Before You Quit

Everywhere you look people are talking about the enormous number of employees who have quit or plan to quit their current jobs. It is more than likely that if you are not in this position, you know someone who is, so how do you take the next step when you are ready to quit your job and look for something else?

Christopher Cellars, Executive Director of the UW Tacoma Professional Development Center, has some thoughts to share.

How do I know if it is the right time to quit my job?

That’s a very subjective and personal decision and different for everyone’s circumstances. However, as a manager, I encourage my team in their professional growth and challenges. You need to feel a sense of accomplishment and move forward–even learning lateral skills. This also needs to be balanced by other factors, such as work-life balance, a desire for work that aligns with skills and values, and (of course) better pay.

As a business leader, the organization needs to invest in employees–because we all want to come to work and feel a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, everyone is unhappy, and the organization starts going stagnate –and not meeting the needs of business or community.

What are some things I should consider doing before giving notice?

Well, don’t just walk out and burn bridges. There’s a lot of hype out there–and personally, I hate the phrase encouraging, The Great Resignation. Prof. Martha Maznevski, from Western University in Ontario, Canada, put it bluntly in a recent BBC article. “You can only resign if you have a choice. ”It becomes an issue of equity and privilege because many people don’t feel they have a choice. So, you need to lay out all those factors above and have an honest conversation with yourself –and your boss –if you can rethink your workplace and potential. However, I would also add: Don't be paralyzed by fear of change. Fear should make you stop and think –but change can make you even better.

So, write down a basic checklist, like this one from Big Think:

•What is your financial situation?

•What are your family obligations?

•What values should your job align with?

•What job can you secure with your current resume?•Do you need further education? Reskilling?

•What do you need to maintain your health and mental well-being?

•How do you want to challenge yourself?

•Are you looking to move up the career ladder? A lateral move to a new field?

Where can I learn about new opportunities and gain new skills?

The second part of your journey is still following some basic steps.

First: Evaluate what you want to be doing either as a particular job or even a new career.

Second: Then look for the requirements in those job descriptions. Find the gaps in your own experience and skills –whether they are soft skills like communications or hard skills in programming or even an M.B.A. Remember, this is lifelong learning, and you will need to keep coming back for more.

Third: Compare the value-proposition of the many providers out there –and how they will be perceived by potential employers. You can learn valid skills in a variety of ways, but will it be worth the money to put on your resume?

LinkedIn and Google have invested in education and are now offering short certificates, which are great and trusted. However, also weigh out the way a class or certificate is being taught, the connection to your region, and the ability to network with classmates in a meaningful way. I’ll admit –I’m biased in that I see that as the value-proposition of continuing education at the University of Washington Tacoma.

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UW Tacoma Professional Development Center is committed to serving the needs of working professionals with skills-based, career-enhancing certificate programs and learning experiences. With locations ranging from Olympia to Seattle as well as a robust online and on-demand catalog of offerings, the PDC fosters a diverse, prosperous, and connected community through access to professionally relevant content for individuals, businesses, and public organizations. Current courses can be found in the PDC Winter Catalog. 

References

3 Things to Do in 2022 if You Were Part of the Great Resignation

by Jazmine Reed-Clark

Should You Join The Great Resignation?

by Kevin Dickinson

What the Great Resignation Tells Us About Our Flawed Work Culture—and How We Can Reimagine It

by Rainesford Stauffer