Thinking of leaving your job but not sure if it’s the right thing to do? I know how you feel. Let me share the list of things I took into consideration before I decided to resign from my job.
We’ve all been there: we are unhappy with our work, and we get thoughts about leaving or resigning from our jobs. But it’s not that easy. Quitting one’s job is a big thing. You can't do it on a whim. There are many things to think about before deciding to resign.
 |
| Photo by Liza Summer |
In this post, I share some of the main factors that I took into consideration before making my decision to leave. If you are thinking of doing the same thing, these might help you to make sure you are making the right decision!
But First, Why?
The most important factor for me, when I decided to leave, was why. There are so many elements of the job that you must think about before you decide that it is no longer a good fit for you. For me, it boiled down to these things:
Career Growth/Path
I was aware of the career path in our organization and the path ahead was not for me. The next higher rank that I could go to was one in a position that I had no interest in having. It made me think about whether this was something that I wanted to grow into and see myself in for the next few years. I realized that it was not and that the only way I could go into a path that I wanted was to leave my job.
If the growth within the organization is something that you aspire for, then give the job a second chance. Discuss your options with your superiors. Talk to HR to see how else you can grow in the company to see if it is something you would want. If not, then it may be time to look at other options to find the path you will be happy with.
Work-Life Balance
My job involved an 8 AM-5 PM, five days a week schedule. It may seem that it leaves an opportunity for a good work-life balance, but it does not. I realized that the job was taking my mind and time away from what little I had at home with my family. It also meant less time for friends and my other interests. Once I took stock of that I knew that it was time to leave.
One thing you need to do first is to discuss this with your company HR and your superiors. Discuss the demands of your job. Tell them that it is taking away time from you having a personal life and see if this is something that can change. If not, it may be time to consider finding a career that can give you that work-life balance that you need (and deserve). Remember, we work to have a life and not the other way around.
Work Environment, Culture & Values
Is the work environment difficult? Do you get along with your co-workers? Is it challenging to work with all the intrigue and politics that can go on at the office? Let’s face it. Things like this can happen and it is quite common in any workplace. It is up to you to gauge whether getting along with some outweighs the harshness of dealing with the rest.
A person’s working environment is a factor in deciding whether you want to stay in your job. Work is easier if it is around people and in an environment that you enjoy and are comfortable with.
Another thing to think about is the values that you have in that work environment. Getting along with your co-workers is good. But if the values of the company are not in line with yours, it can be conflicting to work there.
Ask yourself whether the environment or circumstances are not good for you. Think hard about whether you want to stay.
Do not compromise yourself or your values for a job. That job can be gone at any time, but you would have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.
Mental Health
This was a major factor for me in considering whether I should stay at the office. I knew it was already affecting my mental health because of how stressful it was for me.
Again, if the reasons you feel stressed out are things that can change, it is still best to discuss this with HR. You can also check with your superiors to see if things can be better for you. If not, no amount of money or status in your chosen career would be worth any trauma you may be acquiring from the job.
My biggest realization was that my job was affecting my mental health. I realized I was having anxiety/panic attacks whenever my phone rang or beeped. This was because people often called me with problems to solve or things to do, even after work hours. I was having heart palpitations from being at the office. I knew I couldn’t live like that, so I knew I had to go. Being aware that what affected me were things that the office could not change meant that it was time to move on.
Job Satisfaction
Are you happy with what you do? Do you feel fulfilled by your contributions to the organization? Is the pay enough? Do you enjoy the relationship you have with your co-workers?
In my case, the job was something that paid the bills. I enjoyed what I did because I knew I did it well. I also had friends at work and the pay was also enough to support my needs.
But, when it all came down to it, this was a job that was not going to take me any further to where I wanted to go. And the satisfaction I had did not outweigh the other issues that I was no longer happy with.
I considered other factors such as how things could change, and that there were good reasons to stay. Despite that, I decided that the best decision for me would be to leave my job.
Are You Ready for the Transition?
Before submitting your resignation, here’s another thing to consider. There is also another set of factors that you need to consider before leaving your job. While you may feel that you have made the best decision, you also must be sure that you are ready for what comes next.
Awareness of the (Job and Business) Market
I was dancing around the idea of leaving many times during my period at my most recent job. I wanted to resign right away. But I had to be ready for the inevitability of being part of the ranks of the unemployed. I had to know what I was getting into.
It is important to be aware of the job market to see if it would be easy or difficult to get a job in the type of work you want. Knowing if there were prospects available would give you some security. It would give you some future direction for your career.
I did my share of job searches and even sent some applications to see if I would qualify for anything. Several promising ones made me decide that I was ready to jump into the job-search market.
It is also important to point out that it is much better if you can apply for jobs before you resign. That way you can move to your new job after quitting your old one. In my case, I had to resign before finding a new job. I was unable to accept any offers given to me because of how much time I had to give notice before I could leave.
You may also want to do something else like start a business. If that's the case it would also be good to scout out what you need and the potential of whatever it is you want to do.
In my case, I am considering other income sources apart from becoming employed. That means taking the time to learn how these other income streams would work for me. Learning about these options before resigning is important. You need to ensure that you are ready for that shift once you leave your job.
Financial Preparedness
How ready are you to be part of the unemployed for several months (or more) after you resign? What will you be doing in the meantime and where will you get the money for the things that you need? This is another important factor to consider.
The only time that I made my decision final was when I was sure I could support myself for at least six months. This meant having enough funds until I could get another job. That way I could have time to apply for work without stressing myself out. It would give me time to figure out if there are other options to explore before committing to anything.
Sometimes circumstances are unavoidable, and you need to resign right away. Some of you may have family who can support you while you take a break between jobs. If that is the case, having this may not be an issue.
For me, this is one of the most important factors that I considered before making the leap and leaving my job. I am not saying that you need to have that much money before resigning, but it would be better if you did.
All things considered; I knew that everything pointed to it being time to leave my job. The one thing that confirmed my decision to leave was when I took the time to think and listen to my gut. I remember reading somewhere that if one idea gives you some hesitation, then think about it. If not, then that is the right decision.
Leaving a job will always be a risk. Even so, I did not feel any hesitation at all. I knew I had weighed the pros and cons and knew I was making the right decision. Even my gut, my intuition, was telling me this was the right thing to do. That was it, I knew my decision was final and turned in my resignation.
I hope that this list of things to consider before quitting your job can help you weigh your options. Making a major career move like this is difficult, and it is something you need to think hard about. I hope that the points I made here could help you figure out the next best step to take.
Even with all that I have shared, remember that the decision to leave one’s job is a personal one. It is something that you need to be careful about and assess. Always remember to weigh the pros and cons and your options. Ask for advice from mentors, family, and friends before making things final.
If this post has been useful for you, I would love to hear more about your story. Leave me a message in the comments and let me know if I was able to help!
No comments
Post a Comment