There are times when you really hate your job and want to quit. Every day is a struggle, you’re unmotivated, you feel like you’re wasting time. Here are the things you need to think about.

1. Why do you hate your job?  Once you figure that out, can you change it? Bosses can change, assignments can change, you can move out of a division into another one. Don’t write off everything if change can happen….and you have to be patient. It won’t change overnight, but it is possible to move to a much better role. I was once in a role that I hated…eventually, I moved into another role but it took time.
2. Be honest about your circumstances: Are you bad at your job? Sometimes it’s just not a good fit: the job requires detail orientation, and you’re a big picture person.  Do you have $50 in the bank and credit card debts? Now may not be the right time to quit.  Is this a pattern for you? (You want to build a story of meaningful contribution: not a revolving door of jobs). Do you want a job in an industry that’s retracting? Someone will be ecstatic to take your seat.
3. What do you want to do? This is always hard, and often looks like the opposite of what you have now. But you have to be specific: hiring managers act like sports managers. They have openings, weaknesses on the team: they’re looking for position players. So saying you want to be more strategic isn’t going to help. Saying you want to work in marketing for new products at a consumer bank because you have great communication skills and here’s what you’ve done does.   The best moves I have seen are ones that leverage 60% of what you do well already, and 40% new. Why are you a good bet?
4. Remember your core value. It’s easy to get frustrated and let that energy push you to do something you might regret. What’s really important to you….and how do you move closer to it?
5. Talk to someone you trust and who knows you well. Sometimes you’re going through a rough patch. You may not always know all the facts. But someone you trust who has your best interests will be a great sounding board. I once called my best friend about a great opportunity and after listening, she said “But you would hate that.” I thought to myself, she’s right. Sometimes you can swept in the excitement of a new role and someone else’s enthusiasm to hire you.

You won’t love every job you’re in. But you can learn from every job you are in, and no job is forever. If you change jobs or stay, do it for the right reasons.