When is it Time to Quit a Job You Hate?

Many of us know the feeling of having a job that we well, hate. We have a feeling of dread in the pit of our stomachs when we have to work the next day. I know it well, and I’ve been there. The daydream of you leaving comes up almost daily. But when you depend on your job to put food on the table the question is: when is it time to “quit my job?” 

While I certainly can’t answer this for anyone because everybody’s circumstances are different, there are a few key indicators that helped me make up my mind to quit. Now, I admit I’m a bit impulsive at times so I would not advise anyone to leave on faith alone without a safety net like I foolishly did, but I do think that our mental health is important. So if you do truly hate your job, it’s worth thinking about leaving when the circumstances support the choice.

There are many reasons to leave a job. Some of the reasons are obvious. If you don’t feel safe at work or if you are being harassed, it’s definitely time to find employment elsewhere. In other situations, the right time to leave may not be so clear. As I stated before, our mental health is important. Here are 20 why someone may want to walk away.  

Keep in mind that everybody’s circumstances are different. This is by no means meant to encourage you to walk away before you’re ready, or to walk away at all. Just a little food for thought.

How Long Should You Stay At A Job You Hate?

This depends on a lot of things. You may not have any other income or there may not be a lot of positions available in your field. These are the things you will have to consider when weighing your options.

Ideally, you will have another job lined up before you quit. At the very least, be sure to have money saved so you can support yourself until you do find another job. How much depends on your monthly expenses, whether your job is providing benefits like health insurance that you need, the type of job you’re looking for, and the likelihood of you finding another job quickly. 

If, for example, you work in retail in a busy metropolitan area, you may have more luck finding another position than someone who lives in a very rural area with few stores.

If you plan to quit your job to start your own business (yay!) make sure you have enough resources to cover you for an even longer-term. Plan for success, but be prepared for failure. If you plan this way you’ll be less stressed about having to “make it overnight.

Yes, having a positive money mindset is crucial, but we all have to be realistic so we can meet our obligations and responsibilities while planning our next move.

10 Signs It’s Time To Quit Your Job

There are lots of signs that it may be time to start job hunting but here is a list of 10. Of course, nobody can tell you when to quit your job because everybody’s situation is different. If you have children and rely on your job for their healthcare coverage, you will have to take that into account, where a single person just out of college, on their parents’ insurance, may not have that same concern. These reasons are just intended to give you something to think about.

1. You Feel Unsafe/Threatened

If you feel threatened or unsafe, I recommend you contact an attorney to learn your rights and plan your exit. 

2. Discrimination

Laws in the U.S. protect us from any kind of discrimination. Whether it’s based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, we are protected. Contact a local attorney to learn more about your rights in this situation.

3. Don’t Like the Work

If you don’t like the work you’re doing, maybe it’s possible to speak with a supervisor about performing other tasks. If this is not possible and you dread going to work because your hate your duties at work, you may want to start planning to leave. When you dislike what you’re doing this can lead to poor performance which can lead to your termination, and you’d don’t want that. 

4. Unbearable Boss/Supervisor

A rude, overbearing supervisor can be the source of lots of stress. If you’re in this situation, you may want to try to change departments to work under a different supervisor. If this isn’t an option I would start looking for another job or start planning a side hustle that I can start growing. Working for a bad supervisor can lead to termination if you continually butt heads. 

5. The Company’s Mission is Not in Line With Your Beliefs

If you don’t believe the company’s mission is in line with yours, it may be time to start searching for other employment. It’s difficult to work for a company that stands for something you don’t agree with. If this is you and you aren’t able to separate their mission from your job duties, maybe it’s time to get ready to leave.

6. Terrible Commute

A long commute can be a nightmare. It can take up a lot of your day and make you feel like a lot of your day is eaten up with traveling. If your commute is driving you crazy, consider using this time to learn something. I used to live in the Washington D.C. area where traffic can be brutal. I used to joke that I could’ve learned a language during that commute but it’s not really a joke. You could listen to audiotapes, podcasts, or audiobooks that can teach you something. If this still doesn’t make your commute more manageable, planning to switch jobs for a shorter commute may not be a bad idea.

7. Need More Money

If you aren’t being paid enough and need more money to make ends meet, consider starting a side hustle. This is the perfect opportunity to make extra money doing something you truly love.

8. You Call Out Sick to Avoid Having to Show Up

If you’re calling out sick to avoid work, I would definitely advise starting a job search elsewhere. Calling out sick excessively can lead to quick termination and you want to avoid that. Consider a side hustle that will offer a little security should you be asked not to return.

9. You’re Not Doing Any Work

Ok, I admit it, this is one that actually applied to me when I was working full time. I spent a lot of my time planning my escape. I would rush to get my work done so I could spend time planning things like business names, logos, business models, etc. This was a huge red flag that it was time to leave. I couldn’t get through a day without taking time out to plan my own business, which made my life complicated because I was always having to hide what I was doing, and it wasn’t fair to the company.

10. No Room for Advancement

If you’ve been on your job for some time and are looking forward to a promotion, only to realize there is no place to go, this can leave you feeling like you’re at a dead end. If you speak with your supervisor and realize you will be doing the same work as long as you’re with the company you have three choices. You can continue doing what you’re doing because you like the job, or you can start looking for another job. Choice three is to start planning your own business, where you will work harder but will be creating lots of room to grow.   

How Should I Quit My Job?

I always believe in leaving graciously, regardless of the situation. Draft a brief letter explaining that you’re leaving. If your current supervisor is the person who hired you, thank them for the opportunity and let them know the date of your last day. Easy peasy. 

If possible, give your employer some notice. Two weeks is customary but do what makes sense for your line of work. If you can give them more time it will give them more time to hire a replacement and it can give you time to put all your ducks in a row, so to speak.  It’s best to refrain from leaving without notice because it can put a lot of pressure on the people you are leaving behind. 

It’s a good idea to ask your supervisor(s) for a professional reference before you leave. Whether you plan to look for another job or to start your own business, get a reference now so you have it. You never know when you might need it. Leave on a positive note and don’t burn any bridges. Again, you may never plan to need them again but you just never know.

Signs You Should Quit Your Job Immediately

If you feel unsafe or are experiencing harassment, you may want to contact an attorney in your local area to learn your options. There are laws in the U.S. that protect us from harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Find out what your rights are and ask whether you can be compensated once you leave your job.

If there is illegal activity occurring in the workplace you may want to consider leaving right away. Again, seek legal advice to make sure you are protected should the authorities learn about this activity. You don’t want to be considered a participant in anything that may involve co-workers or supervisors.  

Any of these reasons could be enough to make you put in your notice. Is it time to start looking for another job? Is it time to think about starting your own business? Maybe it’s the right time to think about starting a side hustle that can eventually be grown into a business that will replace your full-time salary. Or at least one that can pay you enough to give you a cushion in the event you find yourself having to resign sooner than expected.

The main points to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you will be able to cover your expenses and health care coverage before you quit

2. Ask for a reference before you quit your job

3. Leave on good terms and don’t burn any bridges

4. If you feel threatened or unsafe, or are experiencing discrimination at work, get legal advice about your rights. This may be a sign you should quit your job immediately.

Take a look at this list of side hustles that you may be able to start now while you’re still working full time.

Let me know in the comments section. Are you in a job that you want to leave like, yesterday? Do you plan to leave? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.