We realise that leaving your old job can be scary. Imagine the story: you found your dream job, you went through a series of interviews and the job offer is on the table but the only thing holding you back from accepting it is the fear of quitting your current role...
In the era of Great Resignation, you may find yourself among thousands of people in the UK leaving their jobs. Recently, it was reported that almost one in four UK workers is planning a job change in the next few months. The pandemic made us think again about what we want from our careers and the strong, candidate-driven job market gives us options for a change. In our recent article, we took a closer look at some obvious signs it’s time to quit your current role.
Leaving the job can be a very emotional experience, especially if you spent many years in the company or carried out a number of important projects. Quitting without regretting or burning bridges is not always easy. After all, you never know who you will cross paths with in the future.
We’ve prepared a set of tips that will help you leave in the right way:
1) Take time to reflect
Before giving notice, it’s worth taking a bit of time to once again reflect on your decision. Ask yourself what motivates you, what’s missing in your current role and what your non-negotiables are. What makes you want to leave the current role? Or alternatively, what pushes you to pursue your career somewhere else? Prepare a list of factors that are important to you and make sure that the new opportunity ticks all the boxes. Once you clearly know your goals and reasons, it is less likely that you’ll have regrets.
2) Be ready for a counteroffer
Organisations are keen to keep their best people and it’s almost certain that your boss will try to change your mind. Prepare mentally and emotionally to receive a counteroffer, which is most likely to happen within 24 to 48 hours after handing in your notice. Stick to your guns and let them know politely that you have already made up your mind.
We generally advise against taking the counteroffer. Working with Executive Search and Recruitment Professionals we’ve observed that most people who decide to stay in the company leave within a year. It is rather unlikely that the pain point that pushed you to quit the company will disappear after a raise in the salary and promotion.
3) Speak to the right people
Once you’ve decided to quit, inform your direct supervisor first. Arrange a face-to-face meeting instead of handing in an impersonal resignation letter. Don’t tell your work friends or
colleagues about your decision. After all, you don’t want your boss to find out that you’re leaving before you explain your reasons. Keep your move quiet and confidential before speaking to your manager.
4) Make the most of your notice period
Don’t simply hand in your resignation and walk away the next day. The length of your notice period will depend on your seniority in the company and may range from two weeks for entry-level and mid-level roles to four weeks for higher-level executives. It’s important that you give yourself enough time to transit your responsibilities but not stay too long, otherwise, you can get ‘hooked’ back into the work and not leave.
Over the last weeks in the organisation, you may work on helping to hire a replacement or handing the projects and tasks over to colleagues. It can be helpful if you make some recommendations but let your boss make the final decisions. Simultaneously, use the remaining time in the company to strengthen your relationships with colleagues. Invite them for lunch and coffee and make it explicit that you want to stay in touch.
5) Say goodbye
Writing goodbye notes is not mandatory but it’s worth taking some time to do this. It’s a nice gesture to make to show gratitude to your manager, close colleagues and mentors. Don’t forget to leave your personal contact information. Make it clear that it’s not a goodbye forever and you want to keep in touch. Personalise your notes by mentioning positive things you’ve learned from the person you’re writing to.
Quitting on a positive note will help you leave a good impression, maintain your network and make the transition to the new job much easier. Our experienced Consultants are here not only to assist you in securing your job search but also to make sure that the entire process is as smooth as possible. If you would like to discuss further how Carlin Hall can help you in your next career move, get in touch.
