Thinking of Quitting Your Corporate Job? – 6 Essential Considerations To Factor Into Your Decision
- Brainz Magazine
- May 8
- 6 min read
Yolan Bedasse started her corporate career 10+ years ago and understands first hand the struggles of navigating a stressful job and the pressures of every day life. She’s been the woman whose image of a “put together life” actually required a careful dance of being kept awake at 2am by her own thoughts and never asking for help.
The Great Resignation of 2021 appears to be making a comeback in 2025 (Did it ever disappear?). According to a survey conducted by ResumeTemplates.com in October 2024, 56% of employees were interested in finding a new job in 2025, with 1 in 3 likely to quit without a new job lined up. Hello, I’m one of the 1 in 3. I recently left my six-figure job, and I understand how difficult it is to make such a decision. Even with the support of family and friends, it can still be a lonely experience. If you’re overwhelmed and second-guessing yourself, here are five things to consider before leaving your job:
1. Why are you considering leaving?
This is the least important of all the considerations listed here. After all, whatever the reason, it’s valid because it led you here, reading this article. If you are uncomfortable, unmotivated, and/or working in a toxic environment, then it’s time to go. Simple as that. No need to evaluate your “why” further; it’s valid regardless. Your “why” is not as important as what you do next to ensure you don’t shoot yourself in the foot on the way out the door.
2. How’s your physical & mental health?
If you’re like me, you value stability, and as such, the golden handcuffs will always look shiny and enticing, even to the detriment of our health. But please consider your overall well-being.
One thing I wish I had paid attention to early in my career, especially as a woman, is how stress impacted my health; it’s a silent killer. It creeps up on you and builds into chronic stress, which can have a long-term impact.
A two-week vacation and a weekend of bed rest won’t cure the burnout you took ten years to accumulate. So please, pay attention to your well-being when considering your next move. Will changing teams or roles in the company make a difference? Will changing jobs be the best move right now? Or maybe it’s taking a break altogether.
Again, no right or wrong, just consider what’s best for your health.
3. Can you be your sugar daddy (or mommy)?
Remember that shooting-yourself-in-the-foot thing? Yeah, no one wants to do that. If going to another job in the short term is not the plan, you’ll still need money to survive. Make a financial plan before telling that toxic job to kick rocks.
Emergency fund
How are your finances looking right now? Do you have enough to be okay for at least six months to a year? Hopefully, you’ve been building your emergency fund, but if not, it’s never too early to start improving your money habits.
Health insurance
If you live in a country like the US, you need an insurance plan. As painful as it is to spend money on “just in case” or “what if,” it’s a big gamble not to do so, unless you have the option to be on someone else’s plan (a spouse’s or parent’s, for example).
Be conservative but not restrictive
When building your budget, don’t be so frugal that your lifestyle becomes something you don’t recognize. This decision is already a shock to your system, so let’s not electrocute it more than necessary. I understand that there will be things you’ll need to cut back on, but having continuity is also beneficial. Two things I budgeted for after leaving my job were my weekly boxing and French classes. They provide structure to my week and social interaction.
So if enjoying a night out with your friends every weekend is the norm for you now, plan for it. Worst-case scenario, you don’t go out every weekend and end up spending less. But give yourself the option to say no instead of feeling obligated to do so. I’m not saying adjustments won’t need to be made, but it’s okay to factor in the little things that bring you joy.
4. Who will you become?
We know the emotional toll it takes to leave your stable job for the unknown. The sense of immediate relief you feel is coupled with the dread that creeps in about what will happen to you next. But what is less considered is the grieving that comes with the loss of the job and the identity you attached to it.
We all wrap our identities up in what we do for a living to varying degrees. Where I live and work, when someone gives their elevator pitch in a social setting, their career is bound to be one of the first things they tell a stranger.
What happens when you no longer have your job as a crutch? Who are you now?
Be prepared to grieve the loss of the job (even if you voluntarily let it go). It’s okay. It’s the end of an era.
5. Are you making the right decision?
“If I leave with nothing else lined up, that’s career suicide.”
“I can’t leave my job. I’ll have no income, and with this job market, I won’t find another job for a long time, if ever again.”
“I should just stay. It might be stressful, but at least it’s stable and I’ll have health insurance.”
If your thoughts are along any of the lines above, I can relate. If you’re anything like me, you’re a planner, you have a plan B for your plan C. It feels irresponsible to be entertaining the thought of leaving your job with no concrete plans.
But here’s what I’ve been unlearning on this journey: there is no right or wrong, just familiar vs. unfamiliar. That tightness in your chest? That’s a fear response.
And the fear we feel, its sole purpose is to protect us from the unfamiliar, the unpredictable. Society has drilled into us that 9-to-5s are the stable, smart choice. In some cases, that may be true. But also, you can be laid off from a job at any time; nothing is guaranteed.
If you’re thinking, “That’s very unlikely,” it’s because evidence (history, your own past experiences, and those around you) has shown you otherwise.
Now, I’m not saying to just quit your job and explore the unknown because that’s a guaranteed good time (it’s not). But I want you to be mindful of the fear. Sit with it, and assess if what you’re feeling is a gut check or a fear response.
Just remember, there is no right or wrong. There is unfamiliar vs. familiar, and each can result in positive and negative consequences. You won’t know unless you try. And the beauty is that the unfamiliar always becomes familiar eventually.
6. What will your support system look like?
Listen, whether you realize it or not, you’re going to be in a very fragile state. You already are. And while this is a very personal and, at times, lonely road to walk, having a support system around you will be a game-changer, especially in the early days. So be mindful of who you surround yourself with. It’s probably not going to be who you think you’ll need.
Your support system should:
Be selective with who you share this experience with
There is no need to surround yourself with individuals who add to the second-guessing monologue you already have going on in your head. I’m not saying to find a group of “yes men” to hype you up. That’s dangerous, too. But you need people in your corner who will allow you to be heard and seen, and yes, provide constructive feedback.
Include individuals who have walked this path before you
Remember, fear thrives on the unknown and unfamiliar. What better way to get evidence of what’s possible than to connect with those who’ve done what you’re planning to do and lived to tell the tale? If no one comes to mind as you’re reading this, seeking out mentorship and coaching can provide that one-on-one support.
You don’t need anyone to validate your decisions, but there's nothing like being seen and heard in your most vulnerable moments, and having this support makes the journey a little less lonely.
Yolan Bedasse, Life Coach: Boundaries & Self Love
Yolan is a certified life coach and loves all things that exude cozy, homey vibes. She started her corporate career 10+ years ago and understands first hand the struggles of navigating a stressful job and the pressures of every day life. She’s been the woman whose image of a “put together life” actually required a careful dance of being kept awake at 2am by her own thoughts and never asking for help. In 2022, she became a certified life coach with the goal of helping women who also know this struggle. Her fellow hyper independent, over-thinkers who want to be self assured, get into a loving relationship with the word no and wear their imperfections proudly. All while finding little moments to exhale.
