Eight signs that you need to quit your job

First, let’s get one thing clear – it’s okay to quit. Quitting is not failing, it’s identifying when something is not going to work. In Australia we’re encouraged to stick things out through thick and thin. Even if we hate our job, we are told to stay at it until we’re retired. This is ludicrous!

Here are eight (legitimate) signs that it may be time to quit your job:

1. Your colleagues ignore you. Do you feel as though you no longer have a voice at your work, and that no one wants to communicate or co-operate with you? 
2. You clash with your boss. For reasons you can’t seem to explain you can never find common ground with your boss and their vision and your vision are in opposite directions.
3. You’re anxious to return to work on Monday. Having the ‘Sunday evening blues’ before a new week starts is one thing, but battling an overwhelming sense of dread every time ‘work’ is mentioned is another.
4. You don’t think you’ll be happy there in the long-term. In fact, you’ll be downright disappointed if you find yourself at your job in two years’ time.  Where do you want to be in five years? Is your current situation going to help you get there?
5. Are you benefiting from your job? Other than an income, you need to be receiving something more substantial through your work (remembering we spend a third of our lives labouring away). Companies aren’t simply hiring employees anymore, they’re looking for partners that can grow the company – is your partnership with the company a win-win situation?
6. Is your company moving in a different direction? It’s very possible to outgrow your job, and your company. The corporate ladder is now an escalator, but what happens if it breaks down and you can’t get any further (especially if you’re clashing with your boss). Dream big, but be realistic about whether you can move up in your company.
7. All you can talk about is how much you hate your job. Enough said.
8. You waste time on social media. You’ll do just about anything to distract yourself from your work environment, then of course, actual work. Procrastination is a vicious cycle of boredom, guilt and failure. There’s probably a good reason why you can’t get focused.

Remember, it is far better to leave a position with a glowing reference before losing the love and departing on a sour note.