Many of us have a moment in our career when we'd love to head into our boss's office and shout, "take this job and shove it."
Fortunately, we usually avoid making a scene when this urge hits us. But just because we're tactful doesn't mean we make the right decision about our career. There are times, of course, when leaving a job is the best thing for us. However, it's good to exercise some caution before abruptly firing that email off to your boss or the HR department announcing that you're quitting.
When you have the urge to get up and leave do these three things first.
Wait 24 hours. In most situations things will look a little different the next morning and we might be more appreciative of our job or the people we work with once we've had a chance to get away from the office. Everyone experiences times of struggle and these are usually the times in our lives and careers when we learn the most. Sometimes a desire to quit is a desire to avoid doing something difficult but necessary for our career.
Discuss with your family, a mentor, or a trusted friend. Sit down with those closest to you and ask for advice. Often, those who love you and know you best will see some part of the situation that you haven't considered yet. Use this time to listen well.
Meet with your boss. You likely won't feel good about leaving your job without laying all your cards on the table with your supervisor. Well, almost all your cards. Avoid anything that seems to blame others or appears to avoid taking responsibility. But if you don't feel like your work is recognized, think you're overdue for a promotion, or want more responsibility, a clear and honest conversation with your boss might just bring you what you want.
If not, you'll probably have earned your supervisor's respect, will feel good that you addressed the issues head-on, and can leave knowing that you didn't run from a tough situation.
