US “Quits Rate” at Record High! Should You Join Quits Bandwagon?

The US is experiencing a record number of job openings now, and the “quits rate” (the number of people quitting divided by the number of people working) is at a decade high. If you are considering leaving your job but are waiting to see if more jobs emerge that are a better fit, that’s a bad plan. Here are 5 signs it’s time to go:

Poor company performance. If your employer is doing badly in this economy, you should be worried. Signs of poor health include executive change, increased approval for expenses, and more private meetings. Don’t wait until the company closes because then you’ll be competing against colleagues for jobs.
No room for growth. Because laws change and business models are dynamic, the role of lawyers should grow constantly. Job stagnation is a good reason to leave.
Poor manager. If your boss can’t teach you new things or — even worse — hurts your relationships with others, think hard about leaving. (One caveat is you are at a company that often reorgs, in which case hold your breath.)
Work-induced dread. Life is too short to wake up to a bad feeling every day.
Bad health/personal life. Work can negatively impact your health (heck, I thought I had mono at one poor-fitting job I held) and your home life.

(For even more signs, see this post.)