Take a Deep Breath Before Taking Off From a Job

Image by Nick Fewings

Your alarm goes off at 8:00am. You toss and turn, hoping that blaring noise is simply a figment of your imagination. As it persists, you recognize that it is time to get up. Those first few seconds of morning brain fog have you wondering why you need to be up so early. But, as your mind settles, you realize it is time for work. That is when the dread settles in.

Going to work every morning can be taxing; the physical exhaustion of having your body unnaturally awoken, the mental fatigue of having to rush to the office, and the overall tiredness most of us feel in the mornings. Now, imagine if your work environment was far from healthy. For a lot of people, working in a toxic office environment is the norm. Whether it be a cranky boss who lets out their frustration on the team or colleagues who have a multitude of tension between them, working in a taut office can be dissatisfying.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that many people will decide to simply leave their job due to poor work environments. In fact, one in five employees will depart from a place of employment if they feel the environment is misaligned with a healthy workplace. 

While it may be understandable why someone would feel inclined to leave a job of such nature,  leaving in haste without another job lined up can lead to more challenges than you might anticipate. 

The current job market is no joke. Competition is skyhigh and job availability is at a historic low. Impulsively quitting your job could simply hinder your ability to get another job. It is important to holistically assess the situation you are in prior to making a decision. Nobody is disputing the frustrating and overwhelming reality of having to endure a toxic work environment. We spend – on average – 40 hours a week in the office or interacting with colleagues. So, when you are dissatisfied at work, that stress can seep into every element of your life.

“Having a stable paycheck is important because it will give you a sense of security while looking for a new job. People need jobs to make money and support their families, so it’s understandable that a lot of people would stay where they are at so they can be financially stable, even if the workplace is toxic.But, if you decide to leave, you don’t have to make the jump and quit, before you have a landing pad below your feet. Where most people make the biggest mistake is just to start sending their resume out like throwing spaghetti on the wall,” says A.J. Mizes, CEO & Founder of The Human Reach.

The consequences of leaving without an alternative job lined up can be daunting and burdensome. The financial responsibilities of adulthood cannot be skirted. From student loans to rent, car notes to retirement; living in today’s world is simply expensive. Even if you think your savings will get you through this period, the truth is, you do not know how long you’ll remain unemployed – which means, you don’t truly know how far your savings will stretch.

Additionally, hastily leaving your job without a backup plan can open the door to questions you may not be interested in answering. Prospective employers will wonder why you randomly departed and if there is a gap in your resume, you better be ready to explain that.

Mizes continues to say, “What separates an average job seeker from a great job seeker are the ones that take the time to figure out what it is you truly want and then take the actionable steps to get there. Making sudden changes to your career can leave you in a worse place than you started, so be patient and give yourself the time to find the best fit for you. There is a workaround. You can be loyal to your current company and to yourself as an employee at the same time.”

Staying at a job that drains your emotional and mental energy is not a reality anybody would want. But, patience – especially in the current job market – goes a long way. Leaving without thought is just a short term solution to a long term life. The potential consequences of prolonged unemployment and financial burden require more consideration than an impromptu resignation. It may be challenging but keeping your calm prior to quitting will set you up for a much brighter future, even when the present feels overwhelming.

Image by Nick Fewings