Is It Better To Quit or Be Fired?

Sometimes, we’re forced to make the tough decision to leave a company, for a variety of reasons. We may be facing difficult workloads or tense workplace relationships. Or our current company may be going through a period of downsizing. Or perhaps our last assessment wasn't stellar or the job just isn't a good fit. Whatever the reason, as professionals we need to know when it’s better to quit or be fired. Here are a few tips on how to read the room.

By Mariah Flores

Every so often, things at work don’t work out.?

The reasons “Why” vary from person to person, ranging from performance issues, looming recession, tense coworking relations, cultural misfit, forced return-to-office, company cutbacks or even unlawful termination.

And while losing or leaving a job is typically a foreseeable event, there are moments when it catches you off guard. However, most cases, such as firings, tend to have several warning signs leading up to the actual termination.

“Getting fired often comes as a shock, and it always hurts,” business journalist and author Suzy Welch, told CNBC Make It. “But what’s really going to hurt is if you look around and you see everyone else knew it was coming, except for you.”

When you realize that you’ve reached the end of your road with an employer, it’s easy to panic, freeze or lash out. But how should you proceed, in a way that best reflects who you are as a professional??

It’s important to note that yes, some employers are justified in their firing of an employee, especially in cases where multiple (valid and nondiscriminatory) disciplinary measures have been issued or the former employee participated in unethical behavior.?

But for the times when you fear a looming job loss is imminent, a more direct question to ponder: Is it better to quit or be fired?

How to Tell When You May Lose Your Job

To put it quite plainly, losing a job is awful.?

It’s a very trying situation to be in, especially when you have no say in the matter or fair warning from a manager or other higher up. You may feel shame, anger, stress, panic and an overwhelming amount of grief. It doesn’t matter if you’re terminated, laid off or resign because you felt there was no other choice — job loss is still loss at the end of the day.

“No one likes getting fired or laid off. It's a big knock to the ego and a shock whenever it comes. If you're in this situation, I'm truly sorry you're going through it,” says Jolie Miller, director of business & creative content strategy at LinkedIn.

And while I hope no one reading this ever goes through such a moment in their career, it’ll always remain a possibility. That’s why it’s crucial to always stay ahead of the game, keeping an eye out for any possible signs that your job is in jeopardy.?

Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert spoke with Business Insider, saying that “the savviest professionals always keep an eye out for the classic signs that their job is in danger.” In doing so, they can be prepared for anything ahead of time.

As mentioned, there are usually a plethora of signs that your job may be on the chopping board. You just need to know what to be on the lookout for and how to handle it. Some signs are stark, while others may be more subtle.

5 Common Signs You May Be Fired

Before we dive into whether you should quit or be fired, let’s explore the common signs a person may lose their job or end ties with their current employer.

1. You’re given tougher assignments. Essentially, your manager or boss is setting you up to fail, giving them more reason to terminate your position. Whether it be nearly impossible to complete projects or even a smaller workload, a change in your usual work assignments should be a clear sign that something is afoot.
2. Several bad performance reviews. "Your employer needs to create a paper trail, so along with warnings, your employer will use a performance review to document the problem areas," Taylor told Business Insider.
3. Getting left out of the loop. Not invited to that meeting that you see on all your coworkers’ calendars? Lost access to important information and data needed to properly do your job? You may start noticing that coworkers are beginning to avoid you or your boss is growing distant.?
4. Multiple warnings. Once you start receiving formal warnings, you should start considering if you’re being documented to justify a possible termination. Your relationship with your boss may become tenser, with each warning, and they’re probably keeping a close eye on your work.
5. Everything is in writing now. Normal conversations that could usually be discussed verbally with no written follow-up are now being emailed. Other higher-level colleagues may be copied on even the most mundane exchanges. Your boss or manager is trying to create a paper trail, with some asking about time, expenses or details of verbal conversations.

“This is your company documenting, and documenting is never good,” warned Welch.

Other signs and reasons include: being given tests, you think you’re irreplaceable, teamwork is not for you, new management or company mergers, other departments are being downsized, former close coworkers or advocates leave and a smaller workload.

“Positive performance reviews — and even promotions — can bring a false sense of security. Especially in uncertain times, it’s vital to look honestly at hints that your organization may be about to terminate you,” according to Harvard Business Review.

If you’re noticing any of these signs at your current job, there’s no need to feel helpless just yet. Take some time to reflect and determine if your employer is the right fit for you.?

Yes? Be proactive, submitting your best work, approaching HR or managers to set up a work accountability plan or even have a frank discussion about the future of your role.?

No? Welch told CNBC that it’s time for folks to start preparing for their next move. Update your resume, reach out to your network and prepare to leave on your own terms (if possible) and bolster your LinkedIn profile.

“If your LinkedIn profile and resume indicate confidence, enthusiasm, and resilience, you can change the story from focusing on being fired or laid off to how much you're looking forward to adding value at your next job,” advises Miller during her LinkedIn Learning course “Finding a Job”.

Quitting a Job vs. Getting Fired from a Job

Okay, the signs are showing and you’re starting to consider the possibility of quitting or being fired. What’s the best option??

I spoke with “The Interview Beast” Will Rippetoe, an established career coach and job search expert, and Jalonni Weaver, a recruiter at Slalom, about which option is better for professionals. Here are their responses, each unique, but also similar.?

“It’s better to quit, undoubtedly. When you quit, you are in control of both the decision and the narrative. You can easily spin a narrative of why you quit, i.e. remote work circumstances changed, someone else quit and they doubled your workload without a pay increase, etc,” said Rippetoe.

“I believe it's better to quit a job, instead of getting fired. If you no longer want to work somewhere, you should be taking the appropriate steps to plan out your next move. Now, I'm not saying quit and don't have anything lined up, but you should definitely not stay somewhere that isn't adding positivity to your life and it's taking a toll on your health,” said Weaver.

So frankly, it’s best to quit a job before your employer can fire you.?

And other career and professional experts agree.?

SHRM reports that when employees are given these two options (to resign or be terminated), it's often a result of a poor fit with the organization or marginal performance.?

“In those cases, it's usually best to preserve professional conduct and leave on the best terms possible under the circumstances.” And the reasoning??

As Rippetoe alluded to, it’s much easier to explain why you decided to leave a company than why you may have been fired. You get to control the narrative while searching for new opportunities.

“When you get fired, it casts major question marks around your ability to perform,” he says. “Being laid off is a different story though, so don’t worry if you were laid off versus fired.”

That being said, as we continue to navigate a possible recession and increased layoffs, job termination may be inevitable. If you do find that you’ve been laid off or terminated, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Additionally, if an employer forces you to resign, versus being laid off, you may still qualify for unemployment insurance (UI).

Filing for unemployment benefits should be one of the first steps you take if you’re fired. To learn more about UI, read this #GetAhead piece.

And remember, job loss is not the end of the road, even as you feel reeling emotions.?

In fact, quitting, termination or being laid off may lead to better experiences in the long run. Take some time to reevaluate your passions and skills, spend time on what you love, find new job opportunities, and begin to heal and move on to bigger and better things. You’ve got this.

Top Takeaways?

Here’s what you should know about quitting your job vs. being fired:

• Usually, there are many signs of impending job loss, from bad performance to lessened workloads.
• Quitting a job places power back into your hands, allowing you to control the narrative
• If you are terminated, look at it as a chance to grow and lean on resources available, like unemployment