Earlier last year, we published a blog on The Great Resignation, where we explained why workers were leaving their positions, and why 2021 was the best time to be finding a new job because of it. Then, earlier last month, we published an article explaining that May 2022 was the best time possible to be looking for a job. Well, it turns out this month, Canada has reached a record-high in job vacancies. This means that now is the best time in a very long time to be looking for a job. And whether you’re new to the job market or you’ve been working in the same field for some time, you can still take advantage of the market being in your favor. You never know, you might find out that now is just the right time to leave your job for a new one!
When Is the Right Time to Leave Your Job?
While many assume that there is a magic rule of thumb (two years, five years, ten years), the truth is, it’s different for everyone. Of course, almost everyone is going to say loyalty is important to them (who wants to hire a perfect candidate only to quit a few weeks later?). But the reality is, moving on is sometimes what’s best for yourself in the long-run, for both your career and even your happiness.
If you work in the tech sector, for example, staying at the same job might look bad on your resume. This is because sometimes staying in one place for too long can hinder your learning and can leave you stagnant in your career growth. You might get comfortable using only one program or a couple of techniques in your everyday tasks. And if you get too comfortable in a position or organization, you might lose your drive over time. Or worse: you might lose skills you once had.
Along with career-based conflicts, you might simply have personal conflicts that may point you toward the door. You might need a more competitive salary or wage that keeps up with inflation. You might need a more healthy environment to work in for your mental health and growth. Maybe your priorities have simply changed in the past year or so. This means it may just be the right time to pivot. But before you move on to writing your letter of resignation, make a list of reasons why you’re leaving your job. Then, make sure your new job addresses all of your concerns with your old position.
Your Next Steps for When It’s Time to Leave Your Job
If you’ve made the decision to move onto a new job position elsewhere, or even an entirely new career path, you’ll need to know what to look for.
Step 1: Self-Evaluate
If you’re just starting out in the job market, or if you’re looking to start anew, start with a self-assessment. Packfinder, for example, is our very own self-assessment that can tell you your best suited career paths and job positions. It informs you of your strengths and areas for improvement in the workplace, and even shows you what hard skills are needed to succeed in a given job function.
Even if you’re certain about your career path, you can take Packfinder to reassure yourself and future employers. That is, many recruiters and employers are searching for candidates not just with hard skills but more importantly the soft skills needed to succeed. After all, hard skills can always be taught, but many soft skills often cannot. So, showing you have what it takes can give you that much more of a competitive edge.
After taking Packfinder, you can simply save your results as a PDF and share them on LinkedIn. Or, you can share your results via email or job posting with attachment capabilities.
Step 2: Self-Promote
Certainly, for many, self-promotion is not an easy task. But if you want to be considered for a highly competitive job, you’ll need to stand out. That means both flaunting your hard and soft skills and branding yourself appropriately to catch an employer’s eye. Make your LinkedIn profile memorable with a professional headshot, or even simply a headshot taken with a clean background. Then, your resume short and sweet.
Finally, enhance both with Workwolf verification badges. Workwolf verifications can be used to prove any resume claim you may need in order to be considered for a job. Ranging from driver’s abstracts to criminal background and academic history checks, your Workwolf verifications can make hiring you the easiest choice. That is, since you’re performing the background checks required before on-boarding, employers will save time and money doing so themselves.
Step 3: Remember Your Self-Worth
When looking for jobs, remember your priorities and the reasons why you’re considering leaving the one you may already have. This means thinking of what long-term goals you have and being clear about these with your potential employers. Explain where you place your priorities as a candidate, and ensure you’re not compromising on anything unfair. After all, you deserve to be able to find an environment that allows you to thrive and continue to set new goals for you to reach.
And if you really know your self-worth, you’ll know to aim higher than you think you should. A challenge might just be what you’re looking for, and you might be just the right person for it.
