10 Signs Your Boss Wants You to Quit

Hopefully your current boss isn't as insufferable as any of the higher-ups in Horrible Bosses. After all, no one wants their career life to feel like a dark comedy that's poised to end disastrously. But, having a strained relationship with a supervisor may be a sign you should quit your job. If you don't have the best rapport with your boss, you're definitely not alone. And you never know, if your boss has been particularly difficult lately, they may actually want you to quit. Fortunately, if your boss or your job makes you miserable, you have other options. Take your supervisor's behavior as a blessing in disguise and a sign that it's time to quit your job and move on to bigger, better opportunities.

If you think you may be in this situation, don't despair! After you learn some signs that may indicate your current job (or boss) isn't for you, we'll offer advice on how to make the most of a bad situation until you find something better. And remember, isolated incidents could mean anything, but if you notice a pattern, you may want to start updating your resume.

What to Do If You Think Your Boss Wants You to Quit

If you got to the end of this list and you suspect your boss does, in fact, want you to quit, don't freak out. You're still in control of your professional life, and you can make the most of your situation, even if you're seeing all the signs to quit your job. Here are some tips for what to do, so you can stop lamenting “I hate my job” and move on to a more satisfying profession:

• Start researching new careers. Maybe you'll find one that's a much better fit for your skills and innate personality traits. If you're not getting feedback on your work anymore or your job title or duties have changed, you'll probably want to make a move anyway so that you can get back to doing work you're proud of. There's a chance that your difficult boss is only leading you out of your current position so that you can find something better. Remember: A bad or difficult boss can be a blessing in disguise, one that leads you to new professional heights.
• Don't blame yourself. Chances are, you aren't solely responsible for the unpleasant career situation you're in. There are so many variables that may influence the way your supervisor treats you, and there's no need to be too hard on yourself about your predicament. Your supervisor's behavior may have everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. Just try to learn what you can from it. As a reframing exercise, it may be useful to make a list of all the skills you've picked up at your job and all of your accomplishments. This can boost your morale and give you some ideas about new bullet points to add to your resume to make you more appealing to future employers.
• Make your time away from work more enjoyable. This can make plugging away at a tense or hostile work environment more manageable. If you're spending your time outside of work with your loved ones and doing things you enjoy, you'll be a lot more likely to keep your cool at work while you search for new and better opportunities. When you hate your job, it can feel difficult to make the most of your time away from work, but push yourself to do it. It can make a world of difference.
• Visualize the type of work environment you want in the future. This will help you ask the right questions about company culture at future interviews and ultimately help you find a work environment where you feel comfortable, so you don't end up in another situation thinking “my job makes me miserable.” You may also want to make a deal-breaker list of things you absolutely don't want in future jobs. This type of list will keep you from compromising as you hunt for positions and help you make sure that you don't end up unhappy. If you're pretty sure you never want to work at a job that requires you to work holidays and weekends, for instance, you could add this to your deal-breaker list. Dream big, and don't stop believing you deserve a job that meets all of your requirements.
• Request a meeting with your boss. If you feel comfortable and think it could help or if you're still not sure what their behavior means exactly, go straight to the source. Opening up the lines of communication with your supervisor can help you clarify a) what you might be able to do differently while you're still in the position to improve your relationship with your boss and b) if your boss is acting different for some reason totally unrelated to you. Although the signs we listed above are typical in a situation in which a boss wants someone to quit, there's no way to know your boss's intentions with absolute certainty. Remember that you're not a mind reader!
• Remind yourself that this too shall pass. Your situation is temporary, and, things will inevitably get better. You have the to option of finding a better job or career and ultimately moving on from any work environment that feels toxic. Trust that if you put the work into getting out of your current job, you'll end up someplace much better. Think back to other professional challenges and hurdles you've overcome, and remind yourself that you've persevered through so much and will continue to have the professional grit you need to excel in a position that better suits all of your needs.

If you're thinking a career change could be your ticket to a more satisfying professional life, now can be an exciting time to begin considering different fields and positions. Having to deal with a difficult boss can be a lot more manageable on a day-to-day basis if you're taking the preliminary steps to get out of your current job. It can change your whole mindset about your situation. Be sure to take our free career quiz if you're asking yourself “Should I change jobs?”