How to quit your job and get a better one

It’s no secret that many people stay in a job for a long time even though they are desperately unhappy. You probably can’t count on 2 hands the number of friends and co-workers in this position. And if you’re reading this article, you probably feel this way too. But maybe you just don’t know how to quit your job and get a better one.

It’s not so easy, you may say. But who says it can’t be. Yes there are obstacles, like having to re-write your CV, actually look for the opportunities,and then needing to tender your resignation.

But if you feel like you need a better work/life balance, want to put your skills to better use, take a step up the career ladder or just get a better paying job then you owe it to yourself to try.

You deserve to be happy in your workplace and feel like you’re being valued for all you’re worth. If you agree with this statement, then read on and find out why you should quit your position and how to get a better paying job.

Deciding whether or not to quit your job to find a better one

If you’re considering quitting your job and finding a better one, it’s likely that you feel unhappy in your current position.

But you should consider just why that is and if changing jobs will improve your level of satisfaction.

Of course, there are many valid reasons for wanting to quit your current job, such as:

• You feel stagnant and that you’re not learning or growing
• You feel like your skills and expertise are undervalued
• Your salary expectations are not being met
• You feel that your current workplace is toxic in some way

This last reason is perhaps the most important sign that you should quit your job and get a better one. Your mental health is important. It’s not a good idea to stay in a role that may be causing you unnecessary stress or bad vibes.

Starting to look for a new job can start to ease these worries as it can help you to restore hope and feel like you are working towards getting out of a bad situation.

If you really feel that you can’t continue in your current role but don’t have a new job lined up, then you will have to weigh up your position before making a decision.

Is it OK to quit your job before finding a new one?

Quitting a job before finding a new position is not as big of a deal as some may think. Yes, there are obvious risks.

But it may actually be a smart move if you want to completely focus on the search for a better job.

If you feel secure in your abilities and have do doubt that you’ll quickly be able to land a new role with your expertise, then just go ahead and hand in your resignation.

If you feel like you might struggle to find a new job, or are unsure which direction you want your career to take, then you will most likely want to hang onto your current position while you assess the market.

While going to interviews while juggling your current employment can be a challenge, it is often less stressful than if you’re jobless with dwindling finances. You‘ll also come across as more confident and less desperate to potential employers.

How much money should you have saved before quitting a job?

If you decide to quit your job without a new role lined up,you should only resign if you feel that you are in a stable financial position to be able to do so.

You may have certain financial responsibilities to fulfill, such as a family to look after or bills to pay, that simply can’t be put on the line if your search for a new job runs long.

If you want to quit your job without a new one, you should ideally have savings that would cover at least 3-6 months of your expenses.

It’s important to break down your finances and assess how long your savings would last before making a move. You may want to work out a detailed budget plan in advance, including your monthly costs and debt and mortgage/rent obligations.

You should also consider whether you want to make potential sacrifices such as cutting down on eating out and traveling. If your current finances couldn’t support a potentially long job search, then you may want to plan to improve them before handing in your notice.

How to get a better job: 5 easy steps

The key to getting a better job is to think about what exactly you want in your career and your future: what are you not getting out of your current role that a new position would provide?

The following qualities may also be important to you when visualizing your next job:

• A comfortable workspace
• Good working relationships
• A strong sense of purpose
• High levels of autonomy
• Feelings of being valued
• A high degree of freedom
• A flexible schedule

Try to target companies that have a mission you believe in and prospective sollegugues you consider your peers.

Assess your skill set

The first step in getting a better job is forming an accurate picture of yourself: your value, your skills, and your experience:

• Make a list of all of your qualifications
• Highlight your greatest achievements
• Identify your biggest strengths

Reminding yourself of these qualities will help you pinpoint the role you need and deserve.

You also need to be realistic: if you’re just starting out in your field, it’s unlikely you’ll land your dream job right away. Instead, you should focus on landing a role that will gain you valuable experience and help you in furthering your career.

If you feel like you’re lacking expertise to take the next step in your career, there are several options you should consider before looking for a new job:

• Taking an online course
• Working on a personal project relevant to your career
• Volunteering in a role where you can gain new skills

Any of these steps can help you level up in preparation for your next career move, but they can also give you a confidence boost to do so.

Tailor your CV/profile for success

Before you even start looking for better jobs, it’s important to have a robust CV that you can then later tailor to your needs.

If you’re not feeling confident about the current state of your CV, you should take a look at some of our professionally tailored CV templates and seek out our expert advice. This will make sure your CV is in the best state possible and needs minimum edits when the time comes to send it in.

You should also make sure you do the following before looking for a better job:

• Create a generic cover letter template that solidly explains all your best traits and qualifications. You can tailor it for each job application later.
• Ensure your Linkedin Profile is updated and best represents your achievements to date. Make sure you have at least 50 professional contacts on the platform. Follow as many recruiters, hiring managers and company VPs as you can, if you haven’t already.
• Create an online portfolio of your past work if relevant to your profession so that you can easily share it if prompted.

You may also want to create a personal blog showcasing your interest in your profession. If this seems relevant to your field make sure you have at least 5 quality articles with impressive content.

Hit the job search

When starting your job search, aim high! Start by listing all the companies you would love to work for. Ensure they share your values, and then take a look at their career pages for open positions.

Browse your LinkedIn page for any contacts who work for your target companies and/or have jobs you would love to land.

If it feels appropriate, reach out to them and ask their opinion on the best application strategy. Just remember not to be too pushy -this can be a major turn off.

Focus on finding 5 job postings that you really want to land: this will boost your motivation and keep you focused. Recruiters can often tell straight away if you are applying for a job you aren’t really all that enthused about.

Do your research

Once you’ve focused on a few positions you really want to land, look up any and all presence the company has online.

Linkedin profiles, official websites, Facebook, Twitter, the lot. You might even want to do a Google news search to find notable stories about the organization in the press.

You want to get a clear idea of everything the company stands for, their goals, work environment, and how people perceive them. What are they missing that you can bring to the table?

Find out about the key decision makers in the company who will likely have a hand in your hiring. Study their social media profiles and figure out what makes them tick.

Next, study the job description carefully and decide what the recruiters are looking for. What problem do they have that you can solve?

Tailor your cover letter and CV to reflect the job description. Change phrases, wording and even past job titles tomatch specifics in the posting.

Remember that the first impression is the most important. Don’t send in your CV or cover letter until you feel that it both reflects your best self and will be irresistible to your potential employer.

Aim to close the deal

If you make it to the interview for your ideal job, you can’t rest on your laurels quite yet. There are so many things to consider when preparing for an interview that we won’t list them here, but some of the most important interview tips to keep in mind include:

• Dress to impress
• Cultivate a rapport with your interviewer
• Read the room and match your body language and energy accordingly
• Keep your confidence levels high
• Showcase your knowledge and appreciation of the company
• Assume you already have the job and talk about how you’ll meet their needs

However, remember to play it a little coy and not be too enthusiastic. Act like you’re in demand and they would be lucky to land you. This way you’re likely to have more salary negotiation leverage and get a better paying job than you currently have.

After the interview, don’t forget to send a follow-up mail to show that you’re still deeply interested. Again, don’t be too quick to check in on your status as you don’t want to appear too keen.

The most professional way to quit a job

Once you’ve landed your next opportunity, you’ll need to start thinking about how to leave your old one. While it might be tempting to abruptly quit a hated job and let them know where to stick it, this is not a good idea for a number of reasons.

To quit a job professionally, it’s better to:

• Inform your supervisor/HR representative as soon as you can
• Give at least 2 week’s notice if possible
• Write a respectful resignation letter
• Give balanced feedback for your reasons for leaving
• Finish up any outstanding work if doable
• Prepare any transition materials for your replacement
• Say goodbye to important people in the company
• Express your gratitude to your employer for your time at the company

This way, you won’t be left in the lurch if you ever find yourself needing to ask for a reference from your previous employer. Or, if in the future, a new opportunity in the company comes up.

How to quit a job you just started for a better offer

As far as your employer is concerned, there’s never a ‘good’ time for you to quit your job as it initiates the often lengthy and time-consuming process of finding your replacement.

However it can often feel especially awkward if you have just started a job and want to leave for a better offer you feel good about and know is a sure thing.

In such cases, it’s better to be honest with your employer. If you’re satisfied with your new working environment in every area except pay and simply want to leave to get a better paying job, let them know this. They may offer to raise your salary to retain you.

Even if they don’t, you should still follow the advice above for quitting your job in the most respectful way. This ensures you won’t leave on a sour note and maintain good relations in the future.

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