Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do.
We’ve all fantasised about calling it quits at some point in time (preferably with a defiant march out of the office that would send the paperwork whirling dramatically around you as a heroic soundtrack blares in the background).
Family and friends will always sensibly remind you to secure a new job before you quit the current one so that your financial stability will not be compromised. Plus, given the uncertainty of the current job market in Singapore, who knows how long it will be before someone hires you again?
But what if you really want to leave? Here’s an unpopular opinion: you don’t always have to find another position of employment before serving notice at the current one.
Although the financial concerns are legitimate, it should not be the only factor shaping your decision to stay or to go. If at least three out of these five other indicative reasons checks out for you, bite the bullet no more:
You’re Emotionally, Mentally & Physically Exhausted All The Time
You’re in a constant state of weariness. Whether it’s the repercussions of a manager who micromanages or the never ending load of work that piles up on your plate, undue stress and exhaustion will compromise your health and negatively impact your productivity.
Instead of taking more sick days than you’d like (and feeling even worse about it), put an end to your misery. A proper job hunt will require a proper amount of energy.
You’re Not Growing
Stagnation can easily be mistaken for comfort, warns emotional intelligence expert Travis Bradberry. You may love what you’re doing, but “it’s important to remember that every job should enhance your skills and add to your value as an employee.”
Employers can play their part by investing in you—if they aren’t doing so, you might as well cut short your stay. Talent investment may not be a compulsory thing, but it does say a lot about your employer’s attitude towards your welfare.
The Company Isn’t Growing
The company isn’t doing well and everybody knows it. But, do you keep fighting the good fight or do you take flight? In a situation like this, you will have to re-assess the company’s situation and spy the red flags.
It is common for companies to downsize or restructure during a period of lull. However, if there are no significant improvements observed despite several rounds of reformation, the ship is likely sinking and (sooner or later) its crew members will be made to walk the plank.
Workplace expert Lynn Taylor noted in an article for Psychology Today that when a company’s tanking, “there’s no need to go down with this ship. Put on your life preserver and get in the water.”
Something Illegal Or Unethical Is Going On
Perhaps you’re an assiduous environmentalist who recently found out that your company has been bypassing carbon taxes, or an animal lover who’s trapped in an organisation that still practices animal testing—whatever the issue is, when there’s an ethical conflict or moral misalignment, quitting the job is definitely an option.
For one, you will never be comfortable in a position where your values clash with your employer’s. Rather than put yourself in a precarious situation, put your foot down and go. Potential employers can respect that, so you don’t have to worry about your chances of getting hired while out of employment.
You Just Know It
Fate works in mysterious ways. You may think that you’re set to do one thing for the rest of your life, but a stronger calling can come about any time. If your gut feeling is telling you to quit your job now to pursue a greater vocation, take the leap of faith. Being tied down by a full-time job can zap your energy and impede your progress in doing so.