Winners never quit and quitters never win, right? Never quit, right? Quitting is not an option, right?
Wrong. Quitting is good sometimes. Until an opportunity during my sophomore year, I thought that winners never quit, and quitters never win. I never quit. I thought that quitting was never an option.
Per the college experience, my convictions were challenged.
I had applied for a job on campus, and I was really excited about it. I saw it as an opportunity to strengthen my public speaking skills and since the job was career-oriented, establish relationships that would prepare me for post-grad life. The position was structured in a way that didn’t accommodate my working style or personality, but I didn’t know about this incompatibility until I was working for a few weeks.
I began to consider quitting when I noticed how unhappy I was at the job. I noticed that I didn’t enjoy going to work most days and I was unsatisfied by the work I did.
Time for Self-Reflection
Before sharing my experiences with my supervisor, I did some self-reflection. I recommend doing the following if you’re considering quitting.
- I asked myself if I felt the need to quit because I just started the job. Sometimes it takes a few weeks, or even a few months, to become comfortable in a new work environment. It takes time to get to know co-workers. It takes time to understand expectations.
- I asked myself if there were changes I could make. Could I ask for different tasks? Mentally, could I approach assignments differently? Could I ask for a change in hours?
- I asked myself what my workplace values were and I determined if the work environment I was in was compatible with my values. There were values I didn’t knew I had until I noticed that they weren’t present in this particular workplace.
- Finally, I asked myself, “What is it about this job that doesn’t quite fit?”
Give Notice If It’s the Right Move
After considering all of the above, I determined why this position wasn’t compatible for me and I respectfully expressed my thoughts to my boss. I told her early enough so that she and I could meet repeatedly to discuss if I had changed my mind. I also told her early enough so that she could find a replacement/modify the schedule.
If you do decide to quit, it’s crucial that you leave on professional terms. You don’t want to burn bridges when it isn’t necessary.
I learned a lot from this opportunity and I did have memorable moments, but the most important lesson I learned is that quitting is good sometimes. If an opportunity is not an ill-fit for you, and you’re totally unhappy with it, then it probably isn’t healthy for you to hang on to it.
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