Professional Edge Podcast
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Quitting On A Whim

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Quitting on a whim can be a big mistake

Written by Susan Morem, author of 101 Tips for Graduates, How to Gain the Professional Edge, Second Edition, and How to Get a Job and Keep It

We all have good days and bad days, and days we struggle to get through. Most of us endure the bad and relish the good, but for some, it takes only one bad thing to happen for them to say “Enough--I’m out of here!” In the heat of the moment, quitting may seem like the key to survival, however, there are other options to consider. Quitting on a whim can be a mistake.

1. When you quit on a whim you are responding to emotion, not logic. Perhaps your boss made a demeaning comment; maybe someone else got the promotion you wanted--or you might be upset because you were reprimanded for something you didn’t do. You are justified in being upset and you should react to your emotion, but you shouldn’t allow your emotions to replace reason.
2. When you quit on a whim, you create an uncertain future for yourself. You’ve had it, so you quit. You tell yourself you are glad to be out of there, and you may feel relieved at first, but before you quit think about how you will feel the next day, week, or month when you are sitting home without a job and without a paycheck. Unless you have a back up plan and know what you will do if you quit and how you will survive financially, you may be better off staying until you can be more certain about your future.
3. When you quit on a whim, you lose valuable contacts. You might have walked out to prove a point to someone who irked you or in response to something that occurred, but when you walk out that door, you’re walking out on everyone else whether you intend to or not. The friends and coworkers you left behind are still a part of the organization you ditched. Once you leave you will become the outsider, and although you might be able to retain a few contacts, you’ll bound to lose more than you gain. And you’d better start thinking about what you will tell perspective employers when they ask why (or how) you left. 
4. When you quit on a whim, you lose your dignity. When your anger and emotion replace your self control, you lose more than you gain. You lose your self respect and the respect of others.
5. When you quit on a whim, you give up the chance of working things out. Problems are inevitable; you can run away from your problems or face them and resolve them. Do you want to be known as a quitter or someone who easily gives up? Because when you quit on a whim, that’s how you will be remembered.
6. When you quit on a whim, you are not giving yourself the time you need to make such an important decision. You need time to think; you might need time away, so take the time you need to make the decision that is best for you. When you give yourself time to think through what has happened and how to respond, you will arrive at a well thought out solution with less chance for regret.
7. When you quit on a whim, you only hurt yourself. You may think you are hurting your organization or the person(s) you are upset with, but you are only hurting yourself. Everyone else will still have a job to go to and will be together as they wonder what on earth happened to you! You will be alone, you will be the outcast, and you will be with out a job. The suffering you inflict on yourself will be far greater than any suffering you inflict on others.

If something happens and you’re feeling as if the only thing to do is to quit, take a time out. Quitting may be tempting, but before you walk out that door think about the long term effects your actions will have.

Address problems when they arise, speak up when you feel you’ve been wronged, and strive to resolve problems. But before you quit, think twice because it quitting on a whim can be a big mistake. 

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