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Leave Your Job In The Right Way With Our 5 Expert Tips

You’re demotivated, you haven’t had a pay rise in years, you’re not progressing and your skills are going to waste. A fresh challenge is just what you need, but before you wave goodbye to your current job for good, it’s worth taking some time to put an exit strategy in place to help you leave your job in the right way. After all, you’re probably going to need a good reference!

1. Define the problem with your current job

Before you hand in your notice, make sure you’re clear about the itch you’re scratching. Do you hate the job or is it your boss or colleagues that you dislike? Perhaps you feel that the role is not a good fit for your skills, or you’d be better suited to a different sector?

Before searching externally for new jobs, it could be worth exploring your opportunities within the organisation first. If you’re well thought of by your current employer, then career development programmes, lateral moves and even a secondment to a different department may all be potential routes they’ll consider.

2. Make the necessary preparations before you jump ship

Once you’ve decided to go elsewhere, you must get everything in order before contacting recruiters. Update your CV, think about how to demonstrate the skills and experience you’ve gained and use examples to sell yourself successfully. You should also look at the must-have requirements of the sector you’re planning to enter and ensure that the evidence for those skills is all covered on the first page of your CV.

3. Now’s not the time for negativity

When you’re ready to move on, it’s very easy to let negativity creep in, but that could cloud what has otherwise been a successful time with your current employer. You should carry a positive approach through to the discussions you’re likely to have when searching for a new role.

When asked what you’re looking for in a new role, think about the new challenges you want to face and not what pushes you away from your old job. You should also resist the temptation to say anything negative about your previous employer, no matter how bad the situation was. The last thing you want is to look like a problem waiting to happen.

4. Understand the jobs market you’re heading into

Before making the move into a new sector, take the time to research what recruitment levels are like and whether the sector is growing or on the decline. It’s also a common mistake to assume that your skills or qualifications are transferable without carrying out the necessary checks. This could mean that you have to start at a less senior level or that you struggle to get into the sector at all. You should speak to as many people as you can and scour sector-specific job boards to understand what skills prospective employers are looking for.

5. Keep your plans to yourself

The last thing you want is to broadcast to everyone that you’re moving on, only for it to take much longer than you’d like to find a new role. Announcing your intentions on social media could lead to you being eased out of the organisation before you have another role to go to. Mass emailing your CV to competitors could also have a similar effect in a close-knit industry.

We’d advise you to keep your cards very close to your chest. Word spreads very quickly around the workplace and the decision could be taken out of your hands. Instead, increase your visibility gradually and make sure you conduct your job search outside of work hours.

Are you ready to move on?

At Linguistica Recruitment, we have a diverse range of well-paid and rewarding jobs for bilingual workers across the south coast of England. Call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements or submit your CV to our specialist team.