How To Quit A Job

How To Quit A Job
by heather on July 27, 2009

“How To Quit A Job” is a guest post from Steven, who blogs at HundredGoals.com. Steven’s blog is awesome; he focuses on personal finance and frugality while still pursuing dreams. I love the focus on Hundred Goals, highly recommend you give Steve’s blog a read through!

Many of us work at jobs where there is no opportunity for advancement. If there is opportunity for upward mobility, the positions available may require advanced education, experience which we do not have or maybe we don’t have enough seniority.

It may also be that advancement into another position may bring even less satisfaction to an already miserable work experience. Whatever the reason, working at a dead end job stinks.

Some may think that it is naive to think everyone in the world can work in a job or career they love. Maybe they are right. There are those people out there who will settle for less than they deserve for a variety of reasons; security, money, insurance, education, even respect. Yes, even people who work in highly respected positions are miserable too.

Staying in a position in order to maintain respect, or any reason, is ridiculous. We should be seeking satisfaction in every way possible, including our careers.

Your happiness is no one’s responsibility but your own. If you are unhappy in your job or career, it isn’t up to someone else to bring you satisfaction. It is up to you. Quitting a job isn’t something to take lightly and in today’s job market leaving a job, even one you hate, is a risky decision. In order to quit your job & move smoothly towards other opportunities, keep these points in mind during the transition.

How To Quit A Job


Job Security- If you are staying at a job you hate simply because you feel secure, you are being foolish. As far too many people have discovered the hard way, there is no such thing as job security. Take off the rose colored glasses. At any moment your company could become bankrupt, your job could be outsourced or eliminated entirely. Life is too short to be unhappy, even for a seemingly valid reason such as “security”.

Debt Elimination- One of the most important aspects of personal finance, not just quitting a job, is to get out of debt. Having debt chains us to our job. We must work in order to pay others. Our money does not belong to us. You may think you earn $15 an hour, but really, isn’t most of it going to Visa? They’re the ones making all of the money & you’re doing all of the work for them.

Paying down debt can be a long process. Depending on your debt load, it could take years before you are debt-free. Figure out a plan to pay down your debt, and stick with it. Once you have a plan written down on paper it is easier to meet your goals, especially if it is broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Don’t look at your debt as one big mountain to move. Instead, try to see it is a bunch of spoonfuls of dirt which are easier to move, bit by bit.

Job Search- Maintaining a job while actively seeking other opportunities provides you with the benefit of time. You can search for the perfect position without feeling pressured into taking a job that isn’t right for you.

If you are seeking other avenues of opportunity, maybe self-employment, having gainful employment while making the transition into running your own business takes some of the financial stress away. You will continue earning a wage while your business is young and maturing. Once you have established yourself & the money coming in is enough to support you without needing your “real” job, you can quit safely.

Education- One way to find more meaningful work or work that is more suitable for your ambitions is to further your education. Whether you have a degree or haven’t graduated high school, you can always benefit from learning something new.

Take classes in things that interest you. If there is an area that needs brushing up, say your language or writing mechanics, take some courses on these topics. Many universities offer evening courses which will mesh well with your work schedule.

Returning to school on a full-time basis may also be something to consider. Returning to school can be costly & requires devotion to your studies, so be prepared. Have your finances in order and do your homework to figure out what the cost will be and whether you can afford to make the transition from work back into school. A part-time job can help ease your financial situation and may even lead to other opportunities. Try finding something through the University which is in your area of study in order to gain valuable experience. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to find a job in your field with no practical experience.

Networking- Networking these days is over-rated. It isn’t all that it is cracked up to be but a few great connections can prove to be a valuable asset further down the road. Don’t just collect phone numbers, really connect with people and form relationships that have substance and meaning. There should be give and take within these relationships, don’t just look at these people as a way to get something you want. If you stick to the standard of collecting cards, you will see why social networking doesn’t work.

The road to your future is paved with the decisions you make today. Tomorrow is a choice you make. Only you have the ability to determine the path your life follows. T

Taking the risk of quitting a job is a risk many are unwilling to take, no matter how unhappy they are with their jobs. There could be nothing else in this world that we hate more than to have to walk through the Gates of Hell on our way to our desk, our drill press, our counter, our register, our dump truck, yet we still repeat the process each day.

Breaking the cycle is hard. It’s scary. It is a process that requires thought and preparation, but at the end of the day, isn’t our happiness far more important than a paycheck? --> aku suka statement ni..

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