You’ve worked at your current job for over a year now. You love working there, but you’re starting to get bored. Is it okay to quit after only a year?

The average tenure at a company is around three years. If you want to stay longer, you’ll probably have to look elsewhere. But before you decide to leave, consider these questions: What would happen if I quit my job? Would I miss out on opportunities? How much money am I saving each month? Will I be able to find another job?

There are pros and cons to quitting your job early. On the plus side, you won’t have to deal with the stress of finding a new position.

Quitting your job after just one year may not seem the best idea, but it can be a smart move. Here’s why you should consider leaving your job after just a year and how to make the most of this decision.

You’ve reached the one-year milestone with your employer. Is it time for departure?

You’ve been working in your industry for one full calendar year indicates that you’re ready to move up. If you’re still stuck in entry-level roles, you might want to consider taking another step toward advancement. As you continue to grow professionally, you’ll likely find yourself in positions where you can best decide how to utilize your skills. This includes determining whether to take a promotion or apply for a different role within your organization.

If you feel you’ve reached a plateau regarding growth opportunities, now could be the perfect time to explore other options. However, if you’re feeling stagnant, don’t panic because there are plenty of reasons why you haven’t taken that leap yet.

Do You Have to Stay at a Job for One Year?

There’s no doubt about it – finding a job is hard. Finding the right fit for your skills and personality takes a lot of time, effort, and patience. So what do you do when you finally land a job and realize it’s not the right fit? Is it better to tough it out for a year or move on? Here are some reasons why moving on from your job after a year might be your best decision.

1. A Personal Matter Supersedes

If you plan to resign from a position because of a personal issue, you don’t want to let anyone down. But sometimes, things out of your control make staying at work impossible. Maybe your family needs help due to medical issues, or perhaps you’ve been offered a great opportunity outside of the office. Whatever the reason, being upfront about why you need to take some time off is important.

When you tell your manager what’s happening, they might ask questions, such as “Why did you wait so long?” or “How much notice do I need to give you?” These questions aren’t meant to be accusatory; rather, they’re designed to ensure that you’ll still be able to complete your project and won’t hold up other people’s work while you’re away.

Your honesty will show that you respect your employer and their expectations. And most importantly, it will demonstrate that you know how to handle yourself professionally.

2. Your Dream Job Awaits

The fact that we’re all dreaming about our ideal work situation isn’t surprising. Everyone wants to do something meaningful, feel appreciated, make money, and enjoy life.

But what if you could find a job allowing you to travel worldwide? Or start your nonprofit organization? What if you had a chance to make a difference in the lives of others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to consider taking action now. Because while some dream jobs are waiting for you, others are already gone.

3. You’re Underutilized

Sometimes an organization doesn’t want to invest in you anymore. Or maybe there are too many people vying for your attention. Perhaps your boss doesn’t understand how much you do already. Maybe they think you don’t deserve better pay or benefits. Whatever the reason, sometimes an organization doesn’t care enough to make things work out. And while it’s never fun to hear that news, it’s important to recognize that it happens.

4. The Job Won’t Make it to Your Resume

When you start a new job, there are certain expectations about how long you’ll stick around. If you’ve been working for a year and your employer tells you that you’re no longer needed, you might feel like you’ve been fired. But according to experts, it’s perfectly acceptable to walk away from a job without having to include it on your resume.

If you’re looking for a way to avoid being labeled “unreliable,” here are four scenarios where it’s probably best to cut ties early rather than late:

1. You’re doing an unpaid internship

2. You’re working part-time

3. You’re changing careers

5. If you do not feel sufficiently challenged, you will not grow

A recent study found that employees are most satisfied when they have multiple opportunities to grow professionally and personally. This is why it is important to look outside of your current position. You might even have to ask for a promotion if you aren’t being challenged.

The research showed that people who felt under-challenged reported lower levels of work satisfaction. Those who didn’t feel challenged were less likely to say they had a good relationship with their boss and co-workers. When asked how much growth they got at work, employees who didn’t think they were growing professionally were less likely to say their employers gave them opportunities to learn and develop skills.

6. If the job description doesn’t match what you do at work

The reality is that many jobs are poorly defined, especially those that require specialized skills or experience. This makes it difficult for candidates to know exactly what they’ll do each day, and it’s often hard to find out once you’ve been hired. In fact, according to a source, nearly half of workers say that their responsibilities have changed since being hired.

7. Have a game plan

If you are considering taking a break, consider working for yourself. As an independent contractor, you can work flexible hours without worrying about being fired. Plus, there are no limits on the amount of income you can earn. However, starting a freelance business requires a lot of upfront investment. You’ll need to spend money on marketing materials, software, equipment, and legal fees.

The good news is that once you’ve saved up enough money, you can use that money to invest in your career. Investing in yourself will help you build skills and knowledge that will eventually translate into better opportunities.

8. Be humble about your next professional step

Sometimes, you might want to keep your new position under wraps for a while. In others, you might want to let people know what you’ve planned. But whatever you do, don’t brag about how great everything will be once you start your new job. Why? Because it makes you look insecure. And even though your new employer probably wants to hear about your exciting plans, chances are they don’t care.

Professional advice on leaving one’s job

The best way to leave your current job is to do it gracefully. Here are some tips to help you make that happen.

1. Be Discreet

When you resign, don’t tell anyone else what happened until you’ve told your boss. If he asks why you’re leaving, say something like, “I’m looking forward to starting my next role.” Don’t detail how things went wrong or why you left.

2. Avoid Drama

Don’t take it personally if your boss says anything negative about you or your work. He probably isn’t thinking about you – he’s just trying to figure out what caused you to leave. When someone criticizes you, remember to think about yourself first. What did you do well? How could you improve? Think about what you want to achieve in your next position.

3. Take Stock

Take stock of everything you learned while working at your previous employer. Learn from your mistakes and use those lessons to prepare for your next gig.

Conclusion

It’s okay to quit your job after just one year, but only if you have a plan. This may include having a solid resume and networking with people in your industry.

If you don’t have a plan yet, that’s where our expert resume writers can help. We can work with you to ensure your resume is top-notch and enables you to stand out from the competition. Contact us today for a consultation!