After being in a role for an extended period of time, it’s easy for your mind to wander and start thinking about moving on to a different place of work. Considering a new role is not a bad thing, but it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly and there are a lot of things you’ll need to think about before leaving a job.
With that being said, we’ve listed 10 questions you need to ask yourself before leaving a job.
What’s Your Reason?
When making the decision as to whether or not you want to stay in your current place of work, the most important thing to think about is what is actually making you want to leave?
There are a lot of deciding factors to consider before leaving a job, so it’s important that you are doing it for the right reasons.
Is the workload too much? Do you have a poor relationship with your employer? Are you not earning enough? Are you not developing your career?
These are all questions that you need to think about and base your decision on. If you can’t pinpoint what it is that is making you want to leave, you may very well have the same problem in your next role.
Quitting your job is a serious decision so you shouldn’t base it off the back of having a “bad day at work”.
Have You Tried To Make It Work?
The next thing to consider is have you done anything to try and remedy the situation or tried to make appropriate changes to the work environment?
Before committing to leaving a job, you should consider all of the options and try any different methods of fixing the issues you are having. Sometimes all it takes is a holiday away from the constant workload to make you feel better about your position.
Would You Be Willing To Stay For More Money?
A tactic that is often used by employers to try and have their good workers stay with the company is to offer a pay rise, promotion or even change in role.
No employer wants to see a good employee leave, so you can imagine they are going to do everything in their power to try and keep you. Now is the time you must ask yourself whether or not you would consider staying if you were offered an increase in pay.
Would the extra money or new position be enough to continue working at your current job? You have to ask yourself – is it worth it?
Have You Spoken To Your Colleagues?
We spend most of our time each week at our place of work, and therefore a lot of time with our colleagues. A healthy workplace will encourage employees to get along with each other and friendships can often come out of this.
You should always hand in your resignation to your manager before informing your colleagues. Though it may be tempting to tell your colleagues that you are going to leave before you have told your boss; if your manager hears that you are leaving a job from anyone other than yourself it may spoil the working relationship.
After you have spoken to your manager, you can then speak to your colleagues about leaving, though it’s important to ensure that any conversations are kept professional.
How Long Is Your Notice Period?
You will need to be aware of how long your notice period before handing in your resignation. Your notice period can usually be found in your current contract.
Most jobs and companies have varying notice periods ranging from 1 week to several months. The length of your notice will usually depend on how long you have been employed by the company or the seniority of your position.
It’s really important to know your notice period before accepting another job. If you’ve been offered a new job that requires you to start in a week but your notice is a month long, you’ve got a big problem. You may be able to negotiate a shorter notice period with your current employer; however they are under no obligation to allow this.
Keeping it professional and working your full notice is always recommended, as you may need a reference from your current employer in the future and it’s always best to leave on good terms. You may be asked or ask to use any remaining accrued annual leave during your notice period; this can be a great way to clear your head prior to starting your new role.
What Do You Want From Your Job/Career?
It’s always good to have a clear idea of where you want to go and what you want to do as a job.
What do you want to do for a living? Are you willing to take courses or go back to university to get the right qualifications?
Setting goals for yourself and working towards a career that you will thrive in will increase your happiness at work and doing something you enjoy will give you the long career that you are after.
Do You Have A Plan Going Forward?
If your mind is set on leaving, then what is your plan going forward?
Do you know what kind of job you want to go for? Have you already got a position lined up? Is your CV up to date?
These are all valid questions, and all questions that need to be factored into a plan. People can often get reckless when frustrated with a job and just quit on the spot, but this is not the way to go about it.
If you want to move on to something different, you’ll need to start looking for available positions in the type of job you would like, update your CV so it is professional and reads well and make sure that you have a backup plan if everything falls through.
It is crucial to really consider any future job offer you may have. The first job may not be right for you so you may find yourself repeating these thoughts all over again.
Are You Able To Support Yourself Financially?
A big factor that needs to be considered is whether or not you can afford to quit your job.
If you are living from month to month and have no job lined up to go to, you might find yourself struggling. Having enough money to tide you over between jobs is crucial, and can take off the stress of having to settle for a job straight away.
Being able to live off money that you have saved up will allow you to seek out the right position for you and make sure that you are accepting the best job for you.
Have You Talked It Through With Your Family?
Deciding to quit your job shouldn’t be a decision that is made solely by yourself, and talking about it with your family and friends first is highly recommended.
Weighing up the options and talking through all of the issues and reasons with your family and friends will help you to decide if this is the right decision for you. Input from the people who really know you can help you decide but ultimately it is your decision.
Is Now The Right Time?
Lastly, is now the right time to be leaving your job?
The timing of handing your notice in is very important, as employers will have to find a replacement for you. Depending on the place of work, it may be a very busy time and you leaving could have a serious effect on the day to day running of the business.
On the hand, is this the right time for your personal life? If you have any big life events or celebrations coming up this should also be considered. Can you afford to quit? As we’ve already discussed, financial stability is very important, so you need to be certain that you are not putting yourself at risk.
Ultimately, if you are not happy at your current position and you’ve tried everything you can to fix it, then it is time to move on.
Summary
If you have asked yourself all of these questions and still find yourself confident about the decision, then you know you will be leaving for the right reasons and will be able to find the right job that is suited for you.
Before you finish though a smooth handover is key to a positive relationship after leaving the business. Try to ensure that you complete any work and projects you are currently working on. Talk to your manager about any potential work or areas they need you to focus on during your notice period.
Ensure that if you don’t quite have time to get it all done that the right people are aware of any outstanding tasks. It is always best to leave on a positive note, for yourself, your boss your colleagues.
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