4 things to do before you quit your job

When I was in my first job as a therapist, I used to fantasize about being a realtor or working at Starbucks (I hear they have great benefits!).

I loved being a therapist but I didn’t love my JOB. I was severely overworked, underpaid, and I was getting micromanaged to death. And there was no sign that things were ever going to change.

Which meant I had to be the one to make a change. But I didn’t know how or where to start.

So if you’re wondering, “Should I quit my job?” or you’ve already decided to leave but you don’t know HOW, then keep reading. These are the things I wish I’d known back then.

👋 Not sure if you should stay or go? Not sure what you would do next. Here’s how I finally figured out my career path, including the exercise I walk my clients through to finally get clarity!

How to quit a job

Sure, you could always go out Jerry McGuire style in a blaze of glory. But if you want to quit your job and you want to do it in a smart way, you need to take these three things into consideration first:

1. Why you’re leaving and what you really want - You don’t want to leave this job only to end up in the same situation (or a worse one!)

2. Your next steps - What will you do AFTER this job and how will you make sure it’s an upgrade from your current situation?

3. How to have a good goodbye - You don’t want to burn bridges

So, let’s walk through what you want to do BEFORE you quit your job.

1 - Understand why you’re unhappy

You know you hate your job. But do you know WHY? Do you know how you ended up in this place?

Here’s why this is critical - If you treat the wrong problem, then you’re still left with a problem.

So, yeah. You could quit a job and find a new one. But if you show up in the new job with the same unhealthy patterns, you might find yourself in the same place a few months from now.

For example - If you always overwork, overachieve, and burn out - You’re going to keep burning out in every job you have. The problem is not the job, here. It’s you. (I mean that in the nicest possible way). And you’ll need to do some work before you can flourish in a job.

Before you quit your job, ask yourself:

• What bothers me about my job?

• How have I contributed to this problem?

• Do I see any patterns in my work history of things that frustrate me?

• If I could change the things I hate, what are the chances I would enjoy my job?

2 - Know what you want

You can’t create what you want until you know what that is.

It sounds simple, but “What do you really want?” is a question that stumps a lot of people. We’re so busy thinking about what we DON’T want or what bothers us that we usually skip over this important step.

And then we end up changing jobs, only to end up in ANOTHER position that doesn’t fulfill us.

So how do you even figure out what you want??? I’m a career coach that thinks career assessments are overrated but you could definitely take one if you feel completely lost (or you just like quizzes!).

I find that career exploration is much more effective when you ask yourself high-quality questions.

Before you quit your job, ask yourself:

• If I knew it would work out, what would I do?

• What do I like best about my current job?

• What kind of job would allow me to do more of that?

• What would my dream job look like?

Don’t worry about coming up with good or “logical” answers. Your answers may be incomplete. But you’ll be surprised by how much information you can generate.

Because when you know what you really want, then you’re not just going to run away from a job you hate, you’re going to run toward one you love.

3- Make an exit plan

If you know you want to quit a job (or even if you’re still up in the air), a plan gives you direction and purpose. This way you don’t waste time doing things like looking at job boards, not even knowing what exactly you’re looking for.

Here are the steps I’d consider in my exit plan:

• PHASE 1 - DECIDING TO LEAVE. Determine if you can make the changes you need with your current employer. Can you change the things that bother you? Can you create what you want? Once you know this job is not for you, move on to phase two.

• PHASE 2 - WHAT DO YOU NEED? If you were to leave your job tomorrow, what would you need in place? Do you need another job? Rest? A certain amount of money saved up? If you have a partner or spouse, what do they need to feel comfortable with you leaving? Figure this out and then make an action plan to get those things together.

• PHASE 3 - TIMELINE. Once you know what you need and how you’re going to make sure those bases are covered, we can start looking at WHEN you’re going to leave. What would be the ideal timeline for your departure? How much notice do you want to give? What projects do you want to have complete? Having an exit date can make your remaining time much easier to manage!

4 - Plan a good goodbye

We’ve all had that coworker who quit their job and left behind a big mess for everyone to clean up after. It’s not cool.

You want to be cool. Not to mention, you don’t know if you’ll have to work with these people again.

The key to leaving behind a team that will miss you (not hate you) is to plan how you want things to go when you quit a job. Here are things to consider:

• Stay positive. People will want to know WHY you’re leaving. And while it might be true, it’s not a great idea to say, “THIS PLACE IS A HELLSCAPE AND I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE.” Instead, you can say, “I’ve learned so much in this role that I’m ready for new opportunities.” If they ask for honest feedback (and you think they can actually take it), remember to share criticism in a way that’s constructive.

• Say thank you. A little appreciation can go a long way. Even if your boss wasn’t great, try to find something you appreciate about them. You don’t have to lie. A simple “Thank you for the opportunity” will suffice.

• Make a transition plan. What work needs to be handed off? Do you have recommendations about who can backfill your work? Do you have suggestions about what qualities they look for in their next hire? Write it up and present it to your supervisor. They’ll appreciate it.

• Finish work (or at least get it to a good place). In an ideal world, you’d finish all your work before you leave. But since you probably won't be able to finish everything, make sure things are ready to be handed off to the next person.

• Communicate with your contacts. Your supervisor probably needs to be the first stop on your goodbye tour but make sure to touch base with important stakeholders about your departure. Pro tip: talk to your supervisor about how you’d like the news of your departure to be shared. Another pro tip: Make a note of contacts’ information so you can continue to network with them after you leave.

Change is never easy. And if you did your job well, people are going to be disappointed that you’re leaving. And that’s okay.

If you want to quit a job, consider these four things before you put in your resignation. The more prepared you are, the more likely it is that your next career move will be a successful one.

The best is yet to come.

I know what it’s like to look successful on the outside but feel frustrated on the inside. I know what it’s like to dread every Monday and fantasize about working at Starbucks.

I want to reassure you - You CAN completely transform your life and career, even if you don’t have a lot of time and energy.

But it isn’t as easy as scrolling the job boards, complaining to your friends, or jumping into the first job that comes along - only to end up repeating the same situation.

The #1 reason you might not have the life and career you truly want is because you don’t have the core strategies in place.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Get clear on what you really want

2. Create a simple plan that’s easy to follow

3. Make decisions and implement them quickly and powerfully

4. Build momentum for healthy habits and stop wasting time on things that suck your energy

5. Learn how to manage self-doubt and fear so they don’t hold you back

We go through each step together when I’m your coach.

If this sounds unfamiliar, don’t worry! I know it seems like a process, but when you take it one step at a time (with me by your side), it’s totally doable.

Each week, we’ll tackle a piece of the puzzle together -- so that, by the end of our 4 months together, you’ll have everything you need to create a life and career you love.

Can you imagine how GOOD it will feel when you wake up each day, filled with purpose?

When you go to bed every night, feeling accomplished?

When you know that you are the person who sets a goal and hits it every time (not because they’re easy, but because you are unstoppable)?

This is what happens when you stop spending all your energy trying to survive a job you hate because you’ve found the role you were born to fill - not just a job, a calling.

It’s time. Click the button below and let’s talk about the life that’s waiting for you.

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Hi! I’m Erica

Licensed psychotherapist. Corporate dropout. Wife to Brendan. Mom to twins + one. ADHDer. Slow runner. Coffee drinker. Swear words enthusiast.

I know exactly what it’s like to have a life that looks successful on the outside but feel chronically exhausted, frustrated, and completely lost on the inside.

I help underachieving high-achievers create lives and careers they love, without burning out.

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