15 Clear Signs It’s Time To Quit Your Job

A lack of growth opportunities, a toxic work environment, chronic stress – these are all telltale signs it’s time to quit your job.

But even if you’re not struggling at work, there still might be a nagging voice in the back of your head telling you to explore other career opportunities.

Whatever the reason is, it’s valid enough for you to start looking for other work – you don’t need to wait until you’re close to your breaking point to leave.

If you feel like you’re approaching a crossroads in your life and need to identify definite signs it’s time to quit your job, here’s a (non-exhaustive) list to help you out!

15 Signs It’s Time To Quit Your Job

1. You are reading this blog post

Let’s start with the obvious – if you instinctively clicked on this article and already feel on an intuitive level that it’s going to resonate with you, this is a sign it’s time to quit your job.

You’ve just been waiting for a random person on the internet to validate what you already know to be true deep inside. So how about getting to work on your resume?

2. You are overqualified for your position

Even if you only have a few years of work experience under your belt, you still might be overqualified for your current job.

Your education, prior jobs, and any other interests or experiences could put you way ahead of what’s needed for your current role.

In a company that’s open to employees progressing quickly, this might not be an issue.

A good manager will recognize your talents and put them to good use. But in an organization where employees stagnate, you might get bored quickly and feel like your skills are going to waste.

3. You are underpaid

Money is a huge motivational factor in any job.

It’s quite literally the main reason why people spend 40+ hours per week working (and not gazing at clouds, sleeping all day, or whatever else comes to mind) even if they seriously dislike what they do.

And while LinkedIn influencers would have you believe that having in-house chefs and meditation rooms is the pinnacle of workplace happiness, none of this matters if you are underpaid.

If you tried to have conversations with management about your salary and were either met with a flat-out no or empty promises whose only goal is to future-fake you into staying, this is a clear sign it’s time to quit your job.

4. You can’t grow in your role

Opportunities for growth are almost as equally as important as your salary.

Few people today want to do the same job until they retire, so it’s perfectly normal to expect that you’ll be able to advance at your company over time.

However, this is not the attitude of all employers. If you feel stuck and unsupported in your growth, then it’s time to at least consider having a frank conversation with your manager to see if there are ways you could progress.

5. The work environment is toxic

Office gossip, harassment, backstabbing, poor communication, manipulative behavior, and dishonesty are just a few out of the many signs of a toxic workplace.

As a result, employees might develop work anxiety and fear their managers (among other things) while the company could experience high employee turnover.

Unfortunately, a lot of people in this scenario simply grit their teeth and accept their fate since the prospect of quitting and looking for another job is scarier than continuing to endure the toxicity.

There’s no doubt that this is harmful, not just for your career but for your emotional wellbeing as well.

Quitting might seem like a huge risk right now, but I promise you that it will pay off.

6. You feel dread going into work every day

I don’t subscribe to the belief that work should never feel like work.

This is toxic positivity at its finest, and it’s totally okay to feel tired or unmotivated from time to time, especially if you have a lot on your plate personally as well.

But feeling dread every single morning when you go into work is bad.

In fact, it’s one of the biggest signs it’s time to quit your job. I’ve been there and it’s terrible – I couldn’t even enjoy my weekends or vacations because I knew at some point I’d had to go back to work.

If this sounds like you, then it’s time to start thinking about an exit strategy.

7. Your mental health is suffering

There’s work-related stress and then there’s work wreaking havoc on your mental health and sucking all joy out of your life.

Call me dramatic, but the fact is that a majority of people work at least 40 hours a week, five days a week. And when you spend all that time in an environment that’s causing you major stress, it’s only a matter of time until your mental health begins to suffer.

If you’re unable to quit your job anytime soon, it’s essential that you invest some time in developing healthy coping mechanisms that will help you manage stress in the short term.

8. You don’t feel passionate about your job anymore

Just like relationships come to an end due to a lack of passion, so do jobs.

You might feel guilty for wanting to quit a job at a company where you’ve been treated well, or have even made lifelong friends, especially since so many people aren’t as lucky.

But you shouldn’t guilt-trip yourself into staying just because you feel it’s the “right thing” to do.

Regardless of how long you’ve been at your current job, there’s nothing wrong with moving on when the passion that was once there disappears.

9. You’re compromising your values

Are you frequently in situations where you have to compromise your ethics to do your work? If the answer is yes, then you should start looking for another employer.

Even if you can justify your actions as simply “doing your job”, being a part of a company that engages in such activities can harm your career in the long term.

10. Your gut is telling you that you need to move on

Although most people try to make career decisions based on careful planning and preparation, this doesn’t mean you should completely tune out of your intuition when it comes to your professional life.

For example, I had a “safe” job a few years ago where there was zero need to be creative. But I thrive in creative environments, a fact that I wasn’t even aware of until my gut started sending me some intense signals that I’m simply not cut out for this type of work.

The more I ignored the messages, the harder it became to pretend and in the end, I found another job that was in much better alignment with my abilities.

So if you saw a job ad that sparked your interest and feels exciting, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for it.

Let go of the need to control every little detail of your life and you might be surprised by even better opportunities!

11. Your work-life balance is out of whack

Very stressful jobs have a tendency to spill over into your personal time as well, creating a disruption in your work-life harmony.

While there are methods you can try to restore the balance, sometimes a combination of different factors (like a toxic work environment, lack of motivation, work anxiety) leave you in a situation where the only option is to find another job.

12. You wouldn’t recommend the company to your loved ones

This is a great (and easy!) test to try if you’re torn about whether to stay or go.

We only want the best for our friends and family, so if you wouldn’t recommend your job to your loved ones, it’s a sign it’s time to quit your job.

13. You constantly procrastinate

While motivation levels can vary from day to day, especially if you’re working from home, constantly procrastinating at work is a big sign something is off.

This can also manifest as an inability to stay focused on the task at hand and getting easily distracted.

14. You frequently vent about your job

Rewind to the last few conversations you’ve had with family or friends.

How many times did you vent about your boss, coworkers, or just work in general? If this happens frequently, then it’s a sign it’s time to quit your job.

Don’t be tricked into believing that hating your job is normal by the negativity on social media. You deserve better than wasting your potential away in a job that makes you unhappy.

15. You don’t feel challenged anymore

Too many challenges at the workplace can quickly lead to overwhelm. But too few lead to boredom and a lack of motivation.

In this instance, talking to your manager could help redefine your role in the company or at the very least, make it clear where things stand and whether you should stay or go.

Final Thoughts

Deciding to change your employer (or start your own business) is a major decision most people don’t take lightly, especially if your current job feels safe. We don’t like to trade comfort for uncertainty and a new workplace that might not live up to our expectations.

On the flip side, you shouldn’t ignore the consequences of staying in your comfort zone just so you wouldn’t have to take a risk. Accumulated stress over time could lead to health problems, not to mention career stagnation.

If you’re still undecided, I invite you to find a quiet place, sit down, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, “How does the thought of being in this exact same job a year from now make me feel?” Then take note of all the messages that come through.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it on your favorite social media platform. You can also connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to be a replacement for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment by qualified medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your doctor, therapist, or other healthcare providers with any questions you may have.