5 things you need to do before quitting a job

One day, you will wake up and realize that you are toiling away for a dead-end job. Or, you could be behind your desk on a busy Monday and suddenly feel that you are underemployed and under-compensated. When it feels almost impossible to get out of bed for another day of work in the morning, you might want to consider a change of job.

Your job doesn’t have to necessarily treat you badly for you to quit. Even if your employer has a good compensation scheme, excellent voluntary benefits, and other financial benefits, if you are not happy in your job, you can choose to work for a different cause.

However, before you hand in your resignation letter, there are a few things you must do:

Pinpoint what exactly you don’t like about your job

Our advice is to go with a list. Create a list of things in your job that you love and enjoy. Then, create another list of things that you dislike about the job, and would improve if given the chance. Now, you know exactly what kind of a job to search for once you are back on the job hunt.

Identify your skills

Knowing the skills that you excel at will give you an upper hand in the job search. Not everyone is great at everything. Take time and go through your skill set. Identify the skills and abilities that make you a productive and efficient employee in the role. Then, create another list of skills that you feel you need to improve to perform better in the role. Not sure where you stand in terms of skills? Ask three of your colleagues to name three things you do best and three things they think you need to improve.

Start sorting your arsenal of skills

If you have worked at the same job for a few years, there’s a chance that some of your skills may have gotten a bit rusty. Since you are going to quit your job and join the job hunt, you need to sharpen all your skills in preparation. A killer key skills section in your resume will wow potential employers. Therefore, consider taking an online course or going back to school to polish up your skills and knowledge.

Start saving up

It is recommended that you must save up at least six months’ worth of salary before you quit a job. Job searches are unpredictable. There is always a chance that you may not be able to find a job within your intended time frame. You also will need to make financial arrangements to pay your bills and rent until you find a new job. If you need an income until something comes up, you can consider taking up a freelancing career or finding a part-time job.

Talk to your network

Tell your friends, coworkers, family, and other professional connections that you are open to discussing opportunities for work. If you have a particular field in mind, let them know about that too. Did you know that a majority of job seekers find opportunities through their network? However, if you want to keep the news of your quitting low-key, you will need to rethink telling your coworkers about it.