7 Signs It's Time to Quit Your Job
People are often dissatisfied with their jobs. Annoying colleagues, lack of resources for completing the project, demanding clients and arrogant boss don't make our lives easier. However, there is a huge difference between having a bad day at work and actually considering making the move.
If you feel constantly stressed, hardly survive another day in the office and feel that the work pressure impacts your personal life, these might be the subtle signs you need a new job. Staying in a toxic environment or constantly overworking in your current company can take a toll on your mental health and well-being. Below, we will share sure signs it's time to leave a job the sooner the better.
How to Know When It's Time to Leave Your Job
If you're wondering "When is it time to leave a job?" it might be the first sign that you're ready for a change. It often starts with hesitating about whether you're in the right place, feeling insecure in your career path, or worries about the relationship with your boss. You might have this gut feeling telling you that it's time to continue your career journey elsewhere, so the key is to listen to yourself. Here is how to know when it's time to leave a job:
- You feel constantly stressed. Of course there isn't a stress-free workplace. You can stress over a disagreement in a project or a conflict with a client. But if you feel stress and pressure every time you show up in the office for no particular reason, it signals that it's time to hand in your two weeks notice.
- You dread Mondays. Do you always feel the Monday blues as the weekends end? If you dread Mondays so much, it signals that you're unhappy at work. Your body tells you just what to do, and if the situation persists, it's a clear sign that it's time to consider a change.
- The work doesn't match your personal values. We all change and our values evolve. If you try to live a healthy life but have to work for a company that doesn't follow ethical manufacturing practices, you cannot avoid internal conflict as the job does not align with your personality and beliefs.
- You experience signs of burnout. If you experience chronic fatigue, feeling useless, and physical symptoms, it might signal a burnout in your current position. If the job with long hours and increased responsibilities started to take a toll on your physical or mental health, it's important to quit ASAP.
These are the subtle signs when i'ts time to quit your job. It's not always possible to resign quickly, especially if you have a high-paying job and provide for your family. Yet, it's time to start a job hunt and explore new opportunities.
Now, let's move to specific signs that your current job is not the right fit for you and it's time to change jobs.
7 Signs It's Time to Leave Your Job
You haven't been promoted for 3+ years
Not getting a promotion or increased responsibilities in years is one of the career stagnation warning signs. A survey revealed that growth opportunities are important for 91% of employees. Continuous learning is essential to stay an in-demand professional. They are even more important if you seek career advancement and see yourself in a leadershp position in the future. However, if despite your hard work and contribution your efforts don't pay off, it's best to find a new job lined with your long-time goals.
By staying, you will feel bored and stagnate. Moreover, as your professional development slows down, you'll find it more difficult to find a good job in the future. When there's no room for growth at a job, give quitting a careful consideration. Want more practical tips on achieving career success? Check out this guide: https://resumeperk.com/blog/brief-guide-to-achieving-work-success.
You don't learn new things
If you've spent over a year doing the same tasks and don't get the opportunity to learn new skills, it's time to conside a change. With professional growth opportunities missing, you'll find it tough to climb up the career ladder and grow as a professional.
Career development goes hand on hand with learning and improving your skillset. If you've found yourself doing the same kind of work for months, this is a warning sign. Try taking initiative and asking for more responsibility, attending professional seminars or training or use other professional development resources offered by your company. However, if your initiative is not supported, it means that the company isn't ready to invest in your training. It's better to find an employer who will encourage your professional growth.
You have toxic relationships at work
Toxic work environment and conflicts with co-workers are one of the most popular reasons for quitting a job. We spend a lot of time at work, and if you have a bad boss who criticizes you all the time or coworkers complaining or badmouthing someone, you'll find it hard to keep your sanity there. Of course, it's hardly possible to get an ideal job, but there are companies offering a healthy and ethical workplace where you'll feel valued and fulfilled.
Do thorough research and pay attention to the values of the potential employer to avoid workplace valeus mismatch. If there's a healthy working environment in your office yet you struggle to get along with some of your colleagues, check out the tips to improve relationships with coworkers.
You don't get quality feedback
Good feedback culture helps you thrive, develop faster as a professional, and feel satisfied with your job. If you get timely constructive feedback from supervisors, it helps you learn from your mistakes and grow faster.
On the other hand, if the only kind of praise you get in the office is “Great job”, you'll find it hard to continue building your skills. The thing is, to develop your skillset, you need to know exactly what you've done well and what should be improved. Generic praise is hard to take action on, thus, you might find yourself not knowing what to do to get better results and advance your skills. If the company offers only generic feedback or none at all, it's a sign to look for a better opportunity.
The company has high turnover rate
High turnover often signals deeper issues (or red flags) within the company, such as low morale, poor management, or limited career growth path. If lots of people resign to get a new job, consider looking for a new company either especially if you want to build a stable career. If the working conditions are good, people stay with the company for years rather than put on their notice one by one. Noticing the signs of instability early and taking action can save you from being sacked later.
It also makes sense to leave your job if the situation in the company is unstable. Mergers, acquisitions, changes in the corporate structure or management may indicate a shaky strategic of financial situation. Moreover, chances are that a new director might want to bring his own team, so if you are in a leadership role, your position is probably under threat.
Work doesn't inspire you
Do you feel uninspired and unmotivated at work even though you do your job well? It shows that although suitable in term of skill sets, your job doesn't align with your values. Deep down you believe that the things your company does are useless or downright unethical.
The point is, it's hard to achieve career progression and job satisfaction if your job or company values make you miserable. If you are not motivated by salary and benefits and your values contradict to what your company is doing, it's a sign you're in the wrong place. Have you ever dreamed of becoming a writer? Check out these tips on writing first book and becoming a successful author.
You spend most of the day procrastinating
Obviously, no people work every minute of their time in the office. While occasional procrastination is fine, it should warn you if you keep procrastinating most of your working time. It means that you find nothing engaging about your job and would rather read news websites or scroll Instagram feed to avoid working. It can also indicate that you've mistaken when choosing a career. In either case, the current role isn't a good fit so it's better to search for new opportunities.
There aren't many unmotivated at work solutions. If you know exactly what frustrates you at work, find an employer who better suits you in terms of strong work ethic or employees relations. If you don't, consider seeing a therapist to figure out the underlying issues of frustration and unlock your happy career.
If you've recognized one or several signs in you, it's probably time to hand it your resignation letter. Now, let's look at the five signs showing that you need to quit as early as possible to avoid mental and physical health issues.
Job Burnout & Emotional Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
Burnout is a syndrome of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress at work. It involves feeling unefficient, recurring negative thought, or cynicism about work. Although burnout is not considered a mental health issue, it is a serious issue that leads to decreased motivation, reduced performance, and a loss of interest in job responsibilities.
Workplace burnout becomes a serious issue. In 2024, 40% of employees surveyed reported that they felt burned out from their work. Burnout is often accompanied by anxiety, loss of motivation, no sense of belonging at work, and Sunday scaries - you can dread going to work on Monday.
If you have signs of burnout, it's best to quit your job unless it started to influence your health and well-being. Here are burnout at work signs to watch out for:
- Low energy level or emotional exhaustion - you feel loss of interest in your job and tasks no longer inspire you.
- Mental distance from your work - you don't have the feeling of belonging and see your job as a stressor, not the place where you can learn new skills and develop.
- Low efficiency - burned out employees usually underperform as they see no meaning in their work.
What can cause workplace burnout?
- Being undervalued at work - if you don't get enough recognition for the work done, or your skills are underutilized, it may lead to burnout in the long run.
- Excessive workload - if your responsibilities pile up and you are always overworked, you can burn out in the office quickly.
- Emotional stress from toxic coworkers - you might spend more time with a coworker than with a family member, and if workplace dynamics is negative, it will influence your well-being.
- Job dissatisfaction but afraid of change - if the job doesn't match your values and you see no meaning in it but keep working, it will result in lost interest and low productivity.
Burnout is easier to prevent than treat, so if you noticed these signs, it might be the time to look for a new job quickly.
What To Do Before You Quit: Your Career Exit Strategy
Handing in your two weeks' notice because you're unhappy at work might not be the best strategy. Here's how to prepare for leaving a job to land a new one faster and avoid getting into debt.
- Gain confidence to leave a job. Professionals often experience decision fatigue about quitting. Make it clear for yourself and the others why you're leaving the job: poor work environment, low salary, no promotion in four years, and so on.
- Plan your finances. Calculate the cost of quitting job without another lined up. Only quit your job immediately if you have enough savings to sustain yourself and your family for 6 months of job search. However, experts recommend looking for a new job before you quit the old one to ensure financial stability.
- Research the job market. Understand the situaiton in the job market in your industry and job level. Consider upskilling to apply for better paying positions. Look at the requirements and salaries - it will help you negotiate more effectively during job interviews.
- Update your resume for career transition. Update your old resume with skills, achievements, and job duties from your current role. If you are not sure if the resume sells you effectively, try our free resume review service. Send your resume to us, and our resume writer will recommend exact steps for improving it.
- Hand in your notice. Resign when you have a new job offer at hand, or immediately if you can afford it. To maintain your professional reputation and depart on a good note, hand it a two week's notice and complete all your projects before you leave.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are subtle signs that you're in the wrong job?
You might feel bored even during tasks you once enjoyed, avoid meetings, or constantly check the time. These subtle signs suggest a mismatch between your current job and long-term goals.
Is procrastination a sign I should change careers?
Frequent procrastination—especially when paired with dread or lack of interest—can indicate your current job doesn't align with your strengths or aspirations. Consider whether your role motivates you.
How does company instability impact job security?
When a company undergoes frequent restructuring, mergers, or leadership turnover, it often leads to uncertain job security and stress. This may be a sign to explore more stable opportunities.
Can staying too long in a job hurt my career growth?
Yes. Staying in a stagnant position without promotions or learning opportunities may signal career stagnation. Employers value progression, so it's important to evaluate growth potential regularly.
What are signs of ethical misalignment at work?
If you disagree with your company's values, practices, or mission—such as pushing aggressive sales tactics or ignoring fairness—this misalignment can affect your satisfaction and performance.