Should I Quit My Job?

Written By Martie Larson

As a career coach, I hear this question often: "Should I quit my job?" And that’s primarily because it’s the question my clients keep asking themselves.

My answer is never yes or no. Instead, I ask, "What's been unfolding that makes you wonder that?"

Changing jobs might seem like the quick fix, but understanding why you're unhappy is where to start if you want a sustainable fix. Because if you don't uncover the real source of dissatisfaction, you risk trading one version of frustration for another. You're not fixing the problem—you're just changing the view.

You Can't Live Off Scenery

I grew up in Montana's Big Belt Mountains, where the views were stunning, and the sunsets were striking. From the time I was small until the day I left, my family would literally stop everything to watch the sun setting. People would hear that and get dreamy-eyed. Why would you ever leave a place like that?

A relative summed it up perfectly: "You can't live off scenery."

I always knew exactly what that phrase meant. Montana was breathtaking—but for my family, it was also a financial struggle. Beautiful views didn't pay the bills. What I didn't understand at the time was how that same truth applied beyond money. I thought a new location would change our circumstances. It didn't.

Like many of my clients, I believed change meant movement—so we moved to Spokane, certain a new location would bring new energy. Spokane was beautiful too—different mountains but same restlessness. We still struggled to find meaningful work and lasting connection. The view had changed, but the unease hadn't.

Mountains don't pay mortgages. Fresh air doesn't build careers. Sunsets don't create purpose.

I realized I'd been making choices based on geography and hope, not clarity and purpose.

Eventually, I landed a job in central Washington—a desert landscape, the opposite of everything I'd known. My new colleagues couldn't believe I would leave mountains for deserts. I'd smile and say, "You can't live off scenery."

If you move from one job to another without understanding your dissatisfaction, you're not seeking fulfillment—you're just swapping scenery. And six months later, when the new view feels ordinary, the same question returns: "Should I quit my job?"

Before you hand in your resignation, take a step back. Don't just change the view. Diagnose the cause. That's where real change begins.

The Real Question Isn't "Should I Quit?"

Before you quit, ask what's truly driving your frustration.

Is it:

  • The work itself? Are you bored, unchallenged, or doing tasks that don't align with your skills and interests?

  • The environment? Is it the culture, your manager, team dynamics, or physical workspace?

  • The mission? Do you feel disconnected from the company's purpose or values?

  • The compensation? Are you genuinely underpaid—or are you hoping more money will solve a deeper dissatisfaction?

  • The growth opportunity? Have you hit a ceiling with nowhere to develop?

  • The lifestyle impact? Is it the commute, the hours, the work-life balance, or the stress level?

Sometimes job dissatisfaction is a symptom, not the disease.

I've coached clients who were convinced they needed a new job when what they actually needed was:

  • To address a relationship issue at home or work

  • To find a creative outlet outside of work

  • To deal with burnout that would follow them anywhere

  • To develop stronger boundaries and work habits

  • To learn communication techniques that would enable them to better advocate for themselves

  • To confront a fear of commitment—or even of success

If you don't address these underlying issues, you'll carry them into your next role. And six months into that new position, you'll be asking the same question again: "Should I quit my job?"

How to Diagnose Your Dissatisfaction

Here's what I recommend to my clients:

1. Keep notes for two weeks

Each day, jot down the moments when you feel frustrated, drained, or unhappy at work. Be specific. Don't just write "bad day"—write "felt micromanaged during the team meeting" or "spent four hours on a report that doesn't matter."

2. Look for patterns

After two weeks, review your entries. What themes emerge? Is it always about your manager? Always on Mondays? Always during certain types of tasks?

3. What’s changed?

When you look at the things causing your frustration or draining your energy, dig deeper: Has the environment changed, or have your priorities and what matters to you evolved?

4. Test your assumptions

Talk with more autonomy? More collaboration? A different field? Talk to people who already have those things. Do informational interviews. Make sure you're not just chasing another version of the same problem.

5. Identify what's negotiable in your current role

Before quitting, have you tried to fix what's broken? Could you shift responsibilities, request a different schedule, or move to a new team? You might get most of what you want without starting over.

The Bottom Line

Quitting might be exactly the right move. I've seen clients transform their lives and careers by making bold changes. But I've also seen people quit impulsively, only to find themselves in an identical situation—or worse—six months later.

The real question isn't just "Should I quit my job?"

It's "Do I understand what I'm running from—and what I'm running toward?"

Ready to move beyond 'Should I quit?' and figure out what you actually need? Get my actionable framework for making your next career move in my book.

Martie Larson