Video:What to Do Before You Leave Your Job

Transcript:What to Do Before You Leave Your Job

Hi I'm Tim Tyrell-Smith, Marketing Coach & Career Strategist at TimsStrategy.com. I'm here today on behalf of About.com to talk to you about what to do before you leave your job.

Information About What to Do Before You Leave Your Job

So you probably already know this but quitting your job is kind of a big deal. But if you really think through it, and do all the right things along the way, quitting your job can be a really positive step for you in your career.

Things to Do Before You Leave Your Job

Here are 5 things to think about as you prepare to quit your job.

#1, Define the reasons why. Why are you thinking about quitting your job? How many of them are rational, verses irrational? This is really important because if you figure out that some of them are highly rational, you can go ahead and make that step. If some are irrational, and perhaps can be solved with some other method, you can avoid quitting your job and solve your problem in some other way.

#2, Think about the possible outcomes. In the end, what’s going to happen when you quit? Some of these outcomes will be positive and you’ll be freed up to find a new job, you’ll make more money. Some of them are negative. Make sure that before you decide to quit you know what all the outcomes are.

#3, Think of all the possible reactions that people are going to have to your announcement. Some people will be really happy for you – they’ll say: way to go, nice job and good luck. Other people will be really upset. You might have people crying. There may be people who really don’t understand the decision that you’re making. So really think through all the possible outcomes.

#4, And this is really important, make sure you understand the financial implications of your quitting this job. If you already have a new job you might be in great shape. If you don’t have another job lined up, make sure you understand what your budget looks like, make sure that your insurance is taken care of, and that you have a real good plan going forward.

#5, Create a departure timeline. While not everything may go exactly according to plan, at least you have got some key milestones in there along the way: when you’re going to tell your boss, when you’re going to leave the company, and some other key things you need to get accomplished to make for a smooth departure. So follow these 5 tips and you’ll be well on your way to leaving your company without looking back.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us online at About.com.