How to Know When it’s Time to Leave Your Job

Being a Black woman in corporate often meant battling anxiety whenever I was in the office and constantly being filled with dread on Sunday evenings. Stress in the workplace like dealing with microagressions, constantly being belittled and being underpaid is enough to make us seek greener pastures. But oftentimes there are those of us who try to tough it out. We tell ourselves to hang in there in hopes things will change and wait till the weekend to get some temporary relief.?

Sometimes we can be more loyal to an employer than we are to ourselves.

As Black women and women of color, sometimes we have longer fuses when it comes to staying in uncomfortable situations longer than necessary. We can have a higher tolerance for discomfort that cause us to deal with jobs we don’t enjoy or stay even when we are not being treated well.?

Knowing when it’s time to leave your job is an act of empowerment. It demonstrates clarity of your desires, knowing and affirming your value at work.

If you’re in a role that you’re not sure about or you are struggling to move on, here are a few ways to know it’s time to leave your job.?

The Culture is Toxic.?Unhealthy work cultures have carried on for so long without interruption that it has become the norm. Whether enduring constant microaggressions by colleagues or feeling the non-stop pressure to work late evenings and through holidays, these workplace norms, while toxic can overpower what we know deep down. I used to think it was normal to not take vacation time or constantly be available even after work hours, was just how it is. There can be a complete disregard for an employee's mental health and capacity when it comes to meeting productivity goals. We cannot accept conditions that feel violent and oppressive. Your peace comes first.?

Lacking resources and support to do your job well.?Burnout happens when you’re worn thin by the constant high demands that you are not set up to meet. Ask yourself what you would need to be successful in your role. Your manager plays a role in ensuring that you have what you need and that path to being successful is clearly laid out for you. In my previous role, my manager was constantly aware of my bandwidth and my capacity to take on more work. She respected my boundaries even when I pushed back on an assignment I couldn’t take on due to an already full plate. This is what it means to promote healthy workspaces that ensure that individuals are sufficiently resourced. Whether it’s having adequate time off, flexibility in how you work, having the right environment and tools to carry out your work, consider the things you need to feel supported and whether you are getting them in your current role.

You are being underpaid or the value you bring is being ignored.?There can be a constant drive to push yourself, taking on more work even when it is clear that your efforts go unnoticed. That’s no way to spend your time at a job. Healthy work cultures include being publicly acknowledged for one's contributions and successes rather than ignoring them. Not doing so can breed resentment at work. Healthy norms means being able to have regular conversations with your manager about the value you bring, how your skills are being best used and discussing pathways to salary increases.?

No clear path for advancement.?One of the major reasons Black women leave the workplace is not having a clearly laid out plan or the guidance needed to get to the next level. If part of your goal is to climb the corporate ladder and build your leadership, you should have a pretty clear idea of the pathway to get there. This comes from having frequent communication with your manager. You might feel stuck in your role and unsure of the skillsets you need to build to advance. Or if you’ve already gained the experience necessary to advance, discussed it with your manager, yet you’re still being overlooked for promotions, it might be time to break up with your employer.?

No alignment with career goals and purpose.?Sometimes you just outgrow your role and you’re ready to move on. Your career goals might be different now then when you first started and now you need to make some adjustments to your future. Sometimes your current role stops feeding your sense of purpose and you prefer to do work that makes an impact. If this is the case, it might be time to reexamine your career goals and what’s next. Start the deep work of reconnecting with your dreams and research companies whose missions align with yours.

When Things Get Dire at Work

Sometimes you might find that staying at your job is causing?too much stress and anxiety, so you’ll need to take immediate steps to preserve your peace and mental health. Start a part time job search on nights and weekends outside of work. Schedule a few informational interviews with folks who work at companies you are interested in learning more about. As a last resort, consider whether taking on a full time job search right now is an option. Giving yourself a break from stress and anxiety from your job can put you in a stronger mindset when interviewing for better, healthier roles instead of desperation to leave your current one.?

No work environment is ever worth your peace of mind and staying in a stressful job will only lead to more harm in the body like high blood pressure and heart disease. Sis, you don’t need that kind of drama in your life. In 2023 lets care for our needs at work. That means knowing when it’s time to leave so that we can align ourselves with career opportunities that support our ability to thrive and live well.?

How many of you have ever stayed in a job longer than you wanted? Chime in the comments.