Thinking about quitting your job and being part of “the Great Resignation”? If so, you’re in good company. Over 4 million workers quit their jobs in April, and more have quit since then. The pandemic has caused all of us to rethink certain parts of our lives – what’s truly important to us and how we want to spend our time. Long commutes into work and 60+ hour weeks aren’t as appealing as they used to be. Or maybe they were never very appealing, but they certainly were more accepted as “just the way it is.”
But now that we know things can be different, many employees are ready to make a change. More flexibility, less stress, more reasonable hours, better pay, shorter commute, and working from home are some of the main reasons. Some people have even discovered a whole different passion and want to switch careers altogether. [Here are tips if you’re a leader who’s trying to retain your employees during the Great Resignation.]
Does this sound like where you are? Are you wanting something different? Perhaps you love your job but want a different dynamic. Or maybe you want to switch careers altogether. Perhaps you’ve hated your job for a long time and have been biding your time until you could find something else.
Whatever your individual reasons are for wanting to leave your job, you’ll benefit in the long run by following a couple of steps in the process. You want to make sure to leave well. And you want to make sure you don’t find yourself in the exact same situation with your next job. Here’s what to do before walking out the door (or logging off) for good.
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List your likes and dislikes.
I’m a big list person. I can’t think of any big decisions I’ve made without making at least one list! Writing things down and looking over them can be so helpful.
When you’re wanting to leave your job, it’s easy to focus on the dislikes. But chances are, there are still some things you like about your job! List those out.
Then, list all of your dislikes. Long commute, annoying coworkers – you name it.
This helps give you a perspective of your likes vs. dislikes. You could even discover that there’s more you enjoy than you realized. Or this could help solidify that you need to move on to the next step.
Work through your dislikes.
Take your list of dislikes, and see what you could do to change any of them. You’ll probably end up with 3 categories – (1) things you can change, (2) things you’d need others (like your boss) to change, and (3) things that are unchangeable.
It took years for me to realize the importance of this step. I originally had this mindset that work dynamics were just to be accepted. I didn’t want to seem demanding, so I was hesitant to ask for things I needed. But I started watching others who were much more comfortable doing this! They’d ask for raises, flexible schedules, etc. They didn’t always get exactly what they asked for, but they’d often get something. And their bosses tended to appreciate the opportunity to improve things, rather than just getting a resignation letter.
Be honest with yourself about what things you might be able to change. For example, you’re frustrated that you’re always the one who’s working overtime while others are out having social lives. Take a hard look at why this is. Are you not getting your work done on time? Are you wanting so badly to please others that you always say yes to extra hours? See what changes you could start to make now to work less overtime. Because here’s the thing – if you don’t change this now, you could find yourself doing the exact same thing in your next job.
Approach the things you need others to change. If you want a more flexible schedule, talk with your boss about options. You may not know what’s possible until you ask! Before leaving full-time HR employment to become a SAHM, I brainstormed with my boss to see if we could find a dynamic that would work well for both of us. Even though I ultimately resigned, it was a hugely helpful conversation for both of us. She appreciated the honest conversation and the chance to see what changes might help. And for me, it helped me know what I really wanted.
There’s really great advice about this whole topic in Laurie Ruettimann’s book Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career. It’s an easy read, and she talks about ways to improve your current work dynamic and ways to prepare yourself to have a great next job.
Develop your must-have list.
It’s not enough to know what you don’t want. You need to know what you DO want! What things are non-negotiables for you? (The list you made in step 1 about things you like may help you with this.) If there’s anything on this list that your current job doesn’t offer, see if that could change. Otherwise, it may be time to look elsewhere. Compare each job opportunity to that list. As you go through the interview process, be prepared to negotiate around your must-have list. Knowing my must-haves was huge for me during my first months as a mom working a full-time job.
Do your research.
Just because the grass sounds greener at another company, doesn’t mean it is. Everyone puts their best foot forward in the recruiting process – companies too. If you don’t personally know someone who works there, look on LinkedIn for some current or former employees, and ask them about their experience. Check out the reviews on Glassdoor. Sure, you might come across people who just like to complain. But if you see any red flags, do some more digging. Ask questions during the interview process. Do your best to make sure you know what kind of dynamic you’d be walking into.
Give a good notice – and honor it.
Once you decide to resign, make sure to give an appropriate notice. The general expectation is 2 weeks, although it can be longer for certain positions. So, find out what your company policy is, and think about what’s helpful for your boss and your coworkers.
If you’re in a really frustrating job, it can be easy to want to just be done. But do everything you can to leave well. First, this shows your character. Second, you never know when paths might cross again. Third, what if the new job turns out to be even more terrible and you want your old job back? It may be hard to imagine, but I’ve seen it happen. And the way the employee left played a huge role in whether they were welcomed back.
Sometimes, I see situations where the new company tries to convince the person to give a short notice and come work for them faster. The new company can be quite persuasive, talking about high workload, important projects, a huge need, etc. But remember, it’s your character on the line. You don’t know when you might need those at your old job. And if that new company really is okay with you shortchanging someone else? Well, I wouldn’t expect them to treat you respectfully down the road either. Give a good notice and do everything you can to be helpful in transitioning your responsibilities.
Bottom line – if you’re wanting to leave your job, take the time to go through these steps. Yes, it might prolong the process a bit. But you’ll learn a lot about yourself along the way. You’ll be much more likely to end up with a job that’s really fulfilling and enjoyable. And that’s completely worth it!
Photo credit: By fotostorm / Canva