Quitting job sometimes can be your best move

By Dave Murphy
San Francisco Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO - This might well qualify as the last thing a career counselor would ever tell you, but here goes. In an ideal world, you ought to just up and quit a job at least once in your lifetime.

Yes, I’ve heard the horror stories about people who have quit or gotten laid off and then have been out of work for months or even years, but I’d bet there are a lot more who quietly struggle for years because they’re afraid to just quit.

That doesn’t mean you should take quitting lightly. The best way to get a job is to already have a job. But if you’re miserable or just plain bored, plunging into unemployment might be the smartest move you could ever make. Here are some questions to consider before you make the move:

What, exactly, is wrong with your current job?

Make sure you’ve at least tried to squeeze the most out of your employer that you can. If your pay is too low, ask for a raise. If traffic is killing you, ask about flex-time or telecommuting. If your supervisor is a jerk, ask to be transferred. People often are reluctant to speak up. Sometimes they conclude that a job is a dead end, for example, when a little skill and creativity could make it better.

If you can’t pinpoint what’s wrong, you won’t be able to move forward effectively. Take a week off to think about it if you need to, but make sure you know exactly what is wrong and why it can’t be fixed before you quit. Otherwise, you’re liable to wind up in the same situation in your next job.

Are you being realistic?

If your workload has increased because your company downsized, it could be because competition has gotten tougher in your industry. If your competitors are struggling just as much and you are not willing to change industries, you might not find anything better.

Look at the job prospects in your field. Do you have the skills? What parts of your resume make you stand out? Are people your age being discriminated against?

If you’re unhappy with your life, make sure you’re not unfairly blaming all your problems on your job. Talk with friends or get counseling if you need help sorting it out.

Will it do more harm than good if you stay?

If the stress is killing you, of course, then get out. But you should also if you find yourself lashing out at friends, family members or colleagues.

The best tool any job hunter can have is a good network.

If you turn into a jerk and lose your biggest fans, your hunt will be a lot more difficult.

Other damage can happen if you get lazy. If you start through the motions and stop building skills, your reputation at work and your job hunting prospects could wither away.

Companies have reputations. If people in your industry have started looking down at your company, find out if your reputation will suffer if you don’t leave quickly.

Will quitting make you a better job hunter?

People are not always hired on the basis of merit. The energy you put into the job search makes a huge difference.

If your job is so demanding that you don’t have the time or energy to network, research companies and aggressively pursue openings, maybe your prospects will be better if you quit. If the people who are moving up in your field have master degrees and you don’t, quitting your job to go back to school could pay off in the long run.

What if you’re unemployed for six months?

One of the most dangerous things for any job hunter is a long gap in your resume, past or present. And, of course, there’s that little thing called poverty.

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, don’t even think about quitting unless you have something to fall back on. You don’t want to take your next job out of desperation.