Happy New Year!

Okay, so we’re a couple of weeks in and I’m just now saying this to you but, hey, it’s still January right?

It’s that time of the year when people feel like starting over, creating a new beginning and try those new year’s resolutions out once again.  Or, if you’re like me, your resolution is to not make resolutions.  Nevertheless, each January, millions of people make a pledge to do something different in order to enhance their lives, outlook, body, finances, relationships and/or careers.

As a career expert, people often come to me this time of the year because they’re sick of the way their career has been going and are ready to make a change.  Some are so fed up that they even quit their jobs before they reach out for help.  Now, that’s fed up!

Most people who work long enough (in years, that is) will find themselves in the situation at least once in their career when they quit or almost quit a job even when they don’t have another.  I get it!  Unfortunately, there are some circumstances where this type of drastic action makes perfect sense (negatively affecting your health, harassment which cannot be avoided or stopped, etc.).  Or, you may have enough finances to cover your expenses until you can find another job.

Regardless of the reason, I encourage you to do everything you can to ensure you’re quitting your job for the right reason(s), and not due to an emotion whim.  What some don’t realize is quitting a job without having another may cause you to:

• Lose credibility when pursuing new opportunities. Employers are sometimes suspicious of people who “claim” they resigned on their own, and are more likely to suspect you were terminated instead.  Even though this may be totally legitimate, remember the employers don’t know you or your circumstances – only what they see.

• Lose negotiating power. If you receive a job offer while you’re still employed, an employer is more likely to feel like they must engage in negotiations with you because you have options.  Even though they won’t know your situation, if you aren’t working, they may feel like you’d be more likely to accept their first offer versus trying to negotiate for more.  Further, if a job offer is quite a bit lower than what you want, it’s a lot easier to walk away from a job offer when you have a job versus when you don’t.

• Lose focus. Telling your current employer to “take this job and shove it” sounds great (and can be great!), but it may also come with a price.  You see, the reason you quit your job was because you were tired of your job or boss or…..  If you know what you want when you leave, you may begin a search for this very thing, but often if people don’t find what they want within a short amount of time (whatever that time frame is for you), they become anxious.  As time continues to pass, they start becoming desperate.  If you allow your state of mind to deteriorate in this manner, you will begin to find appealing the very thing you left and will accept a job offer which will take you back into what you left because you lost focus on the goal.

If your current situation is such that it becomes absolutely unbearable and doing you more harm than good, it’s probably time to move on, but if you can use your current job as leverage until you find your next, better move, stay the course.  You’ll be glad you did.

Until next time….