At some point in your life, there may come a moment when you realize that it’s time to quit your job. The signs are all there: you’re unmotivated, easily frustrated by small setbacks, and increasingly intolerant of problems or mistakes caused by colleagues. First and foremost, you shouldn’t be ashamed of this feeling. It’s perfectly natural to come to the end of your time in a particular position and realize that you need to move on. However, it pays to be prepared when you leave your job because it can be a seismic, life-changing event that completely alters your future. Here’s what you should do when it’s time to quit your job.
Don’t leave on a sour note
It doesn’t pay to leave your job acrimoniously. Before you leave, make sure you pave the way for your successor; help them if needed, explain how your job works and what they’ll be expected to do, and above all, don’t be bitter or jaded. You never know when your current work connections will come in handy in the future, and if you do leave on a sour note, you might find it harder to obtain a reference from your former employer, which could hamper your chances of getting positions later down the line. It’s best for everyone if you leave a job on good terms, even if you really can’t stand to be in the building anymore.
Get your finances in order
Sometimes, parting ways with a particular position or career is a protracted process. Occasionally, however, it’s unexpected, and you may suddenly find yourself in significantly poorer financial health. When this happens, it’s important to seek as many sources of income as you can, even if it’s short-term. This can be difficult, though, especially if you find yourself with a poor credit rating. In that instance, you may find it helpful to apply for bad credit personal loans, or to enlist the aid of friends and family to help you through the rough patch.
Start looking for new positions immediately
The longer you wait before beginning your search for a new job, the more potential questions employers might ask at the interview stage. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with leaving a gap between jobs; in fact, it can be important to use this time to reconfigure yourself and work out what you want from your career. However, it’s still good to start looking for new jobs in case the perfect position comes up. Always have job websites open on your browser, and keep an ear out for any jobs your friends or ex-colleagues might mention.
Draw up a new budget
While you’re out of work, it’s a good idea to draw up a new budget that takes into account your altered financial situation. It’s likely – although not guaranteed – that you won’t be able to stretch to many of the things you took for granted while working, so when you have time, sit down and tally up all of your income and expenditure. Be harsh with yourself; do you really need that subscription service? Could you spend a little less on groceries? Could taking public transport to offset the cost of travel? Budgeting is all about finding those little hacks.
Network, network, network
Research suggests that a staggering 85% of positions are filled thanks to networking. While that leaves a somewhat healthy 15% of jobs you have a chance of getting on your own, it should be obvious that it pays to know as many people as you can within your chosen field. Even when you’re out of work, you should try to attend networking events (virtually or in-person according to your circumstances) and get to know people. That way, if positions do arise, you’ll be available and will get to hear about them, perhaps even before they appear on job posting sites!
Consider going self-employed
Leaving your job could be the clean break you’ve always wanted. Going self-employed is a daunting but exciting adventure, and it could mean realizing your dreams and breaking away from the traditional employment structure. Of course, you may not necessarily be cut out for this lifestyle, but if you’ve always entertained dreams of starting up your own business, now may be the perfect time to do it. Build your business plan, research avenues of funding, and start putting that plan into action, because there’s never going to be a business unless you act on your dreams!
Take up new hobbies
You could look at quitting your job as a chance to reinvent yourself not only at the career level but also on a personal note. Now might be a great time to take up new hobbies you’ve always meant to get around to. Learning a musical instrument, teaching yourself a coding language, or taking up a new method of physical activity can all be great ways not only to enrich yourself mentally but also potentially to improve your job prospects. Even setting yourself small challenges like reading a new book each week or discovering a new fact about the world could work wonders for you.
Don’t panic – it’s not as scary as you think
Last, but certainly not least, it’s imperative not to panic. Quitting your job doesn’t have to be a massive event; if you have a relatively sound support network around you, then it can just be a momentary blip on the way to something bigger and better. The most important thing is to stay calm and focus on what you can do to improve your situation in the immediate future. Make plans, draw up strategies, and talk to people. Don’t live in your head, because that way madness lies. This could be the start of a wonderful new future for you; always try to think of it that way!
