Don’t like the word ‘quitting?’ Me neither— but sometimes there are totally real reasons you should get out of your workplace. Life exists outside work and affects what we can dedicate our talents to. With family, friends, schoolwork and hobbies, the last thing we need is a sucky work environment.
You can find plenty of reasons to leave your job, and here’s why they are completely valid!
1. ZZZZ… Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.
All throughout college, you sit waiting for your life to start and then—yikes. The workforce isn’t what you expected. Days are long and conference calls waaaay longer. You just can’t see yourself happy with where you are, so… You. Just. Leave. “That’s why I left, as it was my first job out of college and I felt I was not being the journalist I strived to be… Also, the environment and people were boring; and rarely was I proud of my work. So, I quit,” said recent SUNY New Paltz student Michael Donoghue about leaving as a writer at a website. Leaving a job because it didn’t meet your expectations could help open up your horizons, especially with another option on the way.
2. Wanting the Real Deal
Think you could get something more out of your degree and skill set? Think that your field must have more important occupations? Hell yeah! Putting hard work into something you’re passionate about lights up your world, and it sucks when your job cripples that. Getting out of a job because you know you can apply your talents somewhere else better is definitely valid.
3. Time Management
Clocking in and clocking out marks the start and end of your shift— so why does work take up so much of your time? School, friends, family and hobbies matter too! If a job seems too demanding for the kind of work you can physically and mentally manage, it’s time to go. And no, you do NOT need to apologize for putting yourself first.
4. Room to Breathe: Job Flexibility
If 2020 proved anything, it’s that life is unpredictable and gets in the way. We can’t always know what’s going to happen, and emergencies exist! Especially for us college students, life feels so unstable and constantly shifting. When a job doesn’t take into account your personal life and it only becomes a detriment, of course, it’s valid to quit!
5. Mind-Games in the Work Environment
Work: just another small gathering of humans altogether. Of course, all environments are different. Some may be great, but when bosses or employees start to play mind games with the coworkers, maybe you know it’s time to get out of there. You need a place you can trust, so leaving for a more secure opportunity will do your mental health some good.
6. Boss Issues
Large and in charge! A big ego or just not clicking with your boss represents a major source of frustration in the workplace. They decide what you do and when you do it, so having a bad relationship with your boss amounts to a major source of stress. “There were small issues from the beginning with the attitudes and expectations of the superiors… The final straw was when the boss made a show of firing my friend when peak busy season ended but still had a month left in our contacts,” said recent CUNY student Paul Allvin. Finding a place that works for you (even though you work for them) is vital.
7. Nepotism
Thanks, dad—er, I mean boss. You’ve got the skills, but they’re not being noticed. Maybe you feel constantly overlooked even though you do the work. Nepotism is not good for you here, so of course, you want out! Especially as a young college student or graduate, you want your work to be appreciated. “Nepotism disrupts the very core of the ‘American Dream,’ in that personal ties can and most likely will outweigh hard work. It is thinly veiled by a documented glow of what is reported and what is not reported,” recent Hunter student Jason Daniels said. Leaving your job by saying you found other opportunities to utilize your skills is a way to stay true to your beliefs.
8. Health
2020 only emphasizes what we know to be true— we need to prioritize our health. Physically, if your body can’t take the stress of the work, your boss would appreciate the honesty aside from what you can bring to the table. Mental health matters too, so keep in mind how your job is affecting you!
9. New Place, New Me
Yep, moving counts! Small or large moves, they all matter to your decision. Calculate how far away and accessible your job is, and what the commute is like— you should consider it all when it comes to how you use your skills. “[The] environment was pretty quiet most of the weekdays, weekends were busier, especially on the holidays… On slow days co-workers would just chat with each other although the owner would encourage us to go up to customers and interact with them,” said recent Marymount grad Miriam Riley. “But, I left there because I was moving to another state,” said Miriam Riley. Despite a job’s benefits, you need to put yourself first. Surely bosses will understand how something as life-changing and life-shaping as this becomes a reason you need out.
10. Packing Up My Desk Already—Better Opportunities Coming!
Essentially, you need to do what’s best for you. Even if your current position is consistent, flexible and useful, a job that better fits your financial and personal should always be one to consider. If you find a better chance to explore your field or climb up higher—take it. Ultimately, you know what you need, and can seek that guilt-free.
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