Checking out: 6 factors can help settle internal clash over potential job exit

Considering a job change? Before finishing up that letter of resignation, here are a few factors to consider:

Money: If you’re happy with your salary, you probably overlook the other things about your job that aren’t exactly setting your world on fire. However, if you feel like you deserve more money for the work you do, it’s certainly worth your time and effort to check out other opportunities.

Relationships: If you work with people you don’t like, it can be hard to go to the office each day — even if that office is your spare bedroom. If you can separate your feelings for your co-workers from the work you must get done together, you can probably stick around, knowing that you can put your personal interests above your social well-being. But if you’re working with others you find offensive, lazy, cruel, incompetent, vindictive or just plain stupid, that’s a problem.

Commute: You may or may not be working from home when life gets back to normal so it’s important to consider your commute. Whether you have a long walk to the train each day or sit in traffic for an unreasonable amount of time, your commute has a lot to do with your morning psyche when you get to the office and your mood when you return home. If you find yourself unnecessarily stressed out because of your commute, it’s not a bad idea to look around for a new place to work.

Bad boss: If you don’t like your manager, it’s important to determine why. Once you determine that, it’s easier to make a decision on whether you should stay or go. Of course, abusive behavior should never be tolerated and should be reported to your HR department.

Benefits: If your company offers benefits that don’t necessarily appeal to you, there are companies out there who have gone above and beyond creating perks and benefits to not only attract new employees but to also reward those who stay. Help pay off student loans? Want to bring your dog to work? Then it’s worth looking around.

The work: Are you at least interested in what you’re working on or have you become so jaded with the job that you no longer care? If you fall into the latter category, you might want to consider not only a job change but also a career change. The do-what-you-love movement is probably overstated and unrealistic but at the very least, you should do what you like.