When Should You Quit Your Job?
Artist credit: HBR Staff/Andrew T. White/Getty Images

When Should You Quit Your Job?

by Vasundhara Sawhney, Senior Editor

I found my best friend at work. Over many breakfasts and coffee chats, we discovered all we had in common — from our love of silver jewelry and fresh flowers to our strong work ethic and obsession with productivity hacks. Of course, we had our differences, too, but the friendship felt inevitable. It didn’t take much time for us to start hanging out outside of work. We spent our time sharing our aspirations, our fears about the present, and the goals we wanted to reach next. Over time, we began to deeply trust each other.?

A few years into our friendship, she called to share some bittersweet news: She was leaving our company to pursue her dream job of being an art director in the advertising industry. We had spent some time discussing this as her potential next move, but her decision still surprised me. Her current role was very stable — she had built a great career and she was highly respected for her expertise. ?

“I’m so excited for you! You’ll be amazing,” I told her. Deep down, though, I was silently asking: Is she sure about this? Is this the right time?

A lot of people wait until they feel they?must?leave their organization to resign, and that puts them at a disadvantage. Out of panic or desperation, they choose the first offer they receive rather than the right job for the next stage of their career. In the case of my friend, she had methodically thought through her plans. And I can tell you, she made the right move. She’s flourishing in her new career. It makes her happy and she feels fulfilled.

Unless you’re working at a highly toxic company or truly hate your job, how do you know when is the right time to leave? How do you go about making the exit? Here’s some advice from our experts.

Recommended Reads

When You’re Disillusioned at Work, Quitting Isn’t the Only Option

Artist credit: HBR Staff; master1305/Getty Images

Before you quit your job, consider the costs and benefits.

Read the full article here.

Yes, You Can Quit Your Job Without Burning a Bridge

Artist credit: HBR Staff/Getty Images/Peter Cade

Your decision to leave doesn’t have to damage your relationships, potential references, or the goodwill you’ve built up.

Read the full article here.?

The Right Way to Make a Career Move

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Switching careers is a big step, and it may take time.?

Read the full article here.


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Paterson Deshommes

Ingénieur logiciel

1 年

I think deep down, we all know when.

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Padma Jaiswal

Secretary to Government,Indian Administrative Service Learning &Development Leader, entrepreneurial,effective,advisor,results-driven team player, reliable creator,MBA ,Research fellow, Company Secretary, Marathon Runner

1 年

Strong functional skills take time to develop. In most positions, whether it’s enterprise sales, brand marketing, supply chain logistics, or corporate finance, being competent often consists of having deep functional knowledge in four or five key job areas and a good working knowledge in another four or five. Without the willingness to take multiple assignments, or even strategic lateral moves, a well-rounded skill set will be elusive. It takes patience.Our skill set is ultimately our career capital, it takes time to develop our functional skills. Jumping from job to job too quickly (say, in 18-month or two-year increments) won’t allow us to develop the functional expertise we need to advance our career. With time and patience, and by taking the initiative, we’re far more likely to thrive in this volatile world.But as our skill set solidifies, I will create a better understanding about how the pieces of the business fit together, and how the career progression will accelerate.

David Andrade Jimenez

General Manager at Abbott EPD México

1 年

How we make a living helps determine how long we live.

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Matt Lowis (Assoc) CIPD

L&D | Multi-lingual | AI, Gen AI & Data in learning (DQ) | Learning Techologies (TQ) | EQ | CQ | SQ | Psychometrics | Coach | Leadership Development | Career Coach | Lean Six Sigma | Traveller | ED&I | LGBTQ+ Advocate

1 年

When the trust is gone

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