CHANGING DIRECTION

“When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” - Audre Lorde, American Writer

VALUE OF CHANGE

The need to leave a job for another can be driven by stress, lack of momentum, no opportunity, disproportionate work/life balance, and/or a misalignment of career goals with a role. Ultimately, you are going through the motions of your role without any self-development or satisfaction. It is time to reconsider your options. Let's make this clear. It is not selfish to strive for personal happiness.

True success cannot be achieved by those drowning in sorrow.

WHEN QUITTING IS RIGHT

If you quit your job, give yourself a high five! To say, "this place is not right for me and I am not right for them" is one of the bravest actions an individual can take. It is normal for people to wrestle with the fears below when they consider leaving a place of employment.

If I leave, my co-workers and company will suffer.
If I quit, it will look bad on my resume.
Even though this is a volatile environment, I should have a thicker skin. There are others who have it worse.
Leaving after so many years will be too hard. I can't start over.

All these concerns are valid, and are not enough to stop you from pursuing a healthy, productive, supportive work environment. There is a significant difference between challenging and stressful work. Plus, the company will not come to a screeching halt just because you leave.

Suggestion: Adopt the mentality, "a company should contribute as much to me as I contribute to the company." This can be monetary compensation, growth opportunities, or a supportive environment.

LETTING YOUR BOSS KNOW YOU ARE SHOPPING AROUND

More often than not, this is not advisable. The company may have an unofficial policy that forces your manager to let you go before you are ready. Wait to give notice to your supervisor until you have your new job offer in writing. Respectful prospective companies will hold off on contacting your employer until after an offer is made contingent on the background and reference check.

When the time comes to inform your boss, strive for the following:

If you have a good relationship, explain you needed to take the next step in your career and you are grateful for the opportunity they have provided. Express how important their reference would mean to you.
Give at least two weeks notice. This gives them plenty of time prepare for your departure. Try to tie up any loose ends out of respect before your end date.
If you have a poor relationship, utilize another formal means such as email. Remain respectful and focus on the positives. Especially in writing, there is no sense in bashing the company and burning any frail networking bridges.
If you have a volatile relationship with your direct supervisor, send the email to a higher level manager. Mention you felt they were the most appropriate person to give your notice. Don't dwell on the bad or try to tear down the company. Simply thank them and disclose your end date.

Suggestion: Submit your resignation in writing. Even if you provide verbal notice, still follow up with an email or letter. If they dismiss you early or act disrespectfully, your state/province may provide protections if you were not allowed to finish your two weeks despite properly informing the company ahead of time.

I WAS FIRED WITHOUT CAUSE.

Termination without cause (meaning no attendance issues or violent behavior) is a difficult place to be in, but you can still be successful in your job search and career. When discussing your termination, be upfront, honest and positive. Consider the following scenarios:

Terminated because I didn't get along with my boss: "Being fired was a rough situation because I really liked the company and my coworkers. I think the issue was poor communication with my supervisor. In my next job, I plan to make sure I am on the same page with my supervisor and team."
I was let go under a year: "My previous company was a great place to work, but they went through a merger/business realignment/downsizing/etc. Now, my priority is to find a company I can see myself a part of long-term.

Suggestion: Never bash your previous company or dwell on the details of why you were terminated.