This is one of those times of the year when people start looking ahead and thinking, "Oh my God! There is NO way I can spend another year doing this job!" And thoughts of new careers start filling their heads.
Well, no matter how strong the temptation may be to just up and walk out of your job, have a good long think before you do it. Quitting suddenly without a plan is not recommended. Even though your work position may be impossible to live with a minute longer, you may find being unemployed, with all that entails, even more stressful. Picture it... the long, boring days ahead with no regular income... and looking for work is stressful in itself, particularly if you live in a high-unemployment area.
It doesn't take long for depression and feelings of hopelessness to set in. Believe it or not, most of us are simply not equipped to adapt easily to being unemployed. We are not trained to handle the social and financial adjustments required. Do you have a car loan? Mortgage? Family to support? Any other debts or financial obligations that require you have an income? If you do - don't just quit and walk out!
So, what should you do if your work situation has become so intolerable that you'd consider just walking out the door, never to return? Well, first, consider just what it is that is making you so miserable. Is it the job itself? The department you work in? Your immediate supervisor? Work conditions? Overall morale? Any particular person or people? Now think what can you do that might improve this? Is it possible to transfer to a different department? Apply for a different job? Is there a H.R. Manager you can speak to about your concerns/problems?
If you've tried the "sensible" things like this and nothing can be done or has been done, what do you do next? Avoid acting in the heat of the moment. If your emotional and or physical health and wellbeing is at serious risk where you are, then start looking for a new job elsewhere with a new company. This, in itself, has been known to buoy depressed spirits... you have something to look forward to, and it can make 'hanging in there' more tolerable knowing that it's not permanent.
If you are really suffering, you needn't be 'fussy' about what new job you take if it means having something to go to when you leave. And maybe that is not such a bad thing either, to take a less stressful job for a while, as a filler, to rebuild your strength and give you time to assess where you're going.
And don't forget there are employment laws in place designed to protect not only yourself as a worker, but also the employer. You may, for example, have signed something saying if you leave you will give x number of days written notice. You may stand to lose pay and other benefits if you just walk.
When the temptation to just quit arises, ask yourself if you will manage to live on your savings, because unemployment benefits are not made available to those who quit their jobs. What real benefits do you stand to lose by just walking out the door? How will this affect your family? What are you going to do with yourself? Might seeking the services of a Career Coach be helpful to you in your situation?
Before quitting, try to rectify whatever it is that is making you so miserable and when that is impossible, take the necessary steps to seek new employment. If, while waiting for a new job, things become unbearable, consider taking a part time job somewhere, or a lesser qualified position just so you have something to go to and an assured income to tide you over until you find a 'better' position. But remember, even when doing this, once the initial sense of release and freedom has passed, how will you feel about yourself, your new temporary position, and smaller income?
Get yourself a Career Coach who can counsel you and help you make the necessary adjustments, or speak to a career counselor.
Nobody "has" to stay in a job that makes them miserable, but just walking out the door is not necessarily the answer. As with most things, even quitting your job requires careful planning.
Terri Levine
http://www.comprehensivecoachingu.com
http://www.terrilevine.com
http://www.coachinstitute.com
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