“How To Quit A Job” is a guest post from Steven, who blogs at HundredGoals.com. Steven’s blog is awesome; he focuses on personal finance and frugality while still pursuing dreams. I love the focus on Hundred Goals, highly recommend you give Steve’s blog a read through!
Many of us work at jobs where there is no opportunity for advancement. If there is opportunity for upward mobility, the positions available may require advanced education, experience which we do not have or maybe we don’t have enough seniority.
It may also be that advancement into another position may bring even less satisfaction to an already miserable work experience. Whatever the reason, working at a dead end job stinks.
Some may think that it is naive to think everyone in the world can work in a job or career they love. Maybe they are right. There are those people out there who will settle for less than they deserve for a variety of reasons; security, money, insurance, education, even respect. Yes, even people who work in highly respected positions are miserable too.
Staying in a position in order to maintain respect, or any reason, is ridiculous. We should be seeking satisfaction in every way possible, including our careers.
Your happiness is no one’s responsibility but your own. If you are unhappy in your job or career, it isn’t up to someone else to bring you satisfaction. It is up to you. Quitting a job isn’t something to take lightly and in today’s job market leaving a job, even one you hate, is a risky decision. In order to quit your job & move smoothly towards other opportunities, keep these points in mind during the transition.
How To Quit A Job
Job Security- If you are staying at a job you hate simply because you feel secure, you are being foolish. As far too many people have discovered the hard way, there is no such thing as job security. Take off the rose colored glasses. At any moment your company could become bankrupt, your job could be outsourced or eliminated entirely. Life is too short to be unhappy, even for a seemingly valid reason such as “security”.
Debt Elimination- One of the most important aspects of personal finance, not just quitting a job, is to get out of debt. Having debt chains us to our job. We must work in order to pay others. Our money does not belong to us. You may think you earn $15 an hour, but really, isn’t most of it going to Visa? They’re the ones making all of the money & you’re doing all of the work for them.
Paying down debt can be a long process. Depending on your debt load, it could take years before you are debt-free. Figure out a plan to pay down your debt, and stick with it. Once you have a plan written down on paper it is easier to meet your goals, especially if it is broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Don’t look at your debt as one big mountain to move. Instead, try to see it is a bunch of spoonfuls of dirt which are easier to move, bit by bit.
Job Search- Maintaining a job while actively seeking other opportunities provides you with the benefit of time. You can search for the perfect position without feeling pressured into taking a job that isn’t right for you.
If you are seeking other avenues of opportunity, maybe self-employment, having gainful employment while making the transition into running your own business takes some of the financial stress away. You will continue earning a wage while your business is young and maturing. Once you have established yourself & the money coming in is enough to support you without needing your “real” job, you can quit safely.
Education- One way to find more meaningful work or work that is more suitable for your ambitions is to further your education. Whether you have a degree or haven’t graduated high school, you can always benefit from learning something new.
Take classes in things that interest you. If there is an area that needs brushing up, say your language or writing mechanics, take some courses on these topics. Many universities offer evening courses which will mesh well with your work schedule.
Returning to school on a full-time basis may also be something to consider. Returning to school can be costly & requires devotion to your studies, so be prepared. Have your finances in order and do your homework to figure out what the cost will be and whether you can afford to make the transition from work back into school. A part-time job can help ease your financial situation and may even lead to other opportunities. Try finding something through the University which is in your area of study in order to gain valuable experience. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to find a job in your field with no practical experience.
Networking- Networking these days is over-rated. It isn’t all that it is cracked up to be but a few great connections can prove to be a valuable asset further down the road. Don’t just collect phone numbers, really connect with people and form relationships that have substance and meaning. There should be give and take within these relationships, don’t just look at these people as a way to get something you want. If you stick to the standard of collecting cards, you will see why social networking doesn’t work.
The road to your future is paved with the decisions you make today. Tomorrow is a choice you make. Only you have the ability to determine the path your life follows. T
aking the risk of quitting a job is a risk many are unwilling to take, no matter how unhappy they are with their jobs. There could be nothing else in this world that we hate more than to have to walk through the Gates of Hell on our way to our desk, our drill press, our counter, our register, our dump truck, yet we still repeat the process each day.
Breaking the cycle is hard. It’s scary. It is a process that requires thought and preparation, but at the end of the day, isn’t our happiness far more important than a paycheck?
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When it comes to job security, i think the vast majority of people are somewhere in between absolutely loving their jobs and dreading getting up Monday morning. Most of us may be dissatisfied with one or several aspects of our work, but much of life works that way…it will never be perfect and part of the maturity process lies in weighing the pros and cons of any situation and reconciling ourselves to make the best of what will usually be less than perfect.
Those who have a family to support will be even less inclined to take big risks by quitting a job they’re not enamored of, and understandably so. Today’s job market is not one that encourages this kind of risk-taking when long-term unemployment or underemployment could be the likely result.
I don’t think your statement: “Staying in a position in order to maintain respect, or any reason, is ridiculous. We should be seeking satisfaction in every way possible, including our careers.” is realistic. While personal fulfullment is great, as we grow older, most of us learn that there are more important things in life than selfish pursuit of Happiness, whatever that means, to the exclusion of, perhaps, providing as well as we could for our families.
It is interesting to me that you feel that the pursuit of happiness is a selfish endeavor…
It is also interesting to me that you seem to equate accepting less than perfect circumstances for maturity.
To each their own, though I prefer to strive for excellence & perfection in my own life and not create excuses to explain my shortcomings.
Fern,
I know that it can be tempting to avoid taking risks when you have a family. After all, you’re providing for others, and their consideration has to be taken into account in all decisions. Everyone with a family they care for is in that situation.
I think what Steven meant in the statement you referenced was that staying in a job just for respect isn’t good. If I’m understanding what he meant, doing that is just gratifying your ego and not pursuing something better
But I do believe that dreams always have their place in our hearts, even if we are the sole breadwinner in the family. Even if we have to take baby steps, we can still get there if we don’t give up. I think there’s always a way to make things happen in safe, responsible way, if you don’t give up looking for it.
Thanks for taking the time to write in!
Heather, i think Steven meant just what he wrote, especially since he emphasized his phrase “for any reason” in italics. So I took that at face value.
I’m not suggesting we avoid taking all risks if we have a family, but to ensure that in our decision-making process about major life changes that we consider the impact that quitting a job may have on family income, for example. I think that’s reasonable.
and yes, Steven, i do believe that once you have a family, it’s not all about you anymore. To recognize that is a sign of maturity. Sometimes, sacrifice and compromise is necessary, maybe not forever, but for a time. Each situation is different. I sense some hostility from you in your reply, and I’m sorry we disagree, but this is a blog where, hopefully, many opinions are welcome.
I do not mean to be hostile towards you, my apologies if I came off that way. Differing opinions are what we need in order to engage in thoughtful conversation. I appreciate your comment and hope you will visit my site in the future. Here is a more thorough explanation of my thoughts on this topic, which you have inspired, which will be tomorrow’s post on my blog.
First things first, there is no such thing as job security. Anyone could lose their job for a variety of reasons, reasons beyond anyone’s control. We are all subject to outsourcing, company bankruptcy or down-sizing. Each of us is replaceable when we work for someone else.
I agree that the majority of people will find themselves falling somewhere in the middle of the love/hate scale when it comes to their work. There are many aspects of most jobs that are rewarding; the feeling of comradery with your co-workers, the challenge of the task at hand, feelings of accomplishment.
Despite these positive aspects of work, sometimes people burnout & are no longer happy in their careers. These are the people to whom I speak to. Those people who dread the thought of having to drag themselves through the door to make it through another day. People who are unhappy with their work also tend to be unhappy in their lives. Believing that “much of life works this way” is not acceptable to me. As individuals we are solely responsible for our situations in life and telling ourselves that we do not deserve to be happy or satisfied in our lives is not “maturity”. It is accepting defeat. Instead of pushing for a better life, we are giving up.
“Those who have a family to support will be even less inclined to take big risks by quitting a job they’re not enamored of, and understandably so. Today’s job market is not one that encourages this kind of risk-taking when long-term unemployment or underemployment could be the likely result.”
Quitting a job does not need to be risky if it is planned appropriately. I do not endorse walking into your workplace and handing in your resignation without proper preparation. In my article I recommend a number of ways to prepare yourself for leaving your job. It is important to plan any major change in your lifestyle, especially in a job market as unstable as the one we are currently in. A well-considered plan could lead to great opportunity, regardless of what the market is doing. It is simply a matter of educating yourself about the risks involved with your pursuits & doing all that you can to ensure your success when the day comes to leave your job.
Those who have a family are not any less entitled to fulfillment in their lives. Yes, it is true that people who have a husband/wife and/or children will need to consider the ramifications their actions will have on the lives of others. That shouldn’t mean that a husband should have to work at a job he hates every single day in order to provide for his family.
As I mentioned above, people who are unhappy in their jobs are also unhappy in their lives. Most people think they can seperate their work lives from their personal lives. I disagree. When someone has a bad day at work, it comes home with them. If they are bringing the stress of work home with them, are they being as good of a spouse or parent as they could be? In 18 years from today, will your child pride themselves on the fact that their parents worked a job where they were unhappy in order to provide a stable life for them? Will you grow to resent the ones you love because you convinced yourself that their lives were more important than your own?
There is a balance that can be found. It is possible to pursue our own happiness while meeting our responsibilities at home. Using family as an “excuse” not to seek our own satisfaction will only result in resentment. A family does not mean becoming a slave to other people. Pursuing our own happiness will result in a better family environment in the long run. It isn’t always about “security” or money. Love is the most important thing in any familial relationship.
“I don’t think your statement: “Staying in a position in order to maintain respect, or any reason, is ridiculous. We should be seeking satisfaction in every way possible, including our careers.” is realistic. While personal fulfullment is great, as we grow older, most of us learn that there are more important things in life than selfish pursuit of Happiness, whatever that means, to the exclusion of, perhaps, providing as well as we could for our families.”
It is interesting that seeking personal satisfaction in every aspect of our lives is unrealistic. Isn’t that what life is about? We are on this Earth for a finite amount of time, time which we can never regain no matter how hard we try & for no amount of money. Each moment that slips by is another moment gone. Why should we accept our lives the way they are if we are not satisfied or if we are unhappy? It makes no sense to spend life knowing that we could be doing better for ourselves, yet making a conscience decision not to.
Is the pursuit of happiness really selfish? Why not work at a job that provides you with satisfaction and allows more time with your children? An afternoon with mommy and daddy is more valuable to them than any amount of money, especially money that is a burdeon for their parents to earn.
Using the excuse of “providing as well as we could for our families” is nothing more than projecting an unwillingness to change your situation onto our families. Instead of analyzing the real reason we don’t pursue our dreams, maybe fear or insecurity, it is easier to use a socially acceptable excuse such as family. Using our family as the reason we stay in a job which makes us unhappy is basically saying that our family is the reason for our unhappiness. “I stay in this job I hate because of my family.”
Life is short, life is limited. We all deserve happiness, whatever that is to us as an individual. Maybe providing for your family is what makes you happy, but if you hate your job it doesn’t make sense to stay in it. There are always other jobs out there, and since there is no such thing as job security, there is no reason a person shouldn’t be out looking for a way to earn a living that makes them happy.
What I see as being selfish is blaming our feelings of inadequacies on someone or something else. It all falls into our control. We make the choice to pursue our goals, our satisfaction and our happiness. I don’t think that is naive or immature.
Thank you, Steve, for the additional explanation. Having read it, i really don’t think we actually disagree on much.
Absolutely, job security is never a given. As someone who’s been laid off due to company closure, company relocation or the usual business reasons at least 4 times during the course of my career, I know that to be true.
But please don’t put words in my mouth. I never said, “telling ourselves that we do not deserve to be happy or satisfied in our lives is “maturity.” What I said was that sometimes employees who may not be thrilled about every aspect of their jobs will decide that, when all things are considered, they’re willing to put up with various dissatisfactions for the sake of their families, maybe not forever, but for a time.
Being an agnostic, i do believe that every individual should strive to reach their fullest potential in life, but that’s not saying that the pros and cons of any given situation shouldn’t be weighed and considered thoughtfully, as well as the impact of one’s own decisions on those closest to you, before making significant changes, such as a job change. I think, based on your latest reply, that’s something we both agree on.
And i absolutely agree that no one should have to bear the ordeal of a job they absolutely hate. Life is too short, and the rewards of such a job, such as a paycheck, are probably negligible compared to the stress and damage it does to one’s psyche. Judging from your evident passion on the subject, it sounds like this is something you have personal experience with, and for that i am sorry.
You said: “There is a balance that can be found. It is possible to pursue our own happiness while meeting our responsibilities at home. Using family as an “excuse” not to seek our own satisfaction will only result in resentment. A family does not mean becoming a slave to other people. Pursuing our own happiness will result in a better family environment in the long run. It isn’t always about “security” or money. Love is the most important thing in any familial relationship.”
And you know what? I absolutely agree!
You say: “It is interesting that seeking personal satisfaction in every aspect of our lives is unrealistic. Isn’t that what life is about?”
Well, this is turning into quite a philosophical discussion, and there are some who who disagree that personal happiness is the highest thing we could strive for. Others might say, for example, that making the world a better place is more important. Many people devote their lives to some cause they feel personally committed to. They’re not worrying about their personal happiness because that often comes of its own accord.
Personally, I think it’s a combination of the two. And there are many people, millions who live in third world countries, who don’t have the luxury of pondering what will make them happy. They’re too busy scrounging for the day’s meal or a safe place to sleep. Your preoccupation with personal happiness is typical of self-absorbed Americans. (Sorry.)
Despite your having labeled my concern for considering the welfare of one’s family when making career moves as “excuses,” I stand by what i say. And, it may surprise you to know that I am single.
You say: “What I see as being selfish is blaming our feelings of inadequacies on someone or something else. It all falls into our control. We make the choice to pursue our goals, our satisfaction and our happiness. I don’t think that is naive or immature.”
I absolutely agree. As i mentioned, my religious beliefs are such that i believe in creating one’s own destiny, right now, here on earth, because there is nothing else. Our lives are what we choose to make them. Carpe diem.