Careers & Employment Information

Take This Job and...Re-staff It


Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting a job requires courage, especially in today's soft economy when the unemployment rate has reached 6.4%. However, in a tight job market, some people consider leaving their jobs without having another "lined up".

When after a careful evaluation of emotional and financial considerations you determine that leaving your job is your best option, you may find that you will have a hard time getting support from your family, friends and colleagues. The moment you tell others that you are considering leaving your job, their immediate reaction will be, "Don't leave your job if you don't have another to go to."

Yes. The ideal situation is to leave a job when you have a perfect career opportunity. But life doesn't always hand you a magic bullet. Sometimes you have to take a risk, and that's when conventional wisdom must be put aside to improve the prospects for your career.

Your decision to leave should be based on the expectation that better opportunities await you. You may be ready to move on when:

  • The organization's culture has shifted, and no longer matches your work values.

  • You have outgrown your position, and the only way you will get promoted is if someone leaves.

  • The price of staying (e.g., increased anxiety and loss of self-esteem) is greater than the price of leaving.

  • You no longer care about the company, and it is reflected in the way you perform your job.

  • Your career goals have evolved, and you are ready to pursue new opportunities.

Once you have made the decision to resign, plan for the following:

  • Write a letter of resignation. Keep the letter short and to the point. The letter should mention two key points (1) the date of your last day of work and (2) a thank you to your immediate superior for having provided you with the opportunity to work for the organization.

  • Prepare for an exit interview. This is not an opportunity for you to provide a laundry list of pet peeves. Instead, use this time to offer objective and constructive feedback.

Possible exit interview questions include: What were the factors that contributed to your accepting a job with our Company? Were your expectations realized? Has that changed? What constructive comments do you have for management with regard to making this a better place to work? Why are you leaving? What would have kept you here? What do you expect to find somewhere else?

  • Go the extra step. Ask your manager what you can do to make the transition easier and, if possible, offer to train your successor.

  • Extended yourself. Be available for a certain time after your last day to answer any questions your employer may have.

Most important of all, do not burn your bridges. Keep your resignation professional and brief.

About The Author

Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers' Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at careerstrides@bigfoot.com.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

Voice of America

Number of Those Unemployed For at Least 6 Months Rises
Wall Street Journal - 15 hours ago
With downward revisions for employment in previous months, the economy has lost 438000 jobs since January. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5% last ...
Little doubt that US is in recession; rest of the world can't ... The Age
Six Months of Job Loss Push Economy Toward Recession ABC News
Fragile economy takes toll on jobs Los Angeles Times
Chicago Tribune - Amerisurv (press release)
all 390 news articles


International Business Times

Treasurys rise ahead of employment report
The Associated Press - Jul 2, 2008
The ADP National Employment Report said private sector employment fell by 79000 jobs last month. The dim job market outlook added to worries about the ...
US employment slump 'may continue into 2009' Vedior
Treasurys advance after ADP jobs report MarketWatch
US ADP Employment foresees larger than expected decline in June's ... International Business Times
Forbes - guardian.co.uk
all 202 news articles


Employment figures mixed
Bonner County Daily Bee, ID - 3 hours ago
By CONOR CHRISTOFFERSON SANDPOINT - Bonner County's June unemployment numbers are higher than state averages but lower than national averages, according to ...
State unemployment rate increases South Idaho Press
all 4 news articles


Earthtimes (press release)

Trouble for Small-Business Employment
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Jul 2, 2008
Last month, I declared small-business employment "not too shabby" after looking at May's survey from Automatic Data Processing and the consulting firm ...
ADP National Employment Report Shows US Employment Decreased by ... CNNMoney.com
DJ: ADP Sees June US Private Sector Jobs Down 79000 Onet.pl
ECONOMY: Little to Cheer on US Independence Day Inter Press Service (subscription)
New York Times - TheStreet.com
all 81 news articles


Bush Economy Sheds 62K Jobs in June; Sixth Straight Monthly Decline
AlterNet, CA - 2 hours ago
The employment to population ratio (EPOP) fell to 62.4 percent in June, its lowest level in more than three years, as the economy lost another 62000 jobs in ...


Business Letters: How to revive the property market; employment ...
Times Online, UK - 1 hour ago
THE government has not talked about what might be done to revive the property market. Here?s what it should do. Reverse all the stamp-duty increases. ...


BBC News

Amid ugly job picture, tech related employment holds up
ZDNet - Jul 3, 2008
The US economy lost 62000 jobs in June for the sixth straight month of employment losses with an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, but underneath the ...
Payrolls Shrank Again in June; Wall Street Journal
US Jobs Decline for 6th Consecutive Month Data The Market Oracle
US employers shed more workers nwitimes.com
International Business Times - Lawn & Landscape
all 178 news articles


MARKET SNAPSHOT: US Stocks Advance As Employment Report Comes As ...
CNNMoney.com - Jul 3, 2008
US stocks on Thursday ended mostly higher in offering a benign reaction to the government's report on employment, which declined only a bit more than ...
Mixed Finish as Losing Streak Continues New York Times
US Service Industries Contract, Prices Reach Record (Update1) Bloomberg
Services, jobs reports give no direction Chicago Tribune
The Associated Press
all 62 news articles


US stocks advance as employment report comes as expected
MarketWatch - Jul 3, 2008
By MarketWatch NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- US stocks end mostly higher, offering a benign reaction to the government's report on employment, which fell only ...
US stocks advance as employment report comes as expected MarketWatch
Dollar loses ground after weak jobs report MarketWatch
US stocks mostly higher in the wake of jobs data MarketWatch
all 32 news articles


Sainik Welfare department to supervise employment in Himachal
myHimachal, India - 5 hours ago
He further said that employment and self-employment would be an important activity to be monitored by the department. Other issues concerning ex-servicemen ...

Employment - Google News

home | site map
© 2006