This is a question that will be asked by many people.  If you are deciding whether or not to quit your job, you will certainly hear this from someone.  It may be your boss, your coworkers, and your partner or spouse.

Before you decide if you are going to quit or not, you should be able to answer this question for yourself.

To help you get started, here are some common reasons.  Some are good reasons.  Some are not.  This may help you decide if you really should quit.

#1 – I hate my boss!

This can be a good reason or a bad reason.  Most people aren’t best friends for their bosses.  Nobody likes to be told what to do and when to do it.  The boss is the focal point of all of our complaints as employees.

But before simply saying that you hate your boss, ask how you really feel.  Do you dislike them personally or professionally? Do you work well under them?

The idea is to discover if your problems with your boss are personal, “I don’t like how she always talks about her kids,” or professional, “She always delegates the easy tasks to my coworkers.”

Professional problems are the ones that really justify quitting your job.

Some career coaches talk about working out professional problems with your boss before deciding to quit.  But the truth is, you may have already talked to them, or feel intimidated.  You should always try to talk to people.  This isn’t always realistic, though.

#2 – They don’t pay me enough for my work!

Are you sure?  Have you checked comparable regional salaries for your position and experience?  Do those numbers take into account the current job market and unemployment rates?

If you are sure, there is two things you absolutely must do before quitting.  First, get an interview and job offer from another employer who is willing to pay more.  Second, tell your current employer that you have an offer for X amount of dollars.  Give them a chance to beat it.

But remember, don’t take an offer that doesn’t significantly beat it.  They could always turn around after a month or two and cut your pay or fire you.  Then you’ve already burned the first offer or another employer by turning them down to stay with an employer that either couldn’t or wouldn’t keep you on.

So when doing this, have it in your mind that you really do want to quit, that you have alternatives, and you can tell them to give you a raise or you walk without bluffing.  Never bluff an employer for a raise.  More often than not, they’ll call your bluff.  Once they realize you’re serious, they will call you in for a last minute offer if they are serious about keeping you.

#3 – I can’t take the stress anymore!

This is usually a culmination of many problems.  While this situation is serious, it may have little to do with your job.  Before declaring that work is your source of stress, talk to a councilor.  Not only might you work through your stress, but you may find the councilor helpful in getting time off under FMLA.

Unless you work for someone like Google, asking to take a sabbatical is rarely granted to most employees.  But under FMLA, you could be declared medically disabled and take a badly needed period of time off to get past the stress.

Whether it’s a midlife crisis or postpartum depression, speak with a councilor before quitting your job.  The sudden loss of income may only make your stress worse.

Once you can answer these questions for yourself, you will be able to answer that spouse who has house payments and children’s food on their mind.

And remember, quitting a job is far less upsetting if you first find a new job to go to, much like putting the parachute on before jumping out of the plane, rather than after.

Be sure to read our related article: How to Survive Personal Crisis

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