8 Reasons for Leaving a Job and How to Do It

Depending on your unique situation, there are many reasons for leaving a job. However, sometimes, people are unaware that it's time to seek other career opportunities and allow yourself to experience career growth elsewhere. From not being appreciated enough for all your hard work to disagreeing with decisions made at a leadership level, there are many reasons to start considering leaving your current job and asking yourself what you want.

In this article, we'll look at how to recognize the signs that it's time to leave your job, how to prepare efficiently for a job interview, how to be ahead of other job seekers, and much more.

How You Know It's Time to Leave Your Job?

People tend to spend quite some time thinking about leaving a job they dislike. Regardless of the reasons for stopping working in the current company, you will need to create a strategy not only to leave your current position in the best conditions possible, but also to determine your next step.

Are you looking to stay on the same career path, or are you considering dedicating your time to a hobby or even starting your own business?

Whatever you want to do after leaving a job, you must ensure it doesn't affect the quality of life you and your family members have. For instance, if you want to continue working in the same field, you should start your job search while working in the previous job to avoid time without any income.

If it's been a while since you were on the job market with other candidates, dedicate some time to research what has changed. Industries are changing, so there could be new skills that you'll need to learn if you want to compete for a better position.

Also, it might be a good time to revisit your career goals to see if something is different. Five or ten years ago, your goals could have included career growth opportunities that are outdated or unnecessary today.

If you are daydreaming about a life you could have if it weren't for your job, it's time to do something about it.

8 Common Reasons for Leaving a Job

Numerous reasons for leaving a job exist; however, yours might not even be on this list.

As we all have different needs and goals, it's normal to have a reason that none of your colleagues or friends has had before. For example, you can leave your job because you see no point in spending so much time commuting to work.

Or, you can leave your job because your work environment is too loud, and you perform best in a more relaxed environment. It's all up to you!

To help you get an idea of whether your current employer should start looking for your replacement because it's time for a career change in your life, here are the most common reasons for leaving a job.

1. Leaving a Job Due to Company Culture

Company culture is a set of values the company is dedicated to establishing and maintaining with all their employees and everyone they interact with.

If your company insists on team members hanging out late after work several times a month and you have a family or simply enjoy spending your free time differently, this could be why you notice less motivation to go to work and be productive.

Company culture is an important factor in employee motivation and engagement, so consider what values you'd like to see in a new company before looking for a new job.

2. Better Compensation

Let's be honest; we all work to earn money. Without it, you wouldn't be able to pay your rent or mortgage and wouldn't be able to give yourself the life you deserve.

That said, if you are top-performing, you will probably want to be compensated well for your work.

Not being compensated enough is one of the most common reasons for leaving a job. If you brought this up with your current company, and they cannot offer you higher pay, it would be a good idea to explore new job opportunities that can financially bring you career advancement.

3. Leadership Reasons

No matter where you are in the organizational structure, you will report to the leaders of your company. Each company can have a different management style, and not all employees will fit, so being aware of this might save you time and help you find a new company.

You might have a terrible boss or a boss that doesn't offer what you need for professional development, but one thing is certain: your work will be affected by the leadership style in your current role!

Other prospective employers are hiring managers and employees like you. Finding the right work environment is the only way to enjoy an organization's many growth opportunities.

4. Organizational Restructuring

Even if you loved your job, ultimately, an organizational restructuring results in big changes for everyone. Being assigned to a new department, taking on more work than usual, and changing how things work are just a few examples of restructured organization.

If new organizational changes affect your performance or motivation, achieving career advancement will be quite challenging.

Of course, before you join other job seekers on the market, share your concerns and questions with the organization.

Sometimes, organizational changes can be adjusted to fit employees. If you're satisfied with all other aspects of your current job, maybe you can negotiate some terms and stay.

If not, use this as a lesson to understand things you don't want to see in your new position.

5. Career Change

Some reasons for leaving a job will be no one's fault. You might enjoy working with your colleagues, are well paid, and can clearly see your career development path if you stay with this company.

However, you might want to explore a different career and put your undiscovered knowledge and skills to work.

Whether you need to change to a new industry or simply apply for positions with different requirements than yours, you must leave your job to pursue the new position.

Make sure you research the new career well. Learn what your potential employer is looking for in a candidate, what needs to be included in your job application, and how to be competitive in the job market.

6. Leaving a Job for Personal Reasons

There are many personal reasons for leaving a job. For instance, you might want to spend more time with your family, leave for health reasons, or write that book you've been thinking about for so long. Whatever the personal reason, you are probably quitting your job because it affects your work-life balance.

If a person is leaving their job for personal reasons, all that's left to do is ensure you are prepared for the upcoming period. Carefully considering your finances is recommended, as you will probably not receive any money if you don't seek future employers.

Map out a plan to understand how many months you can live just on your savings, or consider finding additional income such as gigs, short-time projects, and freelancing.

7. Pursuing Education

It's never too late to pursue an educational degree, especially if you think it will bring you professional growth, a better management position, a smoother job transition, better compensation, or more career development opportunities.

Not to mention that an additional degree will always look good on your job application!

Many organizations will even pay more to professionals with a higher level of education or the ones that own two degrees, knowing how valuable their knowledge could be for the entire company.

Sometimes, working and studying are not possible simultaneously, so students leave their jobs to dedicate time to their education. You might want to pursue that degree to change your career or impress your potential employer, so quitting your job might be the right decision!

8. Work Arrangement

Many employees worldwide have turned to remote work in the past few years. Whether working from home or in another country, you will want a more flexible work environment. If your company doesn't allow working from home, it might be a sign to look for a prospective employer who allows his employees to work from anywhere.

Also, you might want to have a flexible schedule. Instead of working 9 to 5, many employees are happier with flexible schedules, as they allow them to have a better life-work balance.

Numerous companies across different industries are moving towards remote and more flexible work arrangements, so you will easily find a new organization.

Previous Job Vs. New Job: How to Prepare

Before you search for a job, spend some time understanding what exactly you want and how to get it. If you're not happy in your current role, what does your future role have to offer to change that?

Whether it is the workplace culture, lack of growth opportunities, or any other valid reason for leaving a job, you will need to analyze your old job and even your past roles to be able to find new employment that will fulfill you.

These are the questions you need to ask yourself to learn your priorities for the new role:

• What are the reasons for leaving a job in my last position?
• What responsibilities are I looking for in a new team member or leadership role?
• How do I imagine my new work culture to look like?
• What would be a good job offer for me in terms of responsibilities and rewards?
• What qualities my former boss didn't have, and I would like my new one to have?
• Does my current position match my job description, and how to communicate this to a potential employer?
• What parts of my career will leave a good impression on a hiring manager?
• Which previous employers can I reach out to for references and recommendations?

Once you've responded to all these questions, it's time to follow these steps to ensure your job search strategy is successful. Don't rush into communicating your decision to your boss until you've covered all the steps of your exit strategy.

1. Prepare Well for the Job Interview

You will want to prepare if it's been a while since your last job interview. Think of the questions your future employer might want to ask and prepare your answers. Make sure you don't bad-mouth your former employer.

Regardless of your legitimate reasons for leaving a job, you will want to focus more on the positive light of your career. Share your successes and achievements, and if asked about the reasons for leaving a job, mention the lack of career growth opportunities instead of bad-mouthing your last job and the company.

2. Analyze Your Current Job and Boss

Yes, this will soon be your previous company, and your boss will be your previous employer, but instead of jumping to the new phase of your career, analyze this one first.

What were the things that worked well? Which of the things you wouldn't want to experience anymore? What has your current role taught you?

Analyzing your current role and the company itself will not only help you understand your preferences, but will also help you become a better professional.

When writing your resignation letter, you will want to show you spent time thinking about your decision and thank your employer for everything you've learned in the previous role. This will be difficult if you haven't spent some time thinking about it.

3. Write a Wishlist for Your New Role

You don't want to face the same problems you had in your last company, right? So, list things you want your new company to offer. Whether it's health insurance for another family member, a flexible schedule, or a quarterly bonus for your performance, be clear about what you want before you go on a job hunt.

Understanding what you want will also help you respond more clearly to a job interview question about your reasons for applying to that particular company. It can also serve you to explain to your future employer what your needs and preferences are. After all, if you want certain things, you must first communicate them with the company.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons to leave your job. It might be the same reasons you left your last job or don't feel there is room for professional development, but finding a new job is better for you and your current employer.

Once you've made that decision, all you can do is write a good resignation letter and start looking for a prospective employer who can provide you with what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Leave a Job If You Are Unhappy?

If you don't feel happy or motivated in your current company, you should start searching for a new job and leave your previous job behind. There are many reasons why people quit their jobs, such as poor management, low salaries, organizational restructuring changes, and lack of flexibility. If your job negatively affects your private life and health, it is also a sign to leave and look for a better opportunity.

What Should You Say When Leaving a Job?

Whether you leave for personal or organizational reasons, you want to end that relationship professionally. Make sure you write a decent resignation letter, thank your employer for the previous position and everything it taught you, and clarify that you will pursue your career goals elsewhere. Remember that leaving things on bad terms might cause consequences for your future employment, so try to be as diplomatic as you can.

Is It Normal to Feel Regret After Leaving a Job?

If you spend some time working in the same company, feeling sad or regret once you quit is completely normal. You've probably built relationships with your colleagues and enjoyed many workplace-related things, so leaving it might cause mixed emotions. Most jobs offer certain positive things to employees, and missing them or the feeling of going to work in general is more usual than you would think.