[Is it okay to quit after six months?] The convincing reason why changing jobs from an intense work environment actually 'doesn't lower your lifetime earnings'!
"If you quit your job after six months, you'll lose your market value."
"If you change jobs too often, your annual income will definitely go down."
──We often hear comments like these.
Is that really true?
Certainly, there are companies that judge solely based on the appearance of a resume. But is that really true?
When you think about it calmly,enduring intense work at the expense of your health could be the most dangerous choice in the long run.
1. Taking a leave of absence is a blow to both "income and career"
What happens if you keep enduring intense work, break your health, and go on leave?
In many cases,injury and sickness allowance is only about 60% of your base salary (varies by company). Bonuses and various allowances are cut, and if you have a family, your life will suddenly become difficult.
Furthermore, what cannot be overlooked ishealth concerns when changing jobs.
Originally, asking about past health conditions during hiring is restricted, but in reality, it is sometimes asked in the form of an "optional answer."
Although you have the freedom not to answer, if you remain silent, there is a risk of being suspected of "hiding something." This is one of theclever strategies on the company's side. If that happens, it becomes harder to change jobs, and there is a risk that your annual income will be undervalued.
2. Changing jobs after six months can be a "choice to protect your market value"
It is true that quitting after six months is a negative on your resume. However, the merit of being able tostand in the job market in a healthy state
is immeasurable.
That's right! Right now, being in astate where you can make healthy and calm judgmentsis very important.
Once you have a history of illness or leave of absence, you will have to spend time and effort explaining it, and depending on the company, it may become a cause for rejection (although some companies do not care about the past, there are still many that do).
Even if you leave after six months, you can fight well enough if you can turn the reason into a positive one. For example──
"The job duties were significantly different from the job description after joining the company."
"I decided to change jobs early to protect my future career because there was no prospect of improvement in the heavy workload."
Such reasons can be received asfuture-oriented and positive judgments.
3. Thinking from the perspective of lifetime earnings
If you ruin your health and take a long-term leave or quit, your subsequent annual income curve may drop significantly.
On the other hand, even if you quit after six months, if you can maintain or improve your annual income at your next workplace, your lifetime earnings will actually be higher.
In other words──
"Not quitting" is not justice, but
"moving while you are healthy" is the greatest defense for your career
A concrete example in my case
This is my own case.
I myself have also changed jobs after working for about six months plus due to intense work. Of course, the reason for thisshort-term job change is questioned, but by honestly stating the job mismatch (adding a reflection that I did not research in advance), it was not a major handicap.
Beyond that, I have been able to maintain my annual income almost as I hoped.
Furthermore, there is a tailwind now as Japan as a whole is falling into a labor shortage.If Japanese companies worried too much about short-term turnover, they wouldn't be able to hire anyone, so this handicap does not seem to be that significant.
Summary
Intense work and poor environmentsundermine your health, and are highly likely to lower your lifetime earnings in the long run.
Even if changing jobs after six months is a negative on your resume, it can be arational decision to protect your market value.
Preparing a positive reason for leaving is the key.
Above all,health comes first. Make choices that ensure you don't lose your ability to work.
It is not "quitting too early" that is scary, but"deciding too late" that is scarier.
To protect your market value and lifetime earnings, have the courage to take action while you are still healthy.
Health first! If you can move, do it while you still can!
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