Rethink a Rage-Quit and Avoid Burning Bridges

By Rachel Pelta

While many people love their job, just as many people feel pretty neutral about it. And then there are those who strongly dislike their jobs and dream about walking out the door and never coming back.

Of course, most people don’t do that. They need a job, after all, so they stick around until they find something new, then quit. But some people rage-quit their job because they just can’t take it anymore.

What does it mean to rage-quit a job? And what does it mean for your career if you do? Plenty. Fortunately, there are alternatives to rage-quitting your job and burning bridges on your way out the door.

What Is Rage-Quitting a Job?

In a nutshell, when you rage-quit your job, you’ve reached the end of your rope and quit your job right then and there. Rage-quitting can take many forms, from packing up your desk and telling your boss you’re never coming back to creating a farewell video.

Though it may seem you’re quitting on a whim, the reality is that the problems and stress you’ve experienced have been building over time, leading to the moment you say “enough” and quit.

Why You Shouldn’t Rage-Quit a Job

As good as it might feel, rage-quitting a job may not be the best career choice. Though it can be difficult to think about the future when your present situation isn’t great, you need to consider how what you do now will impact you later.

For starters, depending on your industry, you could end up with a poor reputation that impacts your ability to find future work. Also, when you rage-quit, you’ve most likely guaranteed that you won’t get a good reference from your current job.

And if you rage-quit your job, you have to prepare for the inevitable interview question, “Why did you leave your last job?” While there are ways to explain employment gaps in your work history, and you won’t have to explain the exact circumstances of how you left, you will need to explain why you left without securing a new job first. Depending on your answer, that could be a red flag to employers.

You also need to think about your immediate future. Most companies have a resignation policy that requires you to give two weeks’ (or more) notice. Rage-quit without giving the employer that notice and you likely won’t get paid for the additional time you could have worked, not to mention contributions to health insurance, retirement accounts, and any other perks you might have had access to.

When It’s Appropriate to Rage-Quit a Job

That said, there are situations when it may be okay to rage-quit. If you encounter any of the following at work, rage-quitting may be in order:

Blatant abuse or harassment
You feel unsafe, or your employer is violating safety regulations
Racism, sexism, or any kind of discrimination
Illegal activity

If you are not experiencing these situations but still feel the urge, ask yourself the following questions to help yourself understand why you want to rage-quit your job.

1. Does my work matter?

Knowing your work makes a difference and contributes to the company’s success is a critical factor in feeling connected to your job. If you’re feeling the urge to rage-quit, ask yourself if you feel like your work matters and if your company demonstrates that it does.

Are you getting reasonable raises and bonuses? Do you like your career path, and are you advancing on it? Does your boss thank you for the work you do? If you answered “no,” you’re probably feeling under- or unappreciated, and that’s likely contributing to your negative feelings about the job.

2. Why do I work here?

A company’s culture is an essential part of having a good experience at work. So too is fitting into that culture. Whether you’re new to the job or have been there for a while, do you still fit into the company culture? Maybe it’s changed, or you’ve changed, but if you don’t fit in, you probably won’t be happy.

3. Is it worth it?

No job is perfect, but there are some imperfections we’re willing to put up with because it’s worth it. For example, an unpaid internship means you’re working for free. But in exchange for your unpaid labor, you get job experience to put on your resume and the chance to learn the skills that will help you get a paid job.

But if you’re in a well-paid job, is the money worth the long hours or the way your boss treats you? Does unlimited paid time off pay off in the long run if you’re never allowed to use it? Examine if the job is worth it anymore before you rage-quit.

What to Do Instead of Rage-Quitting a Job

If you think about rage-quitting every day, you’re probably in a very negative work situation. As satisfying as rage-quitting a job might be, it’s probably better to avoid it if you can. Here’s how to deal with an unpleasant job situation without burning bridges.

Create Coping Mechanisms

Find ways to cope with your situation until you can leave the job gracefully.

Whether it’s leaving your desk to take a walk (or seven) around the block, meditating for five minutes, venting to a friend, or scrolling through social media, create a list of all the things you can do to cope with your situation. Keep the list handy, and when someone or something at work is too much, refer to your list and engage in a coping activity to help you get through the day.

Plan and Act

If you haven’t already, create your job search action plan and set it in motion. Search for new jobs, update your resume, and apply, apply, apply! Nothing will feel as good as knowing that soon enough, you’ll move on to greener pastures.

Clean Up

Even with the best of intentions, you may end up rage-quitting. If you think that might be your situation, clean up your workspace ASAP. While that means gathering up your personal possessions from an in-person office, no matter where you work, you’ll need to do some virtual cleaning too.

Get copies of anything you need for your portfolio from your company-issued laptop or cloud-based systems. And make sure you’re keeping your project notes up to date so anyone coming in behind you can pick up where you left off.

Be Nice

This may be difficult, but it is necessary. Continue being nice to your boss and your coworkers. If nothing else, being nice improves the odds that you’ll get a decent (or at least neutral) reference from your old job. It also means you aren’t burning bridges you might need in the future.

And whether you rage-quit or not, you will quit your job eventually, which means your coworkers will have to pick up the slack. Being nice to them before you go won’t make it easier on them but will help lessen the sting. And in the event you can’t use your boss as a reference, your former coworkers might be willing to help you out.

Looking Ahead

As much as you might like to say “sayonara,” rage-quitting a job should generally be a last resort. While some situations merit a rage-quit, there can be long-term professional consequences if you do. Try to cope with your situation as best as you can until you connect with a better job.

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