The Surprising Reasons Why You Might Resign This Year

The Surprising Reasons Why You Might Resign This Year The Surprising Reasons Why You Might Resign This YearPosted January 10, 2017, by Vivien Luu What makes people quit their jobs? New research reveals that in addition to the usual suspects (lack of career development opportunities, conflicts with a coworker or manager, feeling that youre elend being fairly compensated for your work, etc.) there are certain triggers that can propel you to start penning your resignation letter. Read on to see if you think you might have one foot out the door sooner than you think. About to hit a milestone birthday? Got a class reunion coming up? Better start working on your resume New research published in the Harvard Business Review reveals some surprising factors that can spur us to quit our jobs. We tend to associate quitting with a bunch of different reasons feeling undervalued and underpaid at work, resenting having to listen to your gossipy coworkers reenactment of last nights Bachelor epi sode or absolutely hating that micromanage-y boss. But as it turns out, its not just what happens at work that compels us to hand in our letter of resignation. Seemingly innocuous life events and personal milestones have a much bigger impact on your career decisions than youd think. CEB, a best-practice insight company, tracked when employees were most susceptible to quitting and found that while a change in manager or responsibilities was the number one trigger for workers throwing in the towel causing a 17% jump in job search activity attending a major gathering such as a class reunion came in a close second, causing a staggering 16% spike in job hunting Birthdays were also a trigger and caused a 12% increase in job search activity, while work anniversaries caused a 6-9% jump. Triggers that cause increases in job search activity. Source CEB Insights Why is this? Brian Kropp, head of CEBs HR practice explains, what really affects people is their sense of how theyre doing compared to their peer group, or with where they thought they would be at a certain point in life. Birthdays and reunions are perfect little wake-up calls -- they force us to ask ourselves Am I truly happy at work?, Is this where I really wanted to be at X age? and encourage us to draw parallels between our career successes and that of our friends. Our desire to keep up with the Joneses can be a powerful motivator to assess where we are in our lives, whether were in our 20s, 30s or 40s. But you shouldnt let these milestones (or the thought of them making you jump ship) freak you out. Instead, embrace them for what they can do for your career. Research shows that if you stay at the same company for more than two years on average, youll end up earning 50% less over your lifetime compared to your job-hopping peers. By switching companies and job hunting more frequently, youll more consistently trade up job roles and increase your base salary each time. Beyond the monetary benefi ts, youll also get to expand your professional network, learn new skills and gain exposure to new specialities and industries. So if youre expecting a birthday cake this year thats more candles than cake, or the HR department has just informed you that youve begun to accrue long service leave, you might want to start getting your resume in order. Here are the 7 things you should look for in your next job. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searches1st year hairdressing apprenticeship wageswhat attracted you to this position retailwhy do you want to work in retail answerswhy did you choose this careerhow to ace your next interview CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire zugnglich Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Cr iminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire Online Vivien LuuViv is a writer who enjoys researching and writing about creativity, how the human mind works, and neuro processes. She values creativity above all else and admires people who pursue their career dreams, no matter the sacrifice. In her spare time, she binges on HBO shows and epic fantasy novels.Related ArticlesBrowse moreStudy tipsUniversityAll Things Qualifications - Your Complete BreakdownWhats the difference between a Certificate and a Diploma? Does my dream job require a Degree? Get the right answers with our breakdown on all things studyOnline studyNine courses you never thought you could study onlineIn an age when almost everything you could want is at your virtual fingertips, the world of education has also moved into the digital sphere.HabitsWork etiquette What Does Your Body Language Say About You At Work?What is your body language saying about you a t work? Could it be holding you back? Here are a few moves that can give the wrong professional vibe and what to do instead. Weve included specific body language tips to help you rock the interview too