How to Successfully Quit Your Job and Land a New One During the Great Resignation
Did the COVID-19 pandemic make you rethink your current job and your career as a whole?
You’re not alone.
Over 95% of workers are considering resigning from their jobs and 92% are willing to pivot to a different industry to find the right position for them.
This phenomenon is so widespread that it even has a name: the Great Resignation.
For many employees, the pandemic dramatically impacted their work lives. During the pandemic, many workers were grateful to keep their jobs in the face of rampant layoffs—even though their job satisfaction had significantly decreased. There were approximately 6 million fewer resignations in 2020 than in 2019, which proves employees were prioritizing steady income over job satisfaction to stay afloat during the pandemic.
However, now that we’re adjusting to post-pandemic workplaces, some employees are realizing they don’t want to keep their current jobs at all. Many workers had to take on additional responsibilities without being compensated for their increased workload as companies attempted to readjust after layoffs; now, those employees are burnout, feel undervalued, and are ready for a change. The sharp increase in resignations this year reflects those employees’ feelings. For example, May 2021’s resignation rate was 2.8 percent, which is significantly higher than the 1.6 percent resignation rate of May 2020.
If you’re among those who are ready to resign from their jobs during the Great Resignation, it’s crucial to position yourself for success by getting clear on what you want from your next job and quitting your current job correctly.
Read on for tips on successfully navigating the Great Resignation!
1. Find clarity on what you’re looking for
Take time to really think about why you want to leave your current job.
Are you tired of taking on extra work without being compensated for it? Do you feel like your current employer doesn’t appreciate you? Is there something about the company culture you don’t like?
Once you’ve figured out what you don’t like about your job, it’s time to figure out what you want out of your next job.
Are you looking for a fully remote job or a job that allows you to occasionally work from home? Did the pandemic make you realize you need a job that offers more sick days? Are you looking for a comprehensive benefits package? Do you want a job with a higher salary than your current one?
Figuring out what you’re looking for in your next job ahead of time sets you up for a successful job search. This will help you to create a purposeful, targeted job search strategy instead of applying to random jobs just to get away from your current job.
To help you figure out what you’re looking for more easily, here’s a list of 5 things people look for in a job:
Work-life balance
Good company culture
Location (including remote work)
Meaningful work
Advancement opportunities
2. Start your job search
Once you’ve established what you’re looking for, it’s time to start searching for jobs that tick all your boxes!
Identify companies that fit your vision of your ideal company and add them to your list. Check out their current openings and take note of the open positions in your field and any fields you may be able to transition into.
Start your job search by reaching out to your network, browsing jobs posted on LinkedIn, and checking out job boards like Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter.
3. Update your professional documents
Now that you’ve identified the jobs you want to go after, you’ve got to boost your chances of finding and landing one of the great positions you’ve been eyeing.
Update your résumé and cover letter to fully convey your skills, qualifications, and everything else you’d bring to the table in your next position. Highlight your achievements, use data as proof of your past successes, and use targeted keywords to demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for the job.
As you prepare your professional documents, remember to walk in your purpose, know who you are, and know what you have to offer. Don’t let imposter syndrome creep in! Focus on positioning yourself as someone with authority in your field if you’re applying for a job in your current field, or focus on positioning yourself as someone with incredible potential for success if you’re hoping to transition to a job in a different field.
Remember: You are professional and highly-skilled, and any job would be lucky to have you. Make sure your professional documents communicate this fact effectively.
If you’re unsure of how to position yourself as the best candidate in your cover letter and résumé, hire a professional. Professional résumé and cover letter writers stay up-to-date on the best practices for using your professional documents to stand out from other candidates. Additionally, they are trained to communicate your qualifications in a way that’s easily understandable by the hiring manager and the company’s ATS system.
What’s more, it takes approximately 5 months of job searching to land a new job. Working with a professional résumé writer can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for you to find your next job. Professionals know exactly how to convey why you’re the best candidate through your cover letter and résumé, so employers will know you’re worth meeting for an interview. So, professionally written career documents can help you land more interviews and more job offers!
Plan to spend anywhere from $200 to $1,000 and above on professionally written career documents. Although the cost may seem steep at first, keep in mind that turning to a professional can help you secure a higher salary and get more (and better!) job offers.
4. Network as if your career depends on it (because it does)
Now that you’re actively looking for a new job, your network is more important than ever.
Reach out to your current network and let them know you’re looking for a new job. They may be able to point you in the direction of open, unlisted jobs that align with what you’re looking for out of your next job.
Also, seek out other people you can add to your network. Connect with people in your field or the field you’re transitioning into. Use LinkedIn to reach out to professionals you’d like to connect with. Don’t hesitate to ask to meet them over coffee or to chat on Zoom.
Networking is an important part of any job search, so don’t skip this step!
5. Apply for positions
This step is pretty straightforward. Make sure your professional documents are tailored to each position you’re applying for and submit your applications!
Again, turn to your network and apply for the unlisted positions they tell you about. Also, return to the job boards (like Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter) you visited in step #2 and submit applications for the jobs you’re interested in that are listed on those sites.
6. Let your boss know you’re considering another job offer
Congrats! After sending in your applications and completing the interview process, you’ve landed a job offer. Now, it’s time to let your boss know you’re considering accepting the offer. If possible, schedule a face-to-face meeting with your boss to tell them about the offer.
Give them at least two weeks’ notice, so you can train whoever fills your position, finish any ongoing projects, and tie up other loose ends.
When you tell your boss about the other job offer, be as courteous as possible. Steer clear of talking negatively about your current company. Be prepared for the possibility that your boss may offer you a counteroffer to try to get you to stay. Your boss may ask you for information about the salary you were offered at the other company and the responsibilities you’ll be taking on.
If you decide to consider the counteroffer, remember the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place. Will the counter offer address all those issues? If you were looking for higher pay and your boss offered a higher salary to get you to stay, the counteroffer may be worth accepting. However, if you were unhappy because of a toxic workplace, the counteroffer will not be able to solve that issue.
Whether you decide to stay at your current job or accept the new job offer, remain courteous and professional throughout the meeting and, if applicable, during your last days at your current job. This will help you avoid burning bridges, so you can potentially list your boss as a reference in the future and keep them in your network.
Wrapping Up
If you’re participating in the Great Resignation, these tips will help you find a new job you’re satisfied with and transition into your new role without burning bridges at your current job.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to ensure your job search goes as smoothly as possible! Our staff is highly experienced and qualified, and we can update your professional documents to showcase your qualifications and achievements, so you grab hiring managers’ attention and land the job of your dreams.