Your job is making you miserable. You feel as if it’s dominating your life and negatively affecting your mood, your family and possibly even your health. You want to quit, but you don’t have your next opportunity lined up.
If you decide to leave before you’ve accepted a new position, your reasoning will most likely make a future employer scratch their head and give them pause.
Below are three of the most common reasons professionals want to leave their jobs, and often quit before having something lined up. Before you quit, do everything in your power to remedy your current situation and you’ll find it will be much easier to land your next job in the process.
Reason for Leaving #1
“There was a change in leadership and I didn’t agree with the new CEO’s vision for the company. It was a mutual decision for me to leave.”
The Hiring Manager’s Assumption
“This person doesn’t do well with change and we are a fast moving, agile company. We need leaders who will embrace change and take new initiatives by the horns.”
What To Do
Give yourself three to six months under the new leadership. The new CEO was hired for a reason and his vision may bring you more job satisfaction and wealth than you realize. Have an open conversation with the new CEO about how your role fit under the previous regime and share the organizational goals you were working towards.
Gather specific data points as to how your role and expertise can align with his new vision. Bring ideas to the conversation, illustrating how you set and achieve goals.
If it becomes apparent that your skill set and goals do not align, you will at least have specific data points to illustrate to a future employer which shows your willingness to embrace change and show initiative; yet also that you believe in your aptitude and experience and need to be in an environment where you can deliver.
Reason for Leaving #2
“My supervisor set unrealistic goals and no one is on track to achieve their goals.”
The Hiring Manager’s Assumption
This individual gives up when the going gets tough. We’re coming off a very successful year and I need a team who will build on that momentum and crave aggressive goals.
What To Do
Keep in mind that most successful leaders set aggressive goals; it’s why their teams are successful. Give specific reasons as to why the goals are unrealistic. Is the product not performing? Do you not have the support in place to increase your work load? Are you overcoming bad press that affected sales? Was your territory decreased?
Work with your supervisor to outline a plan to help you accomplish your goals.
A future employer will want to see that you did everything in your power to hit your goals. The fact that ‘nobody in the company hit their goal last year’ doesn’t provide enough substance for a future hiring manager. Give specific reasons that will show why you were unable to hit your goals at your current company, but will be able to in the future.
Reason for Leaving #3
“I had been there 10 years and there was no room for further growth, so I figured it was in everyone’s best interest if I left and focused 100% on my job search rather than sit around bored.”
The Hiring Manager’s Assumption
“This person will become frustrated if we don’t promote him/her every two years. We’re a fairly flat organization and I need people who will be self motivated.
What To Do
Be specific about what “further growth” means to you. Is it more management responsibilities? Is it more of a leadership role? You don’t want to leave the impression that you are simply seeking a title change; or that you get bored easily.
Before leaving your current role, think through what, if anything, would motivate you to stay. Schedule a meeting with your supervisor to go over a 30/60/90 day plan outlining a new initiative you want to spearhead. Build a case for hiring direct reports.
Your plan will tell your new boss that you are indeed self motivated and will showcase exactly what you can achieve in a role with increased responsibility.
Although it may be difficult, it is in your own best interest to persevere in your current situation while juggling a job search. It’s an indisputable fact that you are a lot more desirable in the market while being gainfully employed. It’s really that simple.
