The contemplating feeling of doubts about whether your current job is still the right fit for you. It’s a feeling that comes and goes across the years, often showing it’s face more as time progresses. Should you act upon these feelings?

I’d worked one or two jobs as a Designer prior to this one. They weren’t long-lasting, nor fulltime and I was still in college back then. So, for me these were a way to pay for my bills and learn in my future field. This experience is about my very first full-time job as a graduated Product Designer. I spent well-over 3,5 years at this Agency, including my time as an intern. It felt like a second home, but I’ve came to realise that outgrowing your home is also a part of life.

The course of the company was changing, the clients along with it. People come and go, faces you look up to find new challenges to dive into. And you’re not experiencing as much challenges as you used to. All of a sudden, you feel like you’ve been around forever and unsure why you’re still there.

I’d been pushing off this feeling for a long time. But I couldn’t resist it from creeping up on me anymore. This was the point where I realised it was time to go. However, saying I realised doesn’t mean I acknowledged it. Many interviews and a rough 6 months later, I finally had the courage to take action on this feeling. But no job or offer felt like it was the right match for me at the time. At least, that’s what I thought. Until I took the leap.

If you’re no longer happy at your current job, you have less to lose than you think

Maybe your permanent contract, yes. But if you’re confident about your capabilities as a designer, you will find a new job in no-time. I had spent countless hours in interviews. Talking to other agencies, but also corporates to see which one would give me the feeling closest to what I had now. Surprise; I couldn’t find it.

You can’t expect a new workplace to instantly feel like something you have been building upon for years. Yes, you should trust your gut-feeling and communicate openly about your doubts. But at some point I also realised that if I’m no longer happy at my current job, postponing my leave for years isn’t an option. Feeling home somewhere takes time. If another good place offers you a nice salary and you feel like you’ll be more challenged there than what’s stopping you?

Changing context will allow you to grow, even when it’s not the place for you after all

When I finally took the leap I learnt so much in the first months. Not because I was instantly challenged on the same level as during my previous job. I was challenged differently. Also, changing your surroundings and the people that come with it gives you new insights. Subjects to look into, tools that they’re working with, and learnings from their case studies and process.

Expanding your width of knowledge is never something to look down upon. Even when the things you learn aren’t necessarily better than what you already know. They might help you explain and understand why you’re way of doing is better, or they can add up to these methods. Seeing how your work is done in other places puts your way of thinking and doing in perspective.

Quitting doesn’t mean you’re saying goodbye to all the great things

The designers you loved sparring with that sparked your creativity? Call them. The Friday after work drinks in the sun with your favourite co-workers? Organise them. The projects you’re so proud? You worked on them. Put them on your portfolio and use the learnings in your new work.

In my experience, first it might feel like you’re leaving everything behind. Once you’re gone however, you learn that it’s only the good things that you’re keeping. Everything that you want to remain is still there on-demand. You just have to show a little more initiative to get them.

Outtake

The experience I had on quitting my job was positive. I’m sparked by a bunch of new insights and creativity. There’s tons of new people to learn from and this step allows me to put my knowledge in perspective.

There will most certainly be moments of doubt regarding your decision, but that’s part of the process. And if that new place turns out to not be the right match, you’ve still learned a ton.

This is the motivational message that I had to hear when I was ready to quit my job.