As the great resignation has shown, it is ok to quit your job. Unsurprisingly, while some has stayed out of the labor market, many are quitting their jobs to get a new one. Some are moving laterally in the same position while others are getting higher positions. Some are getting better benefits or a better working culture. The move to another job is not really all that surprising because guess what, people have bills to pay. If you are planning on quitting your job, do ensure that you are looking ahead and planning out what the future holds. For example, how will you support yourself?
Quit Your Job
In the United States, it is very easy to quit your job. Simply, say that you quit and do not return. That it is. It is customary to give a few weeks notice when you are quitting. But legally, you are really not requited to do so. This curtesy is such that you can wrap up your work or transfer your work to another colleague. Giving notice also provides your employer with some time to replace you. This is critical if you are an important member of the team. The curtesy also for the most part allows you to maintain certain relationships with work colleagues. Remember, do not burn bridges as you do not know where you will be in the future.
This works the other way as well. Most employment agreements in the United States are at will. As such, your employer can fire you anytime and the employee can quit anytime.
In other places such as Europe, quitting your job is really a few months in the working. With strong worker protection laws, it may take a company 6 months or more to fire you, and maybe just as long for you to quit.
When quitting your job, even if you have the most horrible boss, try your best not to completely nuke your bridges. Meaning, you may not like your boss, but there may be others at the company that you may want to maintain relationships with. Act accordingly.
Before You Quit
It may sound like a great idea to quit your job. Yes, you will finally stick it to your boss and leave. With a replacement not being able to fill your role, your hope is that they will recognize how under appreciated you were. But before you make that final decision, ensure that you have thought about what the future holds. It would be great if we could all quit our jobs and not work another day in our lives (financial independence). However, this is not usually possible. Typically, once you quit your job, you will need to find another one. The high of finally saying I quit can be easily overtaken by the fear and trauma of not being able to pay your bills and support your current standard of living.
It is advisable to find a job before you quit your job. It is much easier to find a job when you have a job. Further, because you do not need a job you can effectively ask for exactly what you want. Because you are not completely dependent on getting that new job. Essentially, you have options. So begin your job hunt early and ask for the salary and benefits that you want. The worst that a prospective employer can say is no.
Once you have lined up that new job, go ahead and quit, if this still is the correct decision. Of course, it is important to ensure that the new job is better that the old job. It is very difficult to make this assessment as you will likely be in the dark with regard to certain information about the new job. Is your new manager better than your old/current manager? Is the company’s culture better? What is your progression and development opportunities? There are a lot of unknowns and you must do as much research as possible. Information is the key here.
The Grass Is Not Always Greener
In your job hunt, if you happen to obtain an interview or is reached by a head hunter, do understand some very simple facts. It is in the head hunter’s best interest to get the role filled. As such, not all, but some head hunters will misrepresent the job. This is because once you begin to invest the time in the interview process and begin to picture yourself leaving your current role, it is a lot easier for you to move on.
Therefore, no matter what the situation, do not be afraid to ask the hard questions with regard to salary, benefits, environment, culture, promotion and what the future of the company is. Do your due diligence on the company. Do your due diligence on the role. If you are applying for a role that have high turnover, you may want to ask about this. Try to find who the last person that had the role and ask why did they leave. They will give you answers. Check and see if you know people who work at the company and ask them about the company. They typically do not lie. Get information and make an informed decision.
Know Why You Are Quitting
As the grass is not always greener, know why you are leaving your current job. Know what you and your family need to be happy. If it is culture, ensure that your new job has a better culture. If it is all about the money, ask for a higher salary. But ensure that you know why you are leaving and what your ultimate goals are.
Conclusion
As the great resignation has shown, it is ok to quit your job. While some has stayed out of the labor market, many are quitting their jobs to get a new one. The move to another job is not really all that surprising because guess what, people have bills to pay. If you are planning on quitting your job, do ensure that you are looking ahead and planning out what the future holds. For example, how will you support yourself?
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