When You Know It's Time to Go
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When You Know It's Time to Go

In this series, professionals share all the right — and wrong — ways to leave a job. Follow the stories here, and write your own (please include #IQuit somewhere in the body of your post).

When I left my first job, my boss told me I was making the biggest mistake of my life. I told him that he might be right, but I had to follow my instinct. I didn’t need to argue the point. I was optimistic about my future, and, by leaving, I knew I was taking an active role in improving my life.

People often associate quitting with giving up, but it’s really about understanding when it’s time to go — especially today, when it’s increasingly rare to see someone do the same job for 20 or 30 years. So, how do you know when it’s time to move on? Over the course of my career, there were a number of situations that I’ve found to be pretty universal with others.

If you’re genuinely bored with your work, you should really think about doing something else. Staying on is not fair to the company you’re working for, or to its clients or customers. And it’s certainly not fair to you. This happened to me at my first job. When it started to feel rote and mundane, I knew it wasn’t my future.

If you find your own values are misaligned with the organization, you should definitely leave. I had one job where this happened to me — and as soon as I realized it, I knew I had to quit as quickly as I could. If my values and my ideas of service are compromised, I can’t sleep, so I have to go.

Sometimes, the company and its culture might be great, but you have the bad luck of working for someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Someone, for instance, who is jealous of you, or has low self-esteem and takes that out on you. In my case, I was able to reach out to others in the company, and eventually found a new role working for a different part of the same firm.

Of course, one of the most common — and best — reasons to leave a job is because of an opportunity or challenge somewhere else. For example, some years after I started at Merrill Lynch, I left a job in a local field office — one that I was both good at and comfortable doing — to work in New York on the leadership team. It was a stretch role for sure, but I had been steadily investing in and building my leadership skills. When I got that opportunity I knew it would have a big impact on both my personal and professional life, but I was ready and I had to make the jump.

No matter what the reason, if you do make a move, remember to do it in the most professional way. No need for pay-backs or to get the last word in — that most likely will come back to haunt your career aspirations. Remember that first job I left, when I was told I was making a huge mistake? That former employer is actually a client of ours now, and I have a great friendship with him today. But most importantly, it’s always better from your own psychological standpoint to stay optimistic and maintain your dignity — even in the toughest circumstances. That will serve you well, no matter what your work situation.

John Thiel is the head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and is responsible for the strategic management of 14,000-plus financial advisors and 6,000 client associates, as well as more than 200 private wealth advisors.

Merrill Lynch makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

thomas fasanella

Retired Senior Investment Manager at Wells Fargo The Private Bank

7y

Solid advice. Always challenge yourself and follow your passion. Without passion you will not be successful!

Samra Aziz, 📶

🔸| CLAIMS MANAGEMENT 🔸 | BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 🔸 | CLAIMS EVALUATION

8y

I enjoyed my role at Macys in the Galleria Area Houston Tx but when the store on Sage Rd closed down ...yes it was time to go I still miss working there ...great atmosphere and great team

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Aidan Dsouza

Student at Wilson West Middle School

8y

I enjoy mt school wich is wilson west middle school we get our own computers that we use and lots of the tearchers are nice

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Tiffini Johnson

TS SCI Clearance | CompTIA Security+ Certified | Certified Ethical Hacker | Splunk Core Certified | Information Security | MS Business Analytics

8y

I enjoyed my time at American Express and I wish them the best as I move on to my amazing career in Real Estate.

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