Have you been offered a new job and now have to make the difficult decision to leave your old one? Are you finding it hard to find the right way to let your boss down when you decide it’s time to leave? We’ve all been in this position once or twice in our lives, it’s a tough situation to be in, especially if you’ve been in your current job for a long time. Maybe you haven’t been offered a new job but just feel that it’s time for a change?
Sometimes, a job just isn’t the right fit for you and that can cause an ongoing struggle between wanting to keep your job because it pays well or is good for your career and being unhappy in a job you don’t enjoy. If this is the case, this article is for you. Today we’re going to look at quitting and the process you should go through before you do it.
Make sure this is what you really want.
It’s important to make sure that quitting your job is absolutely the right decision for you. If you’re feeling unhappy in a job it can be easy to just decide you’re going to quit without giving it much thought but it’s important to weigh up your options and make sure you are actually making (objectively) the right decision.
What exactly is it you don’t like about your job? Is it something unforgiveable or is it an issue you could really learn to deal with if you gave it time? There are some things that absolutely warrant quitting your job – consistent harassment at work, for example. While this is an issue that can be resolved via management, it might be a persistent issue that you feel isn’t being resolved appropriately. However, if it’s something that really could change or improve (just not liking your boss, or feeling that the work is too hard, to name a few) you should consider sticking it out and seeing if the situation improves in 6-12 months before making a critical decision.
Be careful with your timing.
It’s important to know when the right time to quit is. This could be as simple as making sure you don’t do it at the start of the next pay cycle, for example, specifically if you haven’t got another job to jump straight in to. It is important in this situation to make sure that you have enough of a buffer in your bank account to allow you to search for a new job while you’re unemployed, especially if you have responsibilities to other people or are living on your own and need to pay rent. This all may seem obvious but it can be easy to convince yourself that you will have enough money to survive if you’re desperate to get out.
There may be other factors that come into play, too. If you want to avoid a particularly angry boss when you have to ‘I quit’ conversation, it might be important to consider if the company is currently experiencing difficulties. This could be important because there’s still one key thing you need from your boss after you leave – your reference.
Remind yourself that it’s okay for you to quit.
If you really feel there are no other options, or you really do have to leave now because you’ve received an offer from another company, then it’s important to remind yourself that quitting is okay. You are not the first and will certainly not be the last to quit your job at your company, so don’t sweat about it too much.
Bosses have to deal with people quitting their jobs all the time and will likely just seem a bit sad to see you go (at least, if they liked you) but accept that ultimately it’s your decision to make. Just try not to end the conversation with them with bad blood – remember you do still have to work your notice period.
These are just three simple steps you should make sure you’re taking before you decide to quit your job. Obviously, it is more nuanced than that and there are several other factors that might come into play for your specific situation – but these basic rules will hopefully help you feel more comfortable in your decision and ready to quit. As always, good luck!
