People stay in jobs they don’t love for too long because of fear. Staying somewhere because you’re comfortable can be easy, but ultimately letting fear hold you back will hurt you and your career prospects.

Some of the reasons we stay in jobs we don’t like are complicated, and can make leaving difficult. But changing to a new job can be one of the best decisions you ever make, and could drastically improve your life.

Why People Don’t Leave Jobs They Hate:

1. You Don’t Know What You’re Passionate About

Some people find their way into jobs that they’re qualified for, or even good at, without ever really being excited about them. While it can be a smart move for your career to get a big name or impressive project on your CV, staying in a job you aren’t truly passionate about will lead to your career stagnating.

Taking time to discover what it is that you want to do is the first step to having a career that makes you excited to go to work.

2. You’re Afraid To Change Field/Industry

After working in particular field for a long time, it can be daunting to change to a new one. You may not have experience, you may not have much practical knowledge, and your network may not be helpful anymore.

But changing to a new industry gives you the opportunity to learn new skills, while still utilising everything you learned at your last job. You didn’t have any experience or knowledge before you started your career, and you still succeeded, overcoming challenges and learning how to do the job. You can do this for any industry, and all your experience will only help you in doing that.

3. You’re Overly Attached To The Job You Have

Loyalty is an admirable trait, but staying at a job because you feel obligated to won’t help your career or make you any happier. Some people get so invested in a job because they’re working towards a promotion or they’ve just spent so much time there that they struggle to imagine leaving, even if they know it would make them happier.

It’s important to remember that you don’t owe your job anything, and that staying in a bad job will only make you miserable.

Here’s how you know it’s time to quit your job.

4. The New Job May Not Be Enough Money

For some people, money is the most important factor in taking a new job. If a great new position doesn’t give a raise in salary, or worse, offers less money, people may turn it down even if the new job is better.

But in the long-term, a job with better connections or opportunities for progression could be a short-cut to an even higher salary.

5. You’re Afraid Of Failure

Starting a new job is scary, and everyone is always afraid they won’t be any good at it. But we always underestimate what we’re capable of, and can surprise ourselves when put in a new environment. Starting a new job is a great opportunity to challenge yourself, grow, and learn what you’re truly capable of.

6. You’re Afraid Of Joining A New Team

One of the best parts of any job is being part of a team that supports you. This can be difficult to leave, both professionally and personally, as we often form close ties with people we work with over time. 

But starting a new job means you get to join an entirely new team, meet new people, and work together. You’ll be bringing skills this new team is lacking, and will help them do things they couldn’t have done before you joined.

7. You’re Afraid Of Relocating

Some job opportunities are perfect: they offer a great salary, have clear progression, are for a company you’ve always wanted to work for.

But they’re in a different country.

This is a large hurdle to clear, and for some the move just seems too much.

But moving to a new country can be a fantastic opportunity not only for professional growth, but personal growth as well. Experiencing a new culture can be enriching and rewarding, and the new job can open up doors thanks to its location.

If you use a recruitment company to find your new job, they may be able to help you with travel arrangements, visas, and accommodation. VHR takes care of all our candidates’ travel, and has an onboarding procedure where we act as a waypoint for candidates and their employers.

Learn how to make your cover letter stand out, how to make yourself more employable, or read about things that can make you more employable that aren’t your CV.