When To Leave Your Job

The “Great Resignation” has made a huge impact on the labor force. Our economy is still changing as a result of people quitting their jobs for a couple of years now. This trend is alleged to have begun around April 2021 and has seen about 4 million workers quit their jobs every month according to various sources. There are many reasons why the Great Resignation came into existence. It’s difficult to pinpoint every reason why the Great Resignation came into being, however there is a noticeable precursor that sparked this socioeconomic wildfire. The main reason the Great Resignation started was because a critical mass of people became highly dissatisfied with how they were treated by their managers and by extension their employers. Gone are the days in our parents’ generation where an employer can impose unrealistic standards, mistreatment, unfairness, practice favoritism, and prevent certain people from career advancement for 20-30 years just to receive a modest pension and a gold watch. We are entering a new era of workforce culture. Is this a good thing or bad thing? Not really sure. It’s too early to tell. One thing for certain is there is no going back to how things were in the previous 15 to 30 years. Below are three things you should consider before leaving your job.

1.?????Another Job Will Pay You More

To often we question whether or not our current job is paying us a fair salary or not. Sure, you may get regularly scheduled raises once a year. That’s great, but do these raises keep up with inflation? It some cases they do, but more often they don’t. You can choose to remain loyal to your organization; which is a good thing. However, you will inevitably reach a point where you need more income. Especially, if you experience life altering challenges like: marriage, new baby, college expenses, death of a spouse with whom you had children, vehicle repairs, or unforeseen financial hardships. If you’re making only enough to get by, then any of these situations can sink you into the abyss. One way to adequately prepare for situations like the ones above is making more money and stashing a little away in an emergency fund. There’re several ways to increase your income, but the simplest is to get another job that pays a higher salary. So, while you’re at your current job the goal is to actively search for other jobs within or outside of your industry. Assuming you are highly skilled at what you do, this may be slightly challenging at best. If you have any doubts, then start finding ways to add to your skillset before you exit the company and make sure those skills are reflected in your resume. Finding a job that pays you more is recommended primarily because of how fast the cost of living is rising in the U.S. economy. Most Americans are struggling to maintain their households more so now than the previous 10 or 15 years. There are many factors that contribute to this, but we won’t discuss them here. The main point is to find a job that wouldn’t cause you or your family any unnecessary burden and also offers a higher wage.

2.?????Extremely Toxic Work Culture

We have to be careful with using the word “toxic” when it comes to our jobs. This word has been thrown around so loosely in recent years to the point it no longer holds any weight. When we talk about toxicity in the workplace, it’s not someone who said something in a manner you didn’t like or you were asked to do something outside of your scope of practice. Toxicity in this context means someone or a group of people at your job is actively bullying, harassing, hazing, or going out of their way to make your job difficult, all illegal practices by the way. Companies say that they have a zero-tolerance policy on these issues, but how often is action taken against individuals who display this kind of behavior? Sometimes the HR department steps up in severe cases. And in other scenarios the HR department plays a role in perpetuating said toxic work culture. So, what do you do? The answer is simple. Leave... Find another job elsewhere. Your peace of mind, well-being, and mental health is more valuable than being in a environment that breeds resentment, unproductivity, and other like-minded toxic supervisors. Make sure you seriously considered if your workplace is toxic before you leave. There are some things you might have to navigate as a result of being a part of that company. There will always be individuals who have unique and sometimes brash personalities. Often, these individuals don’t mean to cause you harm intentionally. In most cases, these individuals can be very interesting once you get past their tough exterior. If you’re having interpersonal conflicts with your constituents then try to work it out with them or request to be put on another shift or different department. However, if you are being targeted frequently by misconduct and your supervisor has a “do as I say, not as I do” attitude, then plan your exit strategy accordingly.

3.?????The Desire to Change Careers

If you have held a job for a number of years and have grown weary of seemingly mundane task, a good idea might be to find a new exciting career. Unless you are content with your position, the job pays a great salary that helps take care of your family, and or it doesn’t require much effort. Assuming the aforementioned criteria is met, perhaps it might be a good idea to stay put. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a comfortable lifestyle at work. However, if you want to do a little more and feel that your current occupation cannot offer what you’re looking for, then find a career that can. Finding a new career can revitalize your spirit and give you a reason to jump out of bed with enthusiasm. Learning new skills and ideas can be very rewarding. There are so many different careers out there that can give you a fresh perspective in an industry you never had before. Some jobs you can consider are in the blue-collar trades such as: wielding, plumbing, electrician, trucking, HVAC, or carpentry. Jobs in the white-collar fields that may be rewarding are: human resources, finance, business operations, supply chain management, sales, and marketing. Lastly, the medical field is really nice too. Some medical related occupations are: physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse’s aide, dentist, dental assistant, respiratory therapist, physical therapy, radiologist, radiology technician, pharmacist, and pharmacy technician, I think you get idea. These are the jobs that are society as a whole operate on. They also will be in high-demand, so job security is an added benefit.?