Thinking of Quitting? Do These Seven Things First.

Quitting your job should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision. On the other hand, if you've been having strings of stressful days, are generally unhappy at work or feel like your job is no longer challenging you, it might be time to think about leaving. For best results, take some time to prepare, and do these things before turning in your letter of resignation.

1. Take a Look at Your Finances

How long can you live on your savings before you need to have a steady income again? Make a list of other ways you can make money during your unemployed period. Maybe you can do some freelance or temporary work during the interim period. Think about how quitting your job will affect your heath insurance benefits and retirement plan.

2. Survey the Job Market

Skim the want ads to see how the job market is in your field. Explore the types of positions you'd be interested in and see how they compare to your current position. Are any of your favorite companies hiring? Is it realistic to expect to obtain a better position than the one you currently have?

3. Strengthen Your Network

Avoid quitting your job during a time when your co-workers or superiors are upset with you. Mending work relationships keeps your network strong when you leave. You don't want a negative reputation following you through the industry. Take this time to be friendly, give positive encouragement and stay on your boss's good side.

4. List Your Accomplishments

Start a list of all of the accomplishments you have made in your current position. Before quitting your job, take the time to get numbers when possible so that you can add quantifiable achievements to your resume.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Expecting to move up right away to a much better job at your dream company is unrealistic. Explore LinkedIn profiles looking specifically at people with a similar background to yourself. What type of position can you realistically expect to find? Make a list of possible job titles and likely employers to help guide your future job search.

6. Improve Your Personal Brand

Spend some time improving your professional social media profiles and resume. You want to present the same image, voice and goals across all platforms. Stay consistent whether posting publicly to the web or meeting prospective contacts in person. If you aren't sure what your goals are or what image you want to portray, do some honest soul-searching and write up a simple statement of your career persona and goals to refer to as needed.

7. Develop an Exit Plan

When you feel ready, create a written exit strategy for quitting your job. Decide on an resignation date that works well with your budget and stick to it. Make sure to set the date far enough in the future to finish up any projects you are currently working on, and expect to give at least two weeks notice.

Before impulsively quitting your job, take some time to explore your options and create an exit strategy. Spending some time on preparation is the best way to ensure a smooth move from your current position to a new job.

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