Millennials and Gen Z can easily recognize toxic workplaces, poor systems, workmates, and bosses compared to previous generations. Instead of burning out and stressing it all, they’re walking out. Fed-up workers channel into the new quiet quitting: rage-applying.

The newest social media buzzword, “rage-applying,” is a phenomenon of switching to different jobs when feeling distressed or burnt out at your current job. According to Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist, people tend to rage-apply when they feel as if they’ve been under-appreciated, passed over, or stuck in a toxic working environment.

Nowadays, many employees are experiencing burnout and stress brought on by a toxic environment, poor company policies and systems, toxic bosses, too much work for a little salary, and even in the entirety of work. The result is finding new jobs and aggressively taking the jobs to disengage from the hustle and bustle of your current one.

Where did rage-applying come from?
Rage-applying was coined by @redweez, a Canadian millennial in social media marketing. Her video went viral after her post about ‘I got mad at work, and I rage-applied to, like, 15 jobs. And then, I got a job that gave me a $25,000 raise, and it’s a great place to work. So keep rage-applying. It’ll happen.’ The video has gained more than two million views and has been shared over 20,000 times. Hence, rage-applying became known as sending multiple curriculum vitae and resumes to companies and job applications to escape their old job.

It’s not new among millennials and Gen Z today since they want more money, recognition, appreciation, purpose, and flexibility. It’s pretty normal to look for a job that will suffice your family’s needs and expenses, especially now with inflation and low salaries given to workers and employees.

But Dr. Manly recommends self-reflection and assessment to learn why you want to leave, such as increasing your salary or leaving negative bosses or co-workers to avoid bringing any baggage to the next job.

Rage-applying: A Solution?
Assess where rage is coming from. Check if that rage is valid or not or just out of pressure. You don’t need to compare your life situation to other people. Some might be lucky to find a job that suits them well; some might be lucky to get out of their toxic work and find a new one, and some might still be experiencing quiet quitting. But assessing yourself and the work that you do will also add to the self-reflection you need.

“Although rage applying can yield positive results, it’s generally wise to process one’s anger and frustration before taking action,” Dr. Manly said. She also added that some people leave a series of jobs for the same reason—such as a critical boss—only to find later that unaddressed personal issues (e.g., a fear of conflict or trauma) had contributed to the problems.

A life-purpose and career coach, Grace Miller, explained that rage-applying is an empowering move to wanting to take power back however you can. But she warned against being reactive, “You’ll always have better results when applying to something because it feels like a fit, not out of a reaction to your current role,” she said.

Finding a new job is not a sin; it’s risky sometimes, but it teaches us about ourselves and the way we deal with easy and difficult challenges in life. Reflecting on one’s values, skills, and purpose may also help you to have a clearer view of life and know more about what you want to achieve.

Is rage-applying the next big thing the HR Department should worry about? Probably not. It will all depend on how engaged and valued your workforce is to keep your people around. When your people are engaged and recognized, you won’t be bothered with worries, and the problem of people exiting can be avoided.

For employers, it’s important to focus on people’s engagement, recognition, right and able compensation, and understanding what the employees need to be engaged and retained. Who would prefer to leave if treated humanely, right?

Finding our purpose and value in the workplace is sometimes more than the job you’re looking for. It’s more about finding YOU and the satisfaction you need to feel and inspire you to continue. That’s why it’s important to re-evaluate your goals and yourself before rage-applying. It might create a cycle of dissatisfaction if not properly evaluated.

It’s challenging to find an ideal job that best suits your needs and potential with people who will value your worth and the work you do. But always remember to decipher all options and possibilities first, assess the situation, and re-evaluate yourself multiple times before making decisions. #