There are many reasons people leave their jobs, but here are some crucial factors to consider before you do.
Many people take the big leap and quit their jobs having no backup plan or job offer. If the thought of quitting your job has crossed your mind because of a recent conflict or unpleasant experience, then consider answering two questions.
What is your reason for wanting to quit? Be honest with yourself about the reasons you want to leave. Are you ready to quit? Have you allowed your employer to correct the problem(s) that you are having? Are you willing to take the risk of not getting another job right away? Is your personal life in order enough so that you can handle job hunting?
Have you talked with your supervisor about the situation? If not, do not do it now. Wait until things have calmed down and then schedule a time to meet with him or her. Be sure to have all the facts written out before the meeting so that you can present all the issues accurately and professionally. You do not want any surprises during the meeting. Be prepared by knowing what you want done about the issue(s). If they are unwilling to correct it, go back and decide if you want to leave or if there is another way out.
If you are uncompromisingly resolute that you want to take that big leap and leave, here are ten things to consider before quitting your job:
- Set a date for when you will quit so that you can give your employer enough time to find someone to take over your position. You should have an exit interview with them so they know the reasons you are leaving and so that they can take steps to stop it from happening again.
- Have a plan for how you will handle your finances. It is important to have a plan for how you will pay your bills and what you will do if you need money quickly.
- Make sure you have a plan for what is next. You should have a clearly defined idea of what your next steps will be and how you will manage them. For example, if you are leaving because of a stressful job, make sure you have an idea about how to avoid similar stress in the future.
- Consider the impact on your co-workers. Your co-workers might be unhappy about your departure, especially if they lose their jobs or must work more hours because of it. Avoid being seen as a betrayer by talking to them about why you are leaving beforehand, even if it is just an informal conversation at lunch or after work.
- If you are having problems with someone at work, make sure you resolve the problem before you quit. It is important to make sure that things are resolved before quitting because otherwise, because there is a possibility, they could follow you into your next job and cause problems again there, too. The problem will get worse if you allow it to continue unresolved.
- Get your references: Make sure that your employer will give references on your behalf so that it is easier for you to get a job.
- Create A Google Alert About YourselfOne thing people do not consider when they start looking for a new job is that many companies will Google search them before inviting them for an interview or sending out an offer letter so having a Google alert helps to keep you prepared prevents surprises during critical times.
- Clean up Your Online Reputation go over your social profiles and online media accounts and remove any videos, pictures, or comments that could be considered unprofessional. If they are group photos and you want to keep some of these memories, inform family and friends to untag you in such photos in the meantime.
- Start Building Your Online Reputation Having an online reputation is not just about getting good reviews on LinkedIn but it is also related to having professional social media accounts with a decent following, an active blog where you can post meaningful information, videos showing your skills or data that shows how effective you were at previous jobs. It is important to build this reputation ahead of time, so when companies look for candidates online, they will find you first even before considering reaching out to your current/past employer.
- Stay in touch with people after quitting: Don’t burn bridges with the people you worked with during your last few weeks and days at work because they might help you later.
If you are considering quitting your job, it can be a scary thought. It is normal to have doubts and fears about the future. However, if you have read this post at all, we hope that we have helped offer some clarity on how to decide based on what will truly help you find happiness in lifelong term.
We want to know–have any of these points been helpful when making your decision? What would you add or change from our list so others may benefit from it as well? Please share by leaving a comment below.
