4 Key Questions You Need Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job

I've had my fair share of terrible jobs. In the three years I've been out of college, I've already been told I'm “too fat to work in fashion,” called a c*nt and been yelled at for f*cking up someone's salad order.

I'm lucky enough to be in a place where I'm happy now, but it took a long time to get there. Before I was a staff writer, I was an assistant, a coordinator (which is essentially a fancy word for assistant) and a staff writer at multiple other publications. While some of those jobs were absolutely lovely, others...well, they call it Sunday scaries for a reason.

Look, I'm not a quitter. But on a couple occasions, I had to quit and I'm proud I did.

The decision to quit your job is a big one. There's a difference between having a bad workday and just being flat-out miserable in your nine-to-five. Sometimes, quitting is the only way out of a sh*tty situation.

Here's what you need to consider prior to handing your boss an exit letter and quitting your job.

Can I financially handle it?

Unless you're a low-key Vanderbilt, quitting your day job will probably have a massive impact on your bank account.

Were you good and put a portion of your paycheck in your savings account every month? Do you have a safety net in case you don't find a job in the next few weeks?

If you don't, seriously re-consider. Being employed at a place you hate sucks, but not being able to afford even ramen sucks more.

Is this is temporary?

If you feel stressed out because of a project or deadline, remember those things have end dates. You'll feel much better once you're past it.

If your biggest stressor is something permanent — think a terrible boss, moral conflict or always feeling like you're on the verge of getting fired — be sure to exercise every other option before heading to HR.

Is this interpersonal?

I used to have a coworker who would swing by my desk, look at the sandwich or wrap I was devouring and tell me that if I kept it up, she wouldn't feel comfortable having me work backstage at New York Fashion Week.

At that point, I knew that I wasn't the problem — it was an HR situation that needed fixing. Except HR gave virtually no f*cks and said maybe I should think about eating a salad. Only then did I quit.

If your HR staff is way better than mine was, just try talking to them. There's usually a fix for interpersonal problems, like moving someone to a different department, getting a warning or being put on probation.

Am I that miserable?

According to a Gallup poll from 2013, over 70 percent of American workers hate their jobs or feel disengaged at work. Clearly, you're not alone.

It's one thing to be miserable at work, but it's another to let the misery of your job spill into your personal life. If you find yourself unable to be happy around friends, family or even jerking off, it's no longer just a work thing.

At that point, it's time to think about quitting. Or, at least looking for another place to park your ass for most of the day.