With a July 2010 unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many people are happy to have any job, let alone the job of their dreams. Unfortunately, working in a job that you hate can affect other areas of your life and even make you feel depressed. If you're finally ready to quit a job you hate, it's time to put a plan into action and find work in a position that you love.
Step 1
Talk to your boss about the evolution of your job. While you may hate what you're currently doing, the option for an in-office transfer or promotion may send you to another department for a better job. Sit down with your boss and explain that you feel as though you've gone as far as you could go in your particular position and would like a different challenge. If he can't offer you anything, it may be time to quit.
Step 2
Plan for unemployment. If you don't have a new job lined up already, yet still want to quit your job and devote more time to the job hunt, make sure your finances in order. Go over your budget and savings to find out how long you can go without a paycheck from your current employment. Make a daily schedule of job searching with structure, suggests Career Cast.
Step 3
Take a class or volunteer so you can test out prospective careers before you accept a new job. If you thought you'd enjoy your current job and ended up hating the work, the situation possibly could have been avoided with a trial period. Look into classes at a community college or ask to job shadow someone in the field of your choice. Find something that you love before you accept a new position in any field.
Step 4
Secure references before you leave your old company, says career counselor and contributing editor for the U.S. News, Marty Nemko. Avoid burning bridges with a hateful exit from your old job, no matter how much you disliked it. Make the split as amicable as possible by following quitting protocol, like giving two weeks notice.
Tell your boss that you gained valuable experience at the company and ask for permission to use her as a reference during your job hunt. Explain to her you believe someone who loves the work could be a more effective employee. This shows your concern for the company.
Step 5
Avoid speaking negatively about your old company when you go out on job interviews, warns "Fast Company" magazine. It makes you look like an ungrateful and untrustworthy employee. Instead, if the interviewer asks why you terminated your employment, say that you wanted to challenge yourself. Don't rehash your past grievances.
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