Beverley East, Contributor

I have received so many letters since the beginning of the year. Many of you are champing at the bit, wanting to quit your job. This is my general response to all.

So, your job is driving you crazy with frustration and resentment. Is it driving you to drink? Are you one step away from wringing someone's neck? Think twice before you throw in the towel and jump overboard.

Work frustrations can lead to serious emotional mistakes which you might regret later. Trust me, I have been there so many times. I once worked at a company where tempers flared almost every hour. I felt like I was in a war zone. Even when it was not me being yelled at, I was yelling at someone else, which is not my style of communication. But I felt it was the only way to be heard.

I left the office one day just to cool down and never returned to work. It hurt my career terribly for months because in subsequent interviews, I could not explain my behaviour and, of course, the employer I left refused to give me a reference and say how well I had done over the years I had been there - all that seemed to matter was that I walked out on them without notice.

So, learn from the wise. Sure, you will get frustrated with your job. But when are those frustrations enough to make you leave the company? Before you make a hasty decision that could hurt your career and kill your personal life, you should be sure your reasons for quitting are valid.

Do not pull the trigger too fast. Before you submit your resignation letter, compile a list that reflects the pros and cons of staying with the company. If you see more advantages, such as having an established work ethic, good relations with upper management and job stability, then staying may be the better choice. See and think beyond the present.

If money and fancier titles are your reasons for wanting to leave a job, some re-evaluation is needed which creates a work environment that is conducive to your professional goals. Until you truly know what keeps you content within the day-to-day job functions, it may be best to hold on.

People outgrow their work environment, especially if they are in their first job out of college or if they are going through a serious life change. If you feel you have exhausted every effort to move up the ladder and have hit the proverbial 'glass ceiling', then it might be time to go. However, remember the grass is not always greener on the other side. Most workers are not able to assess accurately if quitting is the best move.

If you are leaving because of money, for instance, there is a strong chance it will become an issue with the new employer. Someone can take a new job and get a 10 per cent salary increase, but the following year, the raise will typically resort to the significantly lower national average wage.

Sometimes, you need to move on. If you do not see any growth opportunities with your current employer, it may be time to look elsewhere. Often, workers will stay around simply because they like their co-workers and are comfortable with the office environment, although they already know they cannot advance.

Being complacent can have negative effects because the higher up the ladder you go, the more others develop a misconception about you and your talents. This is reflected in areas such as pay rises and promotions. If a worker is in such a situation, then it is time to re-evaluate the importance of professional development. Leaving the company may be the only option; butting heads with management is a bad sign.

In the working world, a commonly used phrase is: 'You never quit a job - you quit your manager.' If you are working with an incompe-tent manager, and there are more than we care for, and have made repeated attempts to switch departments and remove yourself from the situation with no avail, it is time to move on. It should be the organisation's interest to keep good workers. Before you make a final decision, you should talk with someone you can trust outside the company.

Unhappy workers often get stuck in a negative mindset and nothing about the current job will ever appear to be worthwhile. Sharing your concerns with someone who has an unbiased opinion can help pinpoint things that are not obvious to you, such as financial stability or whether the new job can really help advance your career. Be certain that you are leaving for a better opportunity and not simply running away from something else. If you are still on the fence about leaving, talk to your manager about taking on more challenges and pursuing other options within the company. Be sure you know what your career goals are and ask if there is anything coming down the line that fits those wants and needs. Ultimately, quitting should be a last resort.

When emotions run high, beware. There can be plenty of stressful moments between you and your boss, but that is no reason to decide on the fly to quit your job. Often when something happens, such as not getting a promotion, a worker's emotions take over. Instead, think rationally and talk with your manager about areas that need improvement. Take a deep breath and think twice. Weather the storm. This too shall pass.

Have a productive week.