Considering quitting your job? Read this first

Spoiler: I will show you why you should not quit your job if you are unhappy with it. At least not now. At least not before following some important steps.

After the spoiler - in case someone still cares about reading this article - let me give you some context to support why you should not quit your job now, and also what are the “important steps” I mentioned before.

Quitting a job can be the most logical and necessary decision in your life, or it can be the most scary and terrifying decision you have made in a while.         

It will depend on your circumstances, and they might include:

- The savings you have in your bank account (in other words: how many months/years you can live without the pressure of having to work);

- If your physical or mental health is affected by the job (dislike your job is different than having panic attacks or high-stress levels associated with it);

- How clear are the next steps of your career (it’s easier to make a decision when you can envision what you want to happen next, compared to when you are completely lost about it);

- If other people will be directly affected by your decision (kids, partners, parents, etc).

I know that every case is different, and sometimes the current job is so unsustainable that quitting is a survival decision - but whenever it is possible, I suggest to my clients that they always have a “Plan B” before quitting their “Plan A”.

In other words: I suggest they have a strategy before they quit their jobs.

The strategy includes several elements (that I work on extensively during my career coaching sessions), but let me summarize it in 3 steps:

1 - Identify what elements you don’t want to be present in your next job.

Why?

To minimize the chances that you’ll be unhappy with your new job and will feel like searching for another job again only 3 months after you made your career move. You don’t want to leave a toxic work environment to sign a contract with a company that also has a toxic environment, right?

2 - Understand that having a plan is different than settling down.?

Why?

Not quitting your job now, and waiting until you create a plan to land a new one doesn’t mean that you’ll stay forever in this job that you hate. It means that you’ll first get clarity about what you want, then check the options available in the market, and after that, make a move.

3 - Think about the future first.

Why?

If you know how you want your life to look in 5 year’s time, maybe in 10 year’s time, it will be easier to choose a job today that brings you closer to it. If you focus only on the present (“I have been searching for a job for months, and this is the only offer I received, so I have to accept it”), there is a chance that you are getting further from your ideal future life.

It’s also important to highlight that everyone else will have a different opinion and “advice” to give you about your career change - and when I say everyone, I mean it: family members, colleagues, people who barely know you but also feel entitled to share their opinion, and so on.

Some people will say that you “should be grateful because you at least have a job”. Others might suggest that “all jobs have problems, so there is no point in expecting to land one that will be better than your current one”. Others will emphasize that you should “follow your heart” (what does it even mean, can someone explain it to me, please?).

Be careful with whom you listen and follow advice from, especially because when we are considering a career transition, it’s common to feel a bit vulnerable and insecure about it - so other’s opinion will hit us harder.        

I once heard that we should “only take advice from people who are where you want to be”, and that phrase stuck with me. I won’t be able to quote the author, apologies for that, but he describes perfectly the kind of advice that is worth following.

So, back to my initial point: in my humble opinion, whenever possible, you should not quit your job if you are unhappy with it without having a “Plan B” and a strategy to get you to your next career step.

If you are really struggling to pay the bills right now, and the idea of “choosing your next job” sounds like an unreal and distant reality, please ignore what I mentioned before - this article is not for you.?

My message is for the ones who:?

- Are lucky enough to have choices;

- Are able to say “no” to a bad job offer (because they know what they want and won’t settle for less);

- Consider that a job that makes them happier is worth the investment to get there.

If you are serious about taking your career to the next level, and want my assistance to land a remote job faster, join my VIP group. On the 11th of July, 2024, you’ll have access to an exclusive offer to be part of my Group Mentoring - https://bit.ly/vip-group-remote-jobs

Who is Juliana Rabbi?

Juliana is a recruiter-turned-career coach. She is also a keynote speaker for international audiences.

Over 15 years experience in Human Resources and Recruitment in multinational companies, Juliana has been working remotely since 2014 (yes, way before the pandemic).

For + 4,5 years, Juliana has managed her own career coaching business, providing services, coaching, consulting and mentoring to +430 clients in +2.700 consulting/coaching sessions.

She helps senior professionals to land a flexible job faster, make better career choices and create the lifestyle they want.

Her background is in Psychology, with a Master Degree in Human Resources.

She is also a Digital Nomad who has been to 56 countries, can't resist playing with dogs, tries different animal poses in yoga and enjoys acting in improv comedy.

+72.000 candidates interviewed as a Recruiter over 15 years.

191 recommendations and 5 star reviews on LinkedIn.

76 nationalities impacted from different continents over her career.

14 companies (mainly multinationals) directly benefited from her services.

+440 clients in +2.400 consulting/coaching sessions.

Bachelor Degree in Psychology with a Master in Human Resources.

Trilingual (English-Spanish-Portuguese).

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YouTube | Instagram

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