Take This Job and...Re-staff It

Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting a job requires courage, especially in today's soft economy when the unemployment rate has reached 6.4%. However, in a tight job market, some people consider leaving their jobs without having another "lined up".

When after a careful evaluation of emotional and financial considerations you determine that leaving your job is your best option, you may find that you will have a hard time getting support from your family, friends and colleagues. The moment you tell others that you are considering leaving your job, their immediate reaction will be, "Don't leave your job if you don't have another to go to."

Yes. The ideal situation is to leave a job when you have a perfect career opportunity. But life doesn't always hand you a magic bullet. Sometimes you have to take a risk, and that's when conventional wisdom must be put aside to improve the prospects for your career.

Your decision to leave should be based on the expectation that better opportunities await you. You may be ready to move on when:

• The organization's culture has shifted, and no longer matches your work values.

• You have outgrown your position, and the only way you will get promoted is if someone leaves.

• The price of staying (e.g., increased anxiety and loss of self-esteem) is greater than the price of leaving.

• You no longer care about the company, and it is reflected in the way you perform your job.

• Your career goals have evolved, and you are ready to pursue new opportunities.

Once you have made the decision to resign, plan for the following:

• Write a letter of resignation. Keep the letter short and to the point. The letter should mention two key points (1) the date of your last day of work and (2) a thank you to your immediate superior for having provided you with the opportunity to work for the organization.

• Prepare for an exit interview. This is not an opportunity for you to provide a laundry list of pet peeves. Instead, use this time to offer objective and constructive feedback.

Possible exit interview questions include: What were the factors that contributed to your accepting a job with our Company? Were your expectations realized? Has that changed? What constructive comments do you have for management with regard to making this a better place to work? Why are you leaving? What would have kept you here? What do you expect to find somewhere else?

• Go the extra step. Ask your manager what you can do to make the transition easier and, if possible, offer to train your successor.

• Extended yourself. Be available for a certain time after your last day to answer any questions your employer may have.

Most important of all, do not burn your bridges. Keep your resignation professional and brief.

About The Author

Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers' Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at careerstrides@bigfoot.com.

---

How to Insure Job Security

The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't... Read More

Working as a Knowledge Worker in the Information Age

The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who... Read More

How To Establish Trust, Credibility and Enthusiasm To Your Interviewer

If you use your voice to get attention, you use... Read More

How to Walk Away from an Opportunity thats Wrong for You

Q. I just finished a job interview. Everything went well.... Read More

Successful Job Search: Knocking Out The Competition

Most of the time, competition stimulates us, gets our juices... Read More

Become A Personal Trainer

Every human body is different and a personal trainer will... Read More

Interview Tips, How to Get the Job You Want

Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the... Read More

Seven Deadly Types of Job Recruiters

Collect them all!Over the course of six months in my... Read More

An Unexpected Career Direction

My starting point was how to draw on 25 years... Read More

Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict

Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the UncooperativeWe... Read More

How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy

Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a... Read More

How to Recoup From Missing the Most Important Meeting of the Year

Sometimes missing a critical meeting just can't be helped. Despite... Read More

How to Access Employers through Proposal Marketing

Use Proposal Marketing and you'll be your own hot spot,... Read More

Perceptions

How was your latest car wash experience?Did you take your... Read More

The Right Way To Send Your Resume

Having a great resume is the first critical step in... Read More

Resume Objectives: How Do You Know if Resume Objectives Are Right for You?

Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives. While others... Read More

Layoff Survival Guide - Do You Have The Career Management Horsepower It Will Take To Survive?

In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More

Strange Jobs Still Pay The Bills

Strange jobs? How do we define that? Years ago I... Read More

The Executive Resume - Moving Beyond Accomplishments

There is a major difference between conventional resumes and executive... Read More

Take the Personal Out of the Workplace: Leave Your Troubles at the Door!

Bringing your emotional baggage into the work place is inappropriate... Read More

What is Absolutely the Best Day to go on a Job Interview?

First of all, to fully understand and appreciate the answer,... Read More

How To Become a Mortgage Broker

The mortgage industry accounted for $1,815,949,279,000 in loan transactions in... Read More

Make Your Resume Keyword Rich and Scanner Friendly

If you haven't looked for a job recently, there are... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New Graduates

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New GraduatesThis... Read More

Telecommuting Website (Part One)

"I've heard you talk about building a website to get... Read More

Getting A Leg Up

Legging Up Your CompetitionLet's face it. When you graduate from... Read More

5 Ways to Profit From No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (No Child... Read More

How to Reach Your Next Job Faster with Fewer Potholes, Roadblocks

Complacency damages your career more than lack of qualifications. The... Read More

A Peek at Nursing as a Career

We need more people to choose nursing as a career.... Read More

How To Win the Job-Hunting Game

When I got over the initial shock of being urged... Read More

So, What Do You Do For Work?

I remember being asked this question a lot when I... Read More

Wishing and Hoping

Years after Disneyland was built, after the completion of Walt... Read More

Master Responding to Selection Criteria and Win Your Next Job!

As a human resources specialist for many years, I've seen... Read More