One step back, two steps forward: 5 signs it’s time to walk away from your job

Leaving a stable job isn’t a decision to take lightly. Sure, we’ve all imagined storming into the boss’ office and dramatically declaring “I quit!,” but daydreaming and doing are very different animals. Everyone has bills to pay, from rent or the mortgage to ensuring the fridge is fully stocked each week. That means there’s much more to consider when walking away from a job than just pride or a passing bad mood. What feels right in the moment may end up sparking intense regret by the end of the day.

It certainly isn’t a decision to make over the course of a single lunch break, but that doesn’t mean quitting a job is always a bad call. In fact, you may actually be in the minority nowadays if you haven’t at least considered doing so. Recent years have seen an undeniable jump in the amount of workers bidding their employers adieu. The media even adopted a catchy nickname for the phenomenon: The Great Resignation. Back in 2021, Microsoft’s Work Trend Index reported more than 40% of the entire global workforce had contemplated quitting, and an even more recent poll from mid-2023 tells us over three in five U.S. workers continue to ponder the possibilities of handing themselves a pink slip.

Of course, no one should leave their job because a bunch of their friends or co-workers decided to do so. Don’t allow societal trends or clickbait headlines to convince you it’s time to quit. A decision this important should be made by you and you alone. That being said, if you just can’t shake that creeping thought that you’ve been spending Monday through Friday working for the wrong company, it’s worth exploring those feelings. While more traditional schools of thought will tell you quitting a decent job is akin to shooting your own career in the foot, no good will come from staying in a place that isn’t fulfilling you creatively, professionally, or financially. 

Sometimes taking a step back is the best way to move forward on the right path. Here are 5 signs it may be time to walk away from your job.

1. No room to grow 

Stagnation can be a career killer, and any successful professional will tell you that if you’re not habitually learning, growing, and advancing in your career, there’s a high chance you’ll eventually find yourself regressing. We’re not just talking about promotions and higher salaries. If you’re stuck in the same old boring routine day in and day out with no hope for change, a challenge, or at the very least an opportunity to learn something new, it may be time to move on.

2. Questionable leadership

Decisive, even-keeled leadership is essential to any thriving organization. If the way management runs your current company is setting off alarm bells in your head, trust your instincts. Misalignments with management can span from the ethical to the financial. If you’re being asked to perform tasks you disagree with, either morally or from a business perspective, it’s probably time to dust off the old resume.

3. No passion

“Work” may be work at the end of the day, but that doesn’t mean you have to hate what you do. Actually being passionate about your job can make a world of difference in terms of overall happiness and feelings of life satisfaction. While not everyone is going to land their ideal dream gig, no one should feel absolute apathy toward their job. If you find yourself sleep walking through your current role, ask yourself what type of job would excite you again.

4. The bed test

Here’s a quick way to gauge where you’re at on the quitting scale. Answer just one question: How easy is it to get out of bed in the morning M-F? If it takes all of your willpower to simply muster the determination to make breakfast and get dressed, there’s a high probability your job is impacting your wellbeing more than you realize. 

To be clear, we’re not talking about if you’re not much of a morning person. What the bed test is really asking is: How easy is it to start an average workday knowing what your job has in store for you? No one is going to be cheery every morning, but the mere thought of another workday shouldn’t evoke dread.

5. You’re being overworked

Hard work absolutely pays off, but no one should be expected to log long hours and piles of assignments on a constant basis. We’re all only human after all, and job burnout is now recognized as a very real phenomenon that can have a tremendously negative impact on every aspect of a person’s life – both personally and professionally. It’s best to walk away from jobs that leave room for nothing else in your life. This is especially true if management habitually ignores requests for less work, extended deadlines, etc.

Move at your own pace

Everyone is different. What one person wants out of their career will likely differ from what the next has in mind. Take your time and figure out where you want your career to take you and the best way to get there. If that route involves leaving your current gig, think very carefully about your decision and plan accordingly before doing anything rash. Update your resume, reach out to old colleagues, begin networking again, and start browsing new job opportunities.