Career Help: When to Make an Exit

The fact is, however, that you want to advance your career and only feel like you are spinning your wheels and getting nowhere instead. Many people in your shoes consider making an exit from their current job in an effort to move forward, but they stall out because of uncertainty.

Before You Leave

If you feel like you need some career help to ensure you reach the pinnacle of success in your job, bear in mind that you have likely spent at least a few years establishing yourself in your current workplace. So before you leave, you do want to ensure that you have done everything possible to advance. Spend some time reviewing your own job description to ensure you are fulfilling the expectations your employer has set for you, and even spend some time reviewing professional requirements and experience for the position you want to advance to. Sometimes people find that they lack the education requirements to advance and need to go back to school for a few more years.

Talk to Your Employer

One way to get career help is to be open with your employer about your desire to advance. Some employers may pass you over on a promotion thinking that you are content in your current position. A “squeaky wheel” definitely gets the attention when it comes time to fill a vacancy in a company.

When You Do Leave

If the time comes and you do decide to make an exit, be sure to follow career help words of wisdom and avoid burning bridges. You may be leaving to make a lateral move in another company that offers more opportunity for advancement, or you may be leaving to make a move to a higher level position in another company. Either way, you will want to ensure that you maintain solid relationships with those in your company. They may be used as professional resources for you, industry contacts, referrals, and so forth in the future. Perhaps you may even return to this company after a few years working at a higher level position in another company, too!