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Keywords: resignation, résumé, quitting, quitting job, resigning, how to, how to resign, diversity, DiversityInc, career advice
You've got an unsteady feeling in your stomach every time you walk into your office. You're wondering if your days are numbered, but you don't know for sure, and it's not the sort of topic you want to speak about in public for fear it might become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The decision to leave a job should be based on proof and not a feeling, tea leaves or writing on the wall. DiversityInc interviewed four experts, all of whom previously were employed by major corporations, to learn the tangible signs that reveal the time to resign. Read on:
1. Diversity matters to you but not your company.
If you're at a company where diversity is not even a consideration and everyone in senior-level positions looks the same, it's time to search for employment elsewhere, says May Snowden, president and CEO of Creative Wealth Alliance.
"If you can't see diversity there and there doesn't seem to be an effective diversity strategy that those leaders can communicate; if you can't see diversity in the company's mission statement; if its corporate values and leaders can't speak about the importance of [inclusion], then that's a signal for you," says Snowden. "If you have senior-level leaders who lack awareness in this whole area, then that company can't provide for a long time, because we're in a global economy."
Snowden contends that the current global economy should make diversity as important to budding white executives as it is to executives from traditionally underrepresented groups. Prior to launching her own consultancy, Snowden was chief diversity officer at Starbucks Coffee Co. and Eastman Kodak Co., one of DiversityInc's 25 Noteworthy Companies.
"The whole economy has changed to become more global," says Snowden. "A company not involved in diversity will probably not be around in 15 years."
2. You're not part of a new leadership plan or you were involuntarily moved to a less important position.
If you're in a senior role and you see significant leadership changes, then that could be a sign, says Henry Hernandez, managing director of Diversity and Inclusion Executive Management Consultants.
"If your immediate boss voluntarily leaves or for political reasons has to leave the organization; if you see changes that are one or two places above you, such as you get a new CEO and that person starts to bring in their people … that is a sign to start looking for work outside of your current area," says Hernandez, former chief diversity officer at American Express, No. 10 on The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list.
Snowden adds that if you're in a situation where a new CEO, COO or chairman has come on board, look for signs that he or she expects you to stay. "Clues include specific discussions with you that indicate that you are part of the change," says Snowden. "Perhaps they give you a bonus to keep you and let you know that if you leave you have to pay back the bonus."
Regardless of what is done, the new leadership must make you understand that you are part of the change and will not be a casualty of the change. If you're part of the change, it will be clear that your further development and involvement is important.
Also, moving from a position of importance to one of less importance is a sign that your days are numbered. "If you're shifted from a line role to a staff role and you didn't ask for it, you probably have a problem," says Miriam Muley, founder and CEO of 85% Niche and former executive vice president, Diversity Growth Markets at General Motors, No. 44 on the DiversityInc Top 50.
Line positions are those responsible for bringing revenue to the company, while staff positions are those responsible for supporting the line.
3. You do not receive feedback, are not invited to key meetings, or are passed over when high-profile assignments are doled out.
In these cases, before you start writing your resignation letter, be sure you're not mistaking poor communication skills for being quietly pushed out. Stephen Young, president of Insight Education Systems and former chief diversity officer for JPMorgan Chase, No. 13 on the DiversityInc Top 50, remembers a young woman thinking she was told that her new boss didn't respond well to females. She sent him e-mails as a test and he never responded. Finally, she found another job and put in her letter of resignation. She didn't learn until after she quit that her boss didn't respond well to e-mails--not females.
In that case, she should have approached the boss and said, "I sent you several e-mails detailing my ideas but I didn't get a response. Perhaps I'm not providing the right ideas?"
"Be clear, direct and specific about what you interpret and how it's caused you to react," says Young. "Use 'I' statements instead of saying 'You did this.' If you use 'you,' shields go up. If you say 'I,' it focuses on what you observed going on instead of pointing a finger at an individual."
If the problem is with your current supervisor, you could also find a position elsewhere in the company, says Hernandez.
"[If] you're not being given an opportunity to present to senior management (like at staff meetings or major business-plan presentations), then that's a real sign. It's subtle, they may say they forgot, but that's a real sign you're being eliminated," says Muley.
Adds Snowden, "You have to have visibility across business units and within different sections of a business unit because if you don't, then your career is limited."
4. There's been a significant budget or staff reduction.
When an executive who had a sizable budget loses a significant portion, his or her impact on the company is being reduced. If this is your situation, start writing the resignation letter.
"That's an indicator that it's management's belief that you can't execute those dollars wisely," says Muley. "If it's a small amount that's negligible, then don't worry, but if you're losing large chunks of your budget, then that's a problem."
5. A new person has your title and responsibility and/or your peers have moved up.
"If someone comes in and has your direct title or your responsibility, then your antennae should be tingling," says Muley. "If someone is basically doing your job, then that's a sign, and it's disrespectful because others see it as well."
Adds Muley, "At any level within a company, if your peers have moved on and you haven't, then that's a sign."
6. The industry environment is poor.
Industries go through ups and downs. If the industry you're in is stalled, then that could be a sign to research how your skill set translates to other industries.
"If they're in an industry that's in real dire straights and you see and hear colleagues in the industry talking about large-scale terminations--regardless if it's because of poor business conditions or retrenching within that industry--that's a major indicator that it's time to leave," says Hernandez.
Some people choose to wait for their pink slip before leaving, but Hernandez advises that executives update their résumé at least once a year so they're prepared.
"Even though you might survive the layoffs, that doesn't mean you won't get it in the next wave," says Hernandez.
Readers' Comments
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Posted: Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job This article hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been so accustomed to head to grind that I often times forget to look up. I recently went through all the familar signs and was terminated, downsized, rightsized, laid off or other fancy term to cover up the fact that I am not part of the leadership team. It was shocking but a relief at the same time. I know that I don't want to work for an organization that doesn't believe in diversity. It is a known fact that this organization is living on borrowed time. It did me a favor. Now I can concentrate my energy on where I want to take my career. Gina Davis |
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Posted: Monday, Jul 21, 2008 6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job I was reading this article and 5 out of 6 of these signs are what is going on with me at work. I have been going back and forth in my mind and trying to be really positive about my situation, but after reading this article, I am going to step up my job search 300%. Thanks so much for the tips!!!!!!! A Miller |
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Posted: Monday, Jul 21, 2008 6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job It's long past my time to leave my current office. Outside of 1 on your list all the remainder are applicable. It's sad to know the 'good ol' network is alive everywhere; even includes those who look like me; cliques run rampant Rhonda Dorsey-Prude |
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Posted: Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job Regarding Kathy Thomas-Massey's response to your thoughtful article "6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job": Kathy: I hear you when you say "I've done nothing to deserve this. My performance reviews are good. My relationship with clients is good. What gives?" Don't take it personally. We don't live in a perfect world and over the decades, the employer/employee dynamic has changed. The traditional loyalty just doesn't exist any more and whether that is a good or a bad thing doesn't really matter -- it is just the way things have evolved. If your company doesn't perceive that you are a good fit going forward, it's best to move on to a better opportunity with another company that truly values you and the contributions you can make. Consider it an opportunity for a new beginning. Bill Buczak |
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Posted: Friday, Jul 18, 2008 6 Signs You Should Leave Your Job I am in the process of composing my resignation letter when I came across this informational article. My direct boss is someone who could sell ice to an eskimo and I know my letter will not be received well and the sales pitch will begin, we are under a 100% retention policy at the moment so the investors know what their fixed employee expenses will be for the next year. I consider myself an entruepeneur who is stuck in a non-compete for another 6 weeks and after working a "corporate" job for the last year I am quite ready to go back to making money instead of collecting a paycheck. With your article I have been able to add several key points to my resignation letter and my key arguments for resigning will be strong. Thank you! Marty Z |
