When is it OK to quit my job A definitive guide

When is it OK to quit my job A definitive guideWhen is it OK to quit my job A definitive guideSometimes a new job is more than you expected. It doesnt align with your interests or the environment is unbearable, whether because of your new boss or coworkers.Whatever the case, you want out. The trouble is, youre leise fairly new- less than six months or so- which begs the important question when can you quit?Quitting a new job comes with several major concerns, namelyUpsetting your manager and coworkersFacing negative professional consequences down the line, like future employers considering you less reliable for a jobBeing judged by your friends, family, and even current coworkersAnd, as a result, you may find yourself feeling obligated to stay, lest you become labeled as a flaky job-hopper.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut dont let these concerns force you into sticking it out at a job youre ill-suited for or that falls short of your expectations. Quitting a new job happens- and though elend ideal, its also leidlage the end of your career or reputation.When its OK to quit a new jobIf you look up job-hopping, youll find that there are varying interpretations of what it means to job hop. Some suggest its holding two or more consecutive short-term positions others say itsstaying in a role for less than two years.Regardless of the exact definition, job-hopping is often perceived negatively- and fear of being labeled as a job hopper makes us stay in roles that simply arent good for us in some big way.But this can be detrimental for several reasons. For one, youre essentially trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, and secondly, you may be missing out on better career opportunities out there.Not to mention,theres no set frame of time for when its OK to leave a role. Its not unheard of for someone to leave after three months, or even two weeks- in fact, som e people have evenquit after one day.But in deciding whether or not to quit a new job, you should have a solid justification, rather than pure whim or a casual dislike. Though not an exhaustive list, here are some good reasons for leaving a position.Your job does not fulfill youWhen considering whether or not to stay in a role, Dawn Carter, Director of Early Careers atIntuit, suggests asking yourself, Does your job bring you joy?Carter explainsYou dont have to love every part of your job, or even every day of your job, but you should find joy and fulfillment in what youre doing.Sometimes this joy can come from actual tasks or results, or by being part of a company mission bigger than yourself, or by being on a team that accepts you for who you are.The job isnt quite what you applied forFor some people, the excitement of starting a new job is quickly lost due to the realization that its not at all what you thought you applied for.This could be because the job description welches poor ly written, or a recruiter or hiring manager misled you in the scope of its responsibilities. Regardless, somewhere along the way, poor communication led to a misunderstanding of the actual job- setting you with a false idea of what to expect.To me, if you arent happy at a job or it was missold to you, leave as soon as possible, Brett Holzhauer,freelance writer and digital community manager, advises. There is no point in making yourself miserable or unhappy for a paycheck.Theres a poor culture fit and/or work environmentWork culture matters- that includes your workplace environment, and the way your coworkers and upper management treat you.In fact,38% of workers report wanting to leave their jobsbecause of a toxic work culture or feeling that they dont fit in.Can you blame them? Whether its mismanagement or office politics, a poor company culture decreases employee morale and makes people feel undervalued.While some might say poor culture fit is a matter of giving an organization mo re time, it can be easy to sniff out large work environment issues right away. In some cases, you might even observe outright harassment or discrimination in your new workplace. If thats the case, you have every reason to abort.Your mental or physical health is affectedFinally,youre more than justified to leave if a role is taking a physical or mental toll on your health.When I knew I had to leave was when my mental health started to suffer, Bob Haegele, blogger atThe Frugal Fellow, shares. I was extremely stressed out, and lets just say that I was starting to wonder if I could even keep going. Why even get out of bed in the morning? That sort of thing. I had to take a step back and reevaluate.Examples of how your health might be impacted includeHeadachesFatigueSleeping difficultiesMuscular tensionHeart palpitationsOverwhelming stress and anxietyCognitive problems, e.g., trouble concentrating or making decisionsWhen to consider staying a little longerProlonging your stay at your job may not be your first choice, and its by no means necessary. However, its worth weighing your current role with the alternative, and considering whether you should leave right away or stay just a little longer.It might be appropriate to stay at your new job for a little longer if either of these situations apply to you.Your finances could use a boostIf leaving your current role puts you in a financial struggle, it may be worth staying in your current job.Do a quick audit of your finances to get an idea of where you stand. Ask yourselfWhat are my regular monthly expenses?Do I have any outstanding debt?Do I have anemergency fund to tide me over? If so, how long would it last?Although you may not be in a good place to leave your job immediately, that doesnt mean youre doomed to stay in it forever, of course. Consider staying for only as long you need to- until you find a better job opportunity or youdevelop a nice financial cushion.But again, if your new job is taking an unhealthy phy sical or emotional toll on you, thats a completely different story.A paycheck is not worth staying in a negative work environment with deleterious consequences.The next opportunity you find doesnt seem to be much betterThe first job offer you receive may feel like an easy escape route, but be certain that it aligns with your larger career interests. Otherwise,youll put yourself at greater risk of developing a job-hopping reputation.Jonathan Valdez* describes discovering a poor cultural fit in his current role that was not apparent in his initial job interview.As a result, he began seeking out other jobs and even received an offer after four months. However, after weighing the offer, Valdez opted not to take the new job. He reasonedI declined the offer as it was not my bringing me closer to the dream job anyway, and instead, I decided to try to improve the situation at my current job This has worked well, is still in progress, and in the long run, will be a much better experience for myself. It has also helped me build new skills and demonstrate even more value to the company.Your current role may not be a great fit, but that doesnt mean you should drop it the first chance you get. As Valdez suggests, Either try to work on it or move to something better for you Do not make a habit of having less than six months or one year at companies.How to Quit a New JobSometimes all signs point to the necessity of leaving your position. If thats the case, take these next steps to quit your job.Consider your optionsGive yourself some time to think through the logistics of quitting. Specifically, considerIs it possible to make an internal move?If its the role itself that you find issue with, perhaps a departmental move may be a better choice than leaving a company altogether.How urgent is your departure?That is, can you afford to wait until you find a new job first? Consider your financial circumstances and whether you can feasibly job hunt on the side rather than quitting im mediately.Can you switch to part-time or remote work?No, this isnt a complete fix for a bad job, but negotiating to become part-time or work remotely may help mitigate some of your least favorite aspects of work.What does the fine print say?If youve signed an employment contract, make sure you fully understand its terms and the consequences of an early departure. Resigning earlier than anticipated might mean giving up any bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing, or other benefits- and its best to educate yourself so that you arent caught off-guard by a notice from HR.Leave graciouslyAvoid burning bridges. Your departure doesnt come without a cost to others- the time and resources spent onboarding you, for instance- so its best to be professional and courteous about leaving.To make your exit as smooth as possible, try the followingBe honest with your manager.Kelan Kline, co-founder ofThe Savvy Couple, left his first job out of college, a role in insurance sales, after just two weeks. De scribing the experience, Kline said, I found that the best way to communicate was by being open and honest. For me, to stay any longer was a disservice to my manager and everyone else training me. I think many people like to beat around the bush when it comes to communicating, and that just doesnt work well.Give appropriate notice.Giving your employer two-week notice is the norm when leaving a job, butits not legally required. That said, although it may be tempting to make your exit as quick as possible, providing your manager with an appropriate amount of notice is a courteous and respectful gesture.Dont beat yourself upI think quitting carries some serious shame with it, Bethany McCamish, afreelance writer and graphic designer, shares, especially when working in public service of any kind.McCamish, a former teacher, describes feeling a need to stay for others rather than acknowledging what was best for her There is a serious feeling of obligation rooted in guilt of not helping tho se around you. The fact is, when your life is about serving others, you can forget about yourself and thats not healthy at all.But this guilt doesnt only affect those leaving a role in public service - you may find yourself feeling guilty for how your departure affects your manager, coworkers, or even its financial consequences for your partner or family.Of course, theres no real benefit to getting hung up in your departure. Instead,take it as a learning experience and an opportunity for introspection about your career goals and personal values.Final thoughtsQuitting a new job isnt ideal- but that doesnt mean its avoidable. Sometimes, its for the better.As you navigate this situation, remember to keep the bigger picture in mind. That is, whether professionally or personally, this job is simply not working out for you. Youd benefit from a different position, and even your employer would be better off with another candidate.While leaving early runs the risk of upsetting your manager and receiving negative social judgment, these consequences wont last forever. With a well-executed departure, youll be on the road to a new role soon enough.*Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.