Many people baulk at the idea of quitting their job. The uncertainty and loss of income is daunting – but leaving your position could be healthy for your career in the long run.

If you’re not being challenged, if you don’t enjoy your work, or if you have a dream job you wish you were doing, it could be time to hand in your resignation.

Here are the reasons why you should quit your job.

The company’s struggling

In the current economic climate, it’s not unheard of for companies to close. If you suspect the business is in trouble, start planning your next move. Watch for the tell-tale signals that a company might be about to fold – sudden changes in the office atmosphere, shrinking profits, client losses and redundancies can all indicate serious problems.

You might feel a sense of loyalty to the company, particularly if you’ve worked for them for a long time – but that won’t help you when you suddenly find yourself unemployed. Looking for other opportunities isn’t disloyal, it’s sensible – if the company is in trouble, your bosses will be doing the same.

Don’t bury your head in the sand until it’s too late. Losing your job isn’t the end of the world, and it could provide you with a golden opportunity to get on board with something even better than your old position.

You’re miserable

This is a massive cliché, but it’s true. You’ve only got one chance at life – why would you waste it doing a job that you hate? You’ll regret not following new opportunities later on.

You might not have even realised that your job is making you miserable. Ask yourself these questions – Does the thought of Monday morning fill you with dread? Do the hours in the office drag by slowly? Have you contemplated calling in sick for no other reason than you’re feeling low? If the answers are yes, it’s time to look for a new position.

Doing a job you love will be beneficial to your career. The most successful people in business are those who enjoy what they do – they tend to be far more productive than those who hate their jobs.

You’ve hit a dead end

The dead-end job is a common phenomenon, especially in small businesses. Often there is no potential for personal career growth within a company, as there are simply no higher positions available for current employees to move into.

All too often, people don’t realise that they’re in a dead-end job until they’ve spent years in the same position. Although it’s more common in small companies, it can also happen in larger organisations – especially if they tend to recruit from outside, rather than within.

It’s up to you to control your career. No boss is going to tell a valued employee to move on to another company. Keep your eyes open – if there’s no sign of a promotion, gain all you can from your current position, and then move on.

You find your job easy

Promotions go to those who push themselves – not to those who grow complacent. If you could do your job with your eyes closed, and it no longer inspires you, ask for more responsibilities. If your employer says no, quit, and find a job that challenges you.

If you don’t have the necessary skill set for a more difficult position, start studying. Research the skills that higher job positions advertise for, and learn how to do them. You could take a night class, or find a virtual course online.

When you’re ready, start applying for jobs. Potential employers will be impressed with your drive to self-improve and succeed.

You’re prepared

Follow your dreams – but make sure that you’re fully prepared before you do. Unplanned business ventures almost never work, and it takes hard work to make a dream become reality.

If you’ve decided you want to start a business or go freelance, make preparations. You need some degree of financial security in case things go wrong – aim to have at least 3 months’ salary to fall back on. Do this any way you can – take on extra shifts, downgrade your car, cut back on luxuries – put as much money away as possible.

Make sure that you’ve planned out your business strategy, and try to build in a back-up idea. If it’s possible (for example, if you want to go freelance), try and run your new business alongside your job for a little while, just to be sure that it will work.

Quitting a job can seem daunting, especially in today’s economy. However, if you prepare properly, it could boost your career to new heights. Don’t quit without having a plan in place – research your next step, and make sure you have the necessary skills. Save up before you make the leap – you should be able to survive without an income for several months. Finally, be brave – you could find the opportunity of a lifetime.

This article was written by Dan Luxton of www.liftstream.com, a specialist pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life science recruitment company.

Image Credit: weheartit.com