Leaving your job can be incredibly daunting, particularly if you don’t have another role lined up yet. There are often times in our careers when we know it’s time to leave a role. It could be because you’re unhappy, you’re too stressed, or you just aren’t able to move your career in the direction you would like to go in.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to leave your role, there are a few things you need to do before you take the plunge. Read on to learn the 7 things you should always do before leaving your job to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Update your CV
When you’re starting to think about leaving, it’s time to update your CV with the most recent experience. You might not have looked at your CV for a long time, and there is a good chance it will need a spring clean. You might even want to consider making something more creative, like a video resume. Make sure you create a generic CV template that can easily be adapted to each role you apply for.
Line up another opportunity
Unless you are truly miserable in your role, it’s not a great idea to leave until you have another job lined up. It’s far easier to find work when you already have a job since you’ll be more desirable to employers. It can be difficult to find the time to interview when you are working full time, so try to make the most of leftover holidays and lunch breaks.
Ask for a counter-offer
If you line up another job that offers more pay, more responsibility, or more of the work that you love, it’s time to let your current employer know. But instead of cutting them off completely, why not see if they’re willing to extend a counteroffer? If they love your work, there is a good chance they will be happy to match the other company’s offer, or even offer something even better.
Secure a reference
By keeping things on good terms, you can secure a positive reference from your current employer. They might be disappointed that you are leaving, but if they are happy with your work, they should be more than happy to provide a glowing reference. Your next employer will want to see this before they make your job offer final.
Save work samples
While you are working out your notice period (and you should always work out your notice period), use the time to gather and save samples of your work. You might not be able to access this in the future, and it’s always helpful to have these things on file. You never know when someone might ask to see samples of your work.
Reach out to key contacts
When you know that you’re leaving, you should reach out to key contacts and let them know where they can reach you. By sending them your LinkedIn profile, you can remove any awkwardness around directing them to your new company. Make sure you check your contract to see if you have a non-compete clause that forbids this.
Remain positive
There’s no reason to burn bridges on your way out of a company, even if it means putting on a fake smile to say goodbye to people you can’t wait to see the back of. Remaining positive and upbeat about your departure is essential, as you never know when you’ll cross paths again. You don’t want to leave anyone with a bad impression, as this could come back to bite you in the future.
Leaving a job doesn’t have to be a negative experience. By controlling the situation and keeping things positive, you can keep the door open with your employer and the people who work there. Leaving them with positive things to say about you is a strong career move and one that will pay in the future.
People move around companies all the time, and you never know who might be on a hiring panel in the future. By staying on good terms with everyone you meet and keeping things professional, you can pave the way for a brighter future.