5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job

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When you are thinking about making a career change, take the time to consider 5 questions to ask yourself before quitting your job.

If you’re considering quitting your job, you’re in good company. According to a recent survey from McKinsey & Company, 40% of workers globally are contemplating quitting. With millions of people in America, Canada and Europe continuing to quit their jobs every month, it can be tempting to follow suit. 

However, before you hand in your resignation letter, it’s important to give it some serious thought. Here are five questions to help you think through your decision:

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job

1. Why do I want to quit my job?
2. Where do I want to go from here?
3. How am I going to get where I want to go?
4. Am I prepared to make the leap?
5. What’s my exit strategy?

Why do I want to quit my job?

The first consideration to address is why you want to quit your job. In examining your reasons you may find that you have the power to solve the problem that makes you want to call it quits. 

Here are the top 8 reasons people are quitting their jobs, according to the McKinsey & Co survey mentioned above:

1. Lack of professional growth and advancement opportunities
2. Insufficient compensation
3. Lack of compassion and inspiration from leadership
4. Unable to find meaning in work
5. Burnout due to unsustainable expectations
6. Lack of support and reliability among colleagues
7. Not enough flexibility
8. Not enough support for health and wellbeing

If any of these reasons align with your own, consider if you’re capable of changing them. For instance, if you don’t feel you are being fairly compensated, have you approached your manager about a pay raise? If it’s career advancement you want, have you discussed options with your boss? 

With employers looking to improve retention, you may have more negotiating power than you realize. You may be able to convince your boss to grant you more flexibility, more PTO, to let you work part-time, or to create a new role that challenges you. If such an improvement would make it worthwhile for you to stay, then it’s worth trying to achieve. 

Similarly, addressing issues like support for health and wellbeing, or unrealistic expectations regarding the amount or scope of the work being completed, may yield some positive results. Employers are more willing than ever to reconsider and adjust work culture in order to stay competitive enough to retain strong employees and draw new talented recruits. 

Perhaps the reason you want to quit your job isn’t something that can be solved by negotiation or among colleagues. If you’re looking to switch industries or start your own business, then leaving your current role will be inevitable. 

Where do I want to go from here?

If you decide that quitting your job is the best option for you, then the next question to ask yourself is where you want to go next. Are you looking for a new role in the same industry that will provide new opportunities and challenges, or are you looking to switch industries altogether?

Creating a clear goal and vision of what you want from your next venture will help you be more  discerning when opportunities arise, and will help ensure that you end up in a job role you find professionally satisfying. 

If you know exactly what company you want to work for or what position you’re looking for, that’s great. If not, try brainstorming what experiences and responsibilities you want to have, and look for positions and employers that are a good fit. 

It can be helpful to create a list of all the things you’re looking for in a new position, and clarify which of those things you are or are not willing to compromise on, and to what extent. 

Knowing what your priorities are and exactly where your boundaries lie before starting your job search will make it easier to negotiate offers or turn down ones that aren’t in line with your goals. 

How am I going to get where I want to go? 

Once you know exactly what you want, it’s much easier to figure out how you’re going to achieve it. 

If you’re looking to make a jump in your career or switch industries, ask yourself if you have the qualifications and skills you need to land the job you want. What will be expected of you in that role? Are you equipped with the tools you need to perform the job successfully?

If not, what are some ways you can go about developing those skills and gaining relevant experience? Working on some professional development in tandem with your current job before quitting will help position you to secure a job faster when you start your search. 

Here are some actionable steps to help get you started:

1. Research your ideal roles.
2. Find out what qualifications and skills you will need.
3. See if there is a way you can gain experience and hone those skills at your current job. One option is asking your employer to give you additional responsibilities you will need to demonstrate to potential employers. Another is taking advantage of any professional growth and training opportunities your employer offers.
4. If you can’t get the experience you need at your current job, find an external opportunity to gain it. For example, you could begin doing some freelance work, gain some volunteer experience, or take an online course. There are many educational platforms to choose from, like Coursera, Skillshare, or Udemy. Completing relevant courses will make a great addition to your resume, will help you gain the knowledge you need, and will show employers that you are a motivated self-starter. 

Am I prepared to make the leap?

When you know where you want to go and how to get there, the next question to ask yourself before quitting your job is whether or not you’re prepared to go for it. It’s wise to think it through and make sure you have everything you need in place for a smooth transition. 

Here are some guiding considerations in your preparation for how to quit your job:

Do I have the financial resources to quit my job?

To get an accurate picture of what you’ll need to have saved, make sure you’ve got a solid idea of what your monthly expenses are. From there you can adjust your budget accordingly, and determine how much leeway you have. Experts recommend having three to six months’ worth of expenses on hand to cover costs while you look for a new job.  

Do I have any helpful connections?

Effective networking is one of the most valuable tools for a job seeker. Employers are more likely to hire someone they know or who comes recommended by a mutual connection. 

Consider your network. Do you know someone who works at your target company, in your target role, or in your target industry? Reaching out to them for a referral, a connection, or some guidance might help you get where you want to go. 

If you don’t have any helpful connections yet, try making some. Using LinkedIn effectively, attending job fairs, or going to networking events are some of the best ways to grow your network. 

How can I set myself up for success?

Before quitting your job, make sure all your application materials are ready to go so you don’t have to spend a lot of time rewriting your CV or resume before you can start applying. 

Here are a few ways to set yourself up for success before making the leap:

• Make sure your resume or CV is up-to-date and highlights all of your relevant experience and skills. Do as much tailoring as possible in advance if you know what industry, position, or company you’re applying for. 
• Prepare a matching cover letter and similarly tailor it to your target job. The cover letter is your opportunity to address hiring managers and let them know what makes you the perfect candidate for the job, so be sure to show off your professional achievements and avoid common cover letter mistakes. 
• Update your LinkedIn profile and ensure that it showcases your relevant qualifications. If you’ve taken any courses to develop your skills or experience, you should add these to your profile. Don’t just update your profile and leave it at that, however. Actively engaging on LinkedIn can help you get noticed by recruiters and might win you opportunities you’d otherwise miss out on. 

What’s my exit strategy?

Now that you have a blueprint for your transition, it’s time to consider your exit strategy, or how to quit your job. You never know when your current connections will come in handy, so it’s important to make as amicable an exit as possible. 

Answering these questions can help you judge how to best navigate leaving your current job:

• How can I leave my current role while maintaining strong relationships?
• How much prep time do I need and how much advance notice does my employer need?
• How can I ease the transition for the company?

Even though you’re going to quit your job, maintaining good relationships with your colleagues may prove beneficial in the future and will keep your professional network strong. 

Notifying your boss in advance with a well-written resignation letter and doing what you can to assist in the transition for your company will go a long way towards ensuring a mutually respectful parting. 

It’s likely your current boss will soon be getting calls from potential employers asking for a reference, so when you quit your job remember that your last impression is just as important as your first. 

Considering a career change is a serious undertaking. If you take the time to contemplate 5 questions to ask yourself before quitting your job, you will have the answers you need to achieve your professional goals.