Ask ReproJobs: How do I make a job exit plan?
Dear ReproJobs,
I’ve been working at a repro org for a bit now, but am feeling uninspired, tired, and anxious at my job. I once heard a friend talk about an exit plan, but I’ve got no idea what that is or how to create one. Leaving without a plan isn’t really an option as my partner is unemployed due to COVID, so I know I need a plan! Please help me, ReproJobs!
-- One Foot Out the Door
Dear One Foot Out the Door,
We hear you! If you're feeling uninspired, tired, and anxious, it's definitely time to start thinking about your next steps. An "exit plan" makes it sound like a formal document, when really it's a shift in your frame of mind from, "I hate this job and I'm stuck" to "I hate this job and I've decided it's time to move on." It sounds simple, but once you've decided it's time to go, you take the necessary next steps. We wrote a blog post all about this, but here are the basics:
Get out that résumé. It's time to add all your incredible accomplishments from your current job (remember to list all the great things you did, with numbers/results if possible, not just your rote tasks). Here are our résumé writing tips.
Make a list of all the qualities you want in your next job, from daily tasks to salaries and benefits. What do you want the work culture to be like? What do you want to feel like at the end of the day? Let's be real, you probably won't find it all in one place, but thinking about what you are looking for can help you narrow in on what you must have in your next job and what would be amazing to have, but not necessary.
If you feel comfortable doing so, reach out to your networks, or even a trusted mentor or some friends, and let them know you're thinking about your next move. You don't need to share that your time at your current organization has been crappy. No one stays at a job forever (well, they shouldn't) and it's totally normal to be thinking about your career path. Share a bit about what you're looking for in terms of focus ("I'm interested in staying in the policy realm but focusing more on X" or "I'd like to move on from direct service into research") and ask them to keep an eye out for you. If this feels like too much of a risk, you can test the waters by setting up some informational interviews with folks at organizations you're interested in working at. These are not job interviews, but a chance to get to know that person, what brought them to the work, and the culture at that organization. At the end of the conversation, you can ask them for their job searching tips, and ask them to pass along anything they think might be a good fit.
Set up alerts for jobs in your area/remote jobs from sites like Idealist.org, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Work for Good, and Bridgespan (there are even more here). You can also check our job posts too, of course. Here are our tips for how to get the most out of a job description, and how to use it to help write a stellar cover letter.
You've taken a big step—admitting your job is no longer a good fit for you. Now start making moves to get the hell out! You deserve something better. It may not happen in the next few weeks, but hopefully as you put some of these plans into action in the next few months, better opportunities emerge. Good luck, and tell us how it goes.
Love,
ReproJobs