I was recently asked this question by a client who loves what he does but has fallen out of love with the organisation they work for. It’s been said many times that people join organisations and leave managers. You may love ‘what’ you do and be great at doing it but if you’re not in the right environment then your day can ‘feel’ terrible. When feelings like this start to develop….it’s time to consider your exit strategy and prepare to quit your job. One note to self at this point. If the feelings have arisen because of one, out of the norm incident, consider your reaction and the context of the incident. Sometimes an adult conversation over a morning coffee can give rise to a new perspective or point of view. As a wise man once said…”many of the truth’s we cling to depend on our point of view”managers.
For a lot of people considering a change of job this is going to be true, the relationship you had, or expected to have, with your manager, boss, director isn’t what you’d hoped for. When this happens it is our ‘felt’ response which has kicked in and we just feel that it’s time to move on.
However, if you reached a point where you feel that a move is right for you, how do you go about quitting your job? Largely it will depend on your personality and the relationship you have with your immediate boss. Ultimately you have a few options:
- Find a new position and then hand in your notice or quit
- Hand in your notice or quit and leave without a new role to go to
- Talk to your boss about your thoughts regarding leaving and explore options
Each of the options has its merits and pitfalls and you should consider the impact of each to find which action is right for you. Most people will quietly start to search and apply for new roles and then hand in their notice once a new offer of employment has been secured. Something to consider is your behavior If you start to suddenly update your LinkedIn profile or taking trips to see the dentist it might not take Sherlock Holmes to discover your plan. If you have the opportunity to explain your situation to your boss, or perhaps and more friendly face within your organisation, you’ll probably feel better for doing so. After all, if you’re not happy in your role your performance is likely to suffer at some point. Everybody moves on and you might be surprised at how supportive some companies can be.
If it’s time to move on then consider putting as much authority on your side of the desk as possible. You can research your CV, opportunities and have discreet conversations with recruiters before making your final decision. If you would like a free job search and planning guide e-mail info@deanweller.co.uk quoting ‘Free Guide’…and if you’re about to quit your job…Good Luck!