What to consider before you quit your job

More than two in five Aussies are set to quit their job in coming months as the Great Resignation nears its peak.

More than two in five Aussies are set to quit their job in coming months as the Great Resignation nears its peak.

New research by HR software company ELMO reveals 43 per cent of workers will actively search for a new role this year, with almost half feeling overwhelmed in their current position.

But just because you can change jobs doesn’t necessarily mean that you should, with experts revealing what to consider before you take the leap.

Don’t be fooled by flattery

With extreme talent shortages, headhunting is on the rise. Recruiter Roxanne Calder, founder of Est10 and author of Employable, says while receiving a job offer is the ultimate compliment, it often “tricks’’ workers to find fault in their current role.

“It’s human nature. Workers try to justify their decision (to resign),’’ she says.

“So even though you liked your boss and you liked your job and you liked your colleagues before, all of a sudden (after receiving a job offer) your boss annoys you.

“Put the brakes on. Think about how you felt about your job one week ago, before you had any offers.

“If you really don’t like your job, consider whether things will things change (in a new role).’’

More Australians are set to quit their job in coming months.

More pay is not always better

Salary is often a motivator to change jobs but Calder warns roles with high starting salaries and no prospects for promotion may leave workers worse off than if they remained in a lower-paying job with strong growth opportunities.

Also be aware of the responsibilities that come with more money, she says.

“Better salaries and sign-on bonuses are all well and good but people will be expecting more from you so you need to be sure you are able to deliver and know that you will be expected to deliver pretty soon,’’ she says.

Qualtrics head of growth and strategy (employee experience) Steve Bennetts.

Be clear on your expectations

Whether you stay in your current role or move to a new one, ELMO chief executive Danny Lessem says it is important to know what you want from a job.

“This means thinking beyond salary and considering what other factors matter to you and rank them in order of priority,’’ he says.

“Once you know what you want, speak to your current employer to see if they can fine tune your current package to better align what you’re looking for.

“If you’re speaking with other possible employers, it’s important that you’re transparent with them about these priorities.

“It will get the relationship off to a good start if you’re both upfront and honest about what you want.’’

Look to improve your current job experience

Qualtrics head of growth and strategy (employee experience) Steve Bennetts says bosses are keen to retain staff wherever possible,giving workers significant power when it comes to negotiating better pay and working conditions.

The experience management firm predicts the Great Resignation will peak in Australia by June and says local employee engagement levels are, for the first time, higher than the global average.

“Whether they are actively looking for a new role or planning to stay, people should be able to regularly share with their employer – or future employer – how they feel about the current experience, whether it’s meeting their needs, as well as expectations for how they want to work in the future,’’ Bennetts says.

“For individuals, it ensures the employee experience matches their individual needs and expectations – possibly giving some a reason to stay.

“And for employers, a positive employee experience can help drive talent retention, attraction, and development.’’

Chloe Fava, who works as a disability support provider, says the flexibility to work her own hours has helped her to eliminate stress.

Support role full of perks

Support workers have been subject to extra pressures during the pandemic but Chloe Fava says she has no intention of quitting.

Fava, 24, works full-time as an education support officer. After hours, and during school holidays, she takes on extra work as a disability support provider on Mable.

School lockdowns and concerns with the National Disability Insurance Scheme have led many support workers to seek better conditions in other sectors but Fava remains happy where she is.

“Burnout and exhaustion are the biggest issues when you work in this industry but I’ve always found the work to be very rewarding,’’ she says.

“Even during the lockdowns, we were able to work because what we do is essential, so there’s been no disruptions and my routine(during the pandemic) hasn’t really changed that much.’’

Fava says the flexibility to set her own hours and negotiate her own pay on Mable has helped eliminate the stress that other support workers face.

“I can’t really ever see myself stopping or thinking in 20 years I will probably move into a different career,’’ she says.

“My clients have always been overly appreciative of what I do and I just really enjoy the personal relationships with them.’’

Originally published as What to consider before you quit your job