Is Your Current Job Worth It?

Living life to the fullest, without settling, starts with one thing: knowing your worth. Contentment begins with you — not your circumstances. Whether it's at work or anywhere else, transforming your situation so that you can be happy is ultimately your responsibility.

Is your current job worth it?

So here's the honest question: is your current job costing you your happiness? And if it is — is it OK to walk away? Career experts say yes. As Rhonda Suder of TopResume puts it, it's perfectly fine to quit your job once you've decided that's the right decision for you.

The numbers suggest plenty of us are wrestling with this. In a 2018 Gallup poll, only about 34% of US employees described themselves as “engaged” — genuinely involved in and enthusiastic about their work. Around 13% were “actively disengaged” and miserable, while the remaining 53% were “not engaged”: broadly satisfied, coasting, but ready to leave the moment a better offer came along. So the real question is — where do you fall?

Before pulling the plug, it's worth sitting with a few honest questions. Is it the people, or the culture? Are you stuck at a desk when you'd rather be out among people? Do you dread Monday mornings? Has the discomfort become constant rather than passing? Have you simply outgrown the place? And, crucially, does the mission of where you work still mean anything to you? If those questions only sharpen the urge to leave — that's not a red flag; that's clarity.

If you do decide to go, Suder's advice is worth holding onto, and I'd echo every word of it:

• It's OK to disappoint others. You're in the driver's seat of your own life — no one else has to live your days for you.

• Have a game plan. Line up your next move — a new role, some savings, or a consulting gig — so the leap doesn't become a money panic.

• Update your CV. Get it interview-ready before you hand in your notice, in case you're asked to leave sooner than expected.

• Don't burn bridges. It's a small region; leave gracefully, because you never know whose path you'll cross again.

It can feel like going against the grain to admit you're unhappy when you've got a decent salary, food on the table and a roof over your head. But if something still doesn't sit right, listen to it. Choosing work that brings you fulfilment isn't selfish — it's yours to choose, and no one can make that choice for you.

This piece is adapted from Rhonda Suder's article for TopResume. You can find more of their career advice at topresume.com.