How to tell if it’s time to quit
We’ve all had a bad day at work, even a bad week at times where we’ve fantasied about quitting our job, but how does one know when it’s time to actually throw in the towel?
Your job is a massive component of your life, the average person will spend ONE-THIRD of their life at work, so when it’s time to make a change you need to make sure you’ve thought about it carefully and considered all your options.
We’ve created a list of components of a job for you to consider, so grab a pen… let’s get cracking!
Work your way through this list and rate each component out of 10. 10 being the most agreeable and 1 being the least.
Remuneration 🤑
I am fairly compensated for the work I perform.Belief/passion in my work 💓
I believe my work is fulfilling and rewarding.Inspiring leadership 🏆
I am inspired by my manager and the wider leadership team.Supportive team/co-workers 🥰 👏
I am supported by those around me and get along with my co-workers.Manageable workload 😰
My workload is fair and manageable and I feel supported to push back on tasks if I become stressed.Company culture 🤗
The company has a strong vision, mission, and values and there’s clear guidance from leaders about where the company is going and how they'll get there.Work environment 🏢 ☕️
It’s enjoyable going into the office, as I have great and supportive colleagues and a nice working environment that is comfortable.Flexible working arrangements 👨👦 🗺
I am given all the flexibility I need to manage my workload. I feel like I can manage my own time effectively by being given the freedom to pick and choose how and when I work (if possible).Perks outside remuneration 🏋️♀️🍻🍕
Aside from my paycheque, I am rewarded by my company. (This may be in the form of fitness classes, social events, wellness budgets etc).Learning and development opportunities 🤓 📚I am given plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. I feel empowered to take time out of my workday for personal and professional development. I also feel comfortable asking my boss for budget to attend courses etc.
Commute 🚊🚏📍
My commute is easy, there is accessible public transport and parking etc.
Now add up your score… it will be out of 110.
Got it? Cool…
If your score is 75+ that’s great and you’re probably pretty engaged with your work - good for you!
If your score is 50 or less, it’s probably time to look for a new job. We can help with your CV 😉
Score of 51 to 74? Keep reading…
It’s time for a really honest chat with your manager to see if you can work together to improve your score. For example, if you scored Learning and Development Opportunities low you can easily improve this score by talking to your manager about obtaining budget to attend a conference or a training session.
Always remember it’s in your boss’ best interest to keep you engaged, it costs anywhere from 30% to 400% of your salary to replace you.
What if it’s about money? Awks…
If Remuneration is your main bugbear it’s worth getting your ducks in a row before you discuss your financial concerns with your manager. It’s worth explaining to them that you need to prioritise earning more, or that your pay isn’t representative of your skillset in your industry.
As noted above it costs A LOT to replace an employee no matter their level, most of the time you’ll actually have more leverage than you expect, depending on your area of specialisation. Want to check out what you should be earning? Check out this salary checker tool to see how you compare.
What if it’s my manager I hate? Again #awks but…
Firstly, don’t tell them you hate them! It might be as simple as you don’t understand each other's communication/working style. To broach this topic you could suggest the team undertake personality profiling, like a simple free online DISC assessment. Once everyone has completed their assessment you could suggest using your next team meeting to go through people’s profiles and highlight their communication styles so the team can work more harmoniously together.
Still not happy? Ask to work on a different project/team so you don’t have to see that person as much day to day.
What if it’s the work environment?
If it’s the broader work environment and culture this can also be brought up as chances are if you feel this way others do too! If it’s something harsh like a rigid working remotely policy that’s the issue, try to explain your reasoning and ask for an exception, the worst that can happen is your boss says no.
If it’s something more like the culture is lacking, talk to your co-workers to get their thoughts on how you could improve the culture, it could be something as simple as introducing Tim Tam Tuesdays as a way to socialise with your colleagues.
Be true to yourself!
You spend way too much time at work to not have a job that doesn’t fulfil you!
Change is always daunting so you want to make sure you have fully thought through your decision to leave. And if you do make that decision you need to make sure your next role hits all the components your last role failed to!
