Article
Should you quit a good job if it makes you unhappy? My sister's story
My sister Kristína left her job as an IT change coordinator this year. It was a good job, and she left anyway. She wrote about her decision on LinkedIn, and later she sent me a few more messages, answers to my questions.
Why was it a good job?
The job was at a national institution and it paid above average for the city and the region. But it was not only about that:
"I got to work with capable people. Demanding situations that pushed me forward. A sense of respect and responsibility."
The above-average pay also came with pressure. My sister described it like this:
"It was not only experience and work opportunities. It was challenges, discomfort, pressure to perform, but also a sense of meaning and growth."
What went wrong?
"Stress and frustration gradually built up in me. The need to set clear boundaries came too late. I started to lose myself."
When her manager asked whether she could handle another project, she took it on. "I confidently accepted the challenge, because I did not see any problems in the situation at the time. I saw it as a responsibility that came with being where I was, and as a sign of trust that I did not want to break."
Something else came on top of that: "I got involved in a lot of activities that were often marginal, but I simply enjoyed them."
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Summary
Common questions on this article's topic
When should you leave a good job?
Why do people struggle to set boundaries at work?
How many people are considering a career change?
Why do people change careers?
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.
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