Welcome to “Pressing Questions,” Fast Company‘s mini advice column. Twice a week, Deputy Editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions in less than one minute.
Q: How do I know if I should quit my job?
A: The few times I’ve quit a job in my life, it was pretty clear to me that it was the best decision for my future career and happiness. Still that didn’t make it easy. Quitting your job can be scary. The first step is deciding if you can improve what you don’t like about your job.
If you’re not learning anything new or don’t feel challenged anymore, or even if you feel like there aren’t career advancement opportunities, it’s worth having a conversation with your manager to see if there are adjustments you can make.
Of course there are some things that make people leave a job that can’t be fixed: red flags like toxic colleagues or chronic burnout or unfair pay. If that’s the boat you find yourself in, it’s probably time to freshen up your résumé.
Once you do decide to quit, it might be tempting to do a dramatic “take this job and shove it” style resignation. But you should always try to leave on good terms, even if you hate your job. Giving two weeks’ notice and handing over your responsibilities will leave your soon-to-be-former colleagues in a better place and will leave everyone with a good impression.
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