Expert advice: here are 8 bad reasons to quit your job

Many fear they will get stuck in their jobs and be forced to look for a new job to fulfil their dream of becoming a manager or have a more exciting working life. Others lose motivation when their good colleague or friend quits, and then they look elsewhere themselves. But you don't necessarily achieve your goals by changing jobs. Here are eight bad (but common) reasons to change jobs that you might want to reconsider:

Everyone else is changing jobs

The job market is brimming with opportunities right now, and you can watch your colleagues and acquaintances changing jobs while you sit back in the same position. Perhaps you feel a social pressure to change jobs to impress your LinkedIn network or your family. But work is the single activity you spend the most time on, which is why you should not let yourself be controlled by the expectations of others or a vague sense that the grass is greener on the other side.

You should only switch jobs if you genuinely want to. If you like your job, just appreciate the fact that you are in a place where you know both your tasks and colleagues well. Otherwise, your career can quickly turn into an endless search for the "perfect job".

I must change jobs to become a manager

According to the 2016 IDA Leadership Panel, two-thirds of managers find their first management position in the company where they are already employed. So it's not true that you have to quit your job to become a manager. But you may need to be more verbal about your dreams and ambitions because your manager may not be aware of your managerial ambitions. So be open about your aspirations, and together you can plan how to reach your goal.

You have been in the company for many years

Your friends and family say you've been with the same company for many years and you start to fear you're stuck. But that's not a problem as long as your current job is challenging and you're regularly given new responsibilities to develop yourself and your skills. Don’t pay too much attention to what people around you say. Instead, try to find out if you really want to change jobs yourself. You also don't need to worry about how it looks on your CV that you've been in the same job for many years. It just shows that you're a loyal employee, and as long as you keep learning new things, your market value will increase too.

My favourite colleague quits

It's a bad reason to quit your job, even if it's a big loss when you lose a good colleague and friend at work. Instead of focusing one-sidedly on the negative, start building new relationships with your other colleagues so that you continue to thrive socially at work.

Maybe I can get paid more

If you are underpaid, this is of course demotivating, but studies show that a high salary is not in itself motivating. If you enjoy your work and have good colleagues, it's not a good idea to leave just to get a small pay rise.

I kissed a colleague

It may be an awkward situation, but you and your colleague should have a chat and talk things through so that you can have a professional relationship afterwards. If you start a relationship, you should agree on expectations and a set of ground rules — and if necessary, communicate something to your other colleagues.

I want to get new, different skills

This is a bad strategy because we need to build our careers on our existing strengths, skills and talents. If you throw yourself into something where you have very limited skills, you risk breaking your neck because you will have too few experiences of success.

I love to try something new

Even if you find new challenges exciting, be careful not to accept too many time-limited periods of employment because you always think you need a new job to develop. You risk coming across as an indecisive person — or someone who is difficult to work with. Instead, try to develop in your current job — rather than quitting every time you look for development.