
I've been in your shoes. The anxiety, doubt, and uncertainty that comes with the decision. Should you quit your job? You may feel overwhelmed by the possibility of a career change and leaving a familiar workplace.
But you can take comfort that you are not alone in feeling scared and worried about resigning. This roller coaster ride of emotions is experienced by many individuals when confronted with the decision to leave their job. In a work trends report by Microsoft, it found that 52% of Gen Z and Millennials were likely to consider changing employers in 2022.
Here are 4 steps to overcome your fear of quitting your job:
Understanding the Fear
Accepting Change
Preparing for the Transition
Making the Decision
Understanding the Fear of Quitting
The decision to leave your job is simple. You either stay or leave. However, behind this deceivingly simple choice, you are confronted with a whole host of considerations that will ultimately influence your decision. These may include your financial concerns. Are you in debt? Are you supporting a family? Will you be better off financially if you resign? Will you find another job with the same or better compensation?
Most people have a fear of the resignation process. They feel anxiety and unease about making this big decision. The root cause of this fear can be attributed to our fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or a lack of confidence in changing jobs.
Uncertainty about the future is a common fear. The fear of the unknown is a biological trait of all humans, a legacy of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. We all have habits and routines. We crave familiarity by arriving at the same place for work and meeting the same people. However, resigning and undergoing a job transition creates this fear of the unknown. It is driven by the limited information that you have about a new work environment and tasks.
Another root cause is a fear of failure as a result of quitting. This is anxiety caused by the possibility of not achieving success or happiness after a career transition. This can be a fear of being unable to secure a job with the same or better pay. According to counsellors, the fear of failure can be a paralyzing feeling that prevents you from taking risks and taking on a new job opportunity. Your mind is preoccupied with negative outcomes, which overshadow the potential positive rewards.
Another root cause could be a lack of confidence in tackling the challenges of a new position and new work environment. We are worried that our skills and experiences may be insufficient to fulfill the new work requirements. This can be especially true if we have become too accustomed to our current role that we have held for a long period of time. It can be difficult to break out of your comfort zone and look for new career opportunities.
Accepting Change
Once you recognize the hidden fears that prevent you from making the right decisions, you are a step closer to overcoming your fears.
The next step is to accept that change can be beneficial to you and focus on positive change. Take the time to reflect on the potential benefits of quitting your job and moving on with your career growth.
List down the opportunities that would be available to you if you quit your job. You can explore new career paths and experience personal growth. Visualize how you can reach these goals. With your goal in mind, you can advance to the next step and begin career planning.
Preparing for the transition.
Start by developing a plan for your transition. Identify what you want to do after you quit. There are many possible paths ahead. You can research potential job opportunities and identify companies and roles that you may be interested in. You can start your job search with online job boards that are popular for your location.
The next step is to update your resume to include your latest experience and accomplishments. Take the opportunity to identify gaps in your skills with what potential employers are looking for. By identifying the skill gaps, you can narrow the gaps by undergoing training and updating your skillsets.
Making the decision.
You have spent the time and effort in career planning and you have identified some interesting job opportunities in your search. Perhaps, you have even began to network with friends and colleagues to find new career opportunities. Family, friends, and mentors are a great source of support and feedback in your career transition.
Finally, weigh the pros and cons of resigning. With this information at hand, you are likely to make the decision with confidence and a positive mindset.
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