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Do you find that you’re often asking yourself, ‘should I leave my job?’ or even asking close friends or colleagues, ‘should I resign?’ Change can be a scary thing, but often you don’t have to look very far to find good reasons for leaving a job as well as when to leave your job.
Yes, leaving your job can be daunting as you step away from the known into something new. However, it can also be exciting, empowering and enriching. In the current candidate-short market, salaries are typically higher than average, and businesses are offering generous benefits as well as interesting projects to attract motivated candidates, and these are just a few examples of good reasons for leaving a job for a new opportunity.
So, should you hand in your resignation letter and find a new job? Here are nine common reasons to consider and keep in mind next time you’re asking yourself, ‘should I leave my job?’:
If you have spoken to your employer and already learned that there is no room for a salary raise, it is understandable that you may look elsewhere to improve your income. With higher-than-average salaries currently being offered due to the candidate shortage, knowing that you’ve reached the salary ceiling at your current company could be the perfect indicator of when to leave your job and move to something new.
Related: Know your worth: How to do a salary check for any role
If you find yourself simply ‘going through the motions at work, it could be a sign that it’s time to take on different challenges at a new company. Fortunately, many companies are currently incentivising candidates with unique projects and opportunities, so your next exciting challenge could be right around the corner. While some people are happy to stay in the comfort of a role that doesn’t challenge them anymore, it’s very common for people to consider moving on to a new role when they feel like they aren’t being challenged or stimulated enough.
The potential for being promoted into a more desirable or beneficial position is often a real motivation for many workers. However, if you have been working hard throughout your time at your current company and there is no option for promotion, you may want to look to other companies where this reward and room for growth is a possibility. No one wants to stick around and put in the hard yards with a company that isn’t going to reward their efforts, and this is one of the top reasons for leaving a job.
Related: How to fast-track your promotion
Who says you can’t retrain for a new career at 35? Or go travelling around the world at 45? If you have set new objectives or challenges for yourself, then take those as good reasons for leaving a job and looking for the logical next step to achieving your goals.
You may have been promised projects in your area of interest and ended up with entry-level menial work, or perhaps the company assured you a healthy work-life balance in the interview, and you’ve ended up spending all your free time at the office. Whatever the case may be, if the discrepancy between what you expected and what was delivered is too high, you have a valid reason to look elsewhere.
Stepping away from a job due to mental health issues is one of the most common reasons for leaving a job, and in these instances, you might not know how to leave your job due to the issues you’re dealing with. High-stress jobs can leave employees feeling burnt out and unmotivated. If you reach this point and have worked on ways to bring back your enthusiasm for the job to no avail, you may be better off starting afresh somewhere new.
Related: Nine signs of job burnout
Whether they have been promoted to a new role in the company or left altogether, the loss of a great boss can create change within the team dynamic. You might see this as a sign that it’s your time to find a new company as well, or perhaps you are concerned about the new management that is stepping in to fill the role.
Balance is everything and losing a healthy work-life balance is a key reason for leaving a job and looking for a role that helps you find time for yourself again. It can be easy to slowly slip into the habit of cancelling after-work plans to stay late and finish up that project, or to stay in over the weekend and catch up on emails rather than spend time with friends and family. If this is the case, you may need to search for a role with a healthier work-life balance.
To put it bluntly, right now might be exactly when to leave your job. Often people stay at a company for much longer than they should as they’re waiting for a sign or for a new opportunity to fall into their lap.Well, you may have been with your company for a while now, and it simply feels like the time to go, which is a really natural feeling when you’re not feeling satisfied with your work. If your gut tells you that there may be new opportunities worth exploring, you have every reason to see what’s available.
Change can be tough, and stepping out into the unknown can be stressful, but hopefully, these points have helped you have a better understanding of how to leave your job and when to leave your job. Be proactive and start making decisions that are in line with your goals, and you’ll no doubt find the next role to challenge and stimulate you.
Ready to find a new job that’s right for you? Explore our job portal for new opportunities, or speak to one of our consultants today.
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