Thinking of Leaving Your Job?

Ah, the dreaded feeling of being stuck at work - it's like being caught in a rut, but with fluorescent lighting and an unlimited supply of coffee. Perhaps you wake up every morning with a sense of dread, wondering if today will be the day you finally snap and announce that enough is enough.

If this sounds familiar, you might be tempted to follow the age-old advice: "If you're unhappy, just quit and find a new job!" But hold on a minute, before you march into your boss's office and dramatically resign in the way you have been daydreaming of, there are some more sensible and practical things to consider first.

The vast majority of people I work with who are feeling stuck assume they need a new job. It makes sense after all, if you are feeling frustrated, can’t find a way forward, have tried everything you can think of to improve things and nothing has worked. You are not happy anymore and you can’t see that changing then surely the only solution is to cut your losses and move on?

And yes, it might be…sometimes leaving your job is the right answer. But then what?

Do you know what it is you want to be different?

Do you know why you’re feeling stuck in the first place?

Do you have clarity on what the future needs to look like so you will feel motivated and engaged again?

The thing is, if you jump ship before putting any of the work in then you can find that that feeling follows you! You’ve taken the leap, moved jobs only to discover that gradually that sinking feeling creeps up again and you still feel stuck again – what then? I’ve seen that happen too.

Here’s my top tips to consider before taking that leap and to ensure that your next role is everything you want it to be.

1.?????? Identify the root cause of your dissatisfaction in your current role.

Is it the work itself? Is it the work environment? Perhaps it’s a lack of growth opportunities or your values are not aligned to your organisation. By identifying what the issue is will help inform what kind of job and organisation to consider moving to or whether alternatives within your current role or organisation would be a possibility instead.

2.?????? Take time for some self-reflection.

Consider your longer-term career goals and aspirations. How does your current job align with these (or not)? What would the future look like if you stay as you are? What opportunities do you need to have if you move on?

3.?????? Be choosy!

Now is the time to get a clear idea of what you are looking for in your next role. Don’t view it as simply a means of escape from your current one. Make a list of your non-negotiables. What do you need for an effective work-life balance? What company culture do you thrive in? What financial reward do you need? A salary that doesn't require you to subsist on beans on toast and broken dreams. After all, your dream job won't feel so dreamy if you can't afford to keep the lights on.

4.?????? Get help.

Some of the questions posed here can be difficult to answer and sometimes it takes deep soul searching to uncover them. A coach, mentor or insightful friends with an outside perspective can work wonders. Once you’ve got some answers use your network and seeking advice from trusted colleagues, or other professionals who can provide useful insights and guidance as well as open doors to help you move forward.

Feeling stuck can be a frustrating and demoralising experience but it’s important not to have a knee jerk reaction, jumping into another role without full consideration comes with it’s risks too. By taking the time to understand both the source of your stuckness, consideration of your long-term goals as well as the practical implications of a change will help ensure any new job is based on a well-informed decision to set you up for greater fulfilment and success.