How to improve your workday without quitting your job — and how to know when it's time to leave
- It can be tempting to quit when you're miserable at work. But simple changes can improve your job.
- Sometimes your job really isn't a fit, and it helps to know how to cautiously make a career change.
Millions of workers have left their jobs in what some economists call the Great Resignation. And when you hate your job, it's tempting to do the same.
But quitting isn't always feasible, especially with the threat of a recession and a cooling labor market in the US. Many of us have bills to pay and families to support; some of us have a low risk tolerance or know our current job will create future career opportunities. That's when it helps to make simple, straightforward changes to improve your workday.
The stories below outline some of these strategies, such as telling your boss about the kinds of projects you'd prefer or shifting your mindset to focus on the skills you're gaining, even in an unfulfilling role.
Then again, sometimes quitting is the best option, which is why we've also featured frameworks from influential leaders to help you decide whether to leave.
If you're interested in learning more about reshaping your work life, watch a recording of Insider's event featuring Al Dea, the founder of Betterwork Labs; Ebony Flake, Insider's C-suite reporter; and Shana Lebowitz Gaynor, an Insider correspondent who recently published "Don't Call It Quits: Turn the Job You Have Into the Job You Love."
If you hate your job but don't have the energy to fix it ...
It can be frustrating to watch friends and colleagues ditching their day jobs to pursue a passion project or craft a lifestyle that suits them better. But it's hard to overhaul your life and career when you're supporting a family or when there aren't many openings in your desired industry. After all, engineering a career change can feel like a job of its own — and you may not have the bandwidth for a second job right now.
In that case, it can be heartening to know that there are plenty of relatively simple ways to improve your work experience. Often the first step is to identify what exactly about your job is making you miserable and whether there are any aspects of your work you enjoy or appreciate. From there, see if you can take one step every day to address one of the work experiences you dislike.
Read more:
A few small changes can make you happier at a job you don't like, experts say
Hulu's HR chief shares the simple task you should do when you realize you hate your job
If you like your company but dislike your role ...
Tech companies have long embraced internal mobility — HR-speak for changing roles or teams within your organization. Over the past few years the trend has grown in other industries. And during the pandemic, many employers facing labor shortages tapped workers to assume new opportunities and help them meet critical business needs.
Which is all to say: If you're a high performer who wants to try something new, your company might be open to your pitch.
Read more:
Don't quit your job. Take these 2 steps to get more money or a new boss instead.
If you can't remember why you took this job in the first place ...
On any given workday, it can be hard to zoom out and remember what initially drew you to this position. Maybe you identified with your organization's values or were impressed by its ambitious mission. So take a few minutes — even just once in a while — to think about why you're really here and what big goals your specific job tasks are helping the company achieve.
If you've found that your organization's values don't align with yours or that the company isn't a great place to work, consider putting your head back down and focusing on your own career. In other words, think about how your work will help you get your next job, the one you really want.
Read more:
Microsoft's HR chief says to take these 2 steps when you feel stuck in your job
If you're not sure whether this job is a fit anymore ...
The pandemic prompted professionals around the world to rethink their approach to work. Many realized they wanted to spend less time on their jobs; others decided they wanted to pursue something more impactful.
If you're considering doing something similar, you'll want to take stock of both the practicalities and your overall career vision. Below, executives who've made big career transitions shared the exercises that helped them decide to move on.
Read more:
If you're teetering on the brink of a career transition ...
If you've chosen to leave your job, it's important to know which challenges you might face and what you'll do if your plan doesn't work out. Sometimes that means identifying how you'll make the most of your job before leaving or even planning how you'll respond if your company tries to lure you back with a promotion. You won't be able to prepare for every obstacle, but having a realistic mindset helps.
Read more:
How a former Y Combinator partner decided to drop out of law school