Knowing When It’s Time to Leave Your Job—Tips from an Old Timer

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I heard a lot of complaining about jobs: “I always get the crappy assignment; last week my boss told me I need to get better at excel; I’m never going to be promoted; I don’t really ‘get’ the business model; the CEO is an egomaniac;  my co-workers are OK but they don’t have my back”….the printer never works, the internet is slow, it’s hard to find parking, traffic sucks, etc, etc, etc….

Knowing When It’s Time

 So, how do you know when it’s time to leave a job—“to move on, shove off, let it go, say good bye?”  How do you know it’s not just a bad phase that will pass? Perhaps, you think to yourself, this crappy period will pass and your productivity will increase, or sales will go up, or your horrible boss will move to another unit or somehow, you’ll find more joy tomorrow.

I’ve had a number of jobs in my life. I’ve had four really good jobs, I’ve quit at least 5 others and I’ve been fired twice. I’ve worked as a front line nurse, I’ve worked at Club Med, I’ve worked for a corporation, I’ve worked for myself, I’ve worked  as a consultant, I’ve worked as a lecturer, I’ve worked as a camp nurse and as a mountain medic.  So I know a thing or two about jobs, careers and callings.

My Definition of a “Good Job”

The first job I had was in New York, working with sick kids. Some had cancer, some had chronic conditions like sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and some had orthopedic problems which needed surgery. It was at this job that I learned about diseases and taking care of patients who just got out of surgery.

But more importantly, I learned how to talk with patients and family members in an authentic, intimate way. The work mattered—tangibly and measurably; I could reduce someone’s pain, I could alleviate concern and worry, I could arrange home care, I could intervene on a mother’s behalf to get questions answered. And I found real value from knowing my small efforts and singular job duties added up to make a young patient feel heard, or a parent feel less worried.

I took some hits in that job; I learned things like, not all co-workers have your back and, not all doctors and nurses are created equally and, even if you are doing great work, hospital administrators will still cut your hours to save money. It was a good job, I made a difference and I liked it a lot.

My favorite job of all was when I worked as a camp nurse taking care of 100 adults and 300 kids for an entire summer.  I did this job for 5 summers. I learned to take care of and treat  bee stings, nightmares, lice, menstrual cramps, “dining hall gastritis,” cuts and scrapes, wound infections, chicken pox, sore throats, blisters, sunburns, dehydration, asthma,  falls from climbing walls and more. I learned to council home sick kids and heartbroken counselors. I learned to keep secrets and create a safe and trusting infirmary so that adults and campers alike felt confident they could come to me with their concerns, troubles and ailments.  I listened, I treated, I helped.  I was a key part of that community. That was a great job.

My Definition of a “Bad Fit”

A job that didn’t go so well was a job that was a lot more administrative and policy oriented. I thought it would be a good job and a good career move—you know, a place big enough to move up, benefits, security. But for me I found the work vague, I felt invisible and not “seen” as a person who had unique skills and perspectives. People around me seemed to lack a clear reason or purpose for being there other than to have a career that would keep them going for 20 years. I didn’t fit in and it showed. That was a fine job for someone, just not me.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a job that pays the bills, and advances a career over years. There is nothing wrong with promotions and good titles.  I just think that there can be more.  There should be significance, meaning, and a clear sense of professional contribution to something that matters.

A “Job” versus  a “Calling”

Once these attributes gets layered into a job, that’s the minute it transforms from a job into a calling. For me, I’ve got to see the link between my efforts and improving patient care and patient lives, however remote that link is. When I do that, I’m living my core values and my work is not work, it is my calling.

Do you have a calling or a job? Is it time to leave your job to get a calling? I suggest taking this quiz. If you score 10 or less, consider a change.

Take The Quiz

Quick Quiz: scale from 1-3. 1=no and 3=yes

1.      You have more good days than bad

2.      You laugh at least once a day with a colleague

3.      You feel proud about one contribution every day

4.      You feel like you make a positive impact to someone or something else

5.      You feel respected by co-workers most days

6.      You feel you have the right skills most days

7.      You feel like you belong most days

Bringing a focused attitude with a clear set of personal values to our work is important—it helps us create more meaning and joy in our lives.  Just like a baker enjoys baking and a singer enjoys singing, we must guard our core values and make sure we bring them to work with us every day.

About the author: Recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" in Health Care in 2015, author Julie Kliger is passionate about improving health care. She is a consultant, author and speaker. She specializes in healthcare quality, organizational change and improvement.