Experiencing Job Dissatisfaction: How To Decide If It's Time To Quit

People don’t quit jobs, they quit managers. Poor experiences with management (and colleagues) are the #1 reason people quit their jobs. 

Work is about relationships, and together, those relationships create the culture and environment of your workplace. Your working experience is shaped both by your direct interactions with others, and the broader policies (for example, around remote work or time off) that organize them. 

Don’t readily assume quitting is your only option. Whatever the source of the problem, you may be able to resolve it without jumping ship entirely. 

If you don’t care about what you’re working towards, you’ll have trouble staying engaged. That doesn’t make you lazy or ungrateful, it makes you human! Research shows that people perform better when they feel connected to their purpose at work. 

If your company isn’t open and communicative about its vision and goals for the future, it’s easy to feel like just another cog in the machine. Forward-thinking companies include everyone in their mission and dreams because they know it will help people do their best work!

You’re right to feel like you need to move forward—in today’s labour market, in-demand jobs (and the skills we need to do them) change more quickly than ever before. That makes learning, development, and professional advancement more important than ever. 

If you’re unsatisfied even though you’re growing and performing well, it’s worth asking yourself if the job is taking you in the direction you want to go.

Work isn’t just about the daily grind, it’s about where you’re going. If you feel stuck, unchallenged, or like you’re not honing your skills, you’re probably considering quitting your job. 

Before you write a resignation letter to your supervisor, assess whether the issue is something you could address or resolve. Whatever the problem, it’s almost certainly worth an honest conversation about your needs, and whether your role can meet them. 

On the other hand, if there are multiple compounding issues behind your desire to find a new job, it might be wise to start looking. While good managers will often try to work things out, there’s only so much they can do—if you need better pay, a sense of purpose, and to escape toxic culture, you may actually just want a new job.

If your concerns are financial, it’s worth explaining that you need to prioritize earning more, or that your pay isn’t representative of your skillset in your industry. You likely have more leverage than you think—depending on your specialization, it can cost anywhere from 30% to 400% of your salary to replace you.

If it’s the work environment that’s the issue, that can be raised as well. Obviously, don’t tell your manager you despise their management style—even after you give your notice, that’s needlessly burning a bridge, and insulting someone’s abilities could even trigger a defensive reaction. 

Instead, keep an eye out for internal opportunities, or try asking to work on a different project or team. If it’s a harsh policy (like no flexibility on working remotely) that’s the issue, you can always explain your reasoning and ask for an exception. The worst your boss can do is say no. 

If you’re looking to find growth and meaning, or get connected with your organization’s values, exciting internal opportunities might be another good thing to try. Just make sure people know you’re looking for them, and what your goals are! Your job might even have extra budget allocated for education, to help you evolve in a direction that matters to you.