YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH. Whether it’s the people that you work with, the long hours, lack of appreciation, or just the main responsibilities of the job you have, you have decided that you have had enough. Quitting or choosing to resign from a job is never easy territory to cross, and there are a number of things you have to keep in mind before you take this step, and know for sure if it is the best time for a career change.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

1. Are you doing it for the right reasons?
2. Do you have a fallback plan or another opportunity lined up?
3. How can you ensure, because you must always ensure, that you are tying up loose ends gracefully and leaving on good terms?
4. What is your next move? It always sounds good to leave it all behind and eat-pray-love your way into a dreamy new life but you have to be smart because unless you have Julia Roberts good fortune (think Pretty Woman) then a life time of loneliness and Devil Wears Prada dead-end internships could be in your cards.

How Do You Know If A Job Isn’t Right For You?

You Find Yourself Dragging Yourself to Work Everyday

Once in a while, it is normal to prefer to sleep in rather than throw to on the blue suede shoes and sashay into work. However, if it is a feeling you have every day, there may be some underlying concerns.

Some people find it very hard to make it into work on time. This is because they lack the motivation needed to even go into work so they leave at the last possible minute. People that love what they do get into work early, want to socialize and share ideas with their coworkers, and the thought of making a difference in their job is more appealing than lazing around in bed all day.

You Do Not Align With The Company’s Values

If you are in a role that is not right for you, or you are needed to do tasks that do not align with your values then no matter how hard you work, you will never be able to excel in your role. Even if you are able to move up in the company and look like you are great in your role, you will never truly be happy.

Maybe you are in a sales position where you need to sell a product that you don’t believe in. You will never feel passionate about the work you do. Or worse,  being in a sales position, where they push you to sell things to customers that they don’t really need.

You Are Not Able To Use or Build Upon Your Skills

It is important to be able to work in a position where you are able to use all or at least most of the skills that you love. If you are a creative person, you will never be truly happy in a job that requires you to push papers or create billing reports all day. Just like if you are a natural introvert, you will always feel like a fish out of water when you are required to work in a very social job. Furthermore to this, if you are not able to use your skills that you love in your work environment, it will be very hard for you to find time to develop on these skills

In the Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains that it takes 10, 000 hours to become truly good at what ever talent/skill/strength/duty/task it is that you choose to hone in on. Make it something that you love.

So, you’ve decided to leave. You’re probably thinking “What Do I Do Now?”

Trust Your Gut

Do you have a passion, a side business or a hobby that you have wanted to do for a while but since you were separating your time between your j-o-b and you p-a-s-s-i-o-n you have gotten to a place where you are kind of doing both half assed. When you reach this point it is time to step back, weigh your options and decide if it is worth it to stay or if you can make a viable living by going off on your own

Create a Fallback Plan

 Have you been job-searching for a while but have not been able to find the perfect gig to save you from your sorrows? Don’t wallow in your misery! Keep trying. The average job applicant searches for a job for 7 months before finding anything. This means you need to amp up the time you are spending searching for a job before you decide to leave your current role.

Thinking of jumping ship and starting your own business? Congratulations! Being your own boss is one of the most rewarding positions you could ever hope for. Make sure you give your business idea a test run. Work on a business strategy with strategic targets to keep you on track. Most of all, reach out to your circle for help and advice. You never know who knows a guy who knows a guy who could be the one to help bring your dreams into reality.

Save for a Rainy Day

 As crucial as another pair of Louboutins or spending 100$ on a lavish brunch might seem, remember that in the long-term scheme of things, it’s not going to help you get you far. Start saving your nickels and dimes as best you can, so if in the event you get so sick of your job that you cannot stand to walk through those doors one more time, you have enough funds to let you coast for a while.

Even if you never end up quitting, you might end up with enough cash to buy your first condo or invest in a ‘fruit company’ a la Forest Gump and the rest is history!

All the [Job Hunters] in the Place With Style and Grace

Most importantly, when you do take that leap, ensure you leave on good terms. Write a warm-hearted resignation letter, arrange a time to talk to your direct report to share the news, remember that you do not have to go into great detail as to why you are leaving but don’t bad-mouth the company in case the need arises for you to come back.

Ensure you give the correct amount of notice when you leave continue to put your 100% into your position until you complete you very last shift.

This is how you will leave with glowing references and a future of opportunities.

With these tips in mind, you should be able to determine if it’s best time for a career change! Feel feel to drop us a line in the comments section.

all images in this post from Unsplash