anglumea.com - A new year is not only marked by resolutions. Many people also take time to evaluate various aspects of their lives, including their careers. This moment is often seen as the most appropriate time to make major decisions about work.
Should you continue working where you are, or should you leave? This is never an easy decision because it directly affects your livelihood. However, if the thought of quitting has crossed your mind, it usually means there is a trigger behind it.
That said, you should not act in haste. A wrong decision can threaten your own stability as well as that of your family. Since it is still early in the year, you have time to reflect on the answers to the career evaluation questions below. If the results show that there are no serious issues, do not be reckless by leaving your job.
1. Are you generally satisfied with this job?
Why should job satisfaction be assessed only in general terms? Because if you examine it in too much detail, there will always be things that make you feel dissatisfied. For example, your boss may be unfriendly, you only get one day off per week, or you are expected to be reachable twenty four hours a day.
However, on a broader level, this job may still provide you with a fairly high level of satisfaction. One clear indicator is that you feel proud when telling others about your work. You may even have held several different jobs in the past.
In conclusion, your current job may not fully meet your expectations. Even so, it may still be better than your previous jobs. A slight sense of discomfort should not make you forget the overall satisfaction this job gives you.
This is similar to being in a relationship. Minor flaws that are not critical do not necessarily justify ending it. Letting go of something that is already quite good in pursuit of something better can sometimes lead only to regret.
2. How about your income and benefits?
This aspect is extremely important because it is directly related to your daily needs. If your income is good, not only primary and secondary needs can be met. Even tertiary needs, such as luxury items, may become affordable.
Likewise, traveling abroad would no longer be a mere daydream. At the very least, your salary does not force you to calculate every expense carefully just to survive until the end of the month. You still have some financial breathing room.
Beyond income, benefits also deserve serious consideration. These may include a company vehicle or a laptop, which are not always provided by other companies for the same position. Some workplaces even offer home loan assistance, educational support for children, enhanced health insurance coverage, funding for graduate studies, and more. It would be unfortunate to leave a job that offers both good pay and satisfying benefits.
3. Are there aspects of the job that conflict with your conscience?
Even if your answers to the first two questions are positive, your unease may be triggered by this third issue. This concerns conflicts between certain job requirements and your inner moral compass. This should never be taken lightly because it often involves ethical standards.
For example, the industry your company operates in may be perfectly legitimate. However, you may frequently be pressured to secure projects by any means necessary, including unethical practices such as bribery or slandering competitors.
At first, you may comply simply because you are following orders. Over time, however, this can place a heavy burden on your mental well being. A deep sense of guilt may arise. If the problem lies here and it is impossible for you to change the system, it may be wise to start preparing for a job change.
4. Do you feel that you are growing, or are you actually regressing?
Measuring your personal growth while working at a company is also essential. This helps prevent you from making a rash decision to resign. A different workplace does not automatically guarantee better opportunities for development.
Compare who you were before joining the company with who you are now. If you see many positive changes in your skills, professional demeanor, appearance, network, and even a gradual rise in position, you should think carefully before leaving. Quitting your job may not be the right choice.
Even if conflicts exist between you and your colleagues, such issues should not be allowed to halt your growth. Instead, you should strive to move forward so that your authority increases. When that happens, those who are in conflict with you will naturally become more cautious.
5. If you resign, do you have another promising job waiting?
It is not enough to simply think about whether you should quit now or stay for another year. Unless someone else is supporting you financially, you have no choice but to work. The real question is whether there is another job that is truly promising.
In this context, promising means two things. First, the job offers better financial well being than your current position. Second, your chances of being accepted there are high, or you may even be warmly welcomed.
Without another promising opportunity, leaving your current job is equivalent to self destruction. Avoid excessive self confidence in assuming that you will easily find another job. Even with extensive experience, securing a position that is better, or even just as good, is far from guaranteed.
The answers to these career evaluation questions may not come instantly. They require careful reflection to avoid costly mistakes. Building a career can be exhausting at times. However, resigning prematurely and then facing a long period of unemployment can be far worse.
Conclusion
Career decisions are rarely simple, especially when they involve financial stability, personal values, and long term growth. Through honest reflection on satisfaction, income, ethics, development, and future opportunities, you can gain a clearer picture of your true position. Taking time to think deeply is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom. A career may feel heavy at times, yet patience and careful judgment can protect you from decisions that bring regret rather than progress.
