There are many reasons why you might quit your current job. It could be due to struggles with management, grief from co-workers, or simply a desire to change scenery. Whatever the reason, there’s a right and wrong way to leave your current position.
The common courtesy is to give your place of business two weeks’ notice. This allows them to start looking for a replacement for you and divvying up your workload until they find one. Beyond that basic bit of etiquette, this article will discuss the other things you should do. To make the transition from your current job to a new one as smooth as possible, keep these five things in mind.
1. Look Before You Leap
If you plan on quitting your job, chances are you’re not doing so to start your retirement. If you are, though, congratulations! If not, it’s time to start looking for your next place of work. Quitting your job before you have a new position lined up is risky business.
Sure, it would be nice to have a week or two to yourself to relax. However, if you don’t identify your next role, that week can turn into months of unemployment, straining your finances. Remember, if you resign voluntarily, you don’t qualify for unemployment benefits. So before you resign, prepare to transition to a new job quickly.
You can make your job search easier by revamping your resume. This will make you a more attractive candidate for new employers. Don’t know where to start? Try using an AI resume builder that will help you tailor your resume for each potential opportunity.
2. Consider Your Family’s Needs
If you are the primary provider for your family, you need to consider their needs. How will they be impacted if you quit your job? Do you have sufficient savings to take care of them while you’re transitioning to a new position? You may think you can’t take another day at your present workplace, but think twice before you hand in your key fob. You can’t simply walk out if the consequences your family will have to endure are too severe.
When identifying new opportunities, consider how possible positions would affect your family situation. You’ll have to move if you find a job in a new city or even a new state. This can be difficult, especially for kids who will be leaving friends and familiar places behind.
What about the hours and salary of your new job? Switching to the night shift, for example, can affect your relationship with your family. Quitting your job to take a new one with lower pay can also be difficult. Keep these variables in mind before you tender your resignation.
3. Realign Your Career Goals
You might be considering leaving your current job because your goals have changed. Maybe you’ve reached the limits of your current job and want a role with more responsibility and greater benefits. In that scenario, taking a shot with a different company may be a good idea.
You may even be burned out on your current occupation entirely. In this case, you might consider looking for a job in an entirely new field. Before making that jump, make sure you do your research. Find out what is needed to take a position in the field and your career trajectory with the change.
It can help to make a prioritized list for your job search. Assess items such as required skills, yearly salary, schedule flexibility, advancement opportunities, and industry culture. When weighing your current job against open positions in the new field, see which role fits your highest priorities the best. This can help you decide whether to leave and where to go next.
4. Leave a Lasting (Positive) Impression
Too many people burn bridges at their old jobs when they move on to new ones. There are plenty of reasons why this is a bad idea. Your goal should be to leave a positive and enduring impression on the people you work with.
The new opportunity may not work out as you had hoped. In that case, you might need to return to your former employer. If you burn all the bridges there, the organization won’t likely take you back.
Maintaining good relationships with former managers and co-workers can also pay off in the longer run. Managers also move on; a former boss might recommend you for a position in their new company. Or they may be willing to provide you with recommendation letters to bolster your case with other prospective employers.
5. Ensure You’re Not Leaving Anything Behind
Before you hightail it out of your cubicle, ensure you’re not leaving anything important behind. This goes beyond double-checking that you’ve properly cleaned out your desk. There are some less immediately tangible things you need to ensure you don’t mind leaving behind.
For example, take stock of any company benefits you may be forfeiting. You should review your retirement benefits to ensure you’re not leaving money on the table. It’s possible that you need to hit one more major milestone before you reap the full benefits.
Other things to look at are the friendships you’ve made, legitimate promises of advancement, or even unused vacation time. If there are advantages to your current job that you’d be loath to give up, you might rethink — or at least postpone — your departure. The last thing you want to feel when leaving your job is regret.
Quitting your current job may be the best action you could take. Just ensure you’re thinking your decision through fully before pulling the trigger.
