By Marty Greenaway, Consultant
The Great Resignation has been at the forefront of many debates since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generation Z and Millennials were said to be the leaders of this movement; however, it is important to note that many of our senior leaders were a significant part of this group.
When the pandemic hit, the world witnessed many lose their jobs, while others learned to cope with new work environments. As a result, trends began to form. The most notable was employees voicing their dissatisfaction with their jobs and looking elsewhere for better opportunities. Many were financially motivated while others were in search of better perks and work life balance. Thus began a shift in power from employers to employees and job seekers.
If you’re considering joining the Great Resignation, there are a few things to consider before you make the decision to quit your job. The first thing that comes to mind is money. I have read a lot of articles on the Great Resignation and have noticed many of them fail to acknowledge how much your financial situation will change the moment you quit your job. You should be prepared to live for a significant amount of time (at least three months) without pay if you plan to resign without another opportunity in the wings.
A second thing to consider is how you choose to leave your current job. As a recruiter by trade, often the first questions I ask candidates is “why are you interested in the role, and why do you want to leave your current position?” From a recruiter’s perspective, if a candidate is already unemployed, they are immediately starting at a disadvantage. This is because hiring managers are looking for candidates currently employed – unemployed candidates will always face the question of “why” and sometimes it will keep them from getting in the door. Additionally, more red flags arise if you snap-quit your job and are unable to provide references from your previous employer.
If you already have a new job lined up, make sure to do your research. Information on company culture, work / life balance, and leadership are crucial to ensuring that you make the right decision to jump ship to a new organization. According to The Muse some 72% of job seekers felt a sense of surprise / regret that their new role or company was not what they were led to believe. The worst thing that you can do is leave your current role for a something that isn’t what was advertised.
Acting slowly and looking over all options is the best course of action. The grass might not be greener on the other side, and there may be alternatives to quitting. Talk to your manager about the things that might be contributing to your dissatisfaction, such as lack of work / life balance or longing for a change in responsibilities. It costs companies a significant amount of money to replace employees and they may be more willing to accommodate than you think.
As a Millennial (and someone that changed careers at age 26) I don’t think a career or job change is a big deal – in many cases it can be the best thing you ever decided to do. However, there is a right way to go about it. I will admit the numbers from the Great Resignation are staggering, and if you are going to join the trend, make sure you are fully prepared and ready to face the challenges that can arise.