You're Not Ready to Quit Yet
If you've been scouring LinkedIn for jobs at 10pm, you're not alone.And if that search has felt overwhelming, scattered, or kind of pointless, there's a reason. Most people don't have an exit strategy. They have an exit wish. And those are very different things. An exit wish sounds like: I just need to get out of here. An exit strategy sounds like: Here's what I'm doing, and here's what comes next. Before we get too deep into this, I can guess what some of you are thinking... This sounds great in theory, but the job market is brutal right now. You're right. It is. Layoffs are still happening, hiring has slowed in a lot of industries, and the leverage has shifted back to employers in a way that's been genuinely discouraging for a lot of folks. But a tough market doesn't mean you have zero options. It means your timing and preparation matter more than they did maybe 2-3 years ago. The people who land well in a difficult market aren't the ones who "spray and pray" by applying to everything and hoping for the best outcome. They're the ones who've done the work ahead of time. And that's what today's newsletter is about. If you're thinking about leaving your job in the next year or two, this one's for you. Here are the four phases of actually doing it without burning everything down in the process. Phase 1: Assess (Before You Do Anything Else)A lot of us skip this phase and jump straight into job searching. But that's how you end up in the same situation with a different company name on your badge. Before you think about updating your resume or scrolling LinkedIn, you need to get honest about a few things: What's actually driving this? Is it the job itself, the company, your manager, the industry, or the work? Because those have very different solutions. Leaving a bad manager is different from leaving a career path that doesn't fit you anymore. What does "better" actually look like? Not in a vague "I just want to be happy" way — in a concrete, specific way. More autonomy? Different hours? Work that connects to something you care about? A team that doesn't make you dread Monday? What are you not willing to give up? Salary, flexibility, benefits, location? Know your non-negotiables now before the pressure of a job offer makes you compromise on things that actually matter to you. This phase is uncomfortable because it requires honesty. But it's the only thing that keeps you from trading one bad situation for another. Phase 2: Stabilize (Stop the Bleeding)You cannot plan your exit well when you're in full survival mode. If you're running on empty, making decisions from a place of desperation, or burning through your emotional reserves just to get through the week, your planning will reflect that. Before you can build a real strategy, you need to stop the bleeding. That might mean setting some basic boundaries at work to protect your energy. It might mean getting your finances in a place where you have options (more on that in a second). It might mean getting real support from a therapist, a coach, or even just a trusted person who can help you think clearly. The goal of this phase is to give yourself enough breathing room to make good decisions instead of reactive ones. Phase 3: Prepare (Build the Runway)This is where we really get into the exit planning work. And the good news is, a 1-2 year window gives you time to do it right. Financial runway. This is the thing that will give you more options than anything else. Even 3-6 months of savings changes what you're willing to say no to. It changes what you'll tolerate in a negotiation. And it changes whether you can walk away from a bad offer. In a market where offers aren't flying in, financial cushion is what keeps you from taking the first thing that comes along out of fear. And fear-based decisions are how people end up in the same situation with a different company name. Your professional story. Your resume and LinkedIn aren't just a list of jobs. They're a narrative. What do you want the next chapter to look like, and does your current profile point toward that? Update these as you go by documenting your wins now, while you remember them. In a slower hiring market, recruiters are being more selective about who they reach out to, which means your profile needs to work harder than it did two years ago. Your network. I know. Everyone hates this word. But in a tight market, this is the single highest-leverage thing you can do. Most jobs are filled before they're posted, and that's especially true right now, when companies are leaning on referrals and known quantities instead of open hiring. You don't have to go to networking events or connect with strangers. Start with people you already know and actually like. Reconnect. Have real conversations. Stay visible and top of mind. One warm introduction in a competitive market is worth 50 cold applications. Your skills gaps. If you want to move into something different, what's missing? A certification, a portfolio, specific experience? Figure that out now, while you have time to close the gap without it being urgent. Phase 4: Execute (When You're Actually Ready)This is the phase most people think of as "the exit strategy," but it's actually the last step, not the first. By the time you're here, you know what you're looking for, you have some financial cushion, your materials are in good shape, and you've been maintaining your network. Now you can search with intention instead of desperation. In a competitive market, you may need to cast a wider net, be more patient, and adjust your timeline. But what you don't want to do is abandon your assessment work and apply to anything with a pulse... because that's how you end up right back here in two years, burned out in a different seat. Being intentional in a tough market doesn't mean being rigid. It means knowing which things you're willing to flex on (title, salary range, industry) and which things you're not (management style, workload expectations, toxic team dynamics). That clarity is what keeps you from making a desperate decision that costs you more in the long run. It also means going into interviews as someone evaluating the company, not just hoping to be chosen. Ask the questions that actually tell you whether this place is going to be different:
And when an offer comes, negotiate. Yes, even in this market. Employers expect it. The number they give you first is rarely their final number, and the worst they can say is no. Preparation is what makes that conversation feel less scary. The most common mistake is thinking you're in Phase 4 when you're actually in Phase 1. You've been miserable long enough that you feel like you're ready to leave, but you haven't done the assessment work that would tell you where you're actually going. If you'd like me to go into more depth about any of these stages, just reply to this email and let me know which phase you think you're in. Take care, Tara P.S. If you read this and realized you're not as ready to leave as you thought, or you have no idea where to actually start, consider booking a Career Reboot Strategy Session. It's two hours, we figure out what's not working, what you actually want, and what your next move needs to be. |