Thinking of Quitting Your Job?

Part 1 of a 2-Part Series

Are you thinking of quitting your job? If so, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, 40% of people surveyed in six countries are unhappy at work and are considering leaving their job in the near future.

There are many reasons why people choose to leave their jobs, but the most common reason is burnout. Career burnout is caused by a number of factors, including a lack of development opportunities, a lack of challenge in your current role, and a general feeling of unhappiness.

Are You Quiet Quitting?

If the desire to quit Is on your mind, you have probably thought about it before and maybe felt too scared to follow through. I’ll be the first to admit that mentally checking out of previous jobs was much easier than signing the paperwork and leaving. Back then, they didn’t have a name to describe mentally checking out from work, but today it is referred to as “quiet quitting”. Essentially, doing the bare minimum just to get by, as I had lost all motivation to continue in my role, but paradoxically, still didn’t want to leave.

The principal reason for staying much longer than I should have was because of my consideration of the sunken cost. Now you may already be familiar with this financial term, which is simply described as an expense that has already been paid and cannot be recovered.

Whenever I thought of quitting, my mind would calculate the many sacrifices, time spent, and energy exerted to reach my position at work. After doing the mental math, I was always reluctant about leaving. How can I recover the time and effort, I have already invested in getting here? I would think to myself.

You might be having similar thoughts: How can I justify the money I spent upskilling myself? The long hours dedicated to climbing up the ranks? Reflecting on the investment you have made to be in the position you are in can be enough to make you stay a little longer – especially if you have demanding financial obligations to take care of.

The point is that quitting is not always as easy as having an idea and immediately acting upon it. In fact, this decision should not be impulsive at all.

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Quitting

If you’ve already considered the sunken costs and thinking of quitting your job, it’s important to have a plan. This doesn’t mean quitting on the spot – instead, it means taking the time to think about your next career move, developing a network of contacts, and getting your finance in order.

Keep reading to learn five key questions to ask yourself before handing in your resignation.

1. Do you have a career plan?

   Quitting without considering what you want to do next is not a good idea. You don’t need to have another job lined up, but it’s important to think about which direction you would like to take, what you need to prepare to bridge the skills gap, and how you will financially sustain yourself while in between jobs.

2. Do you have enough savings?

   Unless you have close friends and family who can financially support you during this brief period of transition, you need to have enough cash in your savings accounts to sustain you. Downsizing your lifestyle is a great short-term solution to cut costs, but you will need consistent income in the long term.

3. Are you just going through a rough patch?

   Sometimes the sheer amount of stress that you are under can make you feel like quitting. But after carrying out your short-term burnout recovery plan and making a few adjustments to your work practices, you can regain clarity and find your source of motivation again. Be careful not to make such an important decision as quitting your job when you are emotionally distressed.

   

4. Have you discussed how you feel with your manager?

   There should be a record of at least one occasion where you called a meeting with your manager and talked about how you are feeling. Even if one foot is already out of the door, it is worth listening to how they might be able to address your concerns.

5. Are you leaving too soon?

   You don’t need to tolerate a toxic work environment, but make sure that you have exhausted all of your options before going ahead with your resignation. The last thing you want is to look back and regret not waiting a few more months to renegotiate your obligations and opportunities.

Once you have answered these questions and still 100% certain that leaving is the best NEXT STEP for your career, you must have a Quit Plan.

In part 2 of this series. We will detail what key things you should consider as part of that all-important Quit Plan.

Break Your Burnout Cycle: A Woman’s Five-Step Guide To A Thriving Career Journey

Kai-Nneka Townsend, is an author, and a Career Burnout Recovery and Prevention Coach for women.