5 Signs You Need to Quit Your Job Right Now

Unemployment is at a near 50-year low. Quits are up, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And many employers still give 3 percent raises on average.

It all adds up to an environment that encourages workers to think about greener pastures. But is it time for you to quit your job?

The answer, as always: it depends. While you probably don’t want to leave a job you love, now’s a good time to think about moving on from your so-so gig. As the song says, you gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away and know when to run.

So when is it a good time to look for your next job? Here are some signs that you need to move on:

1. You’ve been there too long.

Yep, you can wear out your welcome, at least as far as your resume is concerned. Maybe quitting is your next step to a better job title.

“If during your extended tenure you’ve held four different positions and continue to enjoy your work, then maybe you can ignore this one,” wrote Jada A. Graves at U.S. News & World Report. “But if you’re clocking in to what is now a ‘Groundhog Day’ existence, you definitely need to explore your options. A change in work environments will keep your skills nimble.”

2. You spend too much time commuting.

Whether you bike, drive, ride the train or take the bus, if your commute is too long, it’s sucking more than just the life out of you. And if your boss won’t let you take some time to work remotely, even part time, that could be a deal breaker. After all, that time you spend getting to and from work is going to eat away at family and personal time.

In fact, you could be making yourself ill with a long commute. “One study found that each minute spent commuting to work increases anxiety and decreases general well-being,” wrote Ruth Umoh at CNBC.

That study, completed by the British Office for National Statistics found that “each additional minute of commuting time made you feel slightly worse up to a certain point,” noted Ami Sedghi and George Arnett at The Guardian.

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3. The company is failing.

Look, you’re not the captain and you do not have to go down with the ship. When things look dark, it’s definitely time to start looking for the exits. A good way to get started? Work on that resume. (Check out these tips for a handy database you can maintain for yourself).

Some signs that your company is going down the tubes, according to Rose Kennedy at the Atlanta Journal Constitution include:

• Managers jumping ship all at once (they might know more than you do)
• Layoffs past the breaking point (there aren’t enough people left to do the work that needs to get done)
• No one is communicating (secrets abound and you’re not hearing anything out of the powers that be)
• Payroll isn’t getting paid (if your contractors aren’t getting paid, you might be next)

4. You keep yelling into the void.

Do you have great ideas that nobody is listening to? Have you been bringing issues to management and nothing gets fixed? It might be time to find a new place where your ideas would be better received.

It’s important to have a 360-degree review environment (where what you say is considered, as well as your personal feedback from the boss). If you’re not getting heard, make some noise somewhere else.

5. You’re not getting paid what you’re worth.

Not earning what you should is definitely a great reason to find a better job. If you can’t negotiate a raise for what you’re worth (we have some great tips on doing that, by the way), then head off to another gig.

Want to know what you’re worth? Do your research with our free PayScale salary survey. 

Want to know the common reasons an employee leaves their job? We’ve surveyed a lot of employees about why they quit their jobs. You can check out the findings here: Why They Quit You: Top Reasons An Employee Leaves 

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When did you know to quit your job? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.