When is it Time to Leave?
If you're looking for a job or having a tough time filling a position, visit zarrellco.com or contact [email protected]
I talk to people every day who are looking to leave their current employer for a new opportunity.?
Some are more serious than others, but when you know, you know.?
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I approached someone a few weeks ago who said they were happy where they were at.?End of story.
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Six days later they received a raise so minimal it offended them. It was the last straw. They messaged me less than an hour after that and said, “Here’s my resume. I’m free anytime today.”
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Not everyone will come to a realization so quickly and suddenly like that example. Usually people will start looking for jobs, casually apply, and then when they are invited to interview they start thinking:
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The truth is, there’s never a “perfect time” to leave.
Projects will always keep going. Deadlines will always be there. Meetings never go away.?If you're applying for jobs, there's usually a good reason or two why.
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And sometimes, it’s the people you work with that make it hard to leave. You could have strong bonds with them, true and genuine relationships. Caring about how your absence will impact them is a big thing to consider.
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Going to your boss first and addressing the issue could help, but more often than not it may be time to leave. ?
Ultimately, the only person that is looking out for you and makes decisions for you, is you.?
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In case you missed my post last month, I gave a long list of reasons why people would leave their jobs. The list is exhaustive but if I missed anything, let me know!
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Sami’s Take
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I’ve left many jobs in my lifetime and every time I took the time to analyze my reasons and explore my feelings about them. In every case, I could reflect back and spot the exact moment I knew it was time to go. Sometimes, I listened right away and got the hell out. Other times, I allowed my emotions about the people I worked with to keep me stuck in a situation that was no longer serving me.?
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It happens.
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I’m not mad at myself for sticking jobs out too long, but I have learned a hard lesson from doing so. Mostly, I learned that not prioritizing my needs enough always leads me to burnout. Burnout is no joke and I’m still recovering from my last one even though it was a few years ago.?
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All this is to say, taking the time to tune into your emotions around a job can be so vital to avoiding burnout.?
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When was the last time you sat quietly with your emotions about work? This can be a scary thought for a lot of us- we might genuinely fear what we find out.?
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When I did this a few years back I realized I was not working in the right industry for me at all. My only reason for doing that work was because it was easy for me to get hired and make money, but when I was honest with myself, I wasn’t passionate about the work and it also wasn’t paying me enough. When I looked at what I’d have to do to earn more money in that field I quickly realized my heart wasn’t in it and I’d never survive the climb.?
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I had to get out. For me that meant starting something new which also meant making little to no money for awhile. That was not easy and I had a lot of grace with myself for avoiding the realization for so long. I honestly didn’t have the luxury to be honest about that for many years because I couldn’t afford to make any less than I already was.?
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It wasn’t until Rob’s career had an upward financial turn that I was finally able to consider starting over. I’m lucky I was able to do that and I have so much compassion and understanding for everyone who is still in that space of feeling like you have no other choice but to stick it out. My hope for you is that your circumstances change soon so you can find a better path.?
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Until then, I do have some suggestions that can help reduce the risks of burnout! Something I wish I did for myself back then was to have very clear and strict boundaries with work. And I mean strict. Unless your job is your dream job in your dream career and you truthfully and deeply feel you are on the right path, please, please, please, never stay past your paid work hours and never take on more work than is absolutely necessary.?
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If your boss wants you to fill in for a lack of staff because the company doesn’t want to fill empty positions? Not your problem. Anything that takes you away from what you really want to be doing (like your dream job, time with family, friends, pets, etc.) is a dealbreaker. If you find yourself in this situation over and over, that is when it is time to leave. Maybe you don’t feel quite ready to jump industries (if you have the same problem I did) but you can at least search for a workplace that will better respect your boundaries and personal agency.?
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No matter your personal circumstances, see where you can better prioritize your self-respect and worth in the workplace. If your job won’t allow space to respect you, leave! Find one that will.?
Rob & Sami
If you're looking for a job or having a tough time filling a position, visit zarrellco.com or contact [email protected]
Sourcing Manager | GovCon
2 周This is a good one. Fortunately I’m on with a great Employer and also my direct boss is great. However, coming into this role I made my priorities known that my wife and kid come first. Kids sick? I’m probably not getting much work done today. Kids got an event at school needs a chaperone? I’m not getting much work done today My employer trusts I will get my work done when it’s due and they don’t care if that’s 9-5 or whatever hours you want to work to get it done. Previously, however, I was in a spot where I just stuck with something because I was good at it and the thought of trying to procure another role was as exhausting as the burn out. Stayed in that role about 5 years too long and will never do that again!