It seems like the “resignation tsunami” might be a real thing as my Linkedin timeline is flooded with new job announcement or seeing Facebook posts about individuals resigning from their jobs without the next offer in hand. Why are these people leaving their jobs in the midst of a pandemic when we should be worried about losing our jobs?
Let me first share my perspective about resignation — it doesn’t always mean that you are a failure or that you’re giving up on yourself. Resigning from a workplace that reflects inequality or discrimination is ok. Resigning from a toxic environment or simply unable to prioritise your mental wellbeing is ok. Resigning from a job that isn’t aligned to your personal values or goals is ok. These are all valid and healthy reasons for leaving your job. Very so often, people stubbornly continue in their roles without reflecting on what’s important to them or what is causing them to be stuck and unhappy at work.
However, it doesn’t always have to be an unhappy ending.
We are usually told that “people leave because of bad managers”, while that is true, people also leave because of good managers. Why do I say that? Take me for an example, I was happy at my previous job — excellent employer, great team, good manager and I love what I was doing even after almost 7+ years.
So why did you choose to leave then?
It wasn’t an easy decision. In my last 7+ years, every year I was encouraged by my manager to apply for other roles internally or externally. (Now come to think about it, was he trying to get rid of me? haha) I really appreciated the trust he had in me and the reason for him to do so. It was through these interviews where I learnt what I’d like to do more or less of at work, how much I enjoyed our work culture compared to others, how valued I was at the company and understanding the impact I can make with the team. It was an eye-opening experience as the more I spoke with other people, the more I reflected on my own career path. It might sound crazy but there were multiple times I was swayed by the offer in front of me (who doesn’t like more money!) and my manager was the one who patiently walked me through a logical thinking process to support me in making the most informed decision at that stage of my career. A good manager isn’t afraid of losing their people — a great manager has their people’s best interest at heart and invest in the individuals’ growth and development, even if it means letting them go. I truly appreciate my previous manager for everything he has done, but I digress.
When you find yourself at a crossroad in your career journey where you’re faced with the same decision of choosing between staying where you’re comfortable at or taking a risk with that unknown new company. Choose wisely and really know your motivation behind the urge to move. For instance, is this a short term monetary gain? Is the grass really greener on the other side? Will your current exhaustion or unhappiness be curbed or just a temporary distraction? If you’re offered the same title, compensation and benefits — would you have taken the offer?
While my previous role was a supremely valuable experience, my main motive was simple — I wanted a different experience, or rather work environment, while I am still in my 30s without anything to lose or other commitments like family etc. Challenging myself to start something (almost) from scratch again was aligned to my initial career plan of relocating and working in a different country (no thanks to the pandemic). I guess being in a different industry will also give me more exposure and future options to decide my next career advancement too. So here I am, 5 weeks since I embarked on this new learning journey.
I quote “It’s not the Great Resignation but the Great Reprioritization”. If you’re considering of resigning but unsure of where to begin, feel free to leave a comment or get in touch if you’re keen to learn more about my current company’s opportunities!
