3 steps to follow when you want to quit your job

Ok - made you look. I’m not exactly going to tell you how to quit your job but I am going to give you the tools to be able to effectively communicate what you want and what you need out of your career in order to ensure you are in the best position to advocate for yourself when times get tough. 

January 2022 marks an inflection point in the job market known as the ‘Great Resignation’. Employees are recognizing that we, as humans, deserve more from our employers. We spend a nauseating amount of time tied to our jobs so we can provide for our families and the American workforce is no longer putting up with underpaid jobs, stagnant career growth, and/or unsafe work conditions (both physically and emotionally). And I don’t know about you, but I’m here for it. IF people do it respectfully – or dare I say, civilly #careercivility

I am one of the 4 MILLION Americans who quit their job in 2021. On December 22nd, 2021 I put in my notice at a company I truly loved and on January 10, 2022 I placed a bet on myself – a bet that’s risky, exciting, and exactly what I need to be fired up about my career’s longevity. I am joining the Sales Assembly team as their new Vice President of Growth. My goal in this new role is to expand their member base, bring more value to their current members, and step into a thought leadership role. 

But that’s not why I’m writing to you today. Today I want to empower you to ask for what you need from your employer and communicate when those needs are not being met. And if push comes to shove, I also want to give you the tool to civilly say “I quit”. Because while there are copious amounts of resources out there to help you land the job, there aren’t many out there helping you respectfully move on (see: quit).

Keep in mind these are loose guidelines and should be taken into consideration depending on each unique individual situation.

3 steps to follow when you want to quit your job:

#1 Make a career development plan

This plan does not need to be an elaborate 12 step plan to success, but it does need to be real. It can be as simple as “I want to be in leadership” or “I want to make $100,000/yr” or “I want to start my own company some day” or “I want to be able to retire early so I can travel”. What matters is that you take the time to think about what you want out of your job/career/place you spend 80% of your week and document it. Once you have it documented, it’s a lot easier to communicate it. 

Bonus: Add the skillsets you think you may need you acquire to accomplish your goals (think: public speaking, budgeting, etc). 

#2 Share your goals

Take the document from step one and keep it with you at your desk. When working with your manager, ask them if they would be willing to support you on your career development plan. It looks like this, 

“I have spent time thinking about what I want from my career, would you be able to help support me in accomplishing xyz?”

*if the answer to the question above is no, skip to step #4

#3 Communicate, communicate, communicate

In every project you are assigned to, in every performance review, and in every interview you step into make sure you communicate the goals in your career development plan. It looks like this, 

“I’m really excited to work on this project because it will help become a better public speaker which is something I want out of my career”

“I was disappointed when I wasn’t able to contribute on said project because the project requirements are exactly in line with my career goals.”

#4 Give feedback 

It takes time to grow in a job. It takes time to cultivate new skillsets. Give yourself and give your company time to grow. While you are investing time into your career, work on giving feedback throughout the process. Both to yourself and to those you work with. It looks like this, 

“From my perspective, I didn’t feel like I had a chance to showcase my value nor my skillsets”

“I didn’t feel like that presentation was my best, it is something I need to work on”

#5 Quit

If all else fails, and you have tried steps 1-4 and you still feel stuck, undervalued, or underpaid – it might be time to find a new job. When you put in your notice and when you communicate how often you very clearly stated your goals and what you wanted to achieve in your job/role, it should be no surprise that you are moving on. 

Pro tip - when putting in your notice, be sure to keep it civil and communicate from your perspective. Use this as a template:

“I have some news to share with you. I have decided to take a new role outside of xyz organization. I have thought about why I came to this decision and it comes down to the fact that I didn’t feel like I was being challenged enough/supported enough and I found a new opportunity that aligns much more with my goals. Thank you for investing time in me and for everything I have learned here along the way. I truly appreciate it.”

If you’d like more guidance on how to effectively communicate your career development or if you feel like you are stagnant in your current job and you need a jolt of inspiration, chat with me. I’d love to hear from you!