Think twice before quitting

Quick decision could backfire; take time to evaluate options

Should I stay or should I go?

More points to consider before submitting a resignation letter:

¢ Don’t pull the trigger too fast, says Ray Bennett, of the American Bureau of Shipping in Houston. Compile a list that reflects the pros and cons of staying with the company. If you see more advantages, staying may be the better choice.

¢ If money and a fancier title are your reasons for wanting to leave, some re-evaluation is in order, says Patricia Mathews, president of Workplace Solutions in St. Louis. More money and prestige don’t necessarily create a better work environment.

¢ People do outgrow their work environment, especially if they are in their first job out of college or if they are going through life changes. If you feel you have exhausted every effort to move up the ladder, then it might be time to go, Mathews says.

– Andrea N. Browne, The Washington Post

Sure, people get frustrated with their jobs. But when are those frustrations enough to make you leave the company?

Before you make a hasty decision that could hurt your professional or personal life, you should be sure your reason for quitting is valid, according to human resources experts. Here are some points to consider:

¢ When emotions run high, beware. There can be plenty of stressful moments between you and your boss or co-workers, says Ray Bennett, vice president of human resources for the American Bureau of Shipping in Houston. That’s no reason, however, to decide on the fly to quit your job.

Oftentimes something happens, such as not getting a promotion, and a worker’s emotions take over, Bennett says. Instead of thinking rationally and talking with the manager about areas of needed improvement, the initial reaction is to want to quit.

¢ Remember, the grass really isn’t always greener.

“Most workers aren’t able to accurately assess if quitting is the best move,” says Susan Heathfield, president of Heathfield Management Consultants and writer for About.com’s human resources section. “They think that by leaving their current company, everything will be perfect.”

Job-hopping to get away from certain problems may not be wise, she says. These include issues relating to office culture and salary.

If you quit because of money, for instance, there’s a strong chance it will become an issue with the new employer.

¢ Sometimes, you need to move on. If you don’t see any growth opportunities with your current employer, it may be time to look elsewhere, Bennett says.

Bennett warns that being complacent can have negative effects because higher-ups tend to form misconceptions about you and your talents. This is reflected in areas such as pay raises. If a worker is in such a situation, then it’s time to re-evaluate the importance of professional development. Leaving the company may be the only option.

¢ Butting heads with management is a bad sign. In the working world, a commonly used phrase is: “You never quit a job, you quit your manager,” says Patricia Mathews, president of Workplace Solutions, a human resources consulting firm in St. Louis. If you’re working with a bad manager and have made repeated attempts to switch departments and remove yourself from the situation to no avail, she says, it’s time to move on.

It should be in the organization’s interest to keep good workers. If the company is not demonstrating that, then you need to do what’s right for your career.

Bennett and Heathfield both advise that before you make a final decision, you should talk with someone you can trust outside of the company.

Reviewing your concerns with someone who has an unbiased opinion can help pinpoint things that aren’t obvious to you, Bennett says. Be certain that you’re leaving for a better opportunity and not simply running away from something, he counseled.

If you are still on the fence about leaving, talk to your manager about taking on more challenges and pursuing other options within the company, Mathews says. Explain what your career goals are and ask if there is anything coming down the line that fits those wants and needs.

“Ultimately, quitting should be a last resort,” she says.