Are you joining The Great Resignation?

The Great Resignation is here!   41% of knowledge workers are thinking about quitting their jobs according to a recent survey published by the World Economic Forum.  Texas A&M Management Professor Anthony Klotz coined the phrase “The Great Resignation” noting the employee demand for hybrid or remote work is causing knowledge workers everywhere to take a long hard look before they get sucked back into the daily grind in a post-COVID economy.  The tension is palpable with industry giants weighing in on both sides of the coin, firmly stating their return to work policies for the whole world to see. The race for the best talent has begun, leaving the knowledge worker firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing who they work for.  While it’s tempting to get caught up in the hype and enter this exciting melee of job swapping; there are six things to consider before hitting send on your resignation letter.

How much do you love your job?

According to a Gallup survey, 64% of employees are disengaged, so there’s a pretty high chance you don’t love your job and have been staying for all the wrong reasons.  When you love your job, everything gets better, and now is a great time to take stock of where you are in terms of overall job satisfaction.

• When is the last time you felt proud of an accomplishment at work?
• How much do you care about your company’s products, services, and customers?
• How connected do you feel with the people you work with?
• Are you being given opportunities to learn and grow?
• Are you being recognized for your talents and contributions?
• Do you respect your boss and the leadership team?
• And the biggest question of all… when Sunday night rolls around, do you start to get that pit in your stomach dreading Monday morning before it even gets here?

If you’ve stayed in a job you don’t love because it’s comfortable and easier than getting a new one – you’re in good company. Getting a new job takes effort and now may be the perfect time to get out there if you are finally realizing you’ve been too comfortable for too long.

How marketable and in-demand are your skills?

Supply and demand hit with full force when you think about your skills. Which companies need them and how many other people have them?  If you have a skill set that isn’t in high demand or one that a lot of other people have too, that doesn’t mean you should give up and stay where you are.  You’ll just need to get more creative when planning your next move, and much clearer on the value you bring to an organization.

• What skills are you bringing into a new job? Spend a lot of time on this. Most people only take credit for a small fraction of what they can do.
• What is your level of expertise in these various skills? Do you bring a unique perspective to an old problem? Can you get things done faster, better, smarter than most other people?
• How transferable are your skills? Does your job (or something close to it) exist in other industries?
• Can you do a different job in the same industry? How can your expertise transfer to other roles within the same industry you are experienced in?

This would be a great time to do some research and see how many positions are out there for work you’re interested in doing.  You are no longer limited to companies in your backyard, you can work for virtually any company in the world so make sure you expand your reach when you do your research.

Are you over-due for a raise or a promotion?

It’s rare to find someone who says they are paid enough for what they do; and if you’ve been with the same company for more than five years, there’s a high likelihood you can get paid much more by making a move.  If you have been passed over for a promotion or your talents aren’t being recognized; the likelihood of that situation changing is slim.  Your biggest opportunity for big compensation increases and title changes is when you make a job change.

• How important is it for you to make more money?
• How important is it for you to get a promotion?
• Where is your compensation compared to market rates?
• How are you compensated today and how do you want to be compensated in your next role? (Keep the big picture in mind. Salary, bonus, benefits, 401K, equity, time off, perks, etc.)
• Are you ready to take a step up?
• How big of a team do you want to manage?
• What size team do you think you would be successful leading?

If you’re coming up short on compensation, have been lagging behind your peers in getting promoted, or know you’re ready for a step up; this may be the perfect time for you to get back on track.

Do you know how to successfully compete in this new marketplace?

There are tons of amazing companies that have adopted a hybrid or fully remote work culture, and they have a lot of things going for them as a result.  The Career Winners Circle has recently put out a list of the top 175 companies that hire remote or hybrid workers.  Websites like Flexjobs and Remotive are excellent resources to start getting inspired. These companies typically have leaders who are skilled in leading remote teams, they have the infrastructure for collaboration, tools for productivity, strong corporate cultures, and attractive compensation packages.  They realize this model makes them more attractive to the best and brightest talent available. The flip side of being able to work from anywhere is that these companies can hire from anywhere and the competition is fierce.  Remote jobs have on average, 30% more applicants than traditional jobs. The rules of the game have changed and you need to be ready if you’re going to win a top spot at one of these prized companies.

• Which companies are you going to target and why?
• What value do you deliver that is better than most other people out there?
• Do you know how to stand out from the crowd?
• Are your LinkedIn profile, resume, bio, and cover letter making you look irresistible to your perfect people?
• How strong is your network?
• How comfortable are you at self-promotion?

This is the part that usually sends people running back to the office and getting sucked back into the daily grind; because the thought of running this gauntlet can be terrifying. No one likes to job hunt. No one likes to toil over their resume, LinkedIn profile, and bio. No one likes to spend hours on the job boards. Most people are terrible at self-promoting and have left their networks for dead.  Most people would rather have a root canal than start a job search.

This is the exact response your company is hoping for.

You deserve better

Imagine every day where your job and personal life no longer compete, they seamlessly coexist. This could be the best time for you to finally make that change you’ve been putting off. The past 18 months have shown everyone a new way of working. You don’t have to compromise. You can have a vibrant career and a lifestyle you love. The days of fitting your life into your career can be a thing of the past if you want it to be. This is a unique moment in the marketplace and we may never see something of this magnitude again.

If after carefully considering these six things you are ready to join The Great Resignation, make sure you avoid the most disastrous mistake too many people make when they enter the job market. The biggest mistake people make is thinking they can do what they’ve always done to land a new role; and that rarely ends well.

The rules have changed, the competition is fierce, and companies with remote work cultures are looking for different skills and capabilities than what you’re used to demonstrating during an interview.

The smartest way to move fast, learn the new rules, and take advantage of this hiring frenzy is to get the help of a professional coach. The right coach will shorten the time it takes for you to get showroom ready, teach you the new rules so you know exactly how to compete and win, and will be there to support you when you just don’t have the energy to run the gauntlet that day.

The Great Resignation is happening now – so get out there!  The opportunity to have a vibrant career and lifestyle you love is at your fingertips. If you want to shorten the cycle, make job hunting more fun, and win big – invest in a coach that will show you the way.  With the right help, you can go from invisible to irresistible to your perfect people in no time flat.

About The Author

Tammy Alvarez is the CEO and Founder of the Career Winners Circle.  A coaching firm that helps ambitious leaders in financial services and STEM industries rebuild vibrant careers without compromise, land new roles in 4-5 months, earn 20% more on average, and never hate Mondays again.  Tammy has started the #RemoteCareerRevolution so every knowledge worker can have a voice and benefit from gaining access to the tools and resources they need so they can have a vibrant career and lifestyle. Click here to learn more about the Remote Career Revolution.

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