Resigning from your job is no small feat, and it can even be considered one of the most important moves someone makes in life. There are several things to consider before you go ahead and hand in a resignation letter, no matter how done you are with your current company.
Whether it’s general dissatisfaction with your work environment, feeling uninspired, underpaid, or just plain bored, we really can’t stress the importance of taking some time to reflect on this mighty decision. It’s also crucial that you ensure that you have all your ducks in a row for when you do get to the day of handing in a resignation letter. Read on to learn more about all the things to consider before resigning from your job.
1. Assess Current Financial Situation
When you leave a job, you also leave a stable income. Before you resign, you should be sure that you can support yourself financially for several months. For this, you need to consider all your monthly expenses, including mortgage payments, childcare costs if you have kids, general bills, and insurance premiums. Simultaneously, you should also bear in mind that if you don’t have a job lined up, then a job search may take a lot longer than you may have planned. If you have no job lined up and no savings to last you a couple of months, then you may need to consider if this is the best time to walk away from your job (and income).
2. Scope the Job Market
Walking away from a job in a tough market is never a good idea. If you find that there are several jobs out there that you would qualify for, then you may be able to resign soon, but if the jobs that are ideal to your qualifications are few and far between, then you may need to hang on tight at your current job a little longer.
3. Make a Quick List of Pros and Cons
Any decision that anyone is ever going to be faced with in life always has a set of pros and cons attached to it. The best way to figure out if you are making the right decision with a potential resignation is to make a concise list of all the pros and cons to go along with resigning.
4. Seek the Bright Side
Sure, every job out there has a few downsides, and no one is ever really 100% happy with every aspect of their job, but at the same time, every job has some upsides, too. See what they are and consider if resignation is the right thing to do.
5. Reflect on Goals
Resigning from your job could have a negative impact on any financial or career goals you have. For example, if you have only been working at your current company for a short time, then it may look bad on your resume when you apply for another job.
6. Assess State of Well-Being
If your job is driving your stress levels through the roof, then resigning may be a good thing to do. On the other hand, resigning and job searching can be a really stressful place to find oneself in, too. See what’s more important regarding your health when you’re thinking of resigning.
7. Consider Backing Up Important Information and Docs
Ensuring that you have backed up all your important documents from your current workplace is really important to do before you resign. You would also want to ensure that you get a reference letter from your job as you never know when you need to show it to a potential future employer.
