#14 Want to Leave Your Job? Hurry Up and Stay Put

When you know you want to leave your job, it is so tempting to leave as quickly as possible. Before you do so, make sure you are well prepared.

In this episode, I address a few things you can do in the pre-job-search period which will help you be well prepared for your job search and have a solid foundation set for when you want to move on. 

For more information on this and similar topics, visit www.wisewomensworkplace.com and if you find the episode helpful, please take the time to rate and review the podcast. 

Transcript

Hi! This is Anita Belitz from the Wise Women’s Workplace. Today’s episode is for you if you are in a job that you want to change and I’ll tell you why I think it may be important to hurry up and stay put even if you would like to get out immediately! 

Backstory (Desires internal and external)

In episode 13 I talked about some of the more subtle signs of wanting to leave your job. If you identified yourself in some of those subtle – or not so subtle – signs indicating that you want to change your job, did you notice that you are thinking about it more and more often? It’s like that isn’t it? You may want to tell yourself not to fixate on the fact that it’s time to move on, and now the thought is center stage.  And, to be honest, it may only get worse from here…. Every time your boss acts unkind, anytime you need to do what you consider as only busy work, every time you feel out of place with colleagues, during late nights, too early mornings, looking at your endless list of mind-numbing tasks… You get the point.

And so the obvious question that comes up is: “How fast can I get out of here?” And your situation may be quite unbearable - and I am truly sorry if that is your situation as I know it can be very hard on the morale – or maybe your situation is just annoying and frustrating. Either way, what I am going to say next will likely not come as music to your ears, I’m afraid. At least not good music. But I hope it isn’t too bad. What most people find, is that “haste makes waste”, and so if you are in a job that isn’t causing you to become sick and it is still bearable, it is likely best to stay put for the moment.

Why? You may be wondering… Well, like any good and successful plan, your exit plan must be carefully thought out and this will take some time.  Depending on when your last job change was, if you want to make a significant career change, whatever your next move is, this will require time. 

I know a woman who says “There is no such thing as luck unless luck is defined as being well prepared when the right opportunity comes along.” And I think she’s right. If you want to make a move to a better situation, then it is worthwhile to prepare your next steps carefully in what I would call the pre-on-the-market period, especially if you haven’t been on the market in a while as these steps can be consequential for the success of your next move!  During this period, in particular, you are going to want to do the following:

1)  You need to get your own file ready. For example, you will need to update your CV or resume especially if it has been a while since you have been on the market. And if it has really been a while, you should check out what current formats the recruiters are interested in. Get out copies of your diplomas, any work certificates or letters of recommendation, anything that can help your application file to shine. Doing this in a professional manner means you take the time necessary to put your best file forward.

2)  You will need to build up your network before it’s time that you need someone’s support. Reconnect with past bosses and colleagues not only to be able to ask for recommendations eventually, but also for potential connections when it is the right time. Clearly, genuinely reconnecting is much better than popping out of the blue and asking someone for favors.

3)  This is also a moment to influence the way you are perceived in your current job before you make your move. Beware that big changes can draw attention to the fact that you are thinking of moving elsewhere if you are concerned about that. If you aren’t actively looking elsewhere at the moment, you can always answer in honesty that you are just trying to do your best at work.

4)  And if you are very conscientious, you will maybe feel the need to prepare things before you leave. And I would encourage you to start doing this – discreetly – before you are on the market. As soon as you are on the market you will need to put your focus elsewhere. Also, consider that this step may help you get clarity when updating your files to be clear on what have been your successes, what are your hard and soft skills, and things like what you specifically like and dislike in your job that you would like to keep in mind for the next job.  

5)  Finally, start perusing open job positions as an opportunity to see how the market is moving – if there are a lot of posted positions or maybe if your field is one in which recruiting happens more behind the scenes. And listen to your own signals when reading those postings – what attracts you? What repels you? Why?

Now, you will still be with your employer while doing this, so it’s important to keep a high level of integrity at work. Don’t double-dip – as in using company time for your own purposes. You probably know what is right or wrong in your own work environment and you should honor that. You want to make sure that you leave on good terms so make some guidelines for yourself about how you are going to go about doing this.

For example, lunch and coffee breaks are your own to do what you want and you would be surprised how much you can get done in a short period of time if you are really deliberate about what you need to do. Be that brainstorming what your experience gained has been, browsing open positions on your smart phone, or going for walks and practicing in your mind how you would describe your job, for instance.

When it comes to networking, if past bosses and colleagues are in your current field of work, it’s generally acceptable to have short meetings or coffee breaks together as long as there is at least one element of the discussion that you can bring back to your current work. That way, if anyone asks you can easily explain what the meeting was about and you will have the benefit of the renewed connection and for getting the feel for if your relationship is still as strong as in the past. If you haven’t listened to the episodes on mentoring – 8, 9, and 10 – you may want to do so and see how these relationships can be really beneficial for you.

You may be asking yourself “Why should I wait? I want to get out now!” And I understand what it can be like to be in a job that feels like a prison. But most people can’t afford to quit their job immediately, and even if you can, once you are out of the workplace it is much harder to keep up your current contacts. In your current job, you know what is expected of you, who you can count on and who you can’t. You have proven yourself. You will be better able to focus on getting yourself ready for the move than if you are in a new job trying to prove yourself. There can be exhilaration that comes along with changing a job – new company, new team, new ways of working, hopefully some new experiences, too. There’s probably some apprehension too. New company, new team, new ways of working, new experiences. It’s all part of the package. And it can be nerve-wracking!  So, if you are tempted of changing right away, ask yourself if this new job is really your dream job.

And if you are thinking that you are ready to strike out on your own and start your own business –great! It can be a really rewarding adventure. But it also takes time to get things ready. I will have a future episode on this topic if I hear from you that you are interested in this topic. But just to say, the points above are still relevant. You will likely need your network more than ever, know who you are, what makes you credible, time to get the foundations of your business set up, an idea of the rhythm of the market, and, of course, to leave things on solid footing and good terms.

So, if you are ready to start the process of moving on to your next job or starting your own business, make sure to have in mind that you need to update your CV or resume, reinforce or reactivate your network, influence the way you are perceived at work if you can, get your things in order at work so that when the time comes you can move quickly, and start having a look around in the market to get a feel for things. 

Changing your job can be a really great thing but the process is usually a marathon rather than a sprint, especially if you want to make sure the next job is a really good fit for you.

So what to do now? Well, I invite you to keep listening to the podcast as I will likely touch on these topics again in future episodes and start getting yourself ready for your next move!

As always, if you really want a career and life which makes you happy, please be very mindful of what you are doing and to be consistently deliberate. Make sure you are always looking after yourself, including in your career. And don’t just survive, take steps to thrive!

I look forward to speaking to you again soon. Until next time, may you be healthy, wealthy, and wise!