So you think you want to quit...

If you’re not happy in your current job, how do you know that quitting is the right move?

Recent polls (both a national sample and in my own network) find that about 20% of people who started new jobs in the past 1 to 2 years are already looking for other options. Even more are dissatisfied, although they might not be actively searching for new opportunities.?

To be honest, I’m not entirely surprised that people end up with regrets in new roles. Sometimes I even see it with my clients. They’ve gotten frustrated or bored where they are, and they think that a new job, maybe even the same job somewhere else, will solve their problems. Sometimes, they’re right. Just like any relationship, though, a little introspection can be incredibly useful before deciding when to stay or go—and if you’re going, where.?

Do you really know why you want to leave your current role?

When you’re feeling dissatisfied, you can find all the little things that are “wrong” where you are. But what’s the actual dealbreaker? Dig into your reaction until you get to the core answer. You may think it’s about compensation but then realize as you probe that it’s really about lack of recognition or that you’re not actually using your strengths to their fullest.?

This is where a professional values assessment is useful. I really like the one on Imagine PhD (https://www.imaginephd.com/) and use it frequently with my clients.

Do you know what you want instead?

Knowing what you want to avoid in a job is useful, but job ads are built around the things you’d do. Apply your analytical perspective to understand your strengths, the points where your skills and interests intersect. When you identify a job or type of role you think you’d like, consider how those strengths could be put to use, or what new strengths you could cultivate.?

But don’t assess a position based solely on a job ad. Talk to people in that role to see if your expectations align with the everyday reality. If there’s a specific company that catches your interest, talk to someone who works there to learn more about the culture, role, etc. Find someone who used to work there (even better if they filled the role you’re interested in) to learn why they left. LinkedIn is great for finding these kinds of people.

Are you certain you can’t find what you want where you are??

It’s reasonable to move on from a role that’s not serving you or may even be hurting you or your career (e.g., burnout, bullying). But I often find that people just never thought about asking their supervisor about ways to change the role they’re in now. Can you take on different projects? Do a short stint with another team or in another department? Take a different role in the company? If you have a good relationship with your boss, there may be creative ways to find more satisfaction without leaving the organization.

Internal mobility can often be easier than finding a new position at a different company. Plus many companies have started employee retention programs to stem the flow of people departing. They see the Great Resignation as a threat and want to hang onto good people. Filling vacant roles is expensive and time consuming in the best of times, and now it’s even more challenging to find solid candidates. It’s easier to retain proven employees than to replace them.

What about you? What do you consider when looking for a role change?