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You’ve invested a lot of hard work in your current position, so make sure you’re leaving for the right reasons. Before you go, talk to your manager. Make sure you’ve tried these solutions to common problems:
- Work is stale; I’m bored. Take a few days off to refresh. Often, boredom accompanies tiredness. A vacation will help you take a fresh look at things.
- I’m not adequately compensated. Make some notes on your accomplishments and results over the past six months; make an appointment with your supervisor to discuss the situation.
- My skills are falling behind the times. Research some classes and workshops that would be beneficial to you in your position and present them to your manager—along with reasons why your learning about these topics will help the company.
- I need flex-time—telecommuting would work for me. Develop a proposal that details the hours you wish to work, or the days you want to work from home, and describe what benefits this environment will provide to your company.
- I’m tired of traveling so frequently. Discuss rotating into a different assignment for a breather. In some positions travel is a must; but if you can provide value to the company in another role for a short time and revisit your responsibilities with renewed energy, your manager may agree to the idea.
- I’d like more responsibility in my job. Write down exactly what additional talents you have to offer, and in what areas. Talk with your manager about taking on additional responsibilities and set forth detailed goals and objectives so that this extra work can be measured and appropriately compensated.
- My manager and I really don’t get along. Speak with a mediator in the human resources department. If it’s just plain incompatibility causing the problem, you may be able to join a different team, or transfer to a different department. You may want to try these options before sacrificing the time and energy you’ve contributed to your company.
If You Decide to Leave
If you have exhausted all of your options to stay at your current job, it may be time to think about moving on. But before you do, keep in mind:
- Your employer is losing an employee. Even when you have decided to leave, keep working. Help make the transition as smooth as possible.
- You may work with your employer again one day. Leave on a positive note; don’t burn bridges. The industry is small, and you might work with these same people in a different capacity one day.
- Give two weeks notice. Your employer will appreciate the courtesy, and it will make the transition smoother.
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