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12 Top Reasons for Leaving a Job
From wanting better pay to seeking professional growth, explore good reasons for leaving a job and learn how to navigate your job search if you decide it’s time to move on.
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It’s very common to think about leaving your job, but making the choice can be a struggle. The potential impact on your career and your personal life can weigh you down with confusing thoughts and feelings. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to reflect on why you might make the change.
Exploring your reasons for leaving a job can provide valuable clarity that empowers you to make a well-thought-out change instead of staying in a job you’re dissatisfied with or making a rash decision you later regret.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through good reasons to leave your job, how to prepare for a successful job search, and how to answer interview questions about why you left. That way, if you do decide it’s time to leave your job, you can make a strategic exit.
What Are Good Reasons for Leaving a Job? 12 Signs It Might Be Time to Leave
If you feel like it’s time to move on but are struggling to decide, you’re not alone.
Here are 12 good reasons to leave a job that might resonate with you and help you determine your next steps:
1 Career Development
One of the most compelling reasons to leave a job is the need for professional growth. You may feel stunted in your current role, unchallenged with no clear path forward. Additionally, if you’re unable to develop and use new skills at your current job, you might feel like you’re falling behind your peers and putting your future at risk.
When your company isn’t investing in your growth, it’s a sign that you may need to fulfill your career potential elsewhere.
2 Career Change
What if you don’t like your current career path? It’s quite possible your interests or goals have changed over time and no longer align with where your current job will take you. This is especially true if you are looking to jump to a completely different field, such as transitioning from white-collar office work to high-paying trade jobs.
When you want to pursue an entirely new career, it’s very reasonable to leave your job.
3 Financial Compensation
When your current job doesn’t meet your financial needs and goals or your compensation doesn’t fairly reflect your value as a worker, you may feel disgruntled.
Barring a promotion or a raise, your best option may be to look for work elsewhere, especially since finding a new job with better compensation can lead to a significant improvement in your quality of life, financial security, and overall job satisfaction.
4 Life Changes
Sometimes, life forces your hand. Whether you’re relocating for your spouse’s job, having a child, going back to school, dealing with an illness, or caring for a family member, your personal obligations may override your professional ones.
Significant life changes may require you to leave your job and seek opportunities more accommodating to your unique circumstances.
5 Work-Life Balance
You might consider leaving if your work is negatively affecting your personal life. Constant stress, long overtime shifts, or receiving business calls during off-hours are a few of the many issues that might drive you away.
You deserve to find a job that provides a healthy work-life balance, which is essential to your long-term well-being and your overall job satisfaction.
6 Location
Where you work can also make a big difference in your job satisfaction and shouldn’t be ignored. If your work environment doesn’t align with your preferred work style, it may be time to leave.
For instance, if you’re stuck in an office but would prefer to work from home or travel as a digital nomad, a remote job is likely a better fit for you. If you already work remotely but miss the collaboration and social interaction that comes with an office setting, you might consider returning to the office full-time or pursuing hybrid jobs that allow you to split your time between at-home and in-office work.
7 Scheduling
A job that’s a good fit for you should accommodate your preferred working schedule. Personal commitments, such as childcare, or a preference for a different working style, like freelancing, can be a strong factor in leaving a job or not.
The ability to work part-time, for example, is a top priority for many workers, from new parents and caregivers to full-time students balancing a busy course load, because it provides the flexibility to fit your life around your work, not the other way around.
8 Restructuring
Restructuring, layoffs, and management changes can create an environment of uncertainty and instability. Constant personnel changes can generate a sense of unease and a lack of trust, which can negatively impact your desire to stay at a job.
If the changes threaten your role’s stability and security, or if you’re laid off, you’re presented with a viable reason to leave, even if not by choice.
9 Company Culture
Whether it’s specific company policies or a general vibe among employees, if you don’t feel like you belong, you might start thinking about leaving your job.
For example, if you value flexibility and collaboration, but your current company is very rigid and teams feel siloed, you may encounter a lot of unfortunate and unnecessary stress. The misalignment between what you want and what your employer expects becomes a driving wedge that can eventually push you away.
10 Leadership
Feeling a lack of support, trust, or respect from your manager or executive leadership can be a significant reason to look for better options. A good manager can be a mentor and advocate, leading to greater job satisfaction, while a poor one can make even the most rewarding job unbearable.
You’ve likely heard the saying, “People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.” That’s because poor leadership is one of the most common reasons for leaving a job.
11 A Better Opportunity Elsewhere
Sometimes, the best reason to leave a job is simple: You’ve found a better opportunity.
Whether you found a new job through your network or you applied for your dream job on a whim, if you feel the new opportunity is an improvement, having it already lined up is a very practical and strategic reason for leaving your current role.
12 Burnout
Burnout can be caused by extended periods of stress, being overworked, or a lack of respect and clear communication from managers and coworkers. You may no longer feel a sense of purpose in your job or enthusiastic about your daily tasks, and the work that once excited you now feels like a chore.
Recognizing signs of burnout and taking action to find a healthier work environment isn’t just a good reason to leave a job; it’s a proactive and responsible step in the interest of your well-being.
How to Prepare for a Job Search and Leave Your Current Job on Good Terms
Once you’ve decided to leave, your next step is to prepare a strategic job search.
Keep in mind that this process isn’t just about finding a job for the sake of finding a job; it’s about determining how to set yourself up for success by searching for a more fulfilling job that’s right for you. After all, if you don’t search strategically, you could end up in another poor fit and find yourself back on the job hunt sooner vs later.
Define Your Personal and Professional Goals
Start by asking yourself what you need and want from your next job. Start with the basics, such as identifying roles you’re interested in, clarifying your qualifications, establishing a desired salary, and determining what schedule and job type (full-time or part-time, freelance, etc.) fit your lifestyle.
Your reasons for leaving can also help you clarify your priorities. Whether you’re seeking a role with professional development opportunities, more flexible scheduling, or a healthier work environment, clear goals make it easier to find a better-fitting job.
Pro Tip
If you’re looking to advance in your career, but your current skills limit your options, start upskilling to improve your application.
Leverage Modern Job Search Tools
Today’s job market offers a variety of modern resources to support a successful job search, allowing you to more efficiently find a job that matches your goals.
Take advantage of virtual networking events, such as job fairs, that offer the chance to make new connections with employers and industry professionals. You can explore different career paths and meet people who could potentially offer job leads.
Use tailored job boards, such as industry-specific and remote job boards, to save time in narrowing down the right opportunities for you. Niche job boards allow you to filter your search results according to your preferences, such as your desired salary, location, and schedule. You can also use auto-apply job search tools to search for and apply for jobs on your behalf.
Pro Tip
Simplify your search with an AI job search tool like Sonara, which can quickly find and apply to open positions for you with the click of a button.
Update and Tailor Your Application Materials
Once you’ve found a job you’d like to apply for, update your application materials to accurately reflect your qualifications.
Your resume should be a concise representation of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Your cover letter should expand on your resume and your most relevant qualifications to solidify you as the best candidate for the position.
Creating a personal website or portfolio can also be a strong supplement to your application and help you stand out among your competition, especially if you’re in a creative field, you’re a freelancer, or you have work samples you’d like to share.
Pro Tip
Review the job description and tailor your resume and your cover letter to align with it. Use the same keywords and speak directly to the employer’s needs to increase your chances of getting your application through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and into the hiring manager’s hands.
Remain Professional at Your Current Job
Even as you search for a new job, be discreet about it and stay focused on your current tasks so that you (and your coworkers) aren’t distracted by your impending departure.
It’s essential to remain professional, especially if you hope to use your current coworkers or supervisors as future references. If you continue to be a valuable member of the team until your last day and leave on good terms, you’ll avoid burning bridges and keep your professional reputation intact.
Pro Tip
Once you’ve accepted a new job and you’re ready to share the news with your team, offer to help smooth the transition. Make your departure as easy as possible for your team to keep the possibility of a future reference open.
How to Answer Interview Questions About Why You Left
As you begin searching for new jobs, you’ll likely be asked why you left, or plan to leave, your current job. Knowing your reasons and using the following tips and examples to explain them can help you make a strong impression that makes you more hireable.
- Keep your answers concise and clear. Going too in-depth may cause you to give a confusing or inappropriate answer, while a short and simple response satisfies the question and keeps the interview moving along.
- Frame your experience positively. Focusing on how your past experiences add value to your qualifications highlights your ambition and growth without sounding like you’re avoiding accountability or complaining about your previous employer.
- Focus on the future. Use your past work experience as a jumping-off point to express your excitement to start a new opportunity. Keep the conversation aimed toward what you can do and how you can contribute to the team.
- Maintain your professionalism. You can’t outright ignore the question, so avoid being too personal or subjective. Instead, rely on facts that clearly explain why you left your last position without badmouthing your former coworkers or manager.
- Show self-awareness. Demonstrating that you’ve reflected on your reasons for leaving and are seeking a better fit reassures the interviewer that you’re a thoughtful and intentional employee. It shows that you’re not just looking for any job but a role where you can truly thrive.
Here are examples of how to effectively answer, “Why did you leave your last job?”
Good Example
- “While I gained valuable experience in my previous role, I realized my professional goals no longer aligned with my manager’s expectations for my growth. I’m now looking for an opportunity where I can take on more project ownership and develop new skills in [mention a relevant skill].”
Bad Example
- “My manager was terrible, and we just didn’t get along. I couldn’t stand working with them anymore.”
Good Example
- “I’ve always been passionate about my work, but I realized that my previous role’s pace and scope didn’t offer the type of opportunity that consistently energizes me. I’m now seeking a new position that offers a better work-life balance, allowing me to be more focused and productive long-term.”
Bad Example
- “I just stopped caring about my job and was completely burned out. I was so exhausted I could barely get out of bed in the morning.”
Good Example
- “Unfortunately, due to a company-wide restructuring, my position was eliminated. It was a difficult decision for the company, but I’m proud of the work I accomplished there, especially [mention a key achievement]. This experience has allowed me to reassess my career goals, and I’m now eager to find a new role where I can apply my skills.”
Bad Example
- “I was fired because my company cared more about money than me. They just laid off all of the employees in my department for no reason.”
Good Example
- “I’ve been passionate about [new field] for some time and have been actively taking courses and working on personal projects to build my skills. I’m eager to leverage my new and transferable skills in a new role that aligns with my long-term career vision.”
Bad Example
- “I hated my old job and want to do something completely different. It was so boring, and there were a bunch of people I couldn’t get along with. It also seemed like I was being left out of the loop, and no one ever talked to me. So, I figured I should look into something new and exciting, with nicer people and better benefits.”
Do What’s Best for You
Understanding your reasons for leaving a job requires self-reflection. Weighing your current concerns against the potential of a new opportunity can help you gain clarity, determine whether or not you need to make a change, and ensure you make a sustainable decision that nurtures your career goals both now and in the future.
If you’ve reflected on your situation and have good reasons for leaving, don’t be afraid to take the leap. Only you can decide what’s best for you, and the tips outlined above can help you figure out what to look for in a new opportunity and how to land it.
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