Should you quit your job during the Great Resignation?
By Hannah Massen
If you’re reading this, you might be toying with the idea of quitting your job – just like millions of other people have during the pandemic. There’s been a lot of buzz about the “great resignation,” the “great reshuffle,” or the “talent tsunami” (pick your favorite name) over the past two years, especially as voluntary quit rates reached record highs within the past year.
But even with enough experience under your belt to finally go for that dream job or the thought of a flexible work plan calling your name, quitting isn’t a decision you should make on a whim. Here are three questions you should ask yourself before you decide to change jobs.
1. Did Covid change my priorities?
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we’re not the same person we were before the pandemic. Your values might have changed sometime in the last two years. Maybe you dread the thought of going back to a cubicle after having your own space, or becoming a full-time caregiver while trying to take calls made a separation between your work and home life look more appealing. Doing work that makes a positive impact on the world is also more important to many people. Decide what’s most important to you now, then go from there.
2. What are my long-term goals?
Once you’re clear on your current priorities, you should consider what you want your career to look like in the next few years. Maybe you’ve been thinking about switching industries or going out on your own for a while now and don’t want to postpone that dream any longer, or perhaps you want to stay in your field but could use a new challenge and a title bump. Think about your big goals first, then look at your current job: Is it getting you where you want to go? If not, it’s time to take the first step toward something new that will help you move in the right direction.
3. What could my job do to keep me (and is it worth it)?
The longer you think about the potential benefits of changing jobs, the easier it might be to convince yourself that quitting tomorrow is absolutely the right move. But you should compare the pros and cons of quitting to the other alternative: staying at your current job. If your skills are in high demand right now, this might be a good time to negotiate a raise or promotion at your current company. Because retention rates are so low, you might never be in a better position to ask for (and get) what you want. But will vision insurance, flexible hours or more vacation days make you happy enough to stay where you are?
