11 Good Reasons for Leaving Your Job

Job resignations are expected to climb in 2025. But what exactly is pushing workers to leave their jobs? Below, we explore the top 11 reasons people leave their jobs:

1. Lack of career advancement opportunities

One of the most common reasons people quit their jobs is because of a lack of advancement opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a promotion — as well as the pay and benefits that go with it — or just more opportunities to learn new skills or take on new projects, you may want to find a new job that allows you to take on new challenges, grow professionally, and achieve more.

2. For better pay and benefits

According to a survey of job seekers, 58% of respondents listed “higher than average salary” as one of their top reasons for changing jobs. With inflation still high, people might be able to experience better wage gains by changing jobs for a higher-paid role, rather than staying in the same job.

3. It’s time for a career change

Workers have been changing careers in high numbers this decade, especially Millennials — who make up just 35% of the workforce but represent 55% of career changers. For many, a changing job market and emerging technologies have presented an opportunity to pivot to a new career.

4. To go back to school

Whether you need to go back to school to advance yourself in your current career or to gear up for a career change, going back to school is a good reason to leave a job. While it’s possible to work full-time and go to school, doing so creates heavy demands on your time and energy.

5. It’s not a good culture fit

Most employees report that it takes less than 1 month to determine if they’re a good fit with a new company, whether it be with coworkers, leadership, or the organization as a whole.

Maybe you don’t get along with your coworkers, or maybe the office environment rubs you the wrong way. Given that so much of our time is spent at work, it may not be worth staying in an unsuitable working environment, even if the work interests you or the pay is good.

6. Poor management

Many workers quit their jobs because of disagreements with managers, and some even leave multiple jobs because of this. If trying to adapt to your boss’s managerial style doesn’t improve your working situation, it may be time to leave.

7. For different work models

After the pandemic popularized remote work, many workers got used to these work arrangements, and continue to seek them out, despite current return-to-office mandates by major US employers.. Other work models, such as flexible working hours and four-day work weeks, are also desirable alternatives.

8. Seeking better work-life balance

Almost a third of respondents to our job seeker insights survey described their ideal boss as someone who values work–life balance.

Many find that their work–life balance depends greatly on their manager and the company culture, but it isn’t usually possible to change these aspects of your work. That leads many people to leave their current positions in search of better work–life balance elsewhere.

9. Personal reasons

Personal reasons that force workers to leave a job include:

• health reasons
• childcare responsibilities
• needing to take care of a sick or elderly family member
• needing to relocate

While you can talk with your manager about alternative arrangements to help you work while you take care of personal matters, sometimes leaving a job for personal reasons is unavoidable.

When it comes to explaining why you left a job, remember that leaving a job for personal reasons is understandable. If you’re worried about it impacting your chances of landing another job, explain your situation in your cover letter.

10. Layoffs

Tech layoffs were rampant in 2024, and many industries continue to be disrupted by the rise of AI and global instability. Additionally, because of company acquisitions, mergers, and general economic downturns, you may suddenly find yourself out of a job through no fault of your own. While unfortunate, layoffs remain a common reason why people leave their jobs.

11. Getting let go

In America, most workers are at-will employees, which means they can be fired at any time without warning.

While at-will employers don’t have to explain why they’re letting you go, try your best to ask about the reasons for your termination. Doing so can not only help you appeal the termination, but it can also provide you useful information to improve your performance in future roles, evaluate your next steps, and help you reply when asked “Why did you leave your last job?” in an interview.

3 tips for leaving your job

If you’ve decided it’s time to quit your job for any of the above reasons, you’ll need to make preparations for a smooth exit. Here are 3 tips for leaving your job the right way:

1. Plan your next steps

Understanding the reasons motivating you to leave your job will help you determine your logical next step.

Whatever your next step, make sure you’re financially prepared. The size of your savings can determine the timing of your departure.

In some cases, like switching jobs for a better working environment, you may try to postpone leaving until you’ve secured a new position to avoid relying too much on your savings.

2. Compile your achievements

The work you’ve done at your current job represents all of the time and effort you’ve poured into the job. Keep a record of your professional achievements to help launch you into your next stage when you decide to leave your job.

Make sure not to take any company property or proprietary information, and track and save samples of your work to remind yourself what you’ve accomplished.

Even if you haven’t been keeping a work log throughout your time in a role, you can still take stock of your major achievements and add these accomplishments to your resume while you have access to all the projects you’ve done.

Going through your work before you leave can also help you and your employer understand:

• what work still needs to be done
• how to allocate your workload to others
• who you might need to train before you leave

3. Tell your manager you’re leaving

Once you’ve made preparations to leave, the next step is to resign. Here’s how to do so gracefully:

Give notice to your manager in-person or in a resignation letter

Whether you have an in-person discussion with your manager, send a letter of resignation, or both, you’ll need to specify the reasons you’re leaving. Avoid discussing negative reasons that are causing you to leave and focus on the positive reasons leading you to your next step.

Be level-headed in your exit interview

Not all companies hold exit interviews, and those that do differ widely in how they conduct them. Whether the HR department collects your feedback in a survey or an in-person interview, the goal of the exit interview is for the company to learn how to improve.

Because the confidentiality of your statements isn’t always guaranteed and you may want to ask your employer for a recommendation, avoid calling out anybody specifically or complaining unprofessionally.

When giving constructive feedback, point out policies or systems that could be changed rather than blaming team members.

For more tips on how to quit the right way, check out this video from our TikTok account:

@resumegenius Thinking about quitting your job? ?‍♀️ Before you send that resignation letter, make sure you know how to quit your job the right way and without burning bridges. ?Need a resignation letter template? Comment “resignation template” and we’ll DM it to you! ? #resign #resignation #quitting #template ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Tips

Frequently asked questions

Want to know more about leaving a job? Find our answers to common questions related to leaving a job below.

1. How do I explain leaving a job for health reasons?

Explain leaving a job for health reasons when resigning by stating your intention to leave (including when your last day will be) and thanking your employer for the opportunities and support you’ve received. There’s no need to provide more specifics other than “health issues” unless you feel comfortable doing so.

See a sample answer for explaining leaving a job for health reasons when resigning:

I’ve decided to step away from work to take care of some health issues. I’ve learned so much and enjoyed working with the whole team while here, but in order to focus on my health, I’d like to submit my two weeks’ notice.

When interviewing for a new position, only provide as much detail as you’re comfortable with.
Here’s an example of how to explain leaving a job for health reasons in an interview:

I left my previous position due to health reasons. My health issues have since cleared up, and I’m confident that it won’t affect my attendance or my ability to perform my work.

2. What is the best reason for leaving a job?

The best reason for leaving a job depends on the specific individual and workplace, often with multiple factors affecting an employee’s decision to change jobs.

When interviewing at new places or participating in exit interviews, you should always mention professional reasons rather than personal reasons or higher pay.

A professional reason, such as wanting more growth opportunities, gives future employers more information about you as a worker and allows you to stress why you want to work for the company you’re interviewing with.

3. How do I describe why I left my last job on a job application?

When asked the reasons for leaving your last job on a job application, you should put only professional and positive reasons, such as a desire for greater career growth.

Additionally, unless there is a dedicated section, don’t use too much space on your job application to answer this question (1 sentence is sufficient). Use your cover letter and resume to sell your qualifications, and leave answering why you left your last job for the interview.

4. Why do employers ask why you left a job in interviews?

Employers often ask your reasons for leaving a current or previous job in job interviews to assess your career motivations, check to see if you’re a good fit for the company culture, and to measure your professionalism.

When answering this question in an interview, it’s important to keep these reasons in mind, and explain your reasons accordingly. Focus on giving a clear, short answer that doesn’t make you seem unprofessional.