Thinking of quitting your job? Read this
As the great philosopher Beyonce said perfectly: "You won’t break my soul!". That song received a lot of criticism for advocating quitting your job if it makes you miserable. I know, I know, a multi-millionaire telling us mere mortals to just slam the door on your miserable job is a bit out of touch. In the best-case scenario, you have savings and a job lined up but not everyone is blessed with the perfect set of circumstances. Sometimes your body and mind are yelling: "Get out now!"
Sadly, burnout is an insidious snake, once you have the symptoms and signs it is already too late. You cry at the length of time your bread takes to toast or you ruminate on the meaning behind an email from a colleague. The list is not exhaustive, but you get an idea.
Before taking the big decision there are things you could do to ease the process.
1. Find the real issue
Are you clear on what it is that is causing your distress? Is it your boss? Their style of management? Bullying or a simple case of not being able to fulfil the job requirements? Perhaps you received no training and were thrown at the deep end. Take time to pause and write down what is it that is making you want to quit. Use a pen and paper because the act of writing will have the magic of bringing what's deep inside you to the surface.
2. Can your issue(s) be addressed?
If it is your boss or their style of management that is the issue, it is worth exploring this with your boss directly. Use diplomacy and avoid at all costs pointing fingers and attacking because we humans go into defensive mode when this happens. This will be a huge block to listening and your meeting will go nowhere. Also, do not share your issues with your workmates because your boss will be annoyed if they hear it from someone else. More on this in the next point.
3. Your workmates are not your friends.
I know you probably have four or five names in mind to prove me wrong but competitive environments are not conducive to genuine connections. Once you quit you can become besties. Do not tell any of your colleagues you are quitting until you have told your boss.
4. Once you have made the final decision to quit, just tell your boss.
It is always the right thing to do to give them enough notice. I left jobs without giving any notice when I was in my 20s and I regret it. It is not mature; the world is very small, and you may bump into them again. You will burn bridges acting this way. I remember leaving a job without giving them notice and then realising I needed a copy of my payslip for a visa application! Needless to say, the email exchange was very awkward.
5. Have a plan lined up.
Even if you haven't secured a job at least have your schedule ready. Looking for a new role can itself be a full-time job. If you add kids or dependents to the mix, you will not manage. You need to factor in the time and book it in your schedule. For instance: Monday from 9 to 11am, I am refreshing my CV and cover letter. From 2 to 4pm, I am applying to 2 roles. Yes, it takes that long to tailor your application and cover letter. In fact, I would be very surprised if you manage two applications.
6. Don't look back.
I have never met someone who told me they regretted quitting their job provided they had taken the time to pause and be real with themselves about why they wanted to quit. Don't share your ideas with the external world. Your loved ones can be terrible advisors because when you love someone deeply you are risk-averse on their behalf. Once you have made your decision you can share it with loved ones but make it clear that you have made up your mind and don’t need their two cents. You will always have family members who think that status and money are all that matters. You have one life and given the world we currently live in with pandemics and wars raging left, right, and centre, it could be a short one so just go for it!