Making Sense of The Great Resignation

LinkedIn Senior News Editor Andrew Seaman wrote me yesterday morning asking my thoughts on what is being called ‘The Great Resignation’ – 30-40% of the workforce signaling in polls and surveys that they want to change jobs post-COVID.

Andrew wants to know what my advice is for these folks. So here it is.

1. Don’t Panic, Remain Calm

My first recommendation is keeping your wits about you. Don’t panic. Don’t get flighty.

Freaking out never helped anyone to think more clearly, particularly when a lot is riding on the decision that needs to be made. But if you focus on doing the cost-benefit analysis on your potential moves with a calm, cool head, you will do that analysis much more thoroughly, and you will make a better decision accordingly.

So take a deep breath. Then take another. And write out the pros and cons of your various potential avenues.

2. Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls

The second piece of advice I would give is to consider what opportunities you have which can create more opportunities if you take them.

If you’re changing jobs or careers because you’ve been feeling trapped for the past year “due to COVID,” the last thing you want is to climb out of one hole just to fall into another.

Sometimes change is beneficial and an opportunity to improve and grow. But not all change is beneficial just because it’s different. And it’s good to keep that in mind on the front-end.

3. Know Your Goals and Remember Them

The third thing I would counsel is knowing generally where you want to be in 5-10 years. And if you make a move now in a particular direction, is that move going to help you be closer to where you want to be in 5-10 years? Does it fit in with your goal, or can it possibly be made to depending on how you manage it? If so, you are more likely to be content in your new situation for longer, irrespective what that new situation is.

4. Consider Renegotiation

The fourth exhortation I would give is to consider whether your current job is really what is bothering you. Perhaps you have overlooked ways that situation could be modified.

As the economy opens back up, you may have all manner of opportunities to exit your current job in favor of others. Then again, have you exhausted all opportunities to adapt the fit between you and the job you already have?

Sometimes there is nothing for it except to leave because the factors and people involved are intractable and inflexible. Other times there is something you can do right where you are at. And that may just be a better option than leaving your current job for something else. But you cannot possibly know one way or the other without being intentional about it.

5. Ask The Important Questions

The fifth and final suggestion I would offer that one-third of the workforce looking to make a change post-COVID is to ask the important questions to the people you need information from to make a good decision.

How can you know whether renegotiation of your current employment is an option unless you propose the changes you want to your current employer?

Or how can you know whether a prospective new opportunity is going to be a good fit unless you ask the recruiter or hiring manager to clarify certain points which come up in the job description and interview process?

If you cannot ask the questions now of this or that person, that might just be a sign that a given direction is an inherently poor fit and is not going to be successful long-term.

But if the reason you feel uncomfortable asking questions is your own timidity, now is as good a time as any to work on your own personal growth in that regard. And that will benefit you whatever you decide, and whichever direction you go.

“Fortune favors the bold,” as the Latin proverb goes.

—

This episode is sponsored by

· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support