* I've quit many jobs I hated and many of those were for the wrong reasons
* I've not quit two jobs for some of the reasons I list below and I think it was the right thing for my career
Now that we got that over with, here are 5 reasons why you should not quit a job you hate:
1. It's a means to an end.
I once quit a job I hated 2 months before my contract there was up. (Long story, it wasn't a contract job but I was hired for a certain period of time.) At the time, I thought I could not take it any more and another opportunity came along. But I lost a lot by not waiting an extra 2 months: My bonus, but more importantly, a great relationship with this particular firm. My career turned out fine and I ended up going in a different direction all together, but if I'd wanted to stay in that field, I would have had a harder time getting a great job at another company.
A job is a way to make a living but it's also often a means to an end. Sometimes you have to pay your dues for a while before moving on to a different position, one which you will like more. You might have to work for a company where the culture is hideous but one that has great reputation, which will help you with other jobs in the future. You might be learning a great deal. Think about this before you quit.
2. It pays well and you need to save up money.
One of the most boring and annoying jobs I've ever had paid more than I've ever made since. I knew soon into it that I didn't like it and there were days when I was ready to run my boss over with my car and drive away. But we needed the money and we were able to save a ton while I worked there. So I stuck it out for an extra year and we got enough savings to start a publishing company and pay for our wedding.
I am all for finding a job you love and are passionate about (I quit my last job to do just that). But there is nothing wrong with being practical and realizing that you might need to stick it out at a place you hate because you're saving up.
3. Other things in your life are in flux.
The last time I quit a job we also moved to a different city at the same time. Let me tell you, bad idea. I almost lost my mind. (Well, my husband claimed that I DID lose my mind, but what does he know?) Lesson learned -- not the smartest move to quit a job while other major things are in flux in my life. I know I could have sequenced this career move differently and I should have. If you have a lot going on outside of work, it might be a bad time to quit and look for something new.
4. You're not prepared to look for another great job.
Finding a job takes energy and time. If you don't have enough of either and you can't realistically make time or find energy, then it's not a good time to look for work. I was having a very hard time at work when my daughter was born. But I knew that I'd be a horrible interview candidate after staying up all night with a four-month-old. This was not a good time to look for work so I stuck it out at a job I really disliked.
Don't quit a job you hate to JUST make a change. You need to work hard to find a new job you like better and you should make sure that you have physical and mental energy to do it.
5. You don't really hate the job.
You're wondering if I made up this reason because I ran out of others. I didn't. Before you quit a job you hate you have to make sure that you hate it and get very specific about what you hate about it. Do you hate what you do? If yes, is there a way to change what you do, by say, moving to a different role or a different department? Do you hate your boss? If yes, how long-term is this? (E.g. What are the chances your boss will move on, be fired or promoted?) Do you hate who you work with? Colleagues can get annoying and a poisonous work environment is bad for you, but is there anything you can do, like working with a different team or talking to HR about moving departments?
Make sure that what you hate is something that can't change before you quit.
Have you quit a job you hated or stuck one out? Do you think you made the right choice? Do you regret your decision to do either? Sound off and share your experiences and thoughts about this topic.