Do not quit your job until you have these 7 things in place

Sometimes you are so burnt out from your job that you feel like handing out your resignation letter right away. It could be due to various reasons.

Maybe your role doesn’t fit in with your long-term career goals, the job leads to more boredom than enhancement in your knowledge base, your health is being impacted and you have no time for yourself.

Sometimes the workplace might be toxic. Sometimes quitting might be the perfect thing to do as there is no point in delaying the inevitable but before you do that have these seven things in place. It will help you make a better decision.

1. You have upskilled yourself sufficiently
If you plan on quitting your current job, make sure you have a sufficient skill set and, preferably, have even enhanced your skills over the past few years. It will make you better placed to land up getting a new job or an even better job that requires additional skills.

2. Does the role suit you
Sometimes it’s not the organisation that you hate but the job profile. If the organisation is great but your role doesn’t seem to excite you, look for a different position that aligns with your career aspirations in another department of the same organisation. Introspect what are the issues you are facing in your current role. If you like the role but are facing issues like long commutes or working at odd hours, then talk to your employer about it and see if you can come up with a solution.

3. You know what you want to do next
If you are clear about what you want to do next and have a perfect mental map about the course to follow ready in your mind then you can think of quitting your job. However, if you answer negatively to the above question then you are probably taking a leap in the dark. If you are unsure about what you want to do next and end up leaving what you are currently doing then it’s a big gamble, and you could end up regretting it.

4. You have contacts in the professional sphere whom you can call in case of need
However much you plan out nobody can see the future. You might leave your current job by betting on that new job you applied for but end up not getting it, or even worse you might hate that job even more. In such a case you need to have a contingency plan in place. Having a wide professional network of people whom you can call in times of need is a good thing.

5. Can you afford to stay unemployed for a while
It’s always good to have your finances in place if you are thinking of taking this big step. Make sure you have no debts. You have family and friends who can support you while you remain unemployed for a while. If you have a family and kids, make sure one of you is working so that they can support the family during the time you have no fixed source of income.

6. Have sufficiently built a reputation for yourself
If you plan on quitting it is vital that you make sure you are in the good books of the current employer you are working with. Don’t show on your face how badly you want to leave that place. It will come in handy when you ask them for their reference for the next job you are applying for.

7. Want to study further
If you want to study further to upskill yourself or want to pursue a new course so that you change your field. It is a good idea to leave your current job. Managing your day job with further studies is very taxing. You cant commit yourself fully to either and it makes it only harder for you. So take a career break and reposition yourself for better opportunities.