How Do You Know When It’s Time To Quit Your Job?

Everyone has a bad day at work every now and then, that’s totally normal. You might storm out the office with furious plans to hand in your notice only to return the next day, have a cup of tea and a catch up with your work bestie, and forget all about it. But how do you really know when it’s time to leave your job?

Here at Anderson Hoare we believe everyone deserves to enjoy their job, life’s too short to spend your time doing something that doesn’t fulfil you and if you’re leaving at the end of each day without a sense of satisfaction or purpose then that can be a warning sign that maybe it’s time to move on.

The great thing about a career is that it is constantly growing, we work with EAs, PAs and office support assistants at all different stages of their careers, from helping them to find entry level and graduate jobs to securing top EAs their next board level role. You will learn something from every job you work in and even if that experience doesn’t seem valuable at the time you never know when it will come in useful later. However, regardless of the wild and weird experiences you might be gaining, if you genuinely hate your job there is no point staying, and the old saying is true – a change is as good as a rest. Sometimes you need a new job to reignite your love for your role as an assistant and refill your passion and enthusiasm that was starting to drain.

But how do you know when it’s definitely time to leave your job? If you’re in that quandary now we bet that a million different pros and cons are running through your head. With over 30 years’ experience in the recruitment industry we’ve heard a lot of different reasons for a leaving a job, but we’ve also got very good at picking up the subtle, often more telling, reasons for why someone might not be enjoying their current position and would be better suited elsewhere.

Below we’ve explained 7 signs that show it is definitely time to quit your job:

1. You no longer feel inspired to do well

The most motivating factor in a job is self-actualisation, that’s the realization or fulfilment of your own talents and potentialities. Through doing our jobs we should feel as though we are able to grow in our roles and capabilities and reach our own potential. If you no longer feel like this, i.e. inspired to achieve greatness in your role and as though you are able to do that, then something is not right and that particular role may not be the best one for you anymore.

2. Your job responsibilities have changed/increased but your pay hasn’t

Occasionally there can be good reasons for this, but it’s usually a sign that you are being taken advantage of. If your work responsibilities have increased, you haven’t been compensated for it and there is no indication that that compensation is likely in the future, then it’s time to look for a new job that actually pays you for the work you do.

3. You dread going in

No one deserves to dread their job. We repeat – no one deserves to dread their job. There are so many wonderful, varied jobs in the world and if you are genuinely dreading going into work each morning you are not in the right one. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to figure out exactly what kind of role or working environment you thrive in but that’s ok, it’s totally fine to try a few different things and if you’re looking for any advice then we are always here to help. Get in touch with one of our consultants today and we’ll happily chat through your job search and your career goals and help guide you along the right path.

4. You vent constantly about your job and it starts to dominate your conversations

If you can do nothing but talk about how much you hate your job and your friends and family are starting to notice (and maybe even getting bored of hearing about it) then it’s time to change. No one else can make that decision for you – it has to come from you.

5. The company culture isn’t a good fit for you

If you don’t feel morally aligned with the company you are working for or there are cultural differences in the way it is run and what you beleive in then it’s probably not the best environment for you to be able to reach your potential in. The company culture or moral values are unlikely to change, therefore in this instance it is down to you to make the change yourself and find a role somewhere better suited to you.

6. There is no advancement

We mentioned earlier that a career is a constant work in progress and if there is no way up from your role, or you don’t like the look of where it’s going, then it’s time to look for something new.

7. You no longer have a good work/life balance

When you find yourself spending less and less time with your family and friends because of work or having to constantly let people down because of work commitments, then it’s a sign that it’s time to get your priorities in order and find a job that let’s you live your own life.

We know that leaving your job can feel daunting and finding something new can feel like navigating a minefield. However, that’s why specialist boutique recruitment agencies like us are here to help. We have over 30 years’ experience helping PAs, EAs and office assistant to find their perfect jobs in companies all over London and further across the world. If you have just quit your job, or are thinking about making a change, then get in touch with one of our consultants. We’re always happy to help!