15 Signs it May be Time to Leave Your Job

Like any job, there are positives and negatives. Good days and bad days. Some days you might ask yourself, “I wonder if I should start looking for another job?”, but other days you tell yourself, “No, I think I’ll stay put.” If this describes you, and you’re constantly going back and forth with what to do, here are 15 signs it may be time to move on:

1. You dread going to work
2. When you come home from work you’re irritable more often than not
3. You have trouble falling asleep or wake up in the middle of the night thinking of work
4. Your job is making you feel down and somewhat depressed
5. You dread Sunday nights and the thought of going to work on Monday
6. You have no energy during the work week
7. You live for the weekend
8. Your employer or company doesn’t have the same values as you
9. You don’t find fulfillment in your job anymore
10. You have tried to grow in your career, but your job (or your manager) is not letting you
11. You contributions are not valued
12. Your colleagues or others at work are rude to you
13. The work environment is very negative and/or toxic
14. There have been several layoffs and/or turnover is high
15. You have a gut feeling something may be happening to your job

If you’ve checked off several of these signs, and you’ve even tried to remedy some of the situations, then it may be time to dust off your resume and move on. Change is always scary, but there comes a time when you need to look out for your well-being and for the future of your career.

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Wait! Before You Resign, Read These Tips

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People change jobs for various reasons. Some want new challenges or want to move up the ladder, while others want to downsize their careers. Of course there are others who want to switch jobs because of a boss they don’t like, poor company culture, or maybe added responsibilities but no pay increase.Whatever the reason(s), here are some important tips to remember:

1. Always give at least a two-week notice. Even if your new company wants you to start as soon as possible, they will understand and would expect the same from their employees. Further, in the eyes of your new employer, leaving immediately may reflect poorly on your character.
2. Your resignation letter should show respect and professionalism. Even if you’re leaving under some “not-so-good” terms, don’t burn any bridges. It’s a small world.
3. Ask for a letter of recommendation (or LinkedIn recommendation) from your supervisor and/or colleagues. Recommendations can be important tools in future job searches.
4. Prior to submitting your resignation, be sure you have copies or forward any congratulatory emails, thank yous, etc., that showcase your skills and accomplishments. The reason for obtaining these prior to your resignation, is that in some industries, it is not uncommon to ask the individual to resign to leave immediately.
5. Remain in contact with past supervisors and/or coworkers. These individuals know first-hand your skills and talents and keeping in touch may lead to new opportunities. In addition, if you ever find yourself suddenly without a job, you have an immediate network to draw upon and will not have to reestablish a relationship.

Many people don’t think twice about typing up their resignation, but utilizing these tips is an important part about good career management.

Informal Poll Reveals "Poor Company Leadership" is the #1 Reason People Leave Jobs

For the second year in a row an informal, nonscientific poll I conducted reveals "Poor Company Leadership" as the number one reason people leave their jobs. Here were the top 5 Reasons for Leaving in the poll conducted via social media in Spring 2015:

24% -- Poor Company Leadership
16% -- Job Ended: Laid off, Terminated, etc. 
15% -- Disliked Job Duties/Not a Good Fit

13% -- Poor Relationship with Boss
13% -- No Chance for Advancement

Not showing on chart are the remaining reasons for leaving:

5% -- Desired Better Salary/Benefits
5% -- Didn't Feel Valued/Appreciated
3% -- Hostile Work Environment
2% -- Started Own Business
2% -- Lack of Work/Life Balance
2% -- Relocation

Here were the Top 5 Reasons for Leaving from the 2014 Informal Poll:

30% -- Poor Company Leadership
19% -- Poor Relationship with Boss
19% -- Desired Better Salary/Benefits
  9% -- Disliked Job Duties/Not a Good Fit 
  9% -- No Chance for Advancement

Do any of the results surprise you? Why did you leave your last job?

Poll Shows the Number One Reason People Left Their Last Job

People leave their jobs for a variety of reasons, but have you ever wondered the number one reason why people leave their jobs?  In winter 2014, CareerPro Services conducted an informal poll and asked this very question. The poll remained open for 2 weeks and was shared with six different Central Minnesota groups on LinkedIn, along with Career Pro Services' Facebook page. Here are the results from the 80 people who responded:

"Poor Company Leadership" topped the list with 30 percent of respondents indicating this is why they left their last job. This was followed by "Poor Relationship with Supervisor" and "Desired Better Salary/Benefits" tying for second with 19 percent each. Third place also tied with "No Chance for Advancement" and "Disliked Job Duties -- Not a Good Fit" each coming in at 9 percent. Here is the breakdown:

30 percent -- Poor Company Leadership
19 percent -- Poor Relationship with Supervisor
19 percent -- Desired Better Salary/Benefits
  9 percent -- No Chance for Advancement
  9 percent -- Disliked Job Duties -- Not a Good Fit

Not showing on the above chart is the bottom 16 percent which comprised four different reasons for leaving:

8 percent -- Contributions Not Valued
4 percent -- Laid Off/Terminated
3 percent -- Other
1 percent -- Relocating

Most employees want to leave on good terms, so it would be interesting to know if the combined 49 percent who left their job because of "Poor Company Leadership" or "Poor Relationship with Supervisor" ever shared this in an exit interview (if indeed one was conducted). What are your thoughts? Please leave your comments.

Counter Offers: Should I accept or not?

You've been waiting a long time for a career advancement, and after some unsuccessful attempts to move up-the-ladder with your current company, you were just offered a great opportunity with a new company; a position with more responsibility, higher salary, and a better retirement package. Now the dilemma. You gave your two-weeks' notice and a couple days later your boss approaches you with a counter offer, and this counter offer is a lot more attractive than the new position you were offered.

The above scenario is not unheard of, and if it happens to you, here are a few things you may want to consider before you make your decision.

• Most people leave a position because they are unhappy about some things. Unfortunately, if you decide to stay, some of these "things" may still be in place.
• Once you give your notice, you may be perceived as a "not-so-loyal" employee. This could affect you in the future if there are ever layoffs in your company. In addition, if there is an opportunity for a promotion, you may not be considered. Further, if there is a project with highly sensitive information, would they be more inclined to let somebody else work on it?
• As far as the other company is concerned (the company where you accepted your new job), rescinding a job offer once you've accepted is not viewed favorably with companies. Doing so may hinder any future chances of ever working for the company.

If you conduct research on the Internet, you will find that most articles agree that counter offers do not work. Despite this, I know of a few people have accepted counter offers and have been happy with their decisions. Each person has a unique situation, so it's important to consider all the pros and cons before making your decision.

Why give a two weeks' notice?

Most people leave an employment situation because they are unhappy with something, and sometimes an individual is tempted to leave right away. But here are three reasons why it's important to give a two weeks' notice: 

(1) It’s customary
(2) It’s important to leave your current employer on good terms
(3) In the eyes of your new employer, leaving immediately may reflect poorly on your character.

Don't leave hastily; you may regret it later.

Six Tips to Remember When Resigning

People resign for various reasons, but whatever those reasons, here are six important things to remember:

1.  Always resign with grace and dignity. It's a small world out there, and you don't want to say something you may regret later. 

2.  When you resign be sure to provide at least a two-weeks' notice. Even if your new company wants you to start as soon as possible, they will understand and would expect the same from their employees. Further, in the eyes of your new employer, leaving immediately may reflect poorly on your character.

3.  Ask for a letter of recommendation (or LinkedIn recommendation) from your supervisor or other key employees. Excerpts from recommendation letters can be used in future resumes or cover letters.

4.  Offer to tie up any loose ends before leaving.

5.  If you've received any congratulatory emails over the years, be sure to print copies. Or, better yet, forward these emails to your personal email.

6.  Don't lose contact with the people you've worked with. Send an occasional email. The email could be about anything (an article you read that you want to pass on, congratulating them on a promotion or something you heard about, or just sending an email to say hi). It's important to stay connected, because if something happens or if you ever need a favor, you will have an immediate network to draw upon and will not have to re-establish a relationship.

Resignation Letter Dos and Don'ts

People resign for various reasons, but whatever the reason, it's important to resign with grace and professionalism. Here are some resignation letter suggestions: (1) Don't burn any bridges. It's a small world, and you do not want to say anything in your letter that could come back to haunt you. (2) Don't give out too much information in the letter. (3) Do state your title and the effective date of your resignation. (4) Do offer to tie up loose ends before leaving. (5) Do thank your employer and wish him/her and the department the best.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are important marketing tools for a job search. Whether you have graduated recently or plan to make a career move, it's important to obtain a letter of recommendation from your professor or your employer once you have submitted your resignation.

Quotes from recommendation letters can be strategically placed in future resumes, cover letters, and portfolios. These quotes are essential because they provide direct testimonials from individuals who have observed your performance first-hand, and can testify to your skills, accomplishments, and achievements.