Remember that moment when the HR Manager announced, “You’re hired. Congratulations! Welcome to the company.” Happiness and excitement surge through your body. It was such a glorious instant and you feel so elated. Silently, you vowed to be good at this job. Fabulous is what it would be, as far as you’re concerned. You know for sure that you’ll love working in this place.
Fast forward to a year or two, can you honestly say that you still love your job a hundred percent? That you still feel the same as that moment you got hired? That you didn’t, in any way, question that this is the career for you? Is it still as glamorous as it first seemed?
Most young professionals face a crossroad in their career when they start experiencing a love-hate relationship with their jobs. That constant struggle of trying to figure out whether to stay or quit. Seriously, how does one know when it’s time to leave?
STEP 1: SORT IT OUT
Sort your feelings out. Weigh the pros and cons of staying in your current job. Be objective about it. A bad and stressful day at work is not enough reason for quitting. But if your bad days are slowly turning into bad weeks and months, then you better start thinking. Ask yourself, why are you still there? What are the things that keeping you? Or who? Then ask yourself, is it really worth it?
STEP 2: PRAY
Talk to God about it. Tell Him how you feel. Ask Him what you need to do. Seek His will. I’m a hundred percent sure that He will reveal it to you. Just be keen on discerning things. If there’s somebody who knows what’s best for you, it’s Him. So might as well, consult Him.
STEP 3: GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
You may ask, what about having to persevere and press on? Maybe things will change if I try harder? It may be true, but it’s a case to case basis. If you’re “persevering” for like, forever, wake up. It’s not going to change. You might not know it but your job, no matter how bad and unfulfilling it became, has become your comfort zone. And the “change” you want cannot be found there.
STEP 4: PLAN YOUR NEXT MOVE
Whether it is to stay or leave, it’s essential that you have a course of action. If you plan on staying, have the intention to do better at work. Intend to love your job, colleagues and employer. Make it an effort to shun the negativity and move forward. On the other hand, if you plan to leave, figure out whether you’ll seek a new employment immediately or de-stress a little and go on a vacation. Make sure you have the means to do any of those. Be practical. Save up. A fair amount of cash is enougn to help you jumpstart this new chapter of your life. Most importantly, exit with grace. Leave with your ties still intact with the friends you have made, yet settle your misunderstandings with other co-workers as well.
In the end, it’s all about following your heart. It may be scary, but think of it more as exciting. A little bit of anxiety is normal, but amidst that is that overwhelming peace, because you now you did the right thing. Not for anyone else, but for you.
Of Colors and Words 