Deciding When to Change Jobs

Split your reasons

Wanting to quit is usually several reasons tangled together. Viewed as one lump it becomes "I just hate all of it," which is hard to act on, but splitting the reasons shows what the real problem is. Sort them into the five strands below and note how heavy each one is and how long it has been going on. Whether your reasons cluster in one strand or spread across several changes what the solution looks like.

• Work: the tasks do not suit you or feel meaningless
• People: relationships with your manager or colleagues are repeatedly hard
• Pay: the reward falls short of the work
• Growth: nothing left to learn and no next step in sight
• Health: you are worn down physically and mentally, without letup

Could staying fix it?

Some of those reasons can change without changing employers. Different assignments, an adjusted role, a team transfer, a renegotiated salary or new working arrangements are all worth raising with your manager or HR. Leaving after you have asked and heard the answer is not too late, and how the company treats you in that process is itself useful evidence. On the other hand, if the reasons are things an individual can hardly change, such as the company's direction, its culture or the outlook for the industry, moving on is more likely to be the realistic answer. When you ask, you are more likely to get an answer by setting out the specific change you want and why, rather than listing complaints.

Signs it may be time

A rough week or two does not mean it is time to go. But if states like those below persist, it may be time to prepare seriously for the next step. Anger or disappointment straight after a particular incident often fades, so it is safer to make big decisions once emotions have settled a little. Keeping notes for a week or so to see whether the same thought keeps coming back is another way to check.

• You have made the requests you can and nothing changes
• You expect to be in the same place, or worse, a year from now
• The company's direction keeps clashing with your values or goals
• You are so drained that your body reacts before every workday

Money to check before moving

Any decision to change jobs needs a money check. Find out what you would receive for severance and unused leave, how long you could cover living costs without a new job, and which payments depend on when you leave, such as bonus dates. Eligibility for severance, leave payouts and unemployment benefits depends on conditions such as length of service and the reason for leaving, so confirm the exact rules with the official labor authorities. Estimating rough amounts with a calculator in advance helps you avoid a rushed decision.

Why job hunting while employed helps

If you can, looking while you still have a job helps in several ways. Your income continues, so you can afford to turn down offers that do not fit, and in salary talks your current job gives you a clear reference point. There is no gap to explain either. Avoid job hunting during working hours on company equipment, and never pass your current employer's confidential information elsewhere; both can cause real trouble. If your health means you need to stop now, recovery takes priority over this rule. When choosing where to apply, check first whether the reasons you want to leave would actually be solved there, so you do not repeat the same problem.

Giving notice and handing over

Once the next role is confirmed, check the procedure and timing set out in your contract and company rules, and tell your direct manager in person first; that is the courteous way. Wrap up your work by your last day and leave written notes so your successor can take over: a task list, work in progress, contacts and where files live. Industries are smaller than they look, and how you leave can come back to you as reputation. Make sure you collect every document and settlement statement you are due when you leave.

Health comes first

If you cannot sleep, find yourself in tears for no clear reason, or keep noticing physical warning signs, recovery comes before working out when to move. In a burned-out state your judgment suffers too, and no decision is likely to feel right. If these symptoms continue, do not push through alone; get help from a medical provider or a counseling professional. This guide sets out a general order for thinking it through; for a decision that fits your situation, it is better to talk it over with people close to you or a professional.