Thinking of Quitting Your Job - Part Two

Part 2 of a 2-Part Series

Are you thinking of quitting your job? In part 1 of our two-part series, we looked at 5 hard questions to ask yourself before you make the decision to quit.

If you have considered the sunken costs and still feel determined to go ahead with your resignation, it’s important to have a plan in place. Keep reading to learn more about how to create a quit plan in five simple steps, which sets you up for a successful transition from your current circumstances!

1. Know Your Why

The first step is to figure out your “why”. Why do you want to leave? Take some time to reflect on why you’re leaving. If you’re burned out, what can you do to make your current situation more tolerable while you plan your exit? If you’re looking for career development, what are your options? Whom can you ask for help?

If you’re looking for a new challenge, what does that really mean for you?

Whatever your reasons, it’s important to get to the core of why you are leaving, so that you can start to look for a new position that is in line with your goals and values for this next chapter of your life.

2. Your timeline

The second step is to develop a timeline. When you want to leave will be dependent on a variety of factors, including your employer’s notice period, your financial security, and other personal circumstances. Do you want to have a job offer, or established business before you leave? You want to also consider things like finishing up loose projects and training your replacement. Even if you have had some “bad blood” with the company, you want to ensure that you leave on as good a note as possible.

3. Create a budget

The third step is to create a budget. This includes not only your financial budget but also your time budget. How much time can you realistically dedicate to your job hunt or business plan, if you are looking to start a business?

Creating a budget may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple. Start by estimating how much time you think you’ll need to transition into your new career – upskilling, job hunting, interviewing, networking etc. Then, calculate your living expenses for this period of time and make sure you have enough saved up to cover them. Finally, create a backup plan in case you need to extend your budget or find another source of income.

4. Lean into your network

The fourth step is to start networking. This means reaching out to your professional and personal networks to let them know you’re looking for a new opportunity. Let them know clearly and succinctly what you can offer. Ideally, you should have already been investing time in growing and maintaining relationships with your networks before you even need their help. Regardless, your professional and personal networks can be a great resource for finding new career and business prospects. Here are a few ways to lean into your network to help you find new opportunities:

• Talk to people in your field or the one you want to get into who are doing the type of work you want to do. They can give you insights into what the job market looks like and what types of jobs are out there
• Stay in touch with your former colleagues and managers. They may hear about job openings before anyone else.
• Connect with people who work at the companies you’re interested in. They can give you insider information about the company culture and help you decide, even before you apply or interview, whether this will be a right fit for your next career move.

  

5. Know your worth

The fifth and final step is to put together a portfolio of your work. Not just a standard blah, blah blah…resume. This is essential for two reasons. First, it will help you stand out from the competition, and second, it will give YOU the confidence to look back at all you have achieved and understand the wealth of knowledge and experience you have to offer to future companies or clients.

By having a clear understanding of your skills, experience, and value, you will be in a good position to negotiate for a better salary and benefits package or pitch yourself at the right rate when approaching clients.

While it can be tempting to simply walk away from your current job without looking back, it is important to take the time to reflect on your career and what you have to offer the world. By doing this, you will be able to create a portfolio that is a true reflection of your talents and worth.

Bonus tip

Discover your true strengths and untapped skills which you should be leaning into, to set yourself up for success. Take a strengths finder test. Lots of them exist in the market, but I have always found Clifton Strengths Finder assessment from Gallup, simple and effective.

Conclusion

Most people don’t start looking for a new job until they’re already unhappy or burntout in their current one. But by the time you’re ready to start your job search it’s often too late and can become a stressful and frustrating experience. The above five steps can help you create a quit plan for a smooth transition into your new circumstances.

If you are in burnout and need a more detailed guide to help you with that transition. Check out Break Your Burnout Cycle: A Woman’s Five-Step Guide To A Thriving Career Journey

I wish you the very best on this new journey.

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