Looking for a new workplace? Feeling restless? As soon as the news is out, you would be likely to get targeted with lot of questions of When, Why, How? Do you have answers to all? Did you try to sit with yourself to answer the same and get the appropriate solutions?
Leaving an organisation or stepping down from a very critical position in a company and venturing to a new place can cause discomfort, sometimes not only to yourself but to others around you too. It is said that “A known devil is better than an unknown angel”. Hence, before you take the leap of faith you need to evaluate all the reasons for the change and the possibilities to give it the one chance to confirm if your decision is right.
Let’s evaluate the possible reasons why the questions will pop-up at the first place. If it does here’s a guide to help you know how you can go about it and do it right:
[sociallocker]1. Better Prospects:
• Need of Either or / and: Better package, different role, promotion
• Office relocation, travelling constraints
• Change of company policy, work culture
• Management problems, people problems
Huge credit card bills, loans piled up, lifestyle trauma, peer pressure, household responsibilities makes one wander to the thought of ‘money is everything’. These are the trying times when any philosophy does not make sense. You just want to fire the gun and get into the money rat race. Earning more money and better pay package is absolutely ok, but at what cost you choose to do is the question. One needs to keep the following things in mind while dreaming off to future plans with the money that you may be offered:
• Am I getting the right profile?
• What stability is displayed in my previous and current job?
• Have I fulfilled the commitments and met the expectations of my current organisation?
• Am I moving up the ladder or for money taking a level below to start?
• How this new role will help me in the next 3 years in comparison to the current one?
• Is the new place accessible?
What if the situations above are the concerns in the current workplace which provoked the decision of moving to a new place? Then the immediate action you need to do is ‘Speak’.
Who to approach?
Speak to your immediate Supervisor. If the relationship with your Supervisor is sour, then, move to the HR for resolutions. At any level, ensure you have heart-to-heart chat. You can do this privately in office in closed doors or maybe outside office where you can be comfortable and open with your thoughts. Share your darkest fears concerning your job and keep no stone unturned in getting all your issues addressed. You and the resolver should have complete confidence mutually. Keep a responsive and open communication channel. This way you can get a neutral perspective and if necessary the discussions can move to the appropriate senior level management.
Before you resign, please ensure that your conscience is absolutely clear on what and why you have made the decision and if you have factored all the possibilities with your current company. A quick run through or checklist can be as follows:
- Salary revision if possible in the current organisation or may be incentivising a part of work where it’s mutually beneficial.
- Enhancement in the current role or any training can be arranged to acquire competent skills to come at par with the current market trends.
- More accountability and responsibility can be entrusted to you. A team management role wherein you can train and guide new employees.
- Any reward and recognition program round the corner, want to feel more appreciated.
- Opportunity in the branch offices where the employee is relocating.
- Work from home options or weekends off.
- If any change is brought into the company then why and how the change can be instrumental to your growth. Get familiarised with the vision and future plans of the company.
- There can be a value conflict or your thoughts are not in sync with the colleagues. Resolve it through confronting them humbly or by various skip levels or by looping in HR.
- In case, you have wronged something and are not sure how to undo it seek counselling and guidance.
2. Personal Reasons:
• Marriage or family planning
• Relocation
For most, this phase of life is inevitable, where the decision is not made by the employee alone but along with the life he/ she will lead with the better half. Before you take the decision of jumping off from one boat to another, you may want to evaluate the options with your Supervisor / HR, like: Long planned leave, maternity benefits, full-time/ part-time work from home options and opportunity in the branch offices where the employee is relocating.
• Further Studies
Leaving the comfortable job and immersing yourself into old fat books, are you sure? Are you not used to the regular income, good lifestyle, outings, online shopping etc? Leaving this behind and taking up a course for career advancement can be a tough choice. This is the time when your mentors can step in, be a career guide and make avail the best of counselling for you to ensure that you take the right decision and right ‘course’ in your career life.
Quit only for the top tier education, which can be applied in the line of work in future. Think hard, if the educational degree will add value to your job role later or not. Instead, if you can choose to stay with a fast-paced growing company and reach a level of salary / position without the degree, then why invest your hard money along with time. You can develop your skills on the job.
Company can also provide options like: Sponsoring education if the line of career continues to be in line with the business function, skill based training from the current company, secured job to the employee after successful completion of the study course with better role and compensation, flexibility of work hours (like part-time option), in-house projects during internships to stay connected, study leave as when required.
3. Health Reasons:
• Illness / Physical fitness issues
Prolonged illness or sporadic absence from work can take a toll on your performance at work. It can leave you feeling guilty and raise a lot of questions on your accountability. In such cases, instead of you quitting altogether on your job discuss it with your Supervisor / HR for the options like: Sabbatical, leave without pay for a decided period where you can address your personal well-being and resume back with fitness certificate, work from home. There are no specific guidelines to address health issues as the situations are unpredictable and decision depends on the business impact. The company can arrange backup, replacement or make a do without someone for some time.
One of the major reasons where any relationship breaks away is due to communication gap, hence make sure to communicate what you want, and listen to what your co – worker wants, too. Either one should be clear about each other’s needs. However, if you have lost your passion and joy at the current job, the spark is not motivating enough, you have evaluated all the possible potential options. After all of the above you want to let go and your mind is made up about the way that you feel, submit your resignation letter highlighting the reason.
One should move on and resign in a professional way leaving a good impression on your company folks. The process can differ from company to company but once can ensure the following things:
• Succession planning is one of the key things one has to take care of. Identify the person who will shoulder your responsibilities in your absence. If there is a replacement to be hired from outside keep a tight check on when the person is joining and ensure your availability for knowledge transfer.
• Prepare a detailed handover sheet with all the necessary details and assign if any point of contacts required. Complete the tasks and assignments at hand. Be mentally prepared to extend the notice period if required especially when you are at the senior position.
• Do not disclose your exit news to your colleagues or other cross functional co-workers without the permission of your Supervisor or HR. If the news is disclosed, ensure that the reasons you cite are positive and consistent in nature.
• Keep your Supervisor in loop on all the activities during your notice period and you may want to check sometimes what reason to disclose to your co-workers/clients so that the office decorum is maintained.
• Be open to a heart to heart retention discussion or a possible counter offer for consideration which may help you be absolutely sure of the decision once again.
• Notice period is a transition period for the employee and the employer where a smooth transfer of work along with the mental preparation of the employee’s absence has to be guaranteed / secured.
• Maintain integrity till the last minute of your work time with the company. Do not speak ill about anyone and keep the company’s reputation intact.
• Always keep in touch with everyone, don’t burn the bridge. You never know when you might need someone’s help or may need anyone’s recommendation.
• Do give feedback and suggestions to the company HR / Supervisor so that you make way for new improvements for the existing employees.
Always walk through the door gracefully and keep the door open behind to walk back.
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