Deciding when to leave a job can be a pivotal moment in one's career, so we sought insights from seasoned career coaches, CEOs, and other professionals who've made the jump themselves. From a child's keen observation helping a parent realize it was time to quit to a perpetual sense of discontent signaling change was needed, we present 24 personal stories and pieces of advice on recognizing the right time to embark on a new professional journey.
Child's Observation Signals Time to Quit for Parent
When my 6-year-old said I was in a bad mood every night when I came home from work (even after spending the hour-long drive decompressing), I knew it was time to quit. My advice is twofold: listen to your gut and prepare. Sometimes we get 'boil-the-frog' syndrome and get used to a bad situation. But if you have a constant pit in your stomach, your body is letting you know it's time. It has internalized a lack of growth, a toxic environment, misaligned values, or feelings of being unrecognized, undervalued, or unfulfilled. As for preparation, try to plan your next steps, especially mentally and emotionally. You might have to make a quick exit without another job lined up, and that's OK. Self-care comes first. Even if there are bumps along the way, you'll come out better on the other side. Trust yourself, your gut, and your decision.
Lisa McDonald, Executive Career Coach, Confidence Coach, Speaker & Executive Presence Trainer, Career Polish, Inc.
Well-Being at Risk? Time to Clock Out
You know it's time to quit your job when every single sign is pointing you out the door. The first sign is if your well-being is at risk because your job is sapping your livelihood. If you feel physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually drained clocking in, it's time to clock out from that place altogether. You will especially feel that if you ask yourself, 'Would I want to continue working here even if I were set for life financially?' If the answer is a resounding 'NO!' it's time to go.
The last job I quit, I actually had an emotional meltdown where leadership was not supportive at all, the money wasn't that great, and I just wasn't happy with the work anymore, so I quit without notice and without any other opportunity lined up. Luckily, it only took me two months to get another job, but I encourage anyone else to make sure you DO have another job lined up first before you quit, just to be on the safe side (especially in today's very volatile job market!).
Andrea Misir, Career Coach, The Millennial Career Coach
Stress and Unhappiness Prompt Job Exit
I knew it was time to quit my day job when I was so stressed and unhappy that I was no longer enjoying the rest of my life. I had actively tried to address and improve my main pain points, but after several good-faith efforts, I realized that my job was costing me too much in the rest of my life. While it would have been ideal to have another job lined up or to be further along with my entrepreneurship path when I quit my day job, I'm very thankful I left when I did. I have never looked back and regretted it—sometimes enough is enough, and you have to choose what is best for you and your loved ones rather than what's best for a company that will replace you within two weeks.
Amanda Fischer, Executive Leadership & Career Coach, AMF Career Coaching & Consulting
Loss of Pride and Interest Suggest Change
I didn't wake up one day and realize it was time to quit my job—it was a process that included not feeling proud anymore about what I was doing, not caring if my results were outstanding ('OK results' were fine), checking my clock constantly to see if it was already time to finish work, and catching myself searching for new jobs from time to time.
If you are thinking about leaving your current occupation:
- Decide if you are willing to quit without having a new job lined up.
- Check your finances—how many months can you live on your savings?
- Get clarity about what your next career step should look like (to minimize the risk that you'll be unhappy in your new job after three months).
- Talk to your network—they might have great opportunities for you if they know you're open to a new job.
- Ask for help—you don't need to figure it all out alone.
Juliana Rabbi , Career Coach for Remote Jobs, Juliana Rabbi
Moment of Clarity Inspires Career Shift
I had my "it's time to quit" moment of clarity when I was a management consultant on assignment at a copper-mining company in Utah. I was in the document records basement, digging through boxes of old accounting records for days on end. And then it hit me. This isn't me. I'm not a data person. I'm a people person. That moment of clarity catalyzed the career change from management consulting to career coaching and changed my life.
There are a lot of factors to weigh to determine when it's the right time to quit your job, but I think it all comes down to this: It's time to quit when you realize your heart isn't in it. That can be a hard truth, but it's also an opportunity to build a more meaningful career.
Adrian Klaphaak, Career Coach and Founder, A Path That Fits
Repetitive Experience Calls for Career Growth
Is it really 10 years of experience? Or is it one year of experience repeated 10 times?
That was the question someone asked me in my role as a manager for the same company I'd been with for almost 10 years.
It cut right through to my soul because somewhere along the line, I had stopped growing and had become comfortable doing the same thing over and over again. Tired of wearing that corporate mask and playing the politics game at work each day.
At the same time, with both family responsibilities and bills to pay, I still had to ensure security for myself and my family. And I was extremely overwhelmed about where to start and how to go about this.
In the end, I decided to take the risk and go back to school to get a master's degree.
However, if I had to do it all over again, I would have hired a coach to help me figure out what my next steps were and help accelerate the process.
Too often, we try to reinvent the wheel and want to do things ourselves, but I've realized that our time is much more precious than money because we can always make more money, but we will never get our time back.
Whatever you decide to do, take steps to help you learn and grow because the alternative is to stay stuck exactly where you are, doing the same thing, over and over and over again.
James Tomasi Kennedy, Executive Career Coach-Recruiter
Pandemic Epiphany Leads to Career Change
It took me four years to decide to quit my job and change my career. I knew I wanted to try something new, so I'd dream up a new potential career, get excited, begin to research it, and then find some reason not to pursue it. This cycle repeated, year after year.
2020 was the year that I finally took a leap. The pandemic made me realize that everything can change overnight. I no longer wanted to spend my days doing work I didn't love. I decided to choose one path to see where it led me. Of all the questions I asked myself over those years of exploration, I found that asking these three questions helped get me to a decision point.
What kind of work do I find myself enjoying, even if I'm not paid to do it? Is this decision reversible? Will I regret it if I don't try?
I had been interested in coaching for years, and after asking myself these three questions, I finally gave myself the permission to explore it. I don't know why I waited so long!
My advice to others considering leaving their current occupation is to listen to your inner voice. If it's telling you to explore something different, listen. Give yourself permission to explore other paths and don't be afraid to make a choice. Remember that you can always pivot if something is not working.
Lauren Miura, Leadership and Career Coach
Future Vision Eases Decision to Quit
I knew it was time when I found myself easily imagining my future elsewhere. People who effectively manage their careers are always assessing their skills, motivations, needs, and opportunities. Even when we are happy, it's essential to be assessing these things. This assessment keeps us grounded or motivates a change.
Years ago, I was in a challenging work environment—in the good way. The work required my best each day; I was surrounded by strong colleagues, and I was learning a great deal, which has always been important to me. However, as I drove home each (and every) day, I thought about the company I wanted to start, and I would arrive home super motivated. It was time for a change.
In my work as an executive coach, I ask leaders to envision the future. The more they can confidently paint that future picture, the more they garner insight about how the current circumstances aren't working. My advice? Test your future vision—if it comes easy, take it seriously.
David Gunn, Founder & President, The David Gunn Group
Stagnation and Lack of Recognition Prompt Exit
Early on in my career, I knew it was time to leave my job when I realized I was no longer learning or growing in my role. Despite my enthusiasm and willingness to take on new challenges, I found myself stagnating. There were no opportunities to enhance my skills, and it became clear that a salary increase was out of reach, regardless of my capabilities and contributions. This lack of growth and recognition made it evident that staying would hinder my professional development and long-term career goals. It was then that I decided to seek out new opportunities where I could continue to evolve and be valued for my work.
Harleny Vasquez,LMSW, University Speaker, Career Coach, YOUREVOLVEDMIND
Mundane Work and Exhaustion Cue Departure
I knew it was time to quit my job when the work I once found challenging and enjoyable started to feel mundane and draining. The realization came slowly; I began to notice I was consistently feeling exhausted, physically and mentally, even on the few weekends when I wasn't working. Another telling sign was when I stopped seeing a future at the company. I no longer saw the opportunities for growth or advancement that aligned with my career goals. The decision to leave was firmed up after a tough week when I felt no satisfaction from completing projects that would have once made me feel pleased.
My advice for anyone considering if it's time to leave a job is to first consider if the job aligns with their long-term professional goals and personal values. If you find yourself feeling constantly unhappy (not just a bad day), unchallenged, or stunted in your professional growth, it could be time to look at new opportunities where you can reignite passion and fulfillment in work.
Simon Stapleton, CEO and CTO, Truthsayers Neurotech
Stagnancy and New Opportunities Encourage Departure
When you stop learning, growing, and evolving, it's a clear sign that it might be time to move on. For me, the realization hit when I felt stagnant in my job, with no new challenges or opportunities to develop my skills. I knew it was time to quit and embark on a new journey.
The tipping point was the rise of LLMs and Generative AI, which presented a fantastic opportunity for growth and innovation. Embracing these technologies opened up new possibilities and reignited my passion for my work. If you're considering leaving your current occupation, ask yourself if you're still learning and excited about what you do. If the answer is no, it might be the perfect time to explore new horizons and leverage the incredible advancements in AI and other emerging fields to reignite your career.
John Xie, Co-Founder and CEO, Taskade
Career Wall and Market Fluctuations Inform Decision
Any time you feel as though you have hit a wall in your career and there's no room for growth, it may be time to move on. My previous job involved recruiting for executive-level positions in the real estate industry. However, the market collapse in 2007-2008 left few growth opportunities in a commission-based role. Since then, I've transitioned into a more recession-proof industry, and I've explored a variety of opportunities that I had never considered previously.
Also, while changing jobs can be a good decision, it's also important not to be impetuous. In the past decade, there have been several fluctuations in the job market, causing many people to leave their roles, only to regret it soon after. Though leaving a job can be rewarding, it's also important to know when to be patient and wait for things to improve and opportunities to arise.
John Feldmann, Senior Communications Specialist, Insperity
Misalignment and Health Issues Necessitate Change
For me, I knew it was time to leave when I realized I no longer felt joy in what I was doing, and instead felt dread each morning. Rather than learning and growing, I was depressed and felt stifled. Companies grow and change, and this one had changed so much that our values no longer aligned. This misalignment began massively affecting my health and quality of work. I knew I could no longer continue down this path because my light would be completely snuffed out. I felt like a different person, and my gut was screaming that this was not the path for me. I had to take a big leap and trust myself more than I ever had before.
Once I made that decision, everything fell into place. I left right before the first lockdown, and it turned out to be the perfect time to do so! I was not the only one leaving the corporate world to venture out on my own. Others were taking the same path, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to utilize my skills and help them realize their dreams of owning their own business. I now help businesses of all kinds build and grow a profitable presence online, and being able to encourage and educate others in that way has been more rewarding than any job I've ever had. Take the leap! Trust yourself! There are always ups and downs, of course, but knowing I hold the wheel is endlessly empowering and fulfilling.
Lauren Diana Scalf, Business Coach & Strategist, Soul Empowered with Lauren Diana
Freelance Income Match Triggers Career Shift
I knew it was time to quit my job when my freelance copywriting income matched my 9-to-5 salary. At the time, I was working as a massage therapist, making $30,000 a year and freelancing in my spare time, so it didn't take many clients to match it. But reaching that threshold gave me the conviction I needed to go all-in. It was the best decision I ever made!
With that said, if I could do it over, I would've saved more before pulling the trigger. My advice to anyone thinking about quitting their job is to avoid making choices from a place of desperation. Save up a few months worth of expenses, and find a side hustle you can start working on before you quit. This way, you won't be forced to accept the first opportunity you stumble across.
Jim Hamilton, Co-founder, Persuasive Alchemy
Unhappiness and Complaints Warn of Needed Exit
There are many signs when it is time to quit your job: when your heart's not in it, when other people start to notice how unhappy you are, when all you do is complain, and when you can't get yourself out of bed in the morning. These are all important clues not to ignore. Why? Because if you don't want the job, the job finds a way of leaving you. So, to maintain their professional reputations, I suggest my clients soul-search, research, and job search BEFORE they reach a breaking point.
One client was unhappy with the lack of work-life balance in her job. She was frustrated on a daily basis, and it was starting to show in her attitude at work. Coworkers were concerned. I coached her to write down the type of work-life situation she wanted, then network to find companies where this type of situation was possible. Through a contact, she found a new employer, applied for a job, landed it, and hasn't looked back. She is glad she quit her job before things got worse and is doing well in her new job, with no complaints.
Maggie Mistal, Career & Executive Coach, MMM Career Consulting
Unfulfillment and New Pathways Inspire Transition
I was a nurse in the Philippines before I decided to quit my job and move to Canada. It was a difficult decision, but I knew it was time for me to leave my career when I constantly felt unfulfilled and unsatisfied with my work. I realized that despite being passionate about helping others, the healthcare system in the Philippines made it challenging for me to provide quality care to patients, which ultimately took a toll on my mental and emotional well-being.
Leaving my job was a challenging decision, especially when I had spent years studying and working to become one. However, I knew in my heart that it was time for me to make a change and pursue a different path. It was a scary transition, but it ultimately led me to where I am today a co-founder and becoming a home educator. I have two young children, and I wanted to be able to have a more active role in their education while still being able to make a positive impact on other children's lives - this was my driving force.
My advice for anyone considering leaving their current occupation is to listen to your intuition and pay attention to how you feel. If you constantly feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with your work, it may be a sign that it's time for a change. Take the time to evaluate your priorities and what truly makes you happy and fulfilled in life. Your job should align with your values and bring you joy, not drain you of it.
Meg Tibayan, Co-founder, Bright Sprouts
Micromanagement and Misalignment Prompt Career Move
The moment I knew it was time to quit my job was when a very eager junior sales director, clearly out of his depth, told me he didn't trust me to run a presentation one hour before a meeting with a high-value prospect I had spent six months courting—and that he would take the lead—simply because I chose to cut straight to the demo instead of using our PPT sales deck.
I was hired for my 21 years of sales experience opening up the NYC metro market, specializing in construction tech. I knew the prospect well and what I was doing, so his stance infuriated and offended me deeply. This tech startup, driven by metrics alone and a scarcity mentality, had lost the concept of leadership and reverted to micromanagement, resulting in internal competition, backstabbing, and ultimately losing its top people. Luckily, leaving ended up being a great thing for me and led to far better opportunities and a new career. But still, this kind of change can be daunting.
If you are wondering if it may be time to leave your job or switch careers, this may help.
Drawing on the bestselling "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and 'Principle-Centered Leadership" by author Stephen Covey, you should consider if your job aligns with your core values and long-term goals. Evaluate whether your current role allows you to be proactive and focus on what you can control, or if it leaves you feeling reactive and powerless. Reflect on whether your job fosters continuous growth and helps you develop your unique talents and strengths. Finally, assess if your work environment supports interdependence, collaboration, and mutual respect, or if it fosters a culture of competition and isolation.
Seeking assistance from a career or life coach may help as well, both before, during, and after you make your move.
Mary Cioffi, Executive Coach, Mary Cioffi Executive Coaching Services
Wandering Mind Hints at Career Transition
Your mind wanders: What could be more satisfying than this? It's the first nudge to start looking or dreaming. The thoughts begin: Can I be an entrepreneur or find something better? Start trying to make a change.
Shawna Akerman, Registered Psychotherapist, Karma Cares Community
Feeling Undervalued and Overworked Demands Change
It was time to look for other employment opportunities when I realized my supervisor and the department head were home relaxing and enjoying themselves while I was still in the office, working late to cover the responsibilities of a vacant position. The lack of willingness to pitch in when our office was underwater with necessary tasks, not being in the office when questions arose, and not responding to texts and emails when on company time (WFH), made the office feel undervalued, ignored, and disrespected.
In less than two years, ten people have transitioned through a four-person office, including myself.
Be a part of your team, not above it. Give as much of yourself as you expect from your employees.
Tracy Lambert, Staff Accountant
Misaligned Success Definitions Cue Career Shift
I'd spent a career in the military before I became an entrepreneur. I knew it was time to leave the military and do my own thing once I saw that my idea of "success" no longer aligned with theirs.
Being successful as a senior officer in the military meant continuing to aspire to positions which were important, but required increasing sacrifices for my family and our future. For 25 years, I willingly made the sacrifices for service, but once I saw that the military's view of my potential was much less than my own, it was time to move on.
But, I didn't leave abruptly. Starting any business is an education, and I wanted to learn as much as I could while they were still paying me. I was able to build my network, an MVP, and some initial clients before I officially quit, so I had a running start.
You only get one chance at life. Be sure you don't spend it living up to someone else's view of your potential. When you see the conflict, it's time to make a change.
Dan Manning, Chief Story Architect, Build the Story
Unmet Work Needs Suggest Job Reevaluation
You can't know if it's time to quit a job until you know what you're working for. So, what do you want out of work? A satisfying tenure surrounded by people who like you? Glory and fame? Piles of cash? Time with your friends and family? The choice is yours.
And once you know what you're here for, you can quickly see if you're getting that specific need met.
I generally know it's time to leave when one of two things is happening: I'm not learning anything, or (more commonly) the goalposts for my work keep moving. For example, if I'm hired to build and activate an employer brand, and leadership keeps pushing critical decisions off, kicking the can down the road, asking for more information to "mull over," that means they don't understand the value I bring to the company, and I need to find a place that does.
But you are the CEO of your own career, which means that no one—not your boss, your co-workers, your mentors, or even your sponsors—will care about your success as much as you will, because they don't necessarily want what you want.
James Ellis, Owner & Chief Brander, Employer Brand Labs
New Passion Overtakes Current Role
I came up with business ideas all the time, but finally one stuck in my mind and simply would not budge. I vocalized it socially with friends and family, and it seemed to pass that test too. Eventually, I found that it was consuming me, to the point where I cared more about my idea than I did about my current role, and I realized my mental energy was all being redirected to a new passion. When it just continued to build, that was the moment I realized I had lost the drive to continue in what I was currently doing, and I needed to jump with both feet into this idea, and put all my energy and newfound passion into taking a risk. There was this mental shift where I realized I was no longer motivated to perform in my current role; I was 100% focused night and day on something new. And when that refused to disappear, I knew it was time to make that move.
Adam Horne, Co-Founder, Open Org
Burnout and Misalignment Lead to Resignation
I quit my job without another job lined up twice.
The first time was because I was severely burned out to the point where I was considering leaving the tech industry altogether and starting a new career from scratch. The environment I was working in at the time was very conducive to burnout.
The second time, I was no longer aligned with the mission and the strategy of the leadership team of the startup I was working at, in the context of not being able to find product-market fit and pivoting.
In both of these cases, I quit because I no longer felt like the situation was salvageable. There was nothing I, or my managers, could do to reignite that passion in me. In both cases, I felt like I wasn't growing anymore.
And in both cases, I bet on myself, on my ability to figure it out, on my intuition to take time off and heal my burnout, and, in the second case, on my ability to start my own business and start working for myself. It was worth it.
Irina Stanescu, Engineering Leader & Coach, The Caring Techie Coaching
Perpetual Discontent Signals Life Change
Perpetual discontent is life trying to help you. When your life appears to be out of balance on all levels, it's a sign. Mentally, you are trapped in negative thinking, blaming the environment for your discontent. Emotionally, when your heart is longing for someplace else, yet you don't have a clue where that is. Physically, when your body feels exhausted and possibly dealing with illness or a decline in some way. And spiritually, when your aliveness feels stifled and your joy is muted, it is time to pay attention to the signs. The key is to integrate the highest part of you, calling you towards your fullest potential.
Donna Bond, Spiritual Psychology Coach, Donna Bond Professional Coaching & Consulting