That day my wallet was left in the office, which I only found out at the tram stop. It was sad: a colleague with whom we worked side by side for 4 years quit, we were just seeing him off. We had to go back. In addition to the wallet, there was the same colleague in the office: a great system administrator in every sense, who had been scammed to St. Petersburg. He didn’t notice me right away: bent over, he was stroking the system unit with his huge palm and talking to the computer about something. It was unbearable. He turned and said: “I’m leaving my soul here, hang it on a hook.” A year later, I had to go through this too, and then again and again. Later, I had to sign the applications. And it became clear: any dismissal is painful and often ugly. This means it’s time to understand what to do to make the dismissal as comfortable, painless and correct as possible.
Leaving is almost always sad: even if you hated your job, boss and colleagues, you probably loved the computer, which was a faithful friend and silent assistant, the office itself, the road to work and home, you loved something.
At least your experience. Part 1. Job search: sources, resume, interview with HR Part 2. Set-up and adaptation: interviewing the boss, passing the probationary period with a breeze Part 3. Working as a newbie: growth in the company Part 4. Working as an experienced employee: how don’t burn out Part 5. Dismissal: I’m leaving gracefully
You're on the verge of burnout
Burnout can lead to International Classification of Diseases: “Occupational Syndrome” of emotional burnout / WHO to exhaustion, decreased productivity and mental problems. This is a result of chronic stress in the workplace. Dismissal in such a situation seems logical: a burnt-out person needs rest and a lack of worry.
But quitting your job will lead to a decrease in income, which will make you worry for other reasons. And if you get a new job right away, you risk not coping with burnout.
Therefore, you should first try to solve the problem without radical changes. It's best to talk to your manager. Explain that recently the volume of tasks has increased significantly or the responsibility has increased and you can no longer cope. Or you need an emergency vacation. As a last resort, you can ask for a vacation at your own expense - a sort of test for dismissal.
Perhaps they will unload you a little, calm you down, or give you other tasks. Or maybe you find out that you took on some tasks and responsibilities on your own and in vain.
Start thinking about quitting if it turns out there is no light at the end of the work tunnel.
We know how Habr readers quit
A year ago, the author of Verovir published a wonderful, sincere article on Habré about layoffs. It has one drawback - it is too subjective and emotional, although the author does not hide this. With the permission of the author of the text, we use the survey results to analyze the reasons for dismissal among Habr readers and talk about behavior in each case.
▍So, what did the survey tell us? (serious sample - 2490 people)
48% of respondents changed 3-5 jobs, which is quite typical for the modern commercial sphere; there is a high percentage of those who changed jobs more than 6 times - 17%, about the same number of stable ones who changed jobs 1 time (the question was formulated a little incorrectly; most likely, this included those who did not change jobs at all.
Among the reasons for changing jobs, the most expected is bad attitude from management (and this is worth listening to), the second is insufficient wages. A fairly high proportion is occupied by socio-psychological factors: burnout and internal conflict. Surprisingly, the legacy stack encourages only 18% to change jobs.
38% of respondents consider their job ideal, but the remaining 62% are very unstable in relation to their current workplace. This is a reason to think about it and start working on retaining, rather than finding, personnel.
35% of respondents are ready to leave their job with an increase in income by 25%, the same number - by 50%, and 13% each want either a double salary increase or are not ready to leave (in fact, both of these categories are most likely satisfied with their work).
Among the reasons for dismissal, everything is quite standard: the most popular reason among dismissals is voluntary (among those who responded, 93% went through this), 12% - at the request of the manager and 14% due to layoffs; 17% according to the agreement of the parties, popular in the IT sphere, and only 4% did not pass the probationary period (I think there are many here who left the company at this stage).
Work has become boring
If you perform similar tasks for a long time, work turns into a routine that does not bring any emotions. The days merge into one, you fall into apathy. But you still remember the times when you came to the office with enthusiasm, and you would like to return them.
Quitting your job and looking for a new job with a broader range of tasks seems like the right move. But there is a risk that in the new place they will want to make full use of your experience. And then you will have to do basically the same thing as before. On the other hand, trying out an unfamiliar role under stressful conditions (and a new job comes with anxiety and stress) can be uncomfortable. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth assessing career prospects in your old place.
It is important to understand that no one but you will make boring work interesting. Even creativity can become a routine. You need to look for motivation first of all in yourself.
There are tangible benefits to growing within the same company. Firstly, you know its specifics and can easily deal with new responsibilities. Secondly, they are familiar with colleagues and management. And if you worked well before, you can count on a loyal attitude towards you.
Important Additions
- On the last day of work, you must pick up your work book if it is kept on paper. There is an option to send it by mail. For example, the head office and the actual place of work are located in different cities. The employee must give written consent to send the book by mail.
- We recommend that you independently or with the help of a third-party specialist check the correctness of the calculation of payment upon dismissal. It must be made for the actual days worked. The rate at which you worked is used for calculations. Among the deductions, only an advance payment is allowed if it was issued. No taxes or social contributions should be withheld.
- If severance payments are delayed, this must be compensated. According to the law, demand 1/150 of the Central Bank rate for each day of delay.
- Demand compensation for sick leave if you fall ill within 30 days after termination of the contract. Moreover, the need to pay sick leave does not depend on the reason for stopping work. Any former worker who is dismissed due to layoff, or in another way, and even those who were expelled for a disciplinary offense have the right to count on benefits.
- Sickness benefits are calculated at 60% of average earnings. An employer may not pay for sick leave if the employee requested benefits 6 months after the certificate of incapacity for work was closed.
resign profitably in any situation if you know your legal rights. Therefore, when the thought of terminating your employment arises, study the current legislation in advance or try asking a lawyer for help. Of all the existing options, the most profitable for the employee is layoff. Then comes the termination of the contract by mutual agreement, the least advantageous option is at one’s own request.
One of your colleagues is annoying you
If possible, of course, you should not work in a toxic team. But it happens that colleagues are generally normal. And one person is so annoying that the chair under you periodically melts due to the blazing of the butt. Emotions are so strong that the office begins to be associated with a bad mood. And in the end, you want to give up everything just to not have to deal with this person again.
But quitting just because someone pisses you off is hardly worth it. In this matter, it is important to separate the wheat from the chaff. Understand whether a person interferes with your work and influences it in any way. Let's say, if he constantly appropriates your merits and then receives bonuses for it, something needs to be done (but not necessarily quit). If a person just infuriates you because he doesn’t behave the way you like, you should change your attitude. The world is full of annoying people; every company has them. And if you get angry because of everyone, you won’t have enough nerves or company.
All this applies to the boss. If he is unfair, demands something inadequate from you, or fines you for nothing, this is a reason to leave. But if you are a vegan, and he pesters you with his meat, this is hardly a reason to change jobs.
Before dismissal - “spread a straw”
- Be friends with HR: communicate, ask questions, support initiatives, send interesting articles, interviews, analytics, but do not forget about boundaries. A competent recruiter (like, for example, the heroine of the series “Billions” Wendy Rhodes) will notice your interest in development and, with a good relationship, will help not only develop a strategy in negotiations with your boss, but will also act as your agent - help you come to an agreement so that all parties benefit. ;
- Do not give in to feelings of guilt and thoughts in the spirit of “now I will leave and everything will die.” It doesn't matter who you are: a top manager or an employee. Out of 146 million Russians, the employer you are leaving only needs to find one person, and he will definitely find him;
- Be careful when updating your resume on Headhunter or other platforms: add new information regularly or leave it alone. It’s better to confidentially send your resume to top handhunters, but not to all of them at once, to start with - just one. Otherwise, the manager will find out about your search from telegram channels, or your resume will land on his desk;
- If you quit to open your own business, remember that you need to register a company after the date of dismissal;
- Keep in your notebook the phone numbers of a comfortable psychologist, an experienced headhunter and a smart lawyer, especially if you hold a management position. Don't make important career decisions based on emotions. On your own or with the help of specialists, clearly define what you want to do, what you can do best and how much your skills are worth. Record all agreements with the employer when hiring and firing on paper.
Material on the topic
Your friend quit
If your friends have left for other companies, you can feel devastated. You used to have fun together at lunch. And now it seems that the comrades have moved on, but you remain. Therefore, it’s time to look for a new job, or even just quit for nothing.
Try to assess the real state of affairs without emotions. If you have been planning to leave for a long time and the dismissal of your colleagues has become an additional motivation, writing a statement would be logical. But if you like the job and you have prospects, there is no point in quitting. You can meet with friends at other times.
What to do: 7 tips from a psychologist for those who have decided
If you realize that you are not interested in your old job, you should not expect that the situation that worries you will resolve itself. Psychologists advise following a few simple steps to quit with minimal losses.
I can’t find a job: what to do to avoid depression
Look closer
Office workers often dream of radically changing their field of activity. They think that life will become much easier if they replace the stuffy office with a home chair, boring assignments with creative projects. Who hasn't imagined themselves as a photographer or an artist with a free schedule? But in reality, only a small part of former office workers leave for another profession.
Most people dissatisfied with their lives remain in boring jobs, sometimes dreaming of other ways to earn money. Some still decide to try themselves at something new, but quickly fail, realizing that their dream job in reality is not as good as it initially seemed. Often everything ends sadly because a person who is not satisfied with his position does not try to understand the reason for the dissatisfaction, but simply wants to escape from his boring work into another field of activity.
If you're afraid to leave your job because you're scared to try something new, don't worry. It is not necessary to change your specialty; there are many good positions close to your profile. You just need to understand what exactly you don’t like about your work in order to find a vacancy that will not contain annoying instructions.
Look at the problem from a different angle. Remember what attracted you to the profession when you first entered it. Mark those aspects of activity that are especially interesting to you, look for a job related to them. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for in a related industry you've never seriously considered?
Remember that the best is not always something radically different. Consider all vacancies related to your specialty. Most likely, one of them will turn out to be your dream job.
Expand your interests
Have you decided to change your field of activity? Don't rush to quit. First, understand your interests, decide which professions seem most attractive to you. Having completed this task, you will become one step closer to a new life.
Employees who have not changed jobs for many years often find themselves in a “professional tunnel.” They try to improve their knowledge in their industry, but forget that they can become a good specialist in something else. Such people soon realize that they have no hobbies left except work. Look at yourself from the outside. Are you having the same problem?
If you understand that you are in a “professional tunnel,” you need to start getting out of this state by searching for interests. Sign up for various courses and master classes, and very soon you will discover that you have an inclination towards specific areas of activity.
It will take time to realize that you are interested. This may take months or years. But thanks to such tactics, you will understand what you really like, which means you will get out of the impasse in life.
There is no need to fight with yourself and do some serious things. Take this time to find yourself, learn something new about your personality before taking action.
Take action
If you roughly understand what you are inclined to do, but don’t do anything, it’s time to take action. You can spend years thinking about your professional destiny and remain in the same place if you do not apply your knowledge in practice.
Try yourself in new guises, don’t be afraid to do something unusual. You will never know if a profession is right for you until you have worked at least a day in this field.
Try yourself in new guises, don’t be afraid to do something unusual. You will never know if a profession is right for you until you have worked at least a day in this field.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that your destiny is to be an expert in one professional field your entire life. Remember that it is quite easy to change your field of activity. Choose the area you would like to work in based on your interests. If you can't figure out what you like, think back to what you liked to do a few years ago. But keep in mind that you need to not only love your profession, but also take it seriously. If your hobbies are nothing more than an unobtrusive hobby for you, turning them into the basis of a full-time job most likely won’t work.
Have you found a professional area of interest? Don't rush to leave your workplace. Give yourself some time to learn more about this profession. Take courses, read literature on the topic, develop yourself. You must be prepared to work in a new field.
Don't try to think through every detail. There is no need to schedule mandatory trainings several years in advance. Improve in your chosen profession as long as you want. If your interests change, you can try yourself in something new.
Larisa Parfentieva also speaks in her book “100 Ways to Change Your Life” about the fact that you shouldn’t focus on one area.
Larisa Parfentyeva “100 ways to change your life”
Take the test drive of your dreams
Have you had a secret dream for a long time that you don’t dare to realize? Start moving towards your goal now. Realize that if at this moment you don’t take a step towards what you want to have, in 30 years nothing will change either.
Take your vacation for a short test drive to see if your dream profession is really what you imagine it to be. Do you want to become a writer? Start writing several pages regularly. Are you thinking about a career as a director? Make a couple of short films. Dreaming of your own hotel? Check into a hotel and find out what pitfalls you will have to face.
After the test drive, are you finally convinced that this area is right for you? Feel free to change your profession.
If you realize that your new job is not at all what you dreamed of, don’t give up. Try yourself in something different. Sooner or later you will find a profession that you like.
How to behave at an interview to get hired
Get rid of your fears
Are you convinced that you like another profession better, but are in no hurry to leave your old job? Most likely, you are simply afraid of change.
Every person tries to achieve stability. It's always scary to quit a job with an already established schedule, salary and list of responsibilities. Not everyone is ready to exchange a stable place for something new and unreliable.
Fears when changing jobs are normal, but you don't have to give in to them. Elena Rezanova (career strategist) notes that the desire for a stable, unloved job is very similar to a woman’s desire to maintain a dysfunctional but long-term marriage.
You must realize that what is familiar is not always good. A new job can become an activity that will bring you pleasure.
If you are afraid to change your life, try to find something good in future changes. Imagine them as a journey that can give you a sea of good emotions.
You may also be worried about a decrease in income. But do you really need money to become happy? Will you feel good having a big salary but going to a job you don't like every day? Isn't it better to earn less while doing what you love? When your priorities are set correctly, the financial component will no longer be scary.
Are you still worried about your income falling? You can cope with unpleasant thoughts by realizing that your salary depends on your efforts, and it is much easier to devote yourself to what you love than to what you don’t like.
You have no other fears, but you think that you cannot become successful in a new activity? Don't let such doubts stop you on your way to your goal. If everyone was led by their restless thoughts, no one would ever start doing what they like. Concentrate on what you love. Drop your prejudices, and then everything will work out.
Brian Tracy (author of Get Out of Your Comfort Zone) advises doing your best without thinking about failure. Only positive thinking and full responsibility for all your actions can lead to your goal.
Brian Tracy, author of "Get Out of Your Comfort Zone"
Remember that life goes by very quickly. If you don’t start moving now to do what you love in the future, you risk staying in a job you don’t love forever. And, most likely, you will regret it.
How to impress an employer during an interview
Learn to accept failures calmly
Everyone wants there to be no obstacles on the way to their goal, but this is impossible. You need to understand that luck will not always smile on you. Sometimes you will experience difficult days when you want to give up your favorite activity. But mistakes and mistakes should not lead you astray.
If something doesn't work out for you, don't rush to give up. Keep trying, and very soon the progress will become quite noticeable. Remember that failures are also part of the experience. Before you become a real specialist, you will have to go through many more unpleasant situations, acting by trial and error.
You cannot achieve success without making mistakes. People who now seem to be masters of their craft started from scratch, just like you. They also had to go through difficult moments, making primitive mistakes.
Think about what will happen to you in 10 years
Do you feel like your work is taking away your last strength, but you can’t leave? Do a little exercise. Imagine yourself in the same place in 10 years. Will you be happy doing the same responsibilities? Would you be proud of yourself if you received a promotion in this area?
Now think about how you would feel in 10 years if you were doing what you love? Would your life become better and more interesting? What kind of people would be nearby? Your impressions of what was presented will help you understand whether it is worth leaving your unloved job.
Working conditions have changed
Transformations within a company can be scary and frustrating. Previously you worked in one program, now in another. Yesterday we reported monthly, today we reported weekly. It seems that it is easier to leave than to delve into everything again.
Change is normal. If the company does not improve, including in internal processes, it will gradually decline.
Of course, it would be naive to think that all changes are for the better. But to assess their consequences, we need to work in new conditions. And then make an informed decision.
Your skills and abilities
Once a new activity is identified, it is necessary to evaluate your abilities from a critical point of view. Take a piece of paper and write on it everything that you think will be useful to you in your endeavors. Write down absolutely everything. Even what seems naive or ridiculous at first glance. Relate this to a new activity and concentrate on the fact that it will become a happy release from problems and failures for you.
This practice will not only give you confidence in yourself and your abilities, but will also strengthen your conviction that you are on the right path. And a positive attitude affects absolutely everything in our lives.
Your office romance is over
The advice not to enter into such relationships makes sense. Both personal and work life are important parts of existence. An affair with a colleague mixes them together. But if a relationship comes to a sad end, it’s not so easy to separate the spheres of life back.
Indeed, seeing your ex-passion at work every day is not easy. If a partner begins to plot, it is doubly difficult. But the most appropriate solution for both would be to behave like adults. Discuss the situation, agree on neutrality. Being out of work and out of money is probably worse than being out of a relationship, so it's in both of your best interests.
Maintain a good relationship with the company
It happens that dismissal occurs due to conflicts with colleagues or management. Good news from scientists: Office wars are likely nothing personal for employees. An organization is a separate system with its own laws, in which conflicts occupy a special place and perform their functions.
In conflictology, at least four meanings of office wars are defined:
- team unity (for example, employees unite “against” the manager);
- a signal about more acute situations within the team, which are disguised as superficial conflicts;
- an impetus for the creative development of the organization, when it is necessary to look for new solutions for the development of the company;
- changes in the socio-psychological climate within the organization.
Therefore, if a conflict arises with co-workers, just know that you are in some kind of acute situation for the company as a whole, even if it seems as if you were guilty of something or made a mistake. Dismissal is the way out of this situation, and there will be no emotional intensity outside the company. You may have noticed that during the working day you only talk with colleagues about problems, but as soon as you find yourself in an informal setting, negative emotions go away and the topics of conversation change.
Try to ignore the irritation and look at the situation rationally: before leaving, it is important to communicate with colleagues in an informal setting in order to leave a pleasant impression before leaving. This is not difficult to do. Treat your colleagues to a farewell pizza, personally exchange contacts with those employees who are pleasant to you or could be useful, write a final letter thanking you for working side by side and encouraging you not to lose touch. At the interview you will definitely be asked about the reasons for leaving, and after that they may check your references, so the more contacts you can maintain, the better for your career.
Someone close to you needs care
This is not a completely gender-neutral point, because men are much less likely to be expected to quit their jobs and retrain as a caregiver. It is mostly women who bear the brunt: they quit their jobs and provide care for those whose health has deteriorated.
But before writing a statement, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. It is clear that the desire to surround a loved one with care is great. There is also the threat of public condemnation if you don’t do this. But the patient will most likely require professional care. A specially trained person knows how to do everything correctly and quickly. And his services require money. You will also need them for food and other important things. And if you fall out of professional life for several months, or even more so, years, this will likely affect your salary and career growth.
Therefore, it is important to think everything through and decide how to combine caring for your loved one and effectively making money.
Airbag
This point is very important and needs to be given primary attention. An airbag is what will allow you to overcome difficulties at the stage when you quit and remain “free floating”. At first, a new activity may not be profitable or may not generate the income that you need and that is familiar to you. Therefore, when you are planning to quit, you should have some savings in reserve. In general, it is recommended to have an amount equal to six of your salaries at your previous place, i.e. an amount that can cover the costs of six unemployed months. But for many, saving even that much money is unrealistic. If you consider yourself one of these, then find an opportunity to provide for at least three months. Firstly, if you are able to work at your current job for another three or four months, you can start saving a little. Secondly, take into account your future payment from the employer. Estimate these amounts and add them up: if you manage to cover the basic costs, then you can safely quit. Remember, without an airbag, it is better not to take risks, but to take care of creating one. Although, of course, there are those who take risks.
You've made a big mistake
In such cases, sometimes you just don’t want to go back to the office. It's embarrassing to look your boss and colleagues in the eyes. It seems that no one will ever forgive you for failure. It's easier to quit and disappear.
But from the point of view of career prospects, it is better not to do this. Firstly, everyone makes mistakes, just on a different scale. Secondly, it’s not entirely fair to run away and leave your colleagues to clean up the consequences of someone else’s shortcomings. Finally, it’s better to leave on a high note and leave a good impression. At least in case HR from a new job decides to check what they think about a person at the old one. So it’s better to first bravely admit the mistake, deal with its consequences, and then think about changing the company.
Action plan
Before leaving your usual place of work, draw up a unique action plan for the first time after leaving. This plan should include absolutely everything you plan to do.
This even applies to periods of idleness. Your plan should reflect this: a vacation for two weeks. During this period of time, you need to put your thoughts and affairs in order.
An action plan should be drawn up for every day. It requires attention to the smallest details. This is necessary so that in the first time after dismissal the person does not lose his ability to work.
The plan must contain descriptions of the goal, the means and skills that you have to achieve it. If you decide to find a job on the Internet or become a freelancer, then your action plan may include the following points:
- I want to find a job as a call center operator remotely within one month.
- To do this kind of work, I have good speech and am quite sociable.
- I have all the necessary technical means to perform such work.
- I want to become a call center operator to realize my capabilities.
Such a plan can be an excellent incentive to quit a boring job. When drawing up a plan, it is better to play it safe and prepare three versions of such a document: the best, the worst and the realistic. Life can throw up all kinds of surprises, and the best plan will not work. And you will be ready for any development of the situation.
