurous and search for jobs in India? Or perhaps jobs in China?
Just remember: make sure you’ve thought things through and are fully briefed on what to expect from your new career. Try to talk to as many people from the industry as possible and read up as much as you can on the subject.
4. You Are Moving Town
Relocation is a 100% valid reason for quitting a job, whether you are moving for personal, family, or work-related reasons. Before you resign, however, check whether your company is willing to offer you a remote position. That could mean doing your current job from home or taking up different tasks altogether.
5. You Are Going Back to School
Going back into education, whether full- or part-time, could mean that you would have to reduce or eliminate your work commitments altogether. However, if you are going to go through an extended period of time without a job, you absolutely need to make sure you have six to twelve months’ worth of savings. Ideally, you want to have some form of passive income as well. Examples include renting out or subletting a property, starting a low-maintenance e-commerce business, or monetizing your YouTube channel.
6. Your Schedules Clash
Sometimes, the demands of our personal and family life clash with our work duties. Or perhaps you have a side project that has been taking up more and more of your time but generates higher income than your day job. If that is the case, it’s perfectly reasonable to leave your job. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to look for a position that better fits your schedule. In either case, make sure to have a solid financial backup plan.
7. You Are Dealing with Health Issues
If you or members of your family are sick and need long-term care, there’s no question about it. That is a perfectly legitimate reason to resign from a job (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation). However, it is absolutely essential that you or your family members have continued health insurance and, if possible, a solid financial cushion to fall back on. Some form of passive income would be great too.
Finally, before you quit your job, make sure to check if you are eligible for family or medical leave. None of us can know what the future holds. It might be helpful to have a job to go back into once the ordeal is over.
8. You Have Had Enough of a Toxic Work Environment
Don’t worry — wanting to quit your job because of toxic colleagues or an insidious corporate culture doesn’t make you weak. In fact, it might be the single best thing you could do for yourself. Toxic workplaces can take a terrible toll on our physical and emotional health, not to mention the quality of our work and our career growth. Sometimes, enough is enough, and all you can do is to jump ship.
If you’re dead set on quitting a job because of the toxic environment, make sure you’ve exhausted all other options such as conflict-resolution techniques or getting transferred to a different floor or department. But if nothing seems to help, get yourself a new job and hand in your resignation as soon as you can.
9. You Hate Your Job
Whether you hate your job because of your toxic colleagues, low pay, long hours, or lack of career growth opportunities, it might be best to just call it quits. There is no reason why you should spend weeks, months, or even years seething with resentment. Sometimes, it’s better to quit from a job than risk damaging your psychological health and wellbeing.
However, don’t leave your job before strategically planning your resignation. As always, put some savings aside and secure a new job offer or at least some passive income.
10. Your Gut Is Telling You to Leave Your Job
This one might sound odd but bear with us. Call it what you want — life, karma, destiny, God, intuition, or Mercury retrograde — but whatever that hunch is, it is well worth listening to. Many of the world’s top HR and recruitment experts will tell you that when it comes to choosing the best job for you, your gut feeling might be the best adviser. And as long as you plan your resignation carefully and set your finances in order, you should have nothing to worry about.
11. You Were Passed Over for a Promotion
It’s understandable that you may want to leave your job after you’ve worked so hard day in and day out, only to be passed over for a promotion. In fact, many high-performing employees often find it easier to get a new, much better-paid position with the competition than to negotiate a decent pay rise with their current employer.
However, before you quit your job, make sure that you have exhausted all other options at your present workplace. Plan your resignation wisely and carefully and, above all, try not to burn too many bridges in the process. You never know — you might end up working with your current employer again.
More about me: I’m an International Recruitment Specialist with over 15 years of experience. Throughout my career, I worked with small start-ups as well as Fortune 500 companies in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., which helped me to really learn the ins and outs of the global job market. I’m very passionate about helping others finding their dream job. I also run a website called JobsAndCareer.Tips, where you can find valuable and in-depth career advice on various topics.