Steven J. Feiner - The Art of Resignation: Quit Without Burning Bridges

If you have ever thought about quitting you are not alone. Im going to let you in on a secret: everyone has bad days. Everyone occasionally dreams of quitting. I have seen good friends cry, curse their bosses and even have panic attacks. I have witnessed people I care about go far beyond their breaking point. Learning when to quit is imperative.

Signs that its time to quit

Lets be honest, we dont love change. Change is so bad that the fear of change has a name: metathesiophobia . Our employers realize this, and offer us positive reinforcement to condition us. We are offered subtle encouragements such as the occasional bonus, an unexpected promotion or a nice lunch. These incentives keep us focused on a job that we might not enjoy. Its no wonder that only 53% of Americans and 34% of Germans enjoy their jobs . Our employers condition us to stay by randomly giving us a treat intended to make us feel better about a job that we dislike.

If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions, it might be time for a change.

• Do you continually promise yourself that you will quit? If you are always making yourself a deal, that means you have conditioned yourself to accept these failed attempts to quit your job rather than take action. Trying multiple times is a clear sign you need to pull the trigger.

• Have you stopped giving your best each day? If you are not motivated to improve your job performance, or you are not putting your best efforts into getting your job done as efficiently and effectively as possible, it may be time to leave.

• Are you content to remain in the position you have and lack the desire to be promoted? If you cannot stand the thought of having your bosss job or his bosss job, you need to think long and hard in considering if this company is where you want to spend your days indefinitely.

• Is your job making you sick? Job stress and anxiety about your situation can have a negative impact on your physical health. It can also have a negative impact on your relationships with your family and with others . If you are suffering from depression, anxiety attacks or physical illnesses, it is time to look for another job.

• Are you overqualified for the job that you have? Do you ever feel as if a trained monkey could do your job? If you can do your job with minimal effort you are overqualified. Being in a dead end job is not healthy for you, your financial well-being or your career path .

• Are you being asked to perform tasks that are unethical or illegal? This is a clear sign that you need to quit as soon as possible.