How to Overcome Fear for Leaving a Long Term Job
Most employees when leaving a job might ask themselves, "Is it worth it?", "Am I making the right decision?" or, "What if I'll regret leaving a secured job?". The long list of questions goes on and on.
Though these questions seem daunting and scary, you will never really know unless you try. Leaving a long-term job is a big step and a major change in your career that you should take into consideration. No matter what the risks are, you will surely endure and overcome them.
Possible risks when leaving a long term job
No decision in life that does not involve risks. There's always the so called "pros and cons" in every matter. You need to weigh in all options to make the right decision.
Here are the possible risks when leaving a job:
Being Jobless for a Long Time
Forced to Use Savings to Pay For Bills
Finding the Right Company to Work
Adjusting to a New Organization
Learning a New Job Role
Finding Out that Your New Company is No Different from the Old One
The list of possible risks goes on and on. The question is are you ready to face your fears and take the risk?
Top 3 reasons why employees quit their job
According to cnbc.com, a survey conducted by Joblist shows that 47% of workers are thinking of quitting their jobs. This was a response conducted from 1,590 full-time employees in 2019. Nearly half of the respondents were trying to call it quits and here's why:
Greener Pasture or Better Compensation - 25% of the respondents said that there's no point staying in their jobs if the pay won't make the cut. That's a quarter of the respondent's population. For some workers, they are driven to work more if the pay is right and worth the while.
Career Growth - 20% of them wanting to have a better career opportunity. The current company is not giving them much outlet to showcase and further develop their skills for a better role in the organization. How can you grow if the company is stopping you?
Toxic Environment - 17% of the workers can no longer endure the bad atmosphere in the workplace. There's a line between a healthy and toxic environment that an employee can endure. If the professionalism is gone, it will be too hard to stay.
YOU CAN OVERCOME FEAR
If you are in the same shoes as the following employees above, then you should consider letting go and move forward.
When I left my previous job I also had a hard time making that big decision. I went through a lot of pain dealing with my fears that I thankfully endured and overcame.
Here are my tips to overcome your fears and take that big step:
Make a list of the pros and cons of why you should leave. I listed all the reasons why I should leave versus why I should stay and in the company. Turns out, I had more good reasons to leave than to stay. It made me decide the right way rather than decide impulsively.
Open Up To Your Immediate Supervisor. No matter how hard for me to do it, my immediate supervisors have the right to know what's up. Emotions aside, no matter how good or bad the bosses are, it is ethical to let them know of my career plans.
Seek Advice from HR. Although I did not speak to HR to help me out with my decision, career wise. They are the best people to seek career help and counseling.
Decide Not Based on Emotions. I left gracefully from my previous employer for the right reasons. I did not abruptly decide during those times when I was emotionally weak. Emotions can get in the way, especially when doing the right thing.
I prayed for God's guidance. Though my heart says I wanted to quit, I paused and asked myself, "Is this what God wants for me?". Once you talk about the matter to Him, you will find peace and the right mindset to handle the situation.
One last thing...
If you are in this confusing situation, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It may be hard, but just like anything else in this life this too, shall pass. What's important is that you are doing yourself a favor and the company.
You will no longer be an asset to the company if you are no longer motivated to work for them. Evaluate your current career status and make the right decision when the time is right.
