Summary

The article discusses the importance of leaving a job that does not fulfill you, emphasizing that self-care and career satisfaction should take precedence over the misguided notion of not being a "quitter."

Abstract

The author reflects on a conversation with a colleague who expressed deep dissatisfaction with his job but refused to seek new employment, clinging to the belief that perseverance without hope of change is a point of pride. The author argues that this mindset is detrimental, as staying in an unfulfilling job under the guise of loyalty can harm one's mental health and career growth. The article encourages readers to recognize that self-worth and professional fulfillment are paramount and that leaving a job that does not serve these purposes is not an act of quitting on oneself, but rather an act of self-preservation and ambition. It suggests that there are numerous opportunities in the world and that one should not hesitate to pursue them, even if it means leaving a current position.

Opinions

Staying in a job that causes dissatisfaction and does not fulfill you is akin to giving up on yourself.
The belief that companies will reward long tenure with loyalty is outdated; most executives view employees as replaceable.
The notion of not being a "quitter" can be a misguided justification for enduring a job that is harmful to one's well-being.
There is a multitude of opportunities to make a living, and one should not feel trapped in a job they hate.
Leaving a job that does not contribute to a fulfilling career is an act of self-respect and should be seen as a positive step towards personal and professional growth.
The employee-employer relationship is not a partnership of equals, and the employer benefits from an employee's suffering in a job they dislike.
The author proudly identifies as a "quitter" in the context of jobs that do not serve their career and well-being, advocating

Quit Your Job, But Never Quit On Yourself

Advice from a self-proclaimed quitter.

There’s something unique about the post-resignation period at work when you’re still gainfully employed but have one foot out the door, isn’t there?

Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience where any semblance of feigned engagement from those around you comes crashing down, and your colleagues are suddenly all too willing to share that they too are dissatisfied and disengaged from their jobs. Surprise! It’s an uncanny brand of camaraderie.

Years ago, I was happily working out my 2 weeks' notice when a colleague let down his guard and shared that he was unhappy in his role. Like, really unhappy. Far more unhappy than I had even suspected. So much so that it had taken a toll on his mental health in a very real way.

And yet, he wasn’t looking for a new job.

“I’ve worked too hard and been here too long to quit now. I’m not a quitter, I don’t quit things. Not that I’m saying you do… it’s just that I don’t,” he said.

If I hadn’t been so excited about my next role, I may have taken offense to that comment, but that’s neither here nor there.

As the conversation went on, I expected to hear some semblance of hope that he felt a change was coming and things would improve. But this person was not under any false pretenses that anything would be changing. He didn’t expect his micro-managing boss to go anywhere, he knew the culture wouldn’t be changing after years of the same old thing, and there was no sign of a promotion on the horizon.

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I kept thinking to myself, “Why on earth would he stick this out without any hope of ever finding a job somewhere else that actually fulfilled him?”

Don’t get me wrong — we all have bad days. We all go through times when we don’t love our jobs but we power through because we know it’ll be worth it for some intrinsic or extrinsic reason. This wasn’t that.

This felt like he was giving up on himself. This guy was marketable, and any number of companies would have been happy to have him on their team. But, he wasn’t even planning to leave that door of possibility open a crack.

And, “for what?” I kept wondering.

Even after a lot of reflection on my part, I never was able to figure out a plausible answer for that, but there are a few things that I do know.

I know that staying in a job that doesn’t fulfill you under the self-righteous banner of “I’m not a quitter” might make you feel good, but who loses in that scenario? You do.

I know that pledging your allegiance to a company at the expense of your mental health might feel like a noble sacrifice, but the belief that most of these big corporations care about you or your career is archaic.

I know that years of hard-fought tenure might feel like a demonstration of loyalty worthy of reward, but most executives will still only see you as a replaceable cog in their money machine.

As an HR professional, I have had a front-row seat to many a resignation and, let me assure you, in the eye of a weathered executive, everyone is replaceable.

I’m here to say that I am a proud quitter.

Because staying in a job or at a company that no longer serves me and my right to build a fulfilling career is quitting on the one thing that matters most — myself.

I once interviewed with a startup whose founder gave me some great advice. “There are a million ways to make money in this world. So whether you come work for us or not, if you hate your job — get the hell out.”

So, I’ll give you that same advice.

If you hate your job — get the hell out.

Because there’s only one side of the employee-employer relationship that benefits from you suffering through a gig you can’t stand, and it ain’t you.

There are bigger and better things out there in this world.

Be a quitter, and go find them.

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