Posted On23 Mar 2022
You probably already know that finding a job can be difficult. Likewise, leaving a job can be equally tough. For this reason, you need to have good, solid reasons for leaving a job.
Resigning can mean you lose benefits (health, vision, dental, insurance, etc.), and make you appear disloyal (or worse, a job hopper) in the eyes of potential employers. It can also create unwanted gaps in your resume. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of all—you could find yourself weeks or months without a job, and without salary.
Need a good reason for leaving a job? Here are 10
Considering all the negatives, the decision to leave a job should be given careful and serious consideration. With this in mind, here are top 10 reasons for leaving a job.
1. Better salary and/or benefits
If you feel you are not being adequately compensated for your talents, you can leverage these to land a position in a company with a bigger budget for your position. Though loyalty still counts, leaving an employer because of a better offer from another company is a valid reason to quit your job. We all need to make a decent living, after all.
2. Career change
After spending years in the rat race, perhaps you feel the urge to finally follow your passion and shift to a career closer to your heart. Doing something you love can be a stronger pull than the need to earn more, especially if you already have some cash set aside. And that’s why a career change makes a good reason for leaving a job.
3. Job no longer meets your expectations
Work environments change. Sometimes, the change is so significant that your job becomes so unrecognizable from the one you started with. If you’re unhappy with what your job has become, disappointment in your position is a valid reason for leaving a job as well.
But before you resign, it will be best to raise the issue with your higher-ups. State your concerns and give them an idea of what you think are possible solutions to the problems you’re experiencing. If communication fails, then that’s when you should consider finding a new job that’s better suited to your qualifications and aspirations.
4. Family circumstances
Family should be a bigger priority than your work. If you have a family member in need of care or support, working for another employer who can offer flexible work arrangements such as work from home, compressed work week, alternative scheduling, or activity based working (ABW), can be the change you need to address your familial issues.
Of course, it pays to talk with your current employer first if they can accommodate a new work arrangement for you before you pull the trigger and quit your job.
5. Health issues
Like family, personal health and wellbeing should always come first, making health issues one of the more compelling reasons for leaving a job. In the face of burnout and exhaustion, circumstances can dictate that your resignation be in immediate effect. In this case, you need to write and submit a resignation letter to your employer explaining your situation in order to give them notice and professional respect. This formal notification should help your instantaneous resignation proceed in amicable terms.
6. Career growth
For many years, you toiled in your position, hitting and even exceeding targets and expectations. You’ve proven time and again that you can lead and deliver. But when a higher position opened up, you felt you were unjustly passed over for someone you believe was less qualified than you. Working for a company that will believe in you and invest in your career growth might just be one of the best reasons for leaving a job, as well as the change you need to feel valued again.
7. Toxic manager
A good manager is charismatic, compassionate, communicative, and respectful to employees. Unfortunately, your current supervisor is none of these things. As the saying goes, people don’t leave bad jobs—they leave bad bosses. One of the most common reasons for leaving a job, life’s too short to be working for a stress-inducing manager, so if you muster up the courage to finally say enough’s enough, good for you!
8. Toxic workplace
Do you dread coming to work? Do you find yourself mentally checking out and operating on autopilot while in the office? Does a culture of cronyism, gossip, and overall negativity permeate in the workplace?
These are glaring signs of a toxic work environment, so after realizing that your workplace is unhealthy and that you need to resign, you need to know how to take action in a professional manner to avoid decisions that you might regret later on. No matter how you may feel about your current job, you should still make it a point to know how to quit your job with grace and gratefulness, as you may still need your employer to verify your work history or offer a recommendation.
9. Entrepreneurial goals
You have an amazing business idea that you can’t wait to launch. Get ready for your turn as a manager/business owner by extensively studying its financial viability, creating a business plan, and of course, knowing how to quit your job on a good note. Who knows? You may even cash in a favor one day and have your old employer send some business your way.
10. Being overqualified
You’ve laid out your skills and capabilities during your interview, but after getting hired, your employer ends up underutilizing you. It can be downright disappointing to work for a job that doesn’t offer any challenge, as the hours can get long and tedious. But before you consider this reason for leaving a job, let your managers know that you want to take on more responsibilities.
Are you ready for your next job?
Now that you know the best reasons for leaving a job, boost your chances of landing your dream job and salary with Resumeble’s top-caliber resume writing services. Our writers will work with you one-on-one to deliver the high-quality resume you deserve. Contact us today!