Questions to ask yourself when deciding to leave a job

If you’re friends with someone who’s unhappy at work, you may be perplexed by his or her reluctance to leave. Why would anyone suffer needlessly or stay where they’re unappreciated?

That question is easy (and logical) to ask when it’s not you who’s miserable. But the minute the miserable-job-shoe is on your foot, things take a different perspective. It’s human nature to adapt, even if it’s not good for us. It’s also human nature to resist change. The combination of those two natures means that many people will stay in a bad situation longer than they probably should.

If you’ve been trying to decide about leaving your job, perhaps it will help to think like a career counselor. Following are 11 questions to ask yourself while grappling with this decision.

1. Why do I want to leave? Has something specific happened that makes you feel it’s time to go? Or is it more a matter of outgrowing your position? Perhaps you’ve been feeling restless for a while but haven’t stopped to name the reasons. Now is a good time to make that analysis.

2. What would make this job worth keeping? If you were able to expand on the enjoyable parts of your job, would that be enough to make you stay? Or would you need to eliminate the down sides in order to stay?

3. What is the likelihood this job will improve? Now that you have a sense of which changes would keep you on board, it’s time to ask: Will they happen? If you ascertain that the situation really could be improved, there’s another track of questions to explore, ranging from “Who can make this happen?” to “How do I bring this up?”

4. What would be my timeline for leaving? When you’re leaning toward leaving, the timeline is part of your decision process. For example, the timing might be linked to personal finances, a work project you want to complete (or avoid), or even a bonus cycle. Once you’ve identified how long you’re willing to stay, you’ll be better able to set your plans.

5. Is there anything more to be gained from this job? If you’ve decided to stay for a few months or even a year, you may still be able to reap some rewards from the job. For example, cross training and attending conferences are two good ways to expand your network and skills while also fulfilling your work duties.

6. What would I do after this job? This is a tricky question. If asked with too much attitude, it sounds defeating, as if there’s not likely to be anything out there for you. The best way to answer this question is with actual information and not assumptions. If you have the resources, you could consider leaving without another job in hand, just to break free. But otherwise, you might need to plan for a new position as part of your decision-making.

7. What is my plan to make the next thing happen? Perhaps you’ve decided you want another job lined up before you leave this one. Fair enough. So, what is your plan for making and distributing your resume, for networking with prospective employers, or for otherwise conducting a search?

8. What resources can I rely on if the plan doesn’t work? What if you’ve been waiting months for another offer? It would be good to have a Plan B for this circumstance. Perhaps that would include using savings or living with someone so you can quit and then job search full-time. Or perhaps the resources would include working for a friend so you can still meet expenses if you leave your job without a new one in the wings.

9. How do I plan to leave? Will you put in two weeks’ notice and slide out the door quietly? Perhaps you have clients or team members you’ll want to see before the big day. Planning the actual departure can help you feel more comfortable with the decision while it’s still in theoretical stage.

10. Am I ready now, just in case? This is harsh, but sometimes your hand gets tipped while you’re busy making exit plans. When that happens, it’s not uncommon to be shown the door or, less dramatically, to be made into a lame duck. If you had to leave sooner than planned, would that be okay?

11. What’s my first step – and when will I take it? This is perhaps the most critical question of all. Even if you can’t answer the other questions, if your first step is to take a workshop, read a book or talk with a colleague, you’ll be able to work your way through the other questions in due time.