Your Job Exit Plan (From The Desk Of A Recruitment Expert)
Plan on quitting your job? You know when the time is right to move on from your job. Perhaps “Sunday Night Blues” has become every day of the week.
Or a change in management means that the organisation is not the one you joined, or your career aspirations aren’t being met by your current job. You may even have decided to take the leap into self-employment, and are looking for a way out.
Whatever the reason for quitting your job, work isn’t something to be endured, but something to uplift you, make you feel valued and full of purpose. If it doesn’t, maybe it’s time to take control of your work-life balance for good!
Most people plan their holidays, but how often do you create a plan for your career?
Quitting your job with no back-up plan in place can be scary. So don’t leave your next step to chance. You are in control of the process and can be proactive, rather than waiting for the ideal role to appear.
By asking yourself the following questions, you can find an opportunity that will be exactly what you want and need for you and your family.
Related: 10 Signs You Should Quit Your Job
Plan on Quitting Your Job? Here’s Your Job Exit Plan
1. What Will You Do? By When?
This is the key question before quitting your job. When is “D-Day” in your diary for starting a new role or leaving to be self-employed?
You will need to take into consideration notice periods, application and interview time scales and, if you are going self-employed, what that means for you.
Write it down using the SMART model: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.
2. How Will You Do It?
Brainstorm the actions you need to take to make it happen.
From updating your CV, creating a LinkedIn profile to understanding your finances and what you will need to earn to pay the bills, you need to understand what impact this change will make.
Don’t let the fear of detail or lack of clarity stop you from moving forward.
Don’t let the fear of detail or lack of clarity stop you from moving forward.Click To Tweet3. Who Do You Need To Tell?
If you are looking to move because of frustration at work, have you actually spoken to your manager? Are there opportunities in your current job which might outweigh the reasons for leaving?
Have you spoken to family and friends about your plans and the options you have available? After all, a problem shared is a problem halved.
4. Who Can Help You?
This is closely related to “who do you need to tell?” Who is around you that can support your aspirations?
Mentors or coaches are great to keep you accountable; can you reach out through your network of friends and colleagues to understand what business or job opportunities there are?
Who can introduce you to like-minded entrepreneurs and share the highs and lows of being your own boss?
5. What Will Stop You?
Take a moment to reflect on what could get in your way before quitting your job? Do you plan to the ‘nth degree’ but rarely start?
Are you afraid of what other people may say? Or worse, does your fear or rejection or failure leave you trapped in your comfort zone?
Pay attention to how these issues show up in your life and make a plan for when they arise. Find ways to overcome the fear of failure or a perfectionist nature. The easiest way to tackle these obstacles is to simply just START!
Does your fear or rejection or failure leave you trapped in your comfort zone?Click To Tweet6. Ask Yourself This Question
“How will I feel if, in a year’s time, nothing has changed and I am still doing what I am doing today?”
If, even after all of this, you find yourself stuck, simply ask yourself that question; how you feel when you answer should be motivation enough to take the first leap TODAY!
How will I feel if, in a year’s time, if I am still doing what I am doing today?Click To TweetOver to you!
Are you thinking of leaving your job? Share with us here, we’d love to hear from you.
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The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
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I agree work shouldn’t have to be something to be endured we spend too much time being at work for that! Fab tips here hopefully they will help a lot of people to break free from the jobs they hate.
I wish! Unfortunately money does not allow me to
I recently quit my job because we have emigrated and I really didn’t want to as I loved my job. Before that I left each job exactly 1 year and 9 months into them as I got bored. I had finally found a job I loved but have given it up for a life in the sun.
I’ve quit my job a couple of times in the past few years. Last time I decided it’s time to call it quits I was way more prepared than when I first decided to look for something better! No money saved up, no plan on what to do next and a very old resume did not help! 😀 So, before quitting my last job, I made sure I was prepared. It sure helped me feel less ‘desperate’ to find something else.
I am slowly moving down that path myself as I want to blog full time. I am hoping by the end of the year I can quit my job entirely as I have already slashed my hours in half x x
I have left jobs in the past where I was deeply unhappy. No money is worth the stress. I think go with your gut instinct unless you feel that there is potential for change
This was a really interesting post. I think it’s often very difficult to get the courage to leave your job and having a structured way of thinking about it like this could really help!