Have you heard of the great resignation? The pandemic has caused many of us to take a step back and consider how we feel about our working day and whether it’s something we want to change. That change is taking place in many forms across the world from small tweaks to resignations and career changes. As many return to the office after almost 2 years working from home, they are considering whether they actually want to return to the office but more specifically whether they want to return to their former office. As you navigate those decisions, here’s six things worth considering to help you make the most informed career decision on whether to stay or go.
What’s causing your job dissatisfaction?
People tend to either stick with job dissatisfaction for fear of change, or up and leave without any strategy which often turns out to be a jump from the frying pan into the fire unfortunately. If you’re unhappy or unfulfilled in your work it’s important to identify the cause of this job dissatisfaction. During my Career Clarity Workshop I encourage asking yourself when the dissatisfaction started as this can often lead to answers. I also encourage people to identify their needs at this stage of their life whether that is flexibility, increased financial reward or interest in the work they’re doing. I encourage people to get really specific, if location is important to you then let’s map out the companies within the radius you’re willing to commute within. Asking the right questions before making a change is a vital ingredient for solid, informed career decision making.
Are you experiencing regular 'Sunday Night Fear'?
I categorise ‘Sunday Night Fear’ as occasional and regular. For me, occasional ‘Sunday Night Fear’ might occur when you have a particular busy week coming up or a presentation to deliver, for example. Where it often becomes problematic is when you’re experiencing the fear most Sundays. This could translate to you dreading something in your work every single week. At this point, it’s really worth taking the time to identify the cause of this fear and whether you can do something about it or if a change is needed. It’s worth checking out my Career Confidence Workshop that can support with taking a more confident approach at work as well as figuring out and working on the areas you’re not so confident with which can really help with the Sunday Night Fear.
What does “change” need to look like for you?
I’d suggest spending some time reflecting on your career to date to identify learnings you can leverage that will help steer you in the right direction. Identifying what you have typically enjoyed during your career so far, what you’d like to avoid as you make a change and what you are missing from your current work situation will help shape your career change. Rarely do we take the time to reflect in order to figure these things out though, do we? Through my Job & Career Change Programme, I provide a virtual environment for people to take stock and take control of their career change rather than proceeding forward on auto-pilot and often making poor decisions.
How do I figure out what I really want to work at?
This is something many people find really tough, particularly as there are so many different jobs and careers to choose from, it can cause analysis paralysis. Like with everything it is a process but a great place to start is asking yourself some very practical questions about what you have typically enjoyed during your career so far, what you’d like to avoid moving forward and what you are missing from your current work situation. Identify what’s in your career toolkit that you can leverage when assessing options. When I run this exercise during my Career Clarity Workshop people usually struggle at first to list their skills, experience and knowledge yet once they get going they realise how many skills they have that will help them choose and transition into a new job. It’s also important to identify what you are missing from your current work situation that will help shape your career change. Rarely do we take the time to reflect in order to figure these things out though, do we? Through my Job & Career Change Programme, I provide a virtual environment for people to take stock and take control of their career change rather than proceeding forward on auto-pilot and often making poor decisions.
How do I know it’s time to resign?
My personal opinion is that if your work is significantly impacting your health, your relationships and your personal life overall, it’s worth taking the time to assess what’s best for you moving forward. Life is so short yet we spend 40+ hours a week in work, isn’t it worth spending that time doing something that adds to your life rather than takes away from your life? With that being said, my personal guide to follow is if a job is taking more from my life than it is providing, it’s time to consider a change. This is a decision you need to carefully consider and make for yourself as only you knows what is best for you in the short and long run.
Things to consider putting in place before quitting your job.
This will differ from person to person depending on individual circumstances. Depending on the impact your work is having on your life at present will typically determine whether you need to take the time to line up your next career move before quitting or leave with the intention of taking some time out. To help with the apprehension that comes with this decision, it’s worth running the numbers to assess how long you can afford to be out of work and how you can manage your bills in between. People sometimes feel they need to have their medium - long term career change lined up before quitting, but another route for consideration is securing a job that will provide you with the time and headspace needed to carefully figure out what direction you want to move your career in longer term. Who knows what you will learn during this time!