The Ultimate Decision-Maker When Quitting Jobs and Accepting Offers

Years in recruitment sharpened one thing more than anything else—my gut. Not the beer belly built from client lunches, but instinct. After dealing with honest candidates, slippery managers, last-minute withdrawals, and people who cost me thousands in lost commission, I learnt to stop listening with my ears and start listening with my stomach.

The truth is, you have probably experienced the same. You ignored your instincts, followed your head instead of your heart, and later muttered: “I knew I shouldn’t have done that.”

So when is the right time to leave a role? And how do you know whether a new job offer is actually right for you? Let’s dig into the real decision-maker—the one that sits quietly behind every major career choice: your gut.

Why People Leave Their Jobs (and What Recruiters Really Look For)

When I worked as a recruiter, trying to tempt passive candidates into new opportunities, my first mission—after confirming they were genuinely qualified—was to uncover their wound.

Nobody leaves a job when they are happy, valued, challenged, and paid well. If someone is talking to a recruiter, there is always a reason. The question is: do you know yours?

Should You Quit Your Job?

Before jumping ship, be brutally honest about what is really going on. Ask yourself:

• Am I genuinely unhappy, or merely bored?
• Could I move internally rather than leaving altogether?
• Is this really about money? Would a raise actually solve the problem?
• Do I like my team more than I realise?
• Am I tempted by the shiny new salary but ignoring the reality of what I enjoy?

Sometimes you are in a “perfect” role on paper—but something still feels off. That discomfort is your gut trying to tell you the truth before you can articulate it.

When your subconscious knows something your conscious mind is avoiding, lists of pros and cons won’t cut it. You have to get quiet enough to hear yourself.

How to Hear Your Gut (Properly)

If you cannot explain why you feel unsettled, take yourself out of your head. Go for a walk. No analysing. No mental spreadsheets. Just walk, breathe, and let the noise drop away until you can hear what your deeper self is trying to say.

The samurai had a simple rule: take three breaths, then make the decision. Not overthinking. Not second-guessing. Just clarity.

Try it: walk, breathe, listen—and decide. That is the real you speaking.

Should You Accept a Job Offer?

Gut instinct is not mystical. It is data—years of experience, patterns, memories, failures, and victories condensed into one immediate reaction. Whether you describe that as intuition or neuroscience doesn’t matter. What matters is this: don’t ignore it.

When the answer comes, commit to it. Don’t waffle. Don’t negotiate with yourself. Don’t explain your decision to others—they will only muddy your instinct and make you doubt yourself.

I once ignored my gut. A hiring manager barely read my CV, was distracted, and conducted a terrible interview. My instincts said “run”. When I told him, he admitted he was having a dreadful day and offered a second interview with someone else. The new facts shifted my instincts slightly, so I went. And funnily enough—it worked out.

So yes, your gut can be wrong. That’s life. But when you balance instinct with solid facts, you rarely make a truly bad decision.

The Real Secret: Balance Instinct with Reality

You are the decision-maker—not your left brain, not your right brain, and definitely not your opinions of the moment. Your gut is not perfect; but it is one of the most reliable signals you have. Ignore it too often, and life will remind you why you shouldn’t.

So take a walk. Clear the noise. Take three breaths. And listen.

Ready to Make Your Next Move?

The job market never gets easier—but you can get smarter. Whether you are quitting a role, negotiating a salary, or stepping into a brand-new field, clarity is everything.

Want to ace your next interview? Download our free job interview preparation eBook and master the art of confident interviewing.

Your gut will point you in the right direction—let us help you back it up with strategy.