There are many reasons to quit a job. However, not all of these reasons are legitimate or justified. Some people would raise their eyebrows if you quit because of these grounds.
Most of the time, quitting for a bad reason is an emotional decision, not a rational one. As humans, we are all susceptible to making this bad decision if we do not keep ourselves in check.
Today, I will share some of the bad reasons to quit your job. These are situations where you could do something to make your working life better instead of quitting.
However, at the end of the day, you are within your rights to do as you please. After all, your life, your rules. All I am saying is that if there is a way to save yourself the agony of being jobless, these 15 tips are of immense help.
Bad Reasons To Quit Your Job
1. You do not like your boss
No boss is perfect. No human is. It is wrong to quit your job just because you do not like your boss because you somehow fail to adjust to your role.
Please note that not liking your boss is different from being abused by an authority figure. Harassment is a legitimate cause for quitting.
Bosses are not likable because their roles make them that way. Their mindset is focused on productivity and ensuring that the business works. As such, subordinates bear the brunt of that pressure.
Since bosses have to deliver what the executives require, they need to act in such manners which many of us dislike, and below are some examples:
- Requiring overtime
- Providing negative feedback
- Asking for improvement of work already done
- Expanding the roles or responsibilities of employees
Employees typically see a boss’ decision as more work or more time in the office, etc. While you may not like your boss and his decisions, keep in mind that these behaviors are not personal. It’s only business.
If you quit your job just because you dislike your boss, you are likely to quit the next one because that boss would have the same conduct, mindset, and actions.
2. You just feel tired and overworked
Work is never easy, and it is not unusual for employees to get tired. It doesn’t matter if you are doing manual labor or if you are sitting behind a desk – all jobs are tiring.
If you quit your job because you feel overworked, you will feel the same about the next job you find. Even celebrities are overworked. Basketball players also feel overworked.
Quitting is not the solution. Instead, what you must do is manage your time. There are many ways by which you can learn how to manage your activities and fit everything into the time allotted to you.
While some say that time management is impossible because you cannot control time, much less manage it, you can at least manage your activities so that you do not get stressed.
Time management, or managing your activities, is a skill you must learn. There are many things you can do to manage your time, so you better start learning them now.
Also Read: Signs That Your Boss Wants You To Quit
3. You were passed over for a promotion
So, you worked really hard and applied for a promotion. You believe you deserve this position, only to find out someone else got the job. Worse, you know the person who got the promotion, and you think you are better than him.
Quitting your job over this is not a good idea. If anything, it should be a learning experience for you. Instead of being bitter, you must ask yourself what the other candidate had that you did not.
Bosses promote a person not just because of technical skills but also because of other factors, such as people and leadership skills.
The other candidate probably excelled in some of these areas where you did not. You need to objectively assess yourself and determine where you failed.
Any person who applies for a promotion thinks he deserves it. That, of course, is their point of view. However, the hiring manager sees things differently. It is this perspective that you must attempt to see.
Do not quit your job because of this, as you will only harbor resentment. Learn from it, make yourself a better person, and then try again.
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4. You want more money
Who doesn’t, right? We all want more money. To some degree, this reason may be justified, but only if the salary you are about to get from another company is significantly higher than what you are receiving now.
Resigning because you want more money does not make sense if the difference is negligible or if you are getting more perks now than the next company you are moving to.
Sometimes, a job is worth it, even with a smaller salary, because of the benefits. Consider the following things:
- Medical insurance for you and your dependents
- Number of days of paid vacation
- Number of days of sick leave
- Maternity and paternity benefits
- Paid training for skill improvement
- Annual salary increases
- Opportunities to travel with all expenses paid
If you have all of these from your company now and still want to quit, you must think again. Will you really leave all these benefits for a mere 20% increase in salary in your targeted new job?
That 20% increase will not mean much if the new company will not match these benefits. In my opinion, you are better off with the first company, even if the salary is 20% less than what you aim for.
Check Out: When Your Boss Makes You Feel Incompetent? – Things To Do
5. You do not agree with your performance review
Performance reviews are dreadful. You get to hear the good things that you did and the negative things about your performance.
Sometimes, our immediate superiors provide us with feedback that we do not want to hear. Why? Because we know that we are trying our best, yet management demands more.
It is wrong to quit your job just because you do not agree with your performance review because a performance review is an objective measurement of your accomplishments.
Sadly, some employees think that it is personal. No, it is not. Companies have standards. For example, you are expected to have a 95% attendance rate.
If you fail at this, expect your supervisors to tell you to improve your dependability. It is not personal. It is a fact that you have a lot of absences.
Quitting because of this does not make sense because that performance review is a reflection of what you did. Instead of quitting, strive harder to achieve your company goals, which I am sure, other employees in your company are already doing.
Another example is if you did not meet your sales goals. Do not make excuses about why you failed. Other employees meet their goals, so why can’t you?
Instead of quitting, use the performance review as your guideline as to what steps to take to improve. Talk to your supervisor and ask for help and mentorship.
6. You feel bored with what you do
No matter what you do for a living, there comes a point when things begin to feel monotonous. Things get boring.
Quitting your job because of boredom is a mistake because it will certainly happen again. Even celebrities experience this. Basketball players dribble, pass, and shoot. It is the same thing every game.
Once you start feeling bored, you can pretty much tell yourself that you have outgrown your position. The solution is not to quit but to find something else to do in your company.
You can always speak to your immediate superior and ask for more responsibilities. It tells management that you are a team player and that you also want to learn more.
Of course, these extra-curricular activities should not come at the expense of your current tasks. You may not even be paid overtime for the work you do outside your normal job duties.
However, you get a reward that is priceless: experience. You will get to learn new skills that you can use later to get a promotion, and nobody can take these skills away from you.
Also Read: Am I Getting Fired Or Just Paranoid? – Signs Your Job Is At Risk
7. You want to relocate with your romantic other
So, you fell in love. Your partner lives far from you, and you want to quit your job to be closer to him or her. This is a bad call.
As you may have known by now, even married people have to stay apart if that is what it takes to get a decent job to raise a family.
You must understand that distance is not a relationship killer at all. Sometimes, distance is a necessity for couples who have children. They must stay where they can find work that puts food on the table.
If you quit your job just because you want to move in with your boyfriend/girlfriend, don’t you think you are rushing and taking things too fast? What if the relationship does not work?
If your company has a branch near your romantic partner, perhaps you can ask for a relocation. This way, you do not have to quit. If the relationship does not work, you can always ask to be relocated back to your original branch.
Do not make rash decisions because of love. It is difficult to find a job, much less find a replacement in a different city. If other couples can make long-distance relationships work, I believe you can too.
Also Read: Things Not To Say In An Exit Interview
8. You want a sudden career change
It is not unusual that we make career choices that we do not really enjoy. We work for industries that we are not passionate about.
Then, there comes a time when we say that we’ve had enough. It is at this moment that we say, “I’ll quit and do what I love.”
Here is the thing – doing what you love is also the very thing that can make you homeless. While a career change is not wrong, it is something that you must consider seriously.
Do not quit so suddenly because you’ve filled your head with dreams. Instead, do what you love on the side. Work hard on it, but do not quit your day job.
If that side job succeeds, then you can say you are ready to quit your current career and shift your focus to this new one.
You must wait until the side job earns enough to become your bread and butter. Only then can you financially justify that a career change is worth it.
9. You feel under-appreciated
As humans, there is no better motivation than praise. We want to hear good things about us – about the things that we do for the company.
I have to say that it is a leader’s responsibility to motivate people. I agree with that principle. However, as employees, we also have the responsibility to motivate ourselves.
If you think about it, did you apply for a job to receive praise, or to receive a salary? It is the latter, right?
I am not saying that appreciation does not matter. It does. However, you should be responsible for your own self-esteem.
If you only value yourself for what other people say, how would you feel if nobody praises you? In my opinion, you must find reasons to celebrate your successes on your own.
If you did a good job, get yourself a drink, an ice cream, or a treat at a restaurant. Do not expect your bosses to sing your praises for you.
Motivation is key to survival in the workplace. Sadly, many of us depend on the positive feedback of others to get motivated.
To a certain degree, motivation has become self-indulgence. It is not right to seek the approval or validation of others. Do not think “the social media way” where you are collecting likes and hearts. Instead, value yourself for who you are and what you can do.
10. You are overwhelmed with work
There will always be days when you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done. This situation can lead to burnout, stress, and, eventually, quitting.
All types of work can become overwhelming. Quitting is not the solution to this. Instead, you need to step back and see the situation from a larger perspective.
Here are some things you can do to avoid being overwhelmed:
- Delegate tasks to other people
- Ask for help from your boss
- Learn how to say no and explain why
- Plan your days, tasks, and goals
- Improve your skills and focus on the job
Most importantly, you must have a positive attitude. More work means your business is alive and your employment is not at risk. More work also means your bosses trust you enough to make you involved.
A positive mindset is the beginning of your success. Negativity will only make your heart heavy, which can contribute to the stress you are feeling.
11. You do not like some people
You can’t possibly like everybody, and you can’t expect everybody to like you. Unfortunately, the world is just like that, and we can’t do anything about it.
To some degree, there are some behaviors we don’t like, even if it isn’t justified. Still, that is no reason to quit. If somebody in the workplace is difficult, you must deal with it as an adult would.
Leaving your job for this does not guarantee that everyone at your next job is likable.
If someone is being mean to you, report that person to HR or your immediate supervisor. Make sure that they professionally deal with the issue.
In addition, it would also help if you check your behavior. If you fight fire with fire, you will only escalate the problem and not solve it.
There is also a thing called tolerance. If you dislike a person, but he is not “evil,” you have to learn how to exercise patience and accept people’s individuality.
12. You are embarrassed about a mistake you made
We all make mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes are embarrassing. For example, let us say you provided the wrong data in your presentation.
Because of this, you are the “talk of the town.” You feel awkward and uncomfortable, and then you want to resign.
Do not do this. Instead, use the situation as a learning opportunity. Even famous people make mistakes. Presidents, dignitaries, and actors – everyone makes social blunders.
In time, people in the office will forget about your mistake, especially if someone in the office makes a bigger mistake than yours.
While I understand feeling humiliated, it is not a reason to quit. After all, our mistakes are due to our failures or lack of diligence.
The one thing you must do, therefore, is to recognize this flaw and work hard to prevent it from happening again.
In addition, you can also ride it out. Laugh it out with others and make a joke out of it. You will see that it will make you feel better.
Why? If you learn to laugh at yourself, you develop a strong and positive outlook. Of course, I don’t mean that you should be self-deprecating. All I’m saying is that you must accept that nobody is flawless.
13. You did not get a raise you think you deserve
Most companies today provide an annual merit increase program. If you perform well, you get a raise. Sometimes, we do not get the raise that we think we deserve.
Is it a reason to quit? No, it is not. The key here is “deserve.”
Obviously, everybody thinks that he deserves more money. The problem with that is that most of the time, we tend to overestimate our capabilities.
To the worker, he thinks that he is doing the “best” job compared to others. Of course, the other workers think of themselves that way, too.
However, the people observing your performance have a different point of view. Their perspective is much more objective.
And rightfully so. As an employee, you do not have visibility on what your peers do or how they perform. Only the manager or supervisor can see the performance of everyone.
Another factor that you must think about is budget. While companies want to increase the salary of employees, they use statistical tools such as the bell curve to find a balance between the salary increase budget and who deserves it.
Also Read: Best Resignation Letter Examples
14. You cannot cope with social changes in the office
An office is a social place. People work here, and people will always find something social to do. Sometimes, these social activities do not sit well with you.
In a time where we are pushing for tolerance, more and more companies are implementing equal opportunity and respect.
Do not be surprised if your company celebrates other festivities that are not native to you. Here are some examples: Hanukkah, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, or Ramadan.
These are occasions that belong to different cultures and religions. Companies spend time celebrating these to honor the employees of these cultures.
If you feel bad about these things, you may need to self-check. As you know, every person has a right to his beliefs.
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15. You want to do things your way
“It is my way or the highway” is never a good mantra. The workplace is made up of many people, and the basic expectation is for people to work together for the common good.
If you want to do things your own and your way only, you must create a business. As far as the workplace is concerned, you must understand that you must collaborate with people.
It isn’t a good reason to quit because you won’t find an office job where you can do things according to what you want. There will always be a boss and team members that you have to work with.
What I suggest you do is understand the perspectives of others. Then, try to incorporate these perspectives into yours.
Always remember that your organization only wants what is best for everyone and for the business – not what is best for you only.
Summary
Quitting a job is not a solution to a problem. If you quit, you are merely running away from the situation.
I understand that in our world today, we are looking for quality of life. However, we must not expect companies to hand this to us on a silver platter.
Work can be overwhelming, and this applies to all kinds of jobs out there. As such, we are obligated to find ways to make things work in our favor.
It is also our responsibility to act maturely about office matters. The world is not perfect. In most cases, what we think about things doesn’t matter. Rather, what matters is what we do about them.
