6 Considerations Before You Quit Your Job

Things are getting a little more normal every day.  Vaccinations and staged re-openings are signalling both the end of the pandemic and it messing with your daily life. And possibly signalling the end of the way you’ve been working for the past 16 months.  
 
The pandemic has been horrific for many, and I wouldn’t wish it to continue or re-occur.  However, there have been some welcome changes that I hope stick around long after the pandemic is gone.  Changes like no more waiting for my appointment at my doctor’s office and a continuation of seeing families doing more things, like hiking, cycling, and generally spending more quality time together.  
 
There is a reason you can’t easily buy the bike you want on-line or get a puppy right now, there is high demand because along with masks and physical distancing we’ve also embraced what it means to be able to spend more time doing things we enjoy with loved ones.  And a lot of us really like this welcome change in our schedules.  So much so, the thought of going back to work the way things were may have you wondering if you want to stay in your current job.
 
NPR (National Public Radio) recently published an article on exactly this topic referencing “the great resignation”, citing an unprecedented occurrence, high unemployment in the US AND a labour shortage, which is happening because many people are considering whether they want to go back to their previous roles, and opting for change.  While restaurant and retail workers are leading the charge, many other professionals are also taking a deep look at whether or not going back to the way things were (even with a hybrid model) is what they want.  
 
Are you one of them?
 
Going back to normal may mean a return to a hectic travel schedule that lost its appeal, or back to working with more rigidity, in some cases with high demands as organizations push to make up any pandemic shortfall in earnings.
 
Need help to decide whether you want to stay in your current role or join the great resignation? Here are some things to consider to help you see if you need to move on:

• You are not getting what you need to meet work expectations.  I work with lots of professionals and executives whose performance targets are so out of line with reality, it is soul-crushing.  Organizations can set aggressive targets, some of them are aspirational and some are a non-negotiable demand for results.  Either are fine if your organization is willing to give you the support (time, budget, people, recognition, etc.) you need to get the work done.  If not, then you just might be faced with a circumstance where you are set up to fail – I’ve helped hundreds of professionals re-negotiate their targets or find someplace else to invest their talents.
• You have to change who you are to stay employed.  Any job that asks you to park your values (which may include your morals and ethics), is asking too much.  If you feel you have to change who you are to stay employed, you may want to think about your career and employment options (did I mention there is a labour shortage?  You have options and I can help).
• You, or your profession, are not respected.  I had a client who was an accountant, and routinely called a “bean counter”, “tight-fisted” and many other stereotypical slurs based on his profession.  He hated it.  If your boss or team mates make derogatory comments or jokes at your expense (expecting you to just laugh it off), or if your profession is not well understood, is underutilized or if it’s referred to in a condescending way where you work, it may be time to go (which is what my client the accountant did, and he is now very happy working in an organization that values both him and his profession).
• You don’t trust your employer.  Or your boss.  If your employer does not have your best interests at heart, if they don’t seem to care about your welfare, or have unfair labour practices, please know that roughly 80% of employers are decent, well-meaning and offer a positive working experience.  Same goes for your boss.  Don’t let a few bad apples make you question your talent, or your value.  Find an employer who is worth your trust (I can help).
• Your work is controlling your “me” time.  A lot of professional work demands some over-time, but when that means you are “on-call”, expected to work evenings and weekends, or hop on a plane at a finger-snap, it’s time to re-think this employment relationship. Take one of my clients who’s an executive in a demanding firm, she worked with me to set better boundaries and is now much happier where she works (who knew her organization would respect her needs when she negotiated for them… as I said, 80% of employers offer a positive work experience, but you may still need to help them understand what works for you, and what doesn’t).
• You think you might be in the wrong job.  Everyone has doubts from time-to-time, that’s natural.  However, if you are worried you’re in the wrong job, then let’s chat.  Feeling like an imposter, or constantly on the verge of being “fired”, or just really unhappy because the work doesn’t light you up means you are compromising too much of your happiness to be there. I have a system that can help you figure out where you need to be.

 
Getting to the bottom of things BEFORE you hand in your resignation is key – you’re in a much stronger bargaining position when you have a clear picture of what needs to change, and how to change it (at your current job or the next).  If you don’t have that plan, you risk leaping “from the frying pan into the fire”.  Book a complimentary Career Strategy Session with me today to get your plan started, so you can make great career decisions that support the working life you deserve. 

Thinking of "breaking up" with your employer?  
​You need a plan! I can help.

Book Today!