Bad Reasons for Quitting Your Job

Thom W. Conroy
Quitting a job is similar to a divorce, it can go in a smooth and civil manner or it can be a great show idea for Jerry Springer. There are a host of very good reasons for quitting a job, and for every one of them there is an equally bad reason that will come back to haunt a former employee. In general, bad reasons for quitting your job is any rationalism that will not at least replace your current salary, because the sad fact is you have to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach, regardless of how you feel about your employer. Quitting any job is a major move even in the best of circumstances, and whether we accept it or not is is an emotionally draining situation. Leaving a job on less than optimum terms or for poor reasoning only adds to the possible distress that may come with the realization that a hasty decision may have been made.

Bad reasons for quitting your job is any one that will not at least move you laterally in your professional career, in terms of position, salary and benefits. The whole idea of working and slaving away is to get ahead - more money, perks and power, not to backslide to a lesser position and waste years of hard work. To quit a job without an equitable position to move to is foolish and irrational, regardless of personal reasoning. The only way to justify this type of action is in the case where the workplace has become a threat to your personal health or safety. In this situation it becomes a perfectly normal reaction for self-preservation to take control of your employment situation.

Other bad reasons for quitting your job are things like getting passed over for a promotion or failing to get a raise. If these circumstances apply to you, emotions need to be placed on the shelf, at least temporarily to investigate the matter objectively. Keep your cool, and ask what the management rationale was in their decision making process. Remember, objectivity is the keyword - look at your situation fairly, as though you are not a participant. There may be a valid reason why you were not considered worthy that you failed to recognize, and if you quit hastily you did not lose a job because you were treated unfairly, it is because you lack the maturity to control your emotions.

Bad reasons to quit your job can be anything from personal conflicts with co-workers to unrealistic expectations of your employer. It's easy to lose sight that as an employee you are a member of a corporate team, and much like a family dynamic there are always a few oddballs to deal with, but from an overall perspective the gain outweighs the cost.

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