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How to Know When It’s Time to Quit Your Job. Are you ready for a job change, or should
you stick it out in your current position? Asking yourself these questions will help
you decide. You will need Time to reflect and the ability to be honest with yourself.
Step 1. Note how you feel on Monday morning. Are you sick to your stomach at the thought
that there are five days between you and another weekend? Not good. If anxiety starts to set
it on Sunday, that’s a bad sign. Step 2. Think about your workload. Has it recently
doubled—or halved? Either scenario is a valid reason to be unhappy. Step 3. Draw up
a list of the job’s pros and cons. Do the cons outnumber the pros? Are the cons more
troubling than the pros are enticing? Note: “free coffee” doesn’t count as a pro.
Step 4. Assess your value to the company. Do you feel you’re being paid what you’re
worth? Is your boss appreciative of your efforts? If the answer is “no” to both, it’s
time to go. Unless there is a company-wide salary freeze at your firm, not getting a
raise at your last performance review is a sign that you’re not valued. Step 5. Weigh
your options. If you quit, could you afford to live without a salary for a while? The
average job hunt takes six months—more, if you’re earning over $60,000. Employment
experts say job seekers must figure on one month of searching for every $10,000 they
earn. Step 6. Be honest: could a trained seal do your job? Then you’re ready for a challenge.
Step 7. Measure your threshold for taking crap. Is it lowering? Are you on the verge
of telling your boss at the morning meeting, “By the way, nobody really wants to hear
about your weekend potty-training the puppy—let’s get this show on the road.” Ta-ta and good
luck. Did you know More than three-quarters of survey respondents said they're suffering
from burnout at work, and more than half claimed they're under a lot of on-the-job stress.