Almost every working adult faces a moment in the workplace when quitting seems like a viable option. Surely there must be some other position available somewhere with far fewer conflicts or demands or stresses. Before you turn in your two-week notice or run out the back door screaming, there are a number of things you should consider before quitting your job. Quitting an unsatisfying job may provide a temporary rush, but, much like the proverbial Geographical Cure, wherever you go, there you are.
Most employment experts agree that you should never consider quitting a job before securing another one to replace it. Arguably, this isn't always a priority in the middle of a heated argument with a supervisor or during the ninth ten-hour day in a row, but quitting a job voluntarily should rarely if ever be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Make every effort to generate several job leads or interviews before quitting a primary job.
One important consideration before quitting any job is personal finances. Do you have enough savings built up to survive a two month employment drought? Do you have automatic bill payments that hinge on a steady paycheck deposit? Would the entry-level salary of a new job be enough to meet your current budget? These are important considerations, especially if you have a spouse or other dependents.
Under some conditions, it may be better to be fired or laid off from a job than to quit voluntarily. Unemployment claims are often based on the circumstances surrounding your last day on the job. Quitting a job may disqualify you from collecting certain benefits.
Another factor to consider is the current state of the local economy. In an economically depressed area with 10% unemployment rates, quitting any job can be a very risky move. When local economies are running hot and the employee pool is tight, finding another job may not be nearly as difficult.
You may also want to consider the local demand for your particular skills. If you are a journalist working for a small city's only newspaper, for example, you may want to secure a new position before quitting. Finding other jobs in a technical or creative field may prove very challenging.
Before quitting any job, you should ask yourself if you've truly exhausted all other remedies. Often, the trigger for a sudden walk-out or voluntary quit is relatively minor in the larger scheme of things. You may have become frustrated by a co-worker's procrastination on an important project, or your employer may have been less than tactful about a mistake. These incidents, as painfully annoying as they can be, are not always worth paying the ultimate price of quitting.
Once you have recovered from the initial stress, examine all of your options before making a hasty decision to quit. Could you take a few days of personal vacation time to gain some perspective? Would a raise in pay or a transfer to another department make the job less stressful? You may be eligible for company-sponsored counseling to deal with your current job frustrations or anger management issues. When an experienced employee begins to consider quitting a key position, many employers will do whatever it takes to address his or her concerns. Be certain that you're prepared to walk away from a job permanently before deciding to quit.
